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Kym stands in the snow alone, as if waiting for someone.
It feels like she’s been waiting for a long, long time.
She perks up suddenly, noticing a figure walking towards her. From afar, Lauren waves at her.
Kym grins and waves back happily. “Lauren!”
“Hey Kym,” Lauren greets once she’s close enough. The two start walking together with smiles on their faces.
“Took you a bit,” Kym comments.
“Kieran stopped me for a quick chat,” Lauren shrugs. At that, Kym’s lips quirk up. She notices the persistent smile on her friend’s face at the mention of Kieran, she must be happy with him even if she doesn’t admit it.
“All four of us should hang out,” Kym proposes. “You, me, Will, Kieran…”
Lauren smiles. “Sure. Why not?”
“Dunno. I am the death of Will, after all. You and Kieran can watch me torment him while we eat or something.”
Lauren laughs at that. “As if everything you do at the precinct isn’t enough.”
At the sound of Lauren’s laugh, Kym’s breath hitches, and she slows down. It’s the sound of tinkling bells, simple and bright. It reminds her of something that could never be.
Simplicity and happiness. Neither of those she could hold on to after the explosion.
It hurts.
Smile gone, she turns to Lauren, who had stopped in her tracks too. She smiles knowingly, melancholically, as if she knows what Kym is thinking. There’s lead weighing down Kym’s chest upon seeing Lauren’s face.
She wants to reach out and touch her - her face, her clothes, anything - but she knows it’s impossible.
“…You know, Laur,” Kym sighs, barely able to meet her eyes. Like holding her gaze on those distant golden orbs would shatter her already mangled heart. “I really wish you were here.”
Lauren smiles sadly.
“Me too, Kym.”
As Kym blinks away a tear, Lauren is already gone.
She’s been waiting for a long, long time.