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Charlie closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
The cold air penetrated deep into his lungs and cooled his overheated mind. After seeing Sarah in the lab, he and Rex quickly left the station and just walked on. Completely unconsciously, his path then led him to one of his favourite places. The view up here was wonderful, but he didn't have an eye for it today.
Charlie leaned back, tucked his left hand into Rex's warm fur and, deep in thought, let his eyes wander over the bay that stretched out below him.
He meant what he said. He really wanted Sarah to be happy. Certainly, Michael was a good man and he sure seemed to be serious about their relationship. But should he hurt her one day... Charlie shook his head to block out the thought. Rex, who had jumped onto the bench next to him, moved a little closer. Absently, he stroked the big dog's soft fur.
He was glad that he had finally been honest with Sarah. It was not his intention to put her in a difficult position with his revelation. But it had been necessary to finally say what was weighing on his soul.
Nonetheless, he didn't feel liberated.
He felt like he had missed something important, yet so close that the wonderful possibilities would always be present in his mind. The regret of not making the right decision in the past was overwhelming. He had reacted far too late when he should have acted long ago. What would have been possible then?
It was a bittersweet agony he was indulging in.
He heard himself say things he had never said.
He saw himself grabbing Sarah's hand at the right moment, his face leaning towards hers for a tender first kiss.
But none of this had happened, none of this would ever happen. He'd made the wrong decisions, over and over again.
Did he really think he had forever?
Charlie shook his head briefly. He could continue to melt into self-pity here, or finally pull himself together. He really didn't want to lose Sarah as a friend, as his best friend, so he would make sure he didn't give her any reason to turn away from him.
In the distance, he heard the engine of a car approaching. The sound died away, a door opened and closed again. Rex was the first to turn around to acknowledge the newcomer. Charlie did the same, and the sight took his breath away.
He hadn't expected that.
He hadn't expected her.
Sarah stood there, at first slightly unsure, the collar of her coat turned up to protect herself from the cold. Rex nudged him very gently, as if to say 'Well, I knew she was coming'. Most likely, he had known from the very beginning.
When Sarah took a deep breath and a tiny smile appeared on her lips, Charlie smiled too.
There it was, his silver lining.