Chapter ten

Days passed, and with each day it became a little easier for Georgie to mentally push Charlie away. She didn't want to. But she knew she had no choice. More than anything she wanted to get on a train and go to him, but she would not be the one to break up a family and she knew that if she was around, they would have no chance at all.

On Monday she spoke to Maisie. She was feeling much better and improving all the time. The doctors hoped she would be able to go back home within another week or two. She was back to her normal self and Georgie enjoyed probing her about Rab. It seemed like they were going to make a proper go of things, although she was adamant that she hadn't accepted his proposal. Georgie thought they were made for each other, and was genuinely happy for her friends.

On Wednesday she received a call from Kingy. By now the rest of 2 section had received the news that Captain James would no longer be in charge of 2 section on medical grounds. Sergeant King was stepping up as Captain, and they were preparing for another tour, this time a humanitarian mission in Afghanistan. Just the mention of the place made Georgie shiver - the last time she had been there, Elvis had been blasted off a roof top to his death right before her eyes. But this was the only way she could put proper distance between herself and Charlie, and she didn't trust herself to stick to what was right if she didn't go. So she said she would go too. With the exception of Maisie and Charlie, the rest of the section were up for it and they would be setting off in ten days time. It would be a three month tour.

Georgie ignored Charlie's calls for the rest of the day and eventually called him back late in the evening, when she was lying in bed. He picked up straight away, his voice anxious.

'Why are you ignoring me?' He asked.

'I'm not sorry - I've had a busy day.' Georgie said. 'My mum invited my aunts round and we went out. Sorry I should have text.'

'Not too busy to speak to Kingy though?' Charlie questioned, and Georgie felt her stomach turn upside down at the realisation that he already knew. When she didn't answer, his heart leapt. 'It's true then? He didn't make a mistake?'

Georgie took a deep, shaky breath. She felt her eyes fill with tears as she imagined what he would be feeling right now. She hated what she was doing to him, but reminded herself that it was for the best. It was the best thing for him.

'I'm sorry, Charlie.' She said. 'I was going to tell you.'

'It's fine.' He said. 'Do you know what I'm just hurt that you didn't think highly enough of me just to tell me. I wouldn't have asked you not to go. You're an exceptional medic, of course you want to go. You don't want to be stuck here with me. I said before didn't I, I don't want to stop you doing what you want to do.'

Georgie bit her lip as tears spilled from her eyes. She did not want to go, at all. She wanted to get on a train straight to Charlie's.

'I think you should see Molly, Charlie.' Georgie said. 'I don't think... I don't think you and I...' her voice trailed off.

'What... what do you mean?' He asked.

'I'm sorry.' She said. 'You need to go back to Molly. It's not too late.'

'But I don't want to.' He said. 'You know how I feel about you. I thought you felt the same. What's changed since you left?'

Georgie closed her eyes. She hated having to lie to him. She could hear his voice faltering as if he was going to cry too. She had only ever seen him cry once, when he had held her after Elvis had died. Even when Molly had left him and he had almost died in the jungle, he hadn't cried.

'I'm sorry.' She whispered. 'I can't do this. I've been trying to kid myself but it's just not the same. You'll never be Elvis. You should go back to Molly.'

And she ended the call before she changed her mind.

Charlie held the phone to his ear for a good few minutes after she ended the call. He longed for her to call back and say she'd made a mistake, he just didn't understand. The day she left everything was going so well, he had been counting down the days until he saw her again ever since. But now he had nothing, no section, no wife and no partner, and nothing to look forward to besides months of counselling sessions.

He sank his head in to his hands and closed his eyes. What was the point in any of this anymore?