Thirteen years ago Carla's life turned around for the better not because she wanted it to but because she was forced to by the arrival of her baby daughter Elle Connor. Carla leant against the kitchen top her hands wrapped around a barely warm mug of coffee as she watched on as her ready made family made a fuss of her daughter on her birthday. Her husband to be Peter Barlow and his son Simon were giving her present after present as she her mind was thinking about otherwise and trying to overcome yet another hangover, she was brought back to reality with a knock at the door. Looked up to see Peter raise from his seat and answer the door.
"Hi Chelle" Peter smiled as he opened the door.
"Hey is Carla still in?" She asked with nervous look in her eyes.
"Car.." He was about to shout until Michelle quickly placed her hand on his arm shaking her head.
"Do we a favour take the kids out for breakfast I need to talk Car without Elle there it is important." She almost begged.
Both made they way into the kitchen as Peter put on his leather jacket looking from Michelle who had gone to hug Elle wishing her happy birthday before making her way over Carla.
"Come on Elle and Si birthday breakfast at Roy's get your coats on" Peter said with big smile on his face placing his hands on their shoulders.
"You coming mum?" Elle looked up to her mother already knowing the answer.
"Sweetie I need to speak to your mum then we will both come over" Michelle smiled looking to Elle then to Peter nodding in thanks.
Michelle watched on as Elle walked up to her mother hugging her tight looking up to Carla as she did not return the hug and avoiding any eye contact, as Elle pulled away she walked away into Peter's arms as they all left the house. Michelle grabbed hold of Carla's hand and guided her to the sofa, sitting down with her and turned to face her.
"Car he is getting out." Michelle said with saddest gripping onto her hand tightly.
"does he know where you are?" Michelle was at first confused by her first question simply shook her head. "I knew it was coming I have dreaded her thirteen for this reason, I have just sorted my life and its crumbling around me."
"Car it isn't, it doesn't have to if you don't let it." Michelle stated squeezing her hand gently.
"he it did that the moment he threw that first punch" Carla said with anger
She quickly removed her hand from Michelle's grasped as she got up and making her way into the kitchen, opening the cupboard she knew had a bottle of vodka hiding inside pulling it out and onto the work top unscrewing the top she poured a generous amount into the nearest glass to her reach, lifting the glass to her lips as she downed the clear liquid screwing up her face as the liquid ran down her throat. Slamming down the glass she quickly poured herself a second glass, from the corner of her eye she could see Michelle enter as she downed the second glass.
"Don't let him do this to you again." Michelle said with sadness in her voice.
"He killed him Chelle!" Carla stated angrily as she slammed the glass down on the surface, breaking it into several pieces.