Her friends, her mother, her watcher all knew that Angel leaving Sunnydale had affected her deeply, that she'd been utterly brokenhearted over it... but no one knew how bad it really effected her. She never let on, she didn't need anyone to see the pain she was facing. And even if she did, what could any of them really do?
Yes, they could be there with her, they could hold her hand, tell her how it was going to get better... but none of it was going to change anything. And she really didn't need the pity or the guilt, or to spread the depressive disease to those around her.
So, Buffy buried it.
When she was alone... then and only then could she fall apart. She could scream, she could cry. She could miss him freely, beg to the skies for him to come back. Curse him to hell and back. She could curse herself for choices she had made, that they had made together.
She didn't think anything would ever get better, easier. But, she was going to have to put on the show, the act. She was destined to find out how people manage to go through life with part of their soul missing.
Maybe she'd find someone to pass the time people, bring into this little act. Who knew. School was starting soon and she would be venturing off into college. Maybe, if nothing else, it could provide as a distraction.
THE END.
ButImBroken:
"I thought about singin' but I couldn't remember all of the words, breakin' but I couldn't get the pieces apart, laughin' never knowing what the joke was about, now I'm down..."