"Maryanne?" Dr. Shepherd says, surprised by the younger woman's words. 

She remembers asking about her childhood the previous night. She feels a wave of guilt wash over her as she looks back at her resident and realizes what was just said.

"How...how did she die?" Dr. Shepherd asks quietly. She can tell Carly doesn't want to speak about this, but she needs to know...even if she does regret asking this young woman to tell her something so personal.

"My father would hit us, mainly me. One time she needed water in the middle of the night so she went downstairs to get some.

My father was really drunk and swung at her thinking she was me. I heard her scream and ran down the stairs. But I was too late." Carly said softly.

"Oh dear god." Amelia says solemnly. This is more tragic then she could have imagined.

The younger woman just lost her sister in a way she cant even fathom. She looks back at Carly, who has her head down, her hair trying to hide her face.

"Why didn't you ever tell me this?" She asks quietly. Her question doesn't sound harsh, she is honestly curious why the young woman feels the need to hide herself like this.

"No one knows the story, I havnt spoken her name in almost 12 years since her funereal. She would be 20 now.

"I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss. I shouldn't have asked, it was inappropriate of me." Amelia says slowly.

She wants to give the young woman a hug but she feels like Carly isn't in the mood for hugs yet.

The truth is that the older women feels awful for pushing the young resident to say these things. No one should have to tell a stranger these deep feelings, it was all her fault.

"And I went to school the next day like nothing happened" Carly laughed. "Like I had a life just like every other 6th grader."

"You didn't tell anyone?" Dr. Shepherd asked curiously. She can't help but wonder how the young woman was able to hide such an event and pretend it never happened. And the fact that she hid it for 12 years. Amelia can't even begin to fathom what the young woman must have been going through.

"What am I saying? Of course you didn't...you were probably afraid to tell anyone. How could you? How could you ever tell anyone anything like this without worrying they'll treat you different? Or worse yet, blame you for it."

"My dad made me burry her when I got home and said to everyone that she went to go live with a relative" Carly says getting ready to change the subject. 

"Your father made you...bury your sister?!" Amelia is completely taken aback by the revelation. 

How could any father ever convince his child to do something like that. The trauma this woman must have been through, it's hard to even imagine. "he said a few months later that she died
in a car crash at the relatives house, so we had a community funeral. Only I knew the truth" Carly says

"Jesus Christ...I-I...I don't know what to say." Amelia says in shock. She is completely blown away by this story, she has no idea how to process this information. It's just too much for her.

"Your father is a horrible man, I'm...I'm sorry for everything you've gone through. No kid should ever have to go through something like this...you were just a kid." She says quietly.

"I'm sorry I should have kept this to myself" Carly says coldly, getting ready to walk away.

"No no, you don't have to say sorry. It's better to let things out, rather than keep them bottled up." Amelia replies. She can't imagine how hard it must have been to keep this inside for 12 years.

Amelia has noticed that the younger woman still feels guilty. She wishes she had handled the situation better. Maybe if she had just been nicer to Carly in the first place she wouldn't have been forced to reveal such a deep pain in her life. Amelia feels horrible in this moment.

Carly goes to reply but Amelia wraps her arms around Carly, not saying a word.

She can feel the young woman's body tensing up at first, it seems she doesn't trust the older woman.

But Amelia doesn't let go and a few moments later she feels the younger woman slowly relax in her arms.

It seems that once again Carly needed someone to comfort her, but just won't admit it. Amelia knows the best thing she can do is just stand there and hold the young resident. She also knows this is something she needs right now too.

The two continue to stay embraced for a minute or two before Carly eventually pulls away, looking up at Amelia. It seems she is holding back tears.

"Amelia..." The younger woman says softly. She looks at her boss with an expression that hints at her wanting to say something else but is too scared to. She knows that if she tries to speak she might just break down, something she can't do or else she loses control of this situation again.

She needs to show this boss that she isn't weak, she isn't a child that needs someone to hold her.

"Amelia.. I have to go" Carly finishes. Not willing to give into her bosses security and comfort.

Amelia feels as if she's been hit by a truck. Here she is believing that her resident finally trusts her and is ready to finally open up to her. And now it seems that Carly is once again shutting her out. She thinks she knows why. The younger woman thinks that if she allows herself to open up to another person she would be seen as weak.

Carly wants to say everything to Amelia. Tell her every single horrible thing that has kept her up at night. Share all the things that  she hasn't been able to tell anyone. She wants to start talking and just never stop.

But at the same time, Carly never wants to speak to the woman again. Carly is terrified of Amelia and how she almost broke down Carly's walls. She stands there frozen in front of her boss. Not knowing what to say or do.

Amelia can tell Carly has more she wants to say, so, she stays silent and simply listens. She knows this is hard for her, to share such a personal pain is something she wishes she could take back.

But she knows that she can't force her resident to speak. And so to give her the space she needs, she stands there quietly, not saying a word or trying to make her continue speaking.

She understands this may be something her resident needs time to process, and she's willing to wait as long as Carly needs.

Carly takes a deep breath and just decides to hug Amelia. Not caring about seeming weak in this moment.  

Amelia is caught off guard by Carly's sudden move to wrap her in a hug. But she decides to just let the younger woman do as she likes.

It seems this is the only way for this woman to truly express her emotions in this moment, so why fight it? It doesn't make sense to force her resident into talking if she doesn't want to. 

Amelia lets herself accept the embrace of this woman she knows so little about. But now, more than ever, she wishes she did know her better.

As the two stand there in the hug, Amelia looks down at the young woman and just can't believe how this resident has affected her in such a short amount of time.

Just a week ago she hated Carly and here she was being hugged by the same woman.

It was confusing to her. She feels lost in this moment as the two stay embraced, the silence is comfortable though...Amelia wishes this moment could last forever.

Amelia feels her resident's body relax as she holds her tight. She never knew a simple hug could feel so intimate. She never knew her touch would make someone feel so safe.

A small part of her feels the same, she feels her stomach twisting and turning and her body is getting warmed.

She feels this moment and suddenly a feeling washes over her that she cannot describe. But she loves every second of it.

"Sorry" Carly says pulling back and looking at her feet. Her mind coming back to reality.

Amelia is taken aback by the sudden apology. But she doesn't let go of Carly. She needs this and maybe, just maybe, she needs this too.

"There is no need to apologize Carly." Amelia says softly. She looks at the younger woman's feet then back to her eyes. "This is a safe place...you are safe here. I won't judge you..." She says softly.

Carly steps back and cocks her head to the side. "You sound like my high school guidance counselor." She retorts. For the first time making a joke but not in an attempt to get under Amelia's skin.

"Nah but I think I'm starting to tolerate you" Carly says with a smile.

She likes Amelia Shepherd a lot more than she is willing to admit.

A/N: sorry ik this part is short I'm crazy w school and sports. Is anyone else super stressed ab what to go to college for? Like what do I wanna do w my life? Anyways I hope you enjoyed

-xx Abby

(WC 1616)