It was the start of March and Peter and Carla's relationship was still going from strength to strength. Carla was still communicating really well with Peter about her feelings so they could work together to focus on the positive things in their lives. Carla hadn't seen Lilah around and her desperation to be nosey in her life was becoming more prominent but Peter had concerns that this could set her back.
"I might ring Lilah" Carla says randomly
"It might do you good to have someone else to talk to" he says trying to be positive
"Are you bored of my conversation, Mister?" she questions mocking a shocked expression
"No, I never said that but there is one thing I am bored of" he says
"And what's that then, have I done something wrong?" she questions becoming paranoid which happened in the most random moments
"No, you haven't, sorry I was trying to carry on the joke" he says
"Oh right, sorry" she whispers while dipping her head
"Hey, what's up?" he says calmly knowing not to push her
"I want to go home, I need to go home" she begs becoming increasingly agitated "please take me home"
"Ok, ok calm down let's go and sit in the office" he says trying to remain in control over her paranoia while guiding her towards to office
"Right let's sit down and I'll make some calls, ok?" he asks and she nods in return
"Peter make it stop please" she begs
"Come here, baby" he guides her over to sit on his lap so he can make her feel secure while she clings onto his neck making sure he stays where he is
There was a knock on the door to office and Peter looks through the window to see Daniel and he signals for him to come in.
"Shhh" Peter says as Daniel enters
"Is she ok?" He asks concerned
"Bad day" he whispers while kissing Carla's forehead trying to calm her down
"It's just that it's getting quite busy out here" Daniel says "Do you want me to ring anyone?" he asks
"Umm try and ask Ryan and Ali to see if they could do a shift or two, they'll get paid" Peter suggests
"Alright, I'll be right back" he says quietly then leaves the room
"Carla? Talk to me honey" Peter prompts as she shakes her head
"Please l need to go" she says trying to escape from Peter while tears furiously fall down her cheeks
"No Carla, stay with me, you're safe here" he says
At the bar Daniel is making phone calls frantically going from one contact to another trying to get cover but having no luck. Lilah appears sitting on a bar stool with an orange juice in tow.
"You look like you could do with 10 shots of tequila" she says jokily
"Don't worry I'm getting paid really well" Daniel says sarcastically
"No Carla or Peter?" Lilah asks
"How do you know Carla and Peter?" Daniel asks intrigued
"That, pretty boy, is none of your business" she grins "What's with the frantic phone calls anyway" she shrugs
"I'm trying to get cover because Carla's having a bad day today" he shrugs looking towards the office
"They're in there?" she asks
"Yep, she doesn't look to clever" Daniel says
"Mind if I?" she looks towards the office
"No not at all" he says "I should probably continue phoning people"
Carla was still sat on Peter's lap in the office where she was struggling to stay in control. She needed to get out but Peter couldn't leave the bistro unattended, so the only option was to try and calm her down here. Carla's panic intensified when there was a knock on the door. Lilah peeked through the gap in the door and looked at a paranoid Carla she entered the room slowly being cautious in case she spooked her.
"Hey, you ok? You look shattered" she says to Peter who's been trying to calm Carla down for the last hour
"I've tried everything but nothings working" he says stroking Carla's hair as she cries hoping it provided some comfort
"Is she completely out of it?" Lilah asks
"What do you mean?" Peter questions
"Is she responding to her name or is she in her own little world" she says sympathetically
"Carla?" he questions receiving no response but tears
"I'll take that as a no" Lilah says "Right this is what we're going to do" she says firmly
"I'm going to get my car and park it out the front and you're going to carry her to it and I'll take you home" she says taking control of the situation
"Ok but the bar" Peter says
"Daniel's sorted it by the looks of things" she says peering out the window "I'll be right back, make sure she doesn't move ok" she says
A while later Peter carried Carla to Lilah's car where she dropped them off home hoping this would calm her down. Peter settled Carla down on the bed and put the duvet over her to see if it would make her feel safe. Lilah appeared in the flat a while later after letting herself in. She made her way to the bedroom where Carla was still very unsettled.
"Peter could you get a glass of water?" Lilah asks
"Sure, make sure she doesn't up and run" he says
"Hey, what's going on" Lilah says gently speaking to Carla but getting no response
"Carla, you are safe here ok, me and Peter are not going to let anyone come in here and hurt you" she says firmly as Peter returns with a glass of water while Carla shakes her head furiously
"Carla where would you feel safe?" Peter asks watching Carla as she moves around to bring her legs to her chest looking at the crack in the door not even blinking.
Lilah looks a where Carla is gazing and gets up to close the bedroom door in a hope to reduce her anxiety.
"Is that better?" she asks Carla and she nods in return "Was something there Carla?" Lilah asks gently and gets a nod
"Was it going to hurt you?" Lilah asks trying not to scare her and she receives another nod
"Can you tell me what it is?" Lilah tries to ask but Carla immediately grabs her hand as if to say don't force me
"Could you write it down for me?" Lilah asks trying to think of different ways Carla could express her vision as Carla nods "Peter's going to step out of the room to get some paper, is that ok?" she asks and gets a nod in return then Peter steps out of the room and grabs some paper and a pen. He reappears in the room and places it in front of Carla.
"Ok, take your time to write down exactly what you saw" Lilah says but Carla doesn't seem willing to yet and Lilah still notices the fear in her eyes knowing not to push the matter
"What if she doesn't respond?" Peter asks concerned
"I still have two more options then I think it's time we think about other options" she says
"I'll leave the paper and pen on the side here is that ok Carla?" Lilah questions receiving a nod in return
"Peter what is some of Carla's favourite music" Lilah asks
"I can get a disc and put it in the TV if you want?" he questions moving over to where the music discs were stored in a rack.
"That would be great" she smiles at him as she pulls her phone out but Carla immediately stops her and then Lilah puts it on the end of the bed
"Well option two isn't going to happen unless I can use my phone" she says to Peter "Let me think" she says
"I know" she smiles getting the pad of paper and writing feelings on them to describe how she's feeling
"Ok what I want you to do Carla is circle the way you're feeling" she says slowly for Carla to understand
Carla takes the pen and circles: anxious, stressed, scared and confused
"Ok, what did you feel like before you started feeling like this" Lilah says sympathetically while writing out a new set of emotions on a different piece of paper ready for Carla to circle.
Carla circles: content and happy
"Ok, that's really good Carla. I notice you look quite tired would you like to stop" Lilah says as Carla yawns. Carla nods then begins to settle in bed slowly drifting off to sleep. Peter and Lilah step out of the room while Carla sleeps and make their way to the living room.
"I don't want you to worry ok?" she says sympathetically towards Peter
"I know it's just hard she was doing so well, now I'm scared that she might be relapsing" he says worried "How did you know what to do?" he asks
"It's a long story" she stifles a laugh "Look I know it's not a lot of progress but I managed to get her to admit how she was feeling, the next step is to find out why, and then to find a solution" she says sweetly
"I just hate seeing her like this" Peter expresses
"I can see you do" she smiles
"What do you recommend?" he questions hopeful for some good news
"I recommend you get back to work" she says
"I can't leave her in case she does something she might regret" he says tearfully
"Ok, how about you stay here and I pop down to my car to get some work to do, then I watch her for a while until you can get away" she answers
"You'd do that?" he asks to make sure
"I wouldn't have suggested it if I couldn't you doughnut" she rolls her eyes
"Thank you so much" he says
"I'll be right back" she says exiting the flat and going to the car to pick up her laptop and files and returning moments later
"You'll be ok?" he asks Lilah
"I'll ring you if I need you" she says "Have fun at work" she laughs
A couple of hours later Lilah goes to check on Carla in the bedroom. Carla is sat upright with her legs tucked up to her chest. Lilah goes over and sits on the end of the bed ensuring that Carla is ok with her doing so.
"Hey, you" Lilah smiles towards Carla but gets no reply
"You ok?" she asks and Carla nods "Do you want anything?" Lilah asks and Carla grabs the piece of paper off the side and writes what she wants.
Hot water bottle
Snacks (in drawer next to sink)
Fluffy blanket from sofa
"I can get those things for you" Lilah says and disappears out of the room and returns with all the things Carla wanted.
"Here you are" she smiles "Do you want to watch the TV?" she asks and Carla shakes her head as Carla picks up the paper and begins to write on it while Lilah watches on. Carla then gives the paper to Lilah for her to read
Where's Peter?
"He's at work, I told him to go back for a couple of hours while you were asleep" Lilah says calmly as Carla begins to write again
I want him to hold me
"I can ring him if you want" Lilah says and receives a nod from Carla and then leaves the room to call Peter. A while later Peter arrives home and Lilah explains how Carla wanted him to hold her. Lilah explains that she may not speak but she is communicating in written form.
"Hey, you" Peter says going to lay with Carla in bed as she cuddles up to his chest while he kisses her head
"You ok?" he asks and she nods in return not saying anything
"I bought her snacks and hot water bottle like she requested" Lilah says
"Ah I see you have Lilah running around after you" he says while holding Carla close
"Carla can I ask you a question?" Lilah asks holding out the pen and paper for her to write with as Carla takes it from her
"Can we think back to earlier and can you score yourself out of ten on how you felt overall" she asks as Carla writes it down and returns it to Lilah
3/10 for earlier
"Ok, and how about now?" Lilah asks returning the paper and pen to her for her to write
6/10
"That's really good Carla" she smiles in return
"I need to ask you another question, is that ok?" she checks and receives a nod
"Would you like me to stay or leave?" she asks giving the paper back to Carla
Can I try and cope on my own with Peter for a bit then if he needs you he can call you
"That's fine, I'll head off then, we'll catch up later Peter" Lilah says "I'll see you later Carla"
Lilah exited the flat a little while later, and made her way home. Peter got in bed beside Carla holding her tight to his chest making sure she felt safe. Peter knew he would now need to increase her support again to help her gain control of her ever growing paranoia.