"Oh Steve don't go like this"
"No you know what, you said the other day that we both need time to decide what we want, well this isn't what I want, this isn't what I want by a long chalk"
Michelle could do nothing but watch as Steve headed for the door, she contemplated calling him, begging him to stay but deep down she knew it was no use. He glanced back for a second and caught her gaze. The large hazel eyes that were full of sadness almost made him reconsider leaving, but all he could think of is those eyes looking into those of another man and without waiting a second longer he left the flat, slamming the door behind him as he did so.
Michelle jumped with the force that the door was slammed, before closing her eyes and leaning back into the chair she was sitting on. She glanced around at the flat, she had never really spent time alone, between the different men she had dated over the years and Ryan, and she had never really lived alone. At this moment she had never felt so lonely, she had nobody to turn to, Ryan was no longer around, busy leading his own life and rarely checked in with her anymore, her marriage was breaking down and because it was her fault she couldn't lean on his family which felt like the only family she had these days. Maria tried her best, but she just didn't get it, didn't get her, not like Carla, the only person Michelle wished she could talk to right now was at the far end of the country and was attempting to salvage her own life and didn't need anybody else's problems on top of her own right now.
Picking up the glass of red wine she had poured earlier, she stared at the liquid, the flat was so quiet she could practically hear her own thoughts and it became clear to her in that moment how Carla had felt on so many occasions, how easy it could be for your thoughts to eat you up, and the only way to find escape is at the bottom of the glass in your hand, the liquid could make it all go away temporarily, she knew it couldn't erase her thoughts and feelings, but if it could block it out for just a little while, it seemed like the best option she had right now. She took a large sip of the liquid, quickly swallowing before taking another and another.
A few hours later, a cab swung into Coronation Street, coming to a halt right outside Victoria Courts, the rain was pouring and hammered against the window, she was disturbed from her own thoughts by the cab driver.
"That'll be £6.20 please love"
"Keep the rest" the driver smiled gratefully as a ten pound note was handed over, he jumped out of the driver's door and retrieved the suitcase from the boot, handing it over before departing the street. She looked around at her surroundings, becoming anxious about being back here. Not wanting to be seen she quickly made her way towards the flats, cursing as she routed through her handbag, unable to find her flat keys. She knew Michelle was there and wanted to surprise her, but after emptying the contents of her handbag on the floor, she realised she had left the keys at home in Devon. She cleared up the contents of her hand bag and stood up, quickly checking nobody was around before pressing the buzzer for her flat.
Michelle barely registered the noise of the buzzer ringing throughout the flat, she groaned as she attempted to lift her head. After a large quantity of wine that she had consumed she struggled to compose herself enough to know what was going on around her. The sound of the buzzer eventually registered in her brain, but she had no interest in answering it. Even if it was Steve, she could not face him in this state, she just prayed they would soon lose interest and leave her alone. She slowly dragged herself to sit up, her head pulsing with a force that made her nauseous. Dragging herself up she managed to prop herself up against the counter in the kitchen, pulling a draw out and searching for any type of painkiller that could help with the pain she felt. Usually she would have known not to mix any medication with the amount she had put away, but all rational thoughts had left her, and as she found some painkillers, she didn't even pay attention to how many she placed into her hand, before throwing them down her throat and beginning to make her way back to the living room.
Carla sighed in despair after 10 minutes of attempting to get into her own flat; maybe after her long journey here Steve had managed to convince Michelle to go home, she clearly wasn't at the flat. She considered ringing another cab and leaving for Devon again, but part of her needed to at least check that Michelle is fine, knowing that Michelle wouldn't just leave without seeing her when she was going through a tough time. The thought of walking into The Rovers suddenly made her feel extremely vulnerable, a reminder of everything she had done and the people she had hurt and left behind, the not knowing who she could bump into once she entered there, but she had no choice, she had to.
Dragging her suitcase alone the cobbled street, she took a deep breath before pushing open the doors and walking in, feeling all eyes on her, shocked that she was back already.
"Carla?" Steve looked over from the bar, extremely confused to see her.
