Forever Yours

7. Tortured

Lucy was still writing when Jo came home later that evening.  She rushed in like someone had been chasing her, carrying a copy of the Daily Prophet.  Chad came in right behind her, but Lucy didn't notice until he spoke.

"That was close!"

Lucy looked up, surprised to hear the sound of a male voice in the apartment.  Her friend gave her a pleading look, indicating that she didn't want Lucy to be mad at her for bringing her boyfriend home.

"How are things going, Lucy?" Jo greeted her out loud.

"Great," she answered half-heartedly.  "I was just writing a reply letter."

Jo's eyes widened in disbelief.  "You're still writing to that guy?"

She smiled.  "Yes.  And he looks forward to my letters as much as I look forward to his.  He told me so in one of them."

"Well, good for you.  Who knows?  Maybe you were right.  Maybe you two will hit it off and start dating.  Next thing you know you'll be married with children."

Lucy stared at her friend just like she had been stabbed in the heart.  Tears came to her eyes.

Chad frowned in confusion, noticing her sudden change in attitude.  He nudged Jo and whispered something in her ear when she leaned close to him.  Jo gasped out in surprise seconds later.

"Lucy, what's wrong?  What did I say?"

The tears began to fall down her cheeks.  Lucy angrily wiped them away.  "Nothing.  It was nothing.  It's not your fault.  I'm just-"  She hurriedly gathered her paper, inkwell, and quill and hurried toward the back of the apartment.  "I'm just not feeling well today.  You guys enjoy the rest of your night."

"I'm sorry,"  Jo apologized, staring at her friend strangely.  "I don't know what I said."

"It wasn't you!" Lucy shouted.

Chad and Jo both stared at her blankly.  Neither of them knew what to say.  Embarrassed, Lucy's cheeks flooded crimson and she ran toward her bedroom.  Jo flinched when she heard, what she could only assume, was Lucy's bedroom door.  She looked at Chad, her heart saddened.

"What in the world did I say, Chad?"

He put his arm around her to comfort her.  "Lucy said it wasn't you, Jo.  Don't worry about it.  Maybe she's-  Well, you know."

Jo rolled her eyes, annoyed.  "That's a man's answer for everything when a woman gets emotional.  Well I happen to know that's not it.  There's something wrong.  Something must have happened with that guy she's writing letters to."

"She was writing when we came in," Chad pointed out.  "She said so."

"Yeah, but she was okay then.  The only thing that seemed to bother her was when I mentioned marriage and children."

"I wouldn't worry about it, darling.  She'll be okay."

Jo frowned.  She had known Lucy all her life.  She never reacted that strongly to anything unless there was a good reason.  She sighed.  There was something wrong.  Hopefully she would be able to find out what it was in the morning.  For now, Chad deserved her undivided attention.

"I'll see if I can find out later," Jo said finally.  "I'll give her some time to cool off."

Chad grinned.  "That is an excellent idea."

Lucy could hear them talking in the next room.  She hated that she made Jo feel bad when it wasn't even her fault.  But the mention of dating, of marriage and children, it had never occured to her until then.  Those were things she could never experience.  There was too much at stake.  Family made her too vulnerable, and that was something she could not afford at the moment.