TNN ONESHOTS

I miss him- C & CV & AMR

Carly sat on the floor of her living room, her heart racing and tears streaming down her face. The silence of the empty house felt suffocating, amplifying her feelings of despair. She had tried to push the emotions away the way she had learnt to, but they surged back with a vengeance, leaving her overwhelmed. In a moment of desperation, she grabbed her phone and dialled Charlotte's number, her hands trembling.

“Carly? Is everything okay?” Charlotte answered, her voice filled with concern.

Carly couldn’t hold back any longer. “No! I’m not okay!” she cried, her voice cracking. “I’m home alone, and I just… I can’t take it anymore!” The panic in her voice was palpable, and Charlotte felt her heart sink.

“Just breathe, Carly. I’m here for you,” Charlotte said calmly, though she could hear the distress in Carly's sobs. “What’s happening? Talk to me.”

“I don’t know! Everything feels so heavy! I just feel so alone!” Carly screamed, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I thought I could handle it, but I can’t!”

“Okay, okay,” Charlotte replied, her own heart racing as she looked at Mia before putting the young girl on loud speaker. She took hold of her girlfriend's hand for comfort. “You’re not alone. I’m on my way, and i can bring Mia if you want. Just keep talking to me. What’s making you feel this way?”

Carly took a shaky breath, trying to compose herself. “I dont care if she wants to come. It’s just… everything. Work has been so stressful, and I feel like I’m drowning the past and the loss of my dad. And being alone right now is just too much.”

“I understand. It’s okay to feel this way,” Charlotte reassured her. “You’re allowed to cry and scream if you need to. Just let it out. We’ll be there soon, I promise.”

As Charlotte spoke, Carly felt a flicker of comfort. “You really don’t have to come over, Charlotte. I don’t want to be a burden,” she said, wiping her tears.

“You’re never a burden to me,” Charlotte insisted. “You’re my best friend, and I’ll always be here for you. Just hold on a little longer, okay? We are coming right now and mia is driving so you will hear her car as well. Can you listen out for it?”

Carly nodded, even though Charlotte couldn’t see her. The warmth of their friendship wrapped around her like a blanket. “Thank you, Charlotte. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Just hang tight. I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Charlotte said. “And remember, you’re stronger than you think. You’re not alone in this.” Carly hung up. She felt a slight sense of relief wash over her before it was quickly overshadowed by guilt. She wasn't only dragging her best friend out, but she was also ruining their evening.

Charlotte and Mia hurried down the street, their hearts heavy with concern for their friend Carly. The chilly evening air felt sharp against their skin as they climbed out of Mia's black mustang, but nothing could compare to the worry they felt for her. Charlotte had never heard Carly so distraught, and the thought of her alone in that house was unbearable.

As they reached Carly's front door, Charlotte knocked urgently. “Carly! It’s us!” she called out, her voice laced with urgency. Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing a tear-streaked Carly, her eyes red and puffy.

“Oh, thank God you’re here,” Carly sobbed, throwing her arms around them. Charlotte and Mia stepped inside, wrapping Carly in a warm embrace. They could feel her trembling, the weight of her grief palpable in the air.

“Shh, it’s okay,” Mia whispered, gently stroking Carly's hair. “We’re here for you. You’re not alone.”

Carly pulled back slightly, her face a mix of sorrow and relief. “I just… I miss him so much,” she choked out, her voice breaking. “It’s been so hard without Dad. Some days, it feels like I can’t breathe.”

Charlotte’s heart ached for her friend. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but it’s okay to cry,” she said softly. “You loved him so much, and it’s natural to feel this way.”

“I thought I was okay, but then it hits me all over again,” Carly admitted, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. “I just feel so lost without him.”

Mia stepped closer, holding Carly’s hands in hers. “You’re allowed to feel lost. It’s a huge loss, and it’s okay to grieve. We’re here to help you through it, however long it takes.”

Carly nodded, her friends’ words soothing her racing heart. “Thank you for coming. I didn’t want to bother anyone with my feelings, but then it all got too much, and i just had to,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You could never be a bother to us,” Charlotte replied firmly. “We care about you, and we want to be here for you. Let’s talk about your dad. What do you miss most about him?”

As the three friends settled onto the couch, Carly began to share cherished memories of her father, her laughter mingling with tears. With every story, the weight on her heart felt a little lighter, and she realized that she didn’t have to face her grief alone. Surrounded by Charlotte and Mia, she felt a flicker of hope that, together, they could navigate the darkness.

As the night wore on, Carly, Charlotte, and Mia found comfort in each other’s presence. The warmth of the room wrapped around them like a cosy blanket, soothing the heaviness in Carly's heart. After sharing stories and memories, they slowly drifted into a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes from deep friendship and understanding.

Carly nestled deeper into the couch, feeling the gentle rise and fall of Charlotte's breath beside her. Mia was on the other side, her hand resting softly on Carly's back, a silent promise of support. The emotional exhaustion from the evening weighed heavily on Carly, and she felt her eyelids grow heavy.

“Hey, it’s okay to rest,” Mia whispered softly, noticing Carly's struggle to stay awake. “We’re right here.”

Carly sighed, a small smile forming on her lips as she looked between her two friends. “I feel safe with you both,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. With that, she let herself relax completely, leaning into Charlotte's shoulder.

As the minutes passed, Carly's breathing became slow and steady. Charlotte and Mia exchanged glances, both of them feeling a mix of sadness and relief. They knew how much Carly needed this moment of peace, a break from the pain she had been carrying.

Mia gently brushed Carly's hair away from her face, careful not to disturb her. “She looks so peaceful,” Charlotte said softly, her heart swelling with affection for their friend. “I’m glad she can finally rest, but i think we need to message Marjorie to tell her that me and Carly wont be in tomorrow because she's no way going in, and im staying here with her.” Charlotte mumbled

“Me too,” Mia replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she pulled out her phone, typing the message quickly. “We’ll be here when she wakes up.”

As Carly drifted further into sleep, the warmth of her friends enveloped her, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of comfort. In that moment, surrounded by love and support, the weight of her grief felt a little lighter. She knew that with Charlotte and Mia by her side, she wouldn’t have to face the darkness alone.