Shield

The good mood is a shield. Quite a good one. It takes practice to wear it, but once we get the skill, we can deflect even our closest friends. All it takes is to draw a smile, to crack a few jokes, and when time comes to say what's the matter - if such time comes at all -, say it in a way that makes it seem meaningless. Mostly everyone will buy it, and the few who won't are the ones who know you well enough not to press the subject. So there will be no questions, and most people won't even notice how broken we are.