Junctures Within the Glow

Amidst the unfathomably far reaches of an interstellar society - one that spans thousands of worlds and an integration of several sentient species - the prospect of personal isolation maybe isn't one of the first thoughts that comes to mind. Energy and resources are in flourishing abundance. Floating skycars fill the city skylines on the many habitable worlds. Faster-than-light travel renders the distances between the celestial bodies nearly insignificant. Even the eras of massive cosmic warfare are long since over. And yet, for all such abundance, the hardships imposed by life's arbitrariness and impermanence can never be held at bay. For some, it begs the question: what is the meaning of advancement and abundance and peace if we are still left with heavy hearts?