Chapter Text
Carla sat on the stairs of Number 6, completely numb.
The cold concrete beneath her should have made her shiver, but she couldn't feel it. She couldn't feel anything. Her body was there, her mind was somewhere else entirely.
What had happened?
How had this happened again?
The questions circled endlessly in her head, each one more painful than the last. Yet another part of her wondered if it was even the same thing at all. Was this history repeating itself, or was this something entirely different? Something worse?
She pressed her palms against her eyes, desperate to stop thinking, desperate to stop seeing.
Then her phone rang.
The sharp sound dragged her back to reality.
Lisa.
Carla stared at the screen for a moment, her stomach twisting.
How was she supposed to tell Lisa?
How could she possibly explain any of this when she couldn't even make sense of it herself?
She answered.
"Hi, babe."
"Where are you?" Lisa's voice was warm but laced with concern. "Is everything okay? You should've been at the Bistro fifteen minutes ago."
Carla swallowed hard.
"On my way. Sorry. Got lost in work emails. See you soon."
There was a brief pause.
"I love you."
The words hit Carla like a punch to the chest.
"I love you too," she managed, barely above a whisper.
The call ended.
For a few seconds she simply stared at the blank screen.
Her hands trembled violently. Her eyes were bloodshot from holding back tears, yet strangely dry. She felt hollow, as though someone had scooped out everything that made her who she was and left behind an empty shell.
Eventually she forced herself to stand.
She went through the motions mechanically. Touching up her makeup. Brushing her hair. Spraying perfume on her wrists and neck.
The scent made her stomach churn.
She looked down at the clothes she was wearing.
Part of her wanted to tear them off and burn them.
Instead, she smoothed down her jacket and told herself to move.
She needed to get to Lisa.
Needed to smile.
Needed to pretend none of this had happened.
As she stepped out of Number 6, she spotted Becky standing on the corner near The Rovers.
Becky caught her eye immediately.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Becky simply raised a hand in a small wave and gave a knowing nod.
Carla felt her throat tighten.
Then Becky disappeared around the corner.
Gone.
Carla stood frozen for a second before forcing herself forward.
One foot in front of the other.
Just keep moving.
By the time she reached the Bistro, she felt as though she'd walked a hundred miles.
Inside, Lisa was waiting.
A bottle of wine sat chilling beside the table. Candles flickered softly between them. The warm glow lit up Lisa's face, and when she saw Carla she broke into a smile so full of love it almost shattered her.
Carla's heart cracked.
How could Lisa still look at her like that?
How could she look at her with so much affection when she had no idea what had happened?
No idea what Carla was carrying.
Lisa stood immediately.
"Hey, beautiful."
She leaned in for a kiss and wrapped her arms around Carla.
Instinctively, Carla recoiled.
She jumped backwards before she could stop herself.
The movement was subtle, but Lisa noticed.
Of course she noticed.
Confusion flickered across her face.
Carla quickly forced a smile.
"Sorry. Just tired."
Before Lisa could ask any questions, Carla slipped into her seat and grabbed the nearest glass of water.
The wine remained untouched.
She didn't want alcohol.
Didn't want to feel out of control.
Didn't want anything lowering the walls she was desperately trying to keep standing.
"Carla," Lisa said gently. "Are you okay? You're white as a sheet."
"Just a long day. Let's just eat, yeah?"
The sharpness in her voice surprised even her.
Lisa looked hurt for a moment but quickly masked it.
She simply nodded.
She knew Carla well enough to know when pushing would only make things worse.
For now.
As dinner arrived, Lisa did most of the talking.
She chatted about Betsy.
About Dylan.
About the weekend ahead.
For the first time in weeks they both had time off together.
"I was thinking," Lisa said with a grin, "a full day on the sofa. Movies, takeaway, absolutely no work."
Carla stared at her plate.
"Sounds good."
"And then maybe a proper pamper night."
Lisa's eyes sparkled.
"Face masks. Bubble bath. Early night."
She gave Carla a playful wink.
Normally it would've made her laugh.
Instead, terror surged through her.
A shared bath.
Being touched.
Being close.
The bile rose instantly in her throat.
The room suddenly felt too hot.
Too small.
The walls felt like they were closing in.
"Carla?"
Lisa's voice sounded distant.
Muffled.
Carla pushed her chair back so abruptly it screeched across the floor.
"I can't."
Before Lisa could react, Carla was already moving.
She rushed out of the Bistro.
Out onto the street.
Away.
"Carla!"
Lisa called after her.
But Carla never looked back.
By the time Lisa paid the bill and hurried home, Number 6 was empty.
Carla wasn't there.
She'd gone to the factory.
Of course she had.
The one place she could hide.
The one place where nobody expected her to talk about feelings.
She locked herself in her office and sat at her desk, gripping the edge so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Her breathing came in short, uneven bursts.
She felt trapped inside her own skin.
Dirty.
Broken.
Like she wanted to claw herself apart just to escape the feeling.
Minutes passed.
Maybe longer.
Then she heard the factory doors open.
Her stomach dropped.
No.
She was sure she'd locked them.
The footsteps echoed through the empty building.
"Lisa, I'm sorry," Carla called out quickly, keeping her eyes fixed on the paperwork in front of her. "Just give me an hour and I'll come home. I'm really stressed with work."
Silence.
Then a voice answered.
"Umm... wrong woman."
Every muscle in Carla's body locked.
The blood drained from her face.
Slowly, she lifted her head.
She knew that voice.
Becky.
And suddenly the safety she'd been desperately clinging to vanished completely.