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Young
The only time of the year they saw each other was during summer. Their families were neighbors in the little town where they lived in the holidays, next to the sea. They spent almost every day together since they met. Both of them remembered the way they had known each other: he had held her hand when she seemed too afraid to go toward the waves, being little kids. Their mothers had just watched them, as he led her across the sand toward the sea. Her tiny toes had touched the water and she had squealed with joy, going a little bit deeper in but not too much as he held her back. They had had play dates as their parents got to know each other and finally became friends.
They missed each other during the school year. They would often count the days until they would see the other again. They fought over everything, toys, pencils and sand castles. Their families visited each other very often during the holidays, and tried to do so even during the school year and winter break. Once, they had spent Christmas and New Year together.
When high school began for them, their encounters were more occasional. She would spend the holidays with her friends, and he would spend them with his girlfriend at the time. Kate was jealous of the girls, but had never admitted it to anyone but her. She could never hear when he tried to tell her about this girl she kissed or that one he went out with. Rick hated it when she smiled about a guy. He hated the way her eyes seemed to smile too. Neither one had ever tried to have a romantic relationship with each other. They didn't find their relationship as more than friends. Sure, they liked each other and would never admit it, but they kept it a secret for being an impossible scenario for both.
Kate never expected flowers when she had graduated. She had no idea anyone would even send her such, and shed a tear when she read the letter that came with it: Kate, we are really proud of you. We'll ask for pictures! Make it a night to remember. Love from Martha & Rick. She missed them really much, but there had been no time anymore to get together.
They went to her nineteenth birthday party. He and his mother had to fly across the country; they had moved and now were so far away from the Beckett family. It had been a surprise, most of all for Rick, who didn't expect to open the door to find a guy kissing Kate passionately. Ice coursed through his veins at the sight, but he kept a straight face and made nothing of it. The party went by swiftly, no more kissing from any of the two, but a strange atmosphere was felt when they were near each other.
The day of the tragedy, the first person to be there for her was Martha. She heard the news from Jim, Kate's father. Soon after, Rick was there, holding Kate as she cried her eyes out over her mother. She is so young to be so broken, he had thought. His mother and he tried to help with whatever there was that they could do. They attended the funeral, where everyone said beautiful words about how amazing Johanna had been, how she would be missed by everyone, how everyone was truly sorry about her being so young when she left them.
That was the last time Rick had seen Kate. Broken, dressed all in black, trying to keep a straight face for her father and everyone there. Her eyes red and puffy, she had been crying for days without stopping. He hated seeing her this way, but didn't know what to do. Eventually, the time to go away again came. He had to go to college, and his mother had auditions. They hugged like they were saying goodbye forever. Only three words were spoken between them.
"Thank you."
"Always."