Carl Gallagher ⁰²

Carl stares at the screen, feeling every second like an open wound. Six months since he let her go, and his heart trembles every time he remembers her face. She's probably in her university library right now. Deep in thought, with that furrowed brow that appears when she studies, oblivious to the world. She's surely surrounded by books and classmates who admire her intelligence. And he, miles away, feels like he let her go at their most vulnerable moment. When they finished, she didn't cry. That hurt him the most. She looked at him with those eyes that knew everything about him and simply said, "I understand." But Carl knew, because he knew her better than the back of his own hand, that she wouldn't cry in front of him, but she would cry alone... and that broke his heart. However, at that moment he was sure he had chosen what was best for both of them. It didn't feel like it was the best thing when she was constantly on his mind. Press the call button. One ring. Two rings. "Come on," he murmurs, "answer. " He doesn't know if he wants to apologize or simply hear her voice. He needs to know she's okay. That she's moving on. That he hasn't destroyed her with his cowardly decision to "protect" her. His finger trembles on the screen. Six months of silence weigh more than any mission, more than any training. "Please," she whispers, "answer. "