TNN ONESHOTS

Food - C & CV

Carly stood in the dim light of the kitchen, feeling the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her. "I need to eat, and I know I do, but I can't bring myself to do it. I don't want to," she ranted to herself, her voice echoing softly against the walls. She opened and closed the cupboard doors, each creak a reminder of the food inside, yet nothing felt right. Her eyes scanned the labels, calories jumping out at her like taunting whispers.

After a while, tears rolled down her cheeks, warm and salty, mingling with the frustration that had built up inside her. She was home alone, the silence wrapping around her like a heavy blanket, and she felt utterly trapped. Deep down, she knew she couldn't take herself back to that dark place—the one Reece and Charlotte had worked so hard to pull her from. They had been her anchors, guiding her through the storm, helping her find her way back to herself.

With a shaky breath, Carly wiped her tears and took a step back from the cupboard to gather herself. She could hear Reece's encouraging words in her mind, reminding her of the strength she had within her. "You are worth more than numbers," he had said. And as she stood there, she realized that this moment was a choice, a choice to honour the progress she had made, not just for herself, but for the friends who believed in her.

Carly took a deep breath as she opened the cupboard one last time, determined to find something that would remind her of the love and support surrounding her but no matter how hard she tried she just couldnt do it. Slammed the door shut before taking herself to her bedroom.

As she sat on the end of her bed, Carly felt the weight of her emotions crash down around her. Her thumb trembled as it pressed the green call button on Charlotte's contact, the familiar sound of the ringing filling the silence of her room. "Hey Carly," Charlotte answered, her voice warm and inviting, but the sound alone made Carly cry even harder.

"Char, I need help," she sobbed quietly, each word breaking through the tears that streamed down her face. The vulnerability of the moment felt overwhelming, but she knew she had to reach out.

"Okay, okay," Charlotte replied, her tone instantly shifting to one of concern and reassurance. "You take deep breaths; I'm on my way." Carly could almost hear the determination in her friend's voice, and it brought a flicker of hope amidst the chaos in her mind.

As she hung up the phone, Carly wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the warmth of Charlotte's promise envelop her. She knew she wasn't alone in this fight, and that thought gave her the strength to hold on just a little longer. The waiting felt heavy, but she clung to the knowledge that help was on the way and that soon, she would have the support she desperately needed.

Charlotte didn’t take long to get to Carly’s house. She quickly parked her car, her heart racing with concern before letting herself in. The familiar surroundings felt heavy with silence, and as she looked around, a sense of urgency propelled her forward.

Suddenly, she heard the unmistakable sound of sobs coming from Carly’s room. "Cars, it’s me, sweetheart," she whispered softly, hoping to ease her friend’s distress. Pushing the door open gently, she entered the room and found Carly sitting on the edge of her bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. Without hesitation, Charlotte rushed over and pulled her into a tight hug, feeling the warmth of Carly’s body against her own.

“It’s okay, I’m here,” Charlotte murmured, holding her friend close. Carly melted into the embrace, the weight of her emotions finding a momentary refuge in the comfort of Charlotte's presence. In that moment, surrounded by love and understanding, Carly felt a flicker of hope ignite within her, knowing that she wasn’t alone in this struggle.

Charlotte sat on her bed, the soft glow of fairy lights casting a warm ambience in the room. She glanced over at Carly, who was sitting cross-legged beside her, staring at her hands. The silence felt heavy, and Charlotte couldn’t shake the feeling that something was troubling her friend.

“Carly, what’s wrong?” Charlotte asked gently, her voice filled with concern. Carly hesitated, her eyes welling up with tears. “I don’t know how to say this, but… it’s my eating. I just feel so lost and overwhelmed,” she admitted, her voice trembling.

Charlotte’s heart sank for her friend. “I’m so sorry you’re feeling this way. You’re not alone, okay? I’m here for you,” she said, wrapping an arm around Carly’s shoulders. “Let’s do something to help. How about we go to McDonald’s and get some Happy Meals? It might make things a little easier.”

Carly looked up, her eyes reflecting a mix of surprise and hope. “You really think that would help?” she asked softly. “Absolutely,” Charlotte replied with a reassuring smile. “Sometimes, a little comfort food and some time together can make a big difference.”

They hopped into Charlotte’s car, and the drive was filled with a sense of camaraderie. As they pulled up to McDonald’s, Carly felt a flutter of nervousness but also a glimmer of excitement. They ordered their Happy Meals, and Charlotte made a joke about the toys inside, lightening the mood.

Sitting in Charlotte's car, they opened their meals, the familiar smell of fries and burgers filling the air. “See? Just like when we were kids,” Charlotte said, grinning. Carly couldn’t help but smile back at the fact she was still a child herself, the weight of her worries lifting just a little. “Thanks for being here, Charlotte. It means a lot.” she mumbled as she sipped her drink.

“Always,” Charlotte replied, squeezing Carly’s hand. “We’ll take this one step at a time, together.” And in that moment, surrounded by laughter and the comfort of friendship, Carly felt a sense of hope begin to bloom as the friends enjoyed their food together.