"Right, lets get this letter written shall we?" Peter asks to ensure Carla was ready for this while handing out a pen for her to take
"Ok let's do this. I'll tell you something I will be pro talking about myself after this" she replies jokily with a bittersweet smile
Rob,
I got your letter and I was surprised it wasn't all about you considering you showed no remorse the last time I saw you. Yes, there was an attempt to bring the factory to a halt, Gary purposefully sabotaged the factory roof causing it to collapse killing Rana. Rana was Kate's fiancée at the time, and they were due to get married that day. Obviously I got the blame first and my family hated me the only person that I had full support from was Peter (yes Peter Barlow) I know what you're probably saying, he doesn't deserve me and all that nonsense that comes out of your mouth but the truth is that he saved me in more ways than one. He found me again.
After that roof collapse I became ill, mentally. I was regressing into the deepest, darkest places of my mind and I ran away and kept hidden in hotels and squats using my maiden name, I hated my maiden name that was the irony of it. I don't remember much more after that, Peter's here right now he could fill you in so I'll pass the pen over to him.
After Carla found Roy, and remembered the comfort he provided in the past so she approached him and asked for his help as she thought that her family were hiding Rana in a hidden bunker as she thought she was alive. I'm not overly sure of all the details as I was in rehab for most of this, yes I know I succumbed to the drink, but I was worried about Carla she could've been dead for all I knew, Roy betrayed her trust and phoned an ambulance for her and she got admitted to hospital, to check her kidney function as she wasn't taking her kidney transplant medication. This is when I was called, I had to return from rehab to prevent her from making a runner. We got her home the next day and she was on anti-psychotic medication to stop her hallucinations. She thought her medication was poisonous and was making herself vomit to stop it from entering her system. She escaped one day after a discussion with her key worker and social services. I don't know where she went for an hour or so until Michelle spotted her on top of a fire escape on Victoria Street and that's when I had to be careful not to spook her when I followed her up there. She was speaking to Hayley, Rana and Aiden she was seeing them touching them then she fixated on the fact she believed she was evil and that she didn't deserve to live so she attempted to throw herself off the fire-escape. I grabbed her to prevent her from ending her life. She then said that she killed Rana and that everything happened was her fault. I assured her that it was an accident and that Rana was in the place at the wrong time. I talked her down and the police and paramedics strapped her into the ambulance while she called for Aiden. She was so confused. She was admitted to hospital where she received a sedative to calm her. She had another hallucination of Gary Windass entering her hospital room and taking a phone from her bag. A nurse came to see us and said that there was a place in a specialist unit in Carlisle for her so we moved up there for a month so that she could get better.
Back to me now. We returned July 2019, where we settled back into Roy's place. I was reunited with Kate and Michelle at first then at this point I wanted to get rid of Underworld as it has ruined me and ruined everyone I have been with. I gave my shares away to the staff and made the business to a cooperative. Peter had supported me every step of the way which I was grateful for, he allowed me to make choices which would have been very hasty which I thank him for. Michelle gave me a job at the bistro which she owns with her husband Robert.
I worked with different companies to build up my confidence again. Michelle went travelling with Kate after it was revealed her husband disappeared because he was living a double life. So Peter and I we managed her 50% share of the bistro for her while she clears her head for a while. We bought our own place in Victoria court so we can start building up our future. I still have my bad days and Peter helps me through them to ensure that I get the support I need. I attend therapy and meetings with a psychologist to ensure my recovery is going as smoothly as it can go.
I'm glad you decided to get in contact. I know you probably hate me for being with Peter, but he is my soul mate I put all my trust in him and I love him with all my heart. He's saved me so many times and I'm thankful for it. Just so you know I had to block off what Peter said to you because it may jeopardise my recovery so if you decide to reply to me try not to mention what Peter has said.
I will always love my little bro just like I hope he will always love his big sis, at least deep down.
Carla x (And Peter)
"Are you ok?" Peter asks
"As good as I can be. Thank you for writing to him, that must've taken a lot especially as you went down for murder for him" she smiles
"You know I will do anything for you right?" he questions
"I know" she replies
"Shall we get to bed, then tomorrow we can post that letter" he suggests
"Ok, I'm shattered anyway" she says with a yawn
All they could hope now is that Rob didn't take offense and that he would accept everything that has happened to Carla like everyone else had. She hoped that he wouldn't judge her for what she did with her shares in underworld. All she could do was wait for a reply.
It was the next day and Carla was in work for a half day before she was meeting Johnny for one of their father and daughter catch ups as Johnny liked to be informed on her progress. She had also built up quite a close relationship with Jenny as well through all the trauma she was put through she was like an unofficial mother to her.
"Hey Sean, is Johnny in?" she asks
"Yeah he's waiting for you through the back, go on through" he replies
"Hey" Carla says as she goes to hug Johnny
"How are you then?" Johnny asks
"Yes I'm feeling better now, I know I went to the quarry but that was just a moment of madness and I'm fine now" she states
"Well that's good we were really worried especially as you didn't mention that you increased your counselling" Johnny says softly ensuring that Carla doesn't feel forced to answer a question which may be too deep for her to respond to.
"I don't really like to talk about my counselling and if I do talk about it its usually either with Peter or my counsellor, as they understand everything I've been through the most." She says firmly
"I understand, I do, anyway do you want to go anywhere?" he asks "We could go for a meal if you want or into town?"
"You don't have to say yes but could we maybe go to Aiden's grave?" she asks
"Well yes, we could go and say hello to Aiden as long as it won't cause you to have a setback" he agrees with her
"I could ask Peter to come if you're worried, it's just that I would love to see him and talk to him without being mentally insane" she stifles a laugh
"Yes, maybe that's best, it's just that I don't know how to deal with you panic attacks and anxiety like he does, no offence" he smiles reassuringly
"None taken, I'll ask" she replies
Carla and Johnny walk along Coronation Street to the Bistro where Peter is. Johnny glances at Carla who has stopped in her tracks staring at Underworld. This often happens it can be the start of a panic attack, but she see's a car pull up on the drive and recognises the lady that steps out of it. She blinks twice just to make sure she's not hallucinating. Her eyes become tear stained and then continues to walk with Johnny.
"Everything ok?" he asks noticing her teary eyes
"No, not really, that was really odd what I just saw, blast from the past I'll tell you that" she says confused "Sorry to be a pain but I don't really want to see Aiden now, that's really knocked me for six" she states
"It's ok we can do it another time if you prefer" he smiles
"Can we just have a meal here and talk about anything other than what happened out there, please" she begs
"Maybe you should tell Peter" Johnny says sensing a change in her mood "I'm just going to get us a round of drinks, are you ok sitting here?" he asks
"Yes, go ahead" she rolls her eyes
"Hi Peter, a pint and a pineapple juice, please" Johnny asks
"Sure, coming right up, everything ok?" Peter asks noticing Carla picking away at her hands, which was often a sign of her feeling nervous
"No not really, you might be needed to be honest" Johnny says
"What happened?" Peter asks while he gets the drinks
"Well we were walking down the street to here to ask you to see if you would some with us to visit Aiden's grave just in case she had a panic attack. This car drove past and parked in the loading bay of Underworld, this lady got out and Carla literally froze on the spot staring at her until she went inside. She then said that it was a blast from the past and that there was nothing to worry about then she asked to skip going to Aiden's grave and said that she just wanted to chill here with me instead" he says "It was literally like she saw a ghost"
"Hm, ok I will get cover for the bar and come and sit with you guys to see if I can get it out of her" he smiles
A few minutes later after getting cover for the bar, Peter grabs himself a drink and heads over to join Johnny and Carla who are tucked away in the far corner of the bistro
"Hey, love" Peter says calmly while sitting next to Carla. She smiles in return and says nothing, and she returns to picking away at her hands.
"So then do you have an plans for the rest of the day?" Peter asks Carla trying to get her to hold a conversation before Carla's eyes glance at the entrance of the bistro where the waiting staff are approached by Sarah and a client for Underworld. Peter notices Carla's eyes focussing on this woman who was with Sarah but he decided not to pursue it in case she had a panic attack.
"Um sorry what did you say, baby" she says distantly
"Have you got any more plans for the rest of the day?" he prompts again
"No not really" she shrugs then returns to picking away at her hands "I'm going home, bye"
After Carla leaves the bistro she leans up against the wall to compose herself before heading back to the flat. She knows she is being followed on the short walk back to Victoria Court she stops to get her keys out before stopping thinking Peter was following her.
"Peter, I know you're following me" she sighed
"Well unless I'm very masculine I don't think he is" the woman says
"What are you doing here? Seriously you need to go" Carla says aggressively
"Your wish is my command, still feisty as anything I see" she shrugs "here's my business card give it a bell when you want to talk, Ciao!" the woman suggests
Carla watches on ahead as this girl who seems so overly confident and cocky strolls down the street away from her. She thinks to herself about years previous, this girl was 20 years old when Carla went into business with her, she was a newbie, inexperienced but she knew how to charm the most difficult clients. She was building up her empire with ever growing amounts of business heading her way. She was a cocky, well-made business woman now who knew how to get her own way but there was something about her as if she had some sort of vulnerability in her swagger. She fiddles with the business card in her hands and thinks about how far she has come, maybe this is what she needs to make herself better so she can finally move on from Underworld.