Cry Another Day

-Elisabeth Carmichael-

The overcast skies hung low to the ground, biting at the exposed tips of noses, whistling menacingly in ears, clinging fiercely to clothing in beads of dankness. Jordan's black boots struck the pavement with a splash, upsetting the puddles of water which had formed on the aged and worn away cement. She forged ahead in the fog, foreign to the usually sweltering summer.

"Knock, knock," she rapped her knuckles on his doorframe before entering with a half baked grin.

She was soaked in dampness, a soft mustiness which could chill the bones faster than pouring buckets of rain. Her hair retained its curly texture, but carried a heavier, sadder dankness to it which matched perfectly Jordan's mediocre mood.

Woody looked up at her voice and began walking slowly to her using his cane and the walls for support.

"Now I can actually kick you out of my room," he said grinning, "Get out."

She tried her hardest to keep a straight face, but began beaming, "Oh Woody! I'm so glad to finally see you walking around!"

"Yeah, well," he smiled, pulling her into his arms.

She abandoned her trademark hug, looking out over the other person's shoulder with emotion filled eyes, and buried her head in his hair, smelling it, smelling him, and forming a memory of how wonderful he truly is.

He sat down in an armchair and motioned for her to do the same.

"I had the day off…thought seeing you would be fun," she said.

"Physical therapy brings out my gross side, but…"

"I've seen your ugly side Woody…when you kicked me out the first time. I've never seen you more upset or serious in your life."

"I'm sorry about tha…" he looked at her messenger bag, "your phone."

Jordan held up her hand in apology and flipped it open, "Cavanaugh."

She nodded her head a few times, "Good. Okay. Sure." Woody relaxed slightly having confidence that her call was all good news.

"What?" Jordan screamed, "No, damn it, how can you be so incompetent? Did you triple check?" her voice dropped to a ritardando. "Yeah, whatever." She angrily shut her phone.

Her eyes dropped down as she rubbed her hand over her stomach.

Woody looked at her, staring her down with his crystalline eyes, "What?"

She looked at him in disbelief, "I'm, uh, I have to…I need a drink of water."

He nodded with a worried glance as she sprinted to the nearest water fountain, taking the cool water into her cupped hands before splashing it on her face. Wiping back stray strands of hair and composing herself, Jordan slowly walked back into Woody's room with eyes that simply devastated him.

"I'm sorry Woody, I have to…" she motioned towards the door.

His crystalline eyes rolled in an attempt to cover his devastation, "Jordan, wait. I…I know I can't really help you with chasing your problems right now, but I wouldn't mind role-playing them."

She looked incredulously at him, calculating how to safely role-play her situation with Woody. A tiny smile tugged at the corners of her lips as her eyes twinkled slightly.

"Aright Farmboy role-play."