Nothing's still Something. This hits hard on the personal relate-ability scale.

Really a good capture of a reaction to a serious "no." "Chill" is a great description of that internal agony.

You describe it so well. Anyone who has experienced a lack of any response from someone you reach out to will know of what you speak. It is a hollow feeling in the least. But your poem states the strong impact of this experience. Yes, the creeping chill, says it well. Thanks George. Great piece.

"...an attitude
That somehow allows us
To survive what feels like
A disjoint condition
In the immediate reality...."

holding my breath on this one

I guess 'no' can feel like nothing, though from the obverse perspective, it might be considered a 'cruel to be kind' response.

For some, it may be that expecting 'no' and receiving 'yes' is equally debilitating, even frightening. That aside, you've given humiliation a substance here that resembles more an entire biopic rather than a short poem, and brings 'that place' alive.