Chapter 12 -Carl's POV (Part 1)
"Maddy…" I breathe out, my bottom lip trembling. This can't be real, can it? Is that really her standing in front of me? I couldn't bring myself to believe it, even though that's the only thing I've wanted for the past six months. And I thought I almost got over her…
"Carl." She replies, taking steps forward. At first, slow and steady, but then she picks up her pace and slams into me. Instantly wrapping her arms around me. I could feel the wetness on her cheeks from sweat and tears.
She really was here.
I raise my arms, carefully, still afraid that this might not be real, that I might have gone insane, that she might just disappear if I do something wrong.
I hug her back.
"You're alive…" I state.
"Yeah… yeah I am. And I'm not entirely sure how but… there is no way I'm leaving you ever again."
"But I –I saw you die right in front of me…" I whisper, hardly keeping it together.
"I know, I know. I am so, so sorry."
I lean out of her hug and take her face into my hands, "Whatever happened…" I start, "I don't care what happened, you're back. You're alive… we have more time together, and that's something I've been wanting since that day…" I start to tear up, of course. I lean closer to her face, her beautiful eyes, and her brown, wild hair that framed her beautiful face… I had almost forgotten. I want to kiss her. I want to kiss her endlessly but I can't.
Loving her has made me realise something that I don't want to think about. I depended on her more than anything, and if I lose her again my life will surely end. This isn't right.
"I'm glad you're back." I leave her, still unsure what the hell is happening. I pass by Sam, Georgia, Jet and Rick.
"What happened?" Georgia asks, and I go wide eyed.
"It's Maddy…" I whisper.
Georgia looks at me and then at the crowd, her eyes wide and an almost afraid look on her face, "What?"
I hear someone running behind me, Georgia screams and runs away from a shocked Jet and a teary eyed Sam. My Dad has gone, probably to tell someone important.
For some reason I can't face her. It was my fault, wasn't it? I could have stopped her from doing it?
"Carl?" She asks, after she's squeezed the life out of Georgia.
"Carl, please… I am so sorry…"
"You were dead." I say.
"Carl-
"For six months. For six months I believed you were gone," I turn to face her, "I was ready to move on and then you came back? Why now? Why did you make me wait so long? Every day I woke up remembering your death. That is if I even slept. My dreams were filled with you, only you. You were my best dream and my worst nightmare." The tears start to dribble. "How is this possible, Maddy? You're driving me insane! Are you even here? Or am I back in one of my fucked up nightmares? What the hell is going on!?" I shout. I didn't mean to, I didn't want to but she left me. I believed she was dead for heaven's sake. I had been so angry, so sad, miserable… I never let it out, until now. It always ends up being Maddy the one I shout or cry at. She was always there, and now she's here, to help me for her own death?
They're all looking at me, with understanding expressions. None of them seem shocked or angry or upset about what I said, not even Maddy.
"You chose now, out of all times, to let it out?" Jet says, with a sad smile.
I let out a small laugh, "We should go tell Dr Mayford…"
But before I do, I walk over to Maddy and bring her lips to mine.
So Uh, you can kinda tell that I forgot about this. Sorry about that...