Snippet #1883848

"My boyfriend died, and now my parents think I'm mentally insane." Zoey blurted out.

Crystal gave Zoey a surprised look. Where did that come from? The way she said it, she either had it built up inside of her, screaming for someone to know, or it was a rapid change of subject. Could it be both? Either way, it wasn't only Crystal giving Zoey a strange look. What were they supposed to say? "Sorry for your loss"?

Crystal hasn't lost anyone special to her. She couldn't compare how Zoey must be feeling. Instead, Crystal imagined scenes from millions of movies she has watched containing deaths of loved ones - scenes where the living grieved in various different ways. Some refused to speak for months on end, and some couldn't stop talking about them. Some were emotional wrecks and brought those around them down into their pit of misery, causing everyone to suffer. How could Zoey possibly be dealing with her loss?