ABCNews.com’s headline at this hour is “Long Road Ahead,” and the title unfortunately captured the mood all too accurately. Today it became increasingly apparent that World News Tonight co-anchor Bob Woodruff will not return to the network’s flagship news broadcast anytime soon.

“Bob responded to stimuli in his hands and feet and briefly opened his eyes,” ABC News correspondent Jim Sciutto reported from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany on WNT. “I was able to meet and speak with Doug. He [Doug] was awake and alert and joking and I can tell you that gave us a chance to smile today.”

Notice what Sciutto didn’t say: Woodruff wasn’t awake or alert. He wasn’t joking. He didn’t give them a chance to smile.

I’m at a loss for words.