For this project I used portrait photography and digital manipulation and explored the theme of borders in a relational setting. Western society is facing a crisis of loneliness as people are seemingly unable or unwilling to form relationships that extend beyond social media or last beyond the first disagreement. This work focuses on the self-created borders we put up between friends to avoid pain and vulnerability. It showcases that while these borders separate and protect us from the complications of relationships and can give a sense of independence, they also isolate us and prevent deep, meaningful relationships from developing. The use of strong shadows in the individual portraits sets this tone of isolation rather than independence and is further illustrated by the physical distance between the individual images in display. Meanwhile, the lines that pull and separate the subjects are fixed in their structure, they are fluid in meaning. In one moment, the rift may be deceit or lies, another time it may be an inability to be vulnerable or even just a busy schedule and different priorities. While we gain a sense of mastery and independence from living in our own self-centric worlds, the loneliness epidemic is a warning sign that something is missing and that we are being drawn apart when we should be reaching out.