The concert had finally finished and both Frank and Elsa were packed and ready to run

away from
The Golden Age together. Upon eagerly waiting for everyone to leave, they ran into Ida, who was
finally filled with joy and passion from her concert performance. A smile from ear to ear like morning
gold, quick, excited breaths, and her eyes were so wide and open as if she truly saw the beauty in
her newfound country which she longed to call home. She reminded Frank about her love for him
and flowered him with kisses like she was never going to see him again. Frank began to second guess
saying goodbye to his mother and as she hugged him, he squeezed her tighter as if there was no
tomorrow. Frank felt as if he was about to betray her, so he decided to write her a letter which he
hid in his room. Ida then set off on her way home with Meyer, still smiling. Frank was pleased with
what he thought could possibly be his last goodbye to his beloved parents, especially with his
mother. He felt calmness within that made him feel lighter and ready to leave.

When the clock struck midnight, Frank and Elsa were out the door on their way to begin their new
life together. Both were over the moon with excitement. The wind of the trees whooshed, the
crickets chirped, owls hooting, giving off a mysterious and eery feel to the environment around them
but they still were set on their ways to live a long life together. The night was cold and silent which
made them all the closer, they felt as if they were birds, free from being caged away and free from
The Golden Age. The excitement of the two did not cooperate with their recoveries. They wanted to
physically run and feel free together, but they were incapable of doing so due to the pain of their
recovery. They moved along slowly helping one another as if they were an elderly couple. Although
they may not have been able to move with excitement, the feeling they shared was filled with so
much passion and love it was as if the world around them was irrelevant. Looking intensely deep
into one another’s eyes, they held on tight with unbreakable smiles. Running away was easy, not
knowing what to do next was the hard part. Neither of them knew where they were going or where
they wanted to go but they were just glad to be alone together and about to start their own lives as
a couple. Elsa wanted to go anywhere that was near a beach but far away from The Golden Age, as if
makes her feel like water in the ocean that never stops moving and can do as it wants. The two’s
love was like an ocean. They then travelled on their way to the train station. Once they arrived, the
two begin following the tracks as there was no trains running, so they chose a direction and continue
their lifelong adventure together.

Later that morning, Sister Penny realised that both Frank and Elsa had disappeared. She searched
the entire building and their surroundings and becomes extremely worried. She travelled to both the
families houses of Frank and Elsa. First arriving at the Golds’ house, Ida is devastated by the news,
suddenly overreacting and thinking the worst of what could have happened to her son. Sally, Elsa’s
sister answers the door at the Briggs’ house to find Ida and Sister Penny, she goes to grab her mum,
Margaret. The two mums and Sister Penny all then travel to the local police station, which was old,
broken down, and inefficient, sent the ladies home till they have been missing for 48 hours. Once all
three returned back to The Golden Age to have one final look to see if the two had returned home,
Sister Penny went off to organise a search party, while the mothers went to the rooms of their
children to see if there was any clues left behind or anything at all that could help them find their
innocent, young children. When Ida was in Frank’s room alone, she notices the corner of a letter
peeking out from under Frank’s pillow addressed to her. She opens the letter and struggles to hold
back her tears.

Mother,

If you are reading this, I have disappeared, travelling with Elsa to fulfil our love for one another, and
escape The Golden Age to feel liberated from the dark reality which surrounds it. I know we are
young, but there are some things that only we can understand, and we know that there is nothing
but love between us both. I know you’re scared, but you must know that this is how we want to live
our life. The Golden Age felt paralysing rather than liberating. We were being treated for our
conditions and yet they only appeared to worsen. It was dark and the only flicker of light was Elsa,
and I can never let her go. We can be together now, and we can live our lives free of guilt from the
burdens we put on our parents. I know that we are not as healthy as we can be, but any sense of
freedom that we obtain now will last us for a lifetime. We need to escape, just for a while. Please
don’t try to find me or Elsa as we will return when the time is right. We need to do this as The Golden
Age left us incapable and didn’t give us the chance to live our lives. Give us the chance to take back
what polio took from us.

I want you to know that I love you and I will see you soon.

Love, Frank.

***