Keely got off the bus at the central busport in the city and made her way towards Elizabeth Quay. She hadn’t visited the waterfront when she’d first arrived in Perth and had determined it would be her first port of call. It’d felt strange, checking in to the backpacker hostel again. She hoped this time she’d actually get to spend the night there. She smiled. It seemed ages since she’d flown in, ready to embark on her holiday, but only one month had gone by. Just as well we can’t see into the future, she thought. Who could’ve predicted everything that had happened in that time?

After spilling her story to Euan and Ken she had ended up going back and working two more days at the school. She’d been nervous at first, but everything had gone well – even Raff’s apology, where she discovered he liked to paint. After that he’d come with a mate after school each day and done some painting while she’d packed up the room. She’d been impressed by his talent with a brush and let Ken know.

Euan and Dianna had invited her for dinner each evening and Euan had said she could stay on at the studio for as long as she liked, but once her job at the school had finished she really had no more excuses to stay.

She’d accepted the connection she thought she’d had with Flynn had been nothing more than friendship. He’d gone a couple of days earlier to be with Kat, and Keely was doing her best to forget him and move on. It had been difficult enough saying goodbye to Euan. He’d been a great friend to her when she’d needed one most and she was very fond of him. She’d also enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Dianna. Keely was pleased to see their obvious happiness in being together.

Her phone pinged with a text message. She dug it out and smiled. It was from Marty. She’d let him know she was starting her journey up the coast. He and his mates were a lot further north already, in Carnarvon. He’d sent a photo of himself in front of a huge satellite dish and had said they were going to try kite surfing. She sent a reply. She didn’t know if she’d get there before they moved on but she hoped she’d catch up with them again at some point.