Widower, 75, Puts Window Poster with a Heartbreaking Request for Companionship

One older man is reaching out for a friend after his wife died suddenly amid the pandemic. The man has been battling loneliness, and it is taking a toll. This is his last resort.

The Independent reports that Tony Williams, a 75-year-old man, has taken it upon himself to search for friends so he does not have to sit in silence at his home all day.

Williams was made a widower when his wife, Jo, passed away in May. He has no children nor family to keep him company at home, so he's been all alone with no one to talk to for months.

LOOKING FOR A FRIEND

Williams, a retired physicist, currently resides in Alton, East Hampshire, in the UK. According to the Independent, the older man has put out two newspaper advertisements asking for someone to speak to.

Loneliness due to COVID-19 is not rare. Since most people are self-quarantining and can no longer see their friends and family like before, their mental health is heavily impacted.

WHAT HIS SIGN READS

He has not yet received any responses there. Williams further had business cards printed and hands them out at the supermarket. He's also prepared a sign at his home. The business cards and the sign read:

"I have lost Jo. My lovely wife and social mate. I have no friends or family. No one to talk to. I find the unremitting silence 24 hours a day unbearable torture. Can no one help me?"

HOLDING OUT HOPE

While Williams admits that not many people pass by his home, he says he is hoping word will go around and he gets someone to talk to. Of course, it won't be the same as having Jo, who was his best friend.

Williams and Jo met 35 years ago at a bar. Jo was a legal secretary. She died from pancreatic just nine days after being diagnosed. The pair were soulmates who told each other everything.

JUST A REGULAR CONVERSATION

Still, Williams says he is not asking for much. He just wants a normal phone conversation. He swears there will be no whining on his part and that he knows how to discuss just about anything.

So far, Williams's actions haven't reaped any results. "I spend most days just sat in the house in silence, just waiting for the phone to ring… but it never does," he says.

The elderly man continues to hold out hope that he will make a friend soon and will not just have to look at pictures of his late wife. Perhaps people reading the story online will reach out.

OLDER PEOPLE AT GREATER RISK

Loneliness due to COVID-19 is not rare. Since most people are self-quarantining and can no longer see their friends and family like before, their mental health is heavily impacted.

Elderly persons are even more at risk because often they are at care homes and don't always have the know-how of technology. This, combined with an inability to move around due to physical ailments, makes things difficult.

ELDERLY'S PLIGHT NOT NEW

Such feelings of loneliness are not exclusive to the crisis, however. In 2018, another elderly man had grim thoughts of taking his own life because of having to return to an empty house every day.

His wife had died three years before, and despite having friendly neighbors and family to talk to, the man could not bear the silence of his home.

COUPLE DIES TOGETHER

Earlier this year, a married couple did not have to go through being without each other as they died minutes apart after contracting the coronavirus.

The Williamsons were married for over 50 years and had just come home from a cruise when they contracted the virus. They both ended up on ventilators at the hospital and held hands as they passed away together.

BEST FRIENDS REUNITE

Thankfully, there are also positive stories coming out during the pandemic. One such story is that of two boys' reunion following the end of quarantine in parts of China.

The best friends named Jazz Rose and Mikel gave each other a big hug when they finally met up. Hopefully, there will be many more hugs in the near future.