"That area still gets snow well into April, Alexandra. I hope you've bought yourself a suitable winter coat."

Alexandra Stone knew her mother's worry was infinite. Her worry festered in the pit of her stomach. It was as if the cord that once linked mother to daughter had not been severed properly.

"Yes, Mom, I did."

Lex wedged her cellphone between her ear and shoulder and held up her coat. She found it at a thrift shop a few blocks down from her apartment. It looked sturdy enough and made her sweat when she tried it on. The faux-fur trim along its hood felt soft against her face. She hung the coat back up and searched outside her window for life.

The sky was still and white. Steam was rising from below and passersby were huddled close under umbrellas. A taxi cab stopped across the street and a young, vibrant couple got out. They both had rosy cheeks and their hair danced in the wind. The man gave the woman a swift kiss on her lips before getting back into the cab.

Lex placed her cellphone in her other hand and sat on her bed. "I think this will be good for me. Don't you, Mom?"

"Of course," she assured her. "Writing is your passion, sweetheart. You shouldn't give it up because you've had a rough go at it."

"A rough go at it? I haven't written a single thing in over a year."

"You are a writer. It's in your bones." Her mother took a breath in. "Have you spoken with her at all since last week?"

"I don't want to talk about her, Mom."

"You were too good for her. She took you for granted."

She rolled over on her bed and brought her knees up to her chest. "I still miss her sometimes."

"That will pass. It just takes time."

Lex nodded and swept a tear off her cheek.

"Make sure you call me after you get yourself settled in."

"I will. Promise."

"Goodbye, sweetheart. I love you."

"I love you, too. Bye."

Lex sighed and put her phone down next to her. She had the gnawing urge to scroll through her ex's social media again. She squeezed her eyes shut and groaned. Her suitcase was still open, laying beside her on the bed.

There was a gentle knock on her bedroom door.

"How's packing coming along? You know we gotta leave in a couple hours, right?" a caring voice asked.

Robert leaned against the door frame and shoved his hands into the pockets of his loose-fitting corduroys. He was wearing his typical winter outfit of pants, white t-shirt, and a faded green, overly-worn cardigan sweater.  He sat on the foot of her bed and crossed his ankles below him. The second he rested his hand on her back, Lex shot up and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.

"What can I do to help, Lex?"

He eyed the contents of her suitcase and squinted. "You're gonna need more than this." He opened up her closet and looked through her clothes. He swept his long, syrup brown hair behind his ears and pulled out a couple more sweaters and rummaged in her dresser for more socks and a scarf. "There." He zipped up her suitcase. "You're packed. We have time for breakfast. C'mon."

"Thank you so much, Robbie." 

He had tried to kiss her that first summer at camp years ago. She had laughed at him and shoved him away. They had bonded over soccer, salt 'n vinegar potato chips and video games. Their friendship continued throughout college and then as roommates in the big city. 

"This week is going to be good for you. I can feel it." The strident blue of his eyes glistened as he said so. He was ever the supportive friend, the one Lex could count on whenever the world felt like it was spinning far too fast. 

She grinned at her own words being mirrored back to her. She slid her old Adidas sweatshirt on and put her dirty blonde hair up into a high ponytail. "We'll see about that. If I can get some words down--that'll make it worth it." 

"Now, Lex," Robbie put his arm around her. "It's not all about the words."

"Pray for me." She stepped to the side and slung her backpack onto her shoulder. Her gaze fell onto the prescription bottle on her desk. She kept walking.

Before he picked up her suitcase and followed her out of the apartment, he clasped his hands together in mock veneration and proclaimed, "Oh, I'll be praying. Praying that you have service out there in the middle of fucking nowhere."