Loneliness Tax: Science Fiction

"Loneliness tax due at the door," the man gruffly explained. "Sorry, standard policy. We'll give you a wristband to let everyone know that you want to be alone in a crowd." She nodded her head absently, holding out her card to deduct the amount, and her ID indicating a guarantee from a psychologist that she was stable enough for it. The crowd nearby turned odd, people glancing out of their groups at the newest entry, seeing the wristband, and having their faces run through that weird combination of envy, affront, curiosity, and revulsion. The notion of somebody voluntarily choosing to be alone was still a shocking affront to everyone. She saw no need to explain to them--rather, she had a need to not explain, a need that was expensive.

Inspiration: "Eleanor Rigby" by Mylene Pires
Story Potential: High. Maybe.
Notes: This may be the sort of sci-fi exploration of self that's out of vogue at the moment, or it may just be a wee bit hackneyed. Not sure. Could also be interesting, but the greatest danger here is over-writing it or letting it appear to be self-indulgent. Interesting setting, though--could resonate well with certain story plots.