A Fragile Smile

Thomas' parting words bounced around my mind, I stared at him, a knot of confusion forming in my stomach as I stepped outside into the morning sunlight. 

It was a picture-perfect day, the sky a clear blue canvas painted with fluffy white clouds, but the irony tasted bitter on my tongue as if taunting my inner turmoil.

 My happiness felt like a fragile butterfly, ready to take flight at the slightest breeze.

Could I even call this feeling happiness? More like a hollow laugh trapped in my throat.

What good was a sunny day when my world was plunged in darkness? 

But I knew my happiness, if there ever was any, wouldn't stay this way. I let out a hollow, humorless laugh, the sound echoing emptily in the stillness. Even a moment's happiness seemed out of reach now.