Hands still clasped; intertwined throughout the walk back from the school to the sanctuary of Holly's flat. The door shuts behind them with a loud bang, placing a barrier between them and the rest of the world. Both let out an audible sigh and lean against the door for a moment. Karen gives Holly's hand a comforting squeeze and softly places her other hand on the back of Holly's neck, pulling her closer so their foreheads touch. Holly feels her knees buckle and rests her head on Karen's small framed shoulder. Karen plants a soothing kiss on her forehead, in a bid to aid the migraine that was slowly consuming the mind of the person she cared most about.
Holly lets out an uncontrollable sob as Karen holds her tighter still, both, mentally drained and exhausted, slump on the floor in a tight embrace. Young Karen wraps both arms around and tries to console her lover. She holds a piece of Holly's hair that had fallen loose from her ponytail and lovingly twirls it in between her fingers, while gently cradling Holly, who now held a grip on Karen's arm, kissing her wrist with the yellow bracelet on it.
'I still have a few things left at my dad's place.' Karen says quietly, almost whispered, her eyes now transfixed on the sunset in the picture Holly had painted on the brown wooden easel standing adjacent to them. 'We could be out of Margate by this time tomorrow. I'm so sorry, I know your whole life must feel like it's upside down thanks to me'
She kisses Holly's forehead once more
'No…' Holly interrupts wearily. 'Never think like that. I love you so much, do you understand? It's just I'm so uncertain of what we do from here .'
'I love you too. I told you I'd come with you, it doesn't matter where. We just need to go. Get away. As far away from here as we possibly can.'
Karen now pulls her bright and vibrant yet tear-filled blue eyes away from the painting for a moment to look into the deep mysterious dark eyes that stared back at her. She takes her right index finger and slowly and softly strokes the outline of Holly's mouth before sincerely pressing their lips together. She takes her own hair out of its perfectly presented up do and lets her long brunette locks drape down the back of her blazer. It instantly matures, not ages, her youthful and beautiful face and Holly places a hand on her cheek and begins to stroke it. Karen sits Holly up slightly, still enclosed in her protective arms and points directly at the easel.
'I want to go there' she says forcefully
'So do I' Holly replies, and clasps Karen hand once more without any intentions of ever letting it go