Chapter 1: The first dinner

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"Mmmm… This is tremendous! My congratulations to the chef!"
"I'll convey it to him."

Dinner passed calmly; too calmly. Night had already fallen and the only light that came in from the street was from those streetlights that make everything that covers their focus turn to butane orange. The streets, empty, deserted, as was to be expected during a lock-down, made the sound of our cutlery and even our bites seem pure scandal. Sven was sleeping peacefully on the side of the couch, and Anna seemed to want to tell me something but she couldn't bring herself to let her voice out. On the third try, I had to intervene.

"Am I really need to get the wine out for you to tell me what you have in mind?"

Anna laughed a little embarrassed and made my eyes open wide. I didn't know that such a scandalous and sassy woman could feel ashamed.

"No, it's just that… I can't find the moment to tell you what I'm doing here; it seems very forced. But I suppose you deserve to know. I mean, you let me in your… home! without even knowing me."
"What about that pause?" I asked knowing that the answer was that my little cubbyhole couldn't be considered a house by her. She probably came from a much more fancy home.

"Well, the truth is… I'm used to… more open spaces."
"Very subtle," I laughed. "You know you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, right?"
"I want to. I need to talk to someone."
"Okay. I'm listening."
"The truth is that I do have a home. Well, my parents', you know. And it's big and luxurious. My mother is a notary and my father is a lawyer, and let's say we live quite well."
"And what's the 'I don't have a place to live' thing?"
"Yeah, it's a house, but it's not very cozy, you know? My parents had very high expectations for my sister and me; they wanted us to continue the family business, but neither of us have ever been attracted to it. My sister ran away from home with her girlfriend as soon as she turned sixteen and went to work as a winter-themed party decorator."
"The snow queen."
"Yes. That's her company's name. And they are doing very well. But, since she's no longer on their list of 'heirs', they are putting much more pressure on me. I was only thirteen years old and, since then, they've controlled me much more so that the same thing as with Elsa doesn't happen. I can hardly see anyone, I have private tutors, I don't leave the house except with them… And, as much as I have no interest in the business, I have no idea what to do and I don't know how to refuse. I'm grown up enough to think about what to specialize in, I'm already eighteen! I'm running out of time."

"And if they don't let you out, how did you get here?"
"I ran away. I asked my sister for money and I left there."
"So, you running away from your parents?"
"Not exactly. I'm trying to see the world and meet different people, see other forms of work… whatever gives me a clue of what kind of job or studies could make me happy."
"I see. And, they have not put any missing person report?"
"Nope. They know why I left, I left them a note. They also know Elsa helped me. And of course, and as the main reason, they don't want bad press."
"But, you were trying to get home today, weren't you?"
"Yeah... I've been stumbling for a month and a half. I can't keep throwing away my sister's money like this and my parents wouldn't support me in this. Moreover, after all this time, I am at the same point as when I started, so I only can go back and resign myself to studying law or some kind of thing. It gives me shudders just thinking about it…"
"Well, now you have a good excuse to don't come back for a while. You can't go out, but, at least, this situation gives you some time to think it over and, maybe, find a solution."

Anna smiled at me tenderly and I felt my guts warning me of her presence.

"Time will tell," she finally concluded. "And, tell me, what's your history? What makes tremendous Norwegian living in this little room in a faraway country?"
"Oh well… Let's just say that my origin is a little different from yours. I have no idea who my parents are. I grew up in an orphanage until my family adopted me when I was eight."

"Oh, I'm so sorry… Was it hard?"

The concern on her face seemed sincere, but I didn't feel comfortable telling my history. Sorrowful faces didn't make one feel better.

"It's fine. It was certainly not a comfortable place. There is no one there who genuinely cares about you and fights are the order of the day, but otherwise, it was quite acceptable. I ate well, had warm clothes, and a roof. I also made a few friends, although since I've been adopted I haven't heard from any of them."
"And your family? Are they good people?"
"They are amazing people. They always treat me with great affection and took care of me like no one else had. But it was a very humble family, and there were many, many of them, and all of them short and talkative. And I, as grateful as I feel, never felt that I was really one of them and, above all, I didn't want to abuse their kindness. One more mouth in that home was not just anything."
"So, you left?"
"As soon as I was old enough to work I started looking, but it is difficult to find work being so young and with the studies on half as I had them, so I went from job to job while studying for a year until a tourist offered me the job I have now."
"What do you work at?"
"I'm a janitor at a high school. Nothing too glamorous, but I'm good at it and I don't have to deal with people a lot."
"Are you a lone wolf?"
"I wouldn't say that. I just don't feel very comfortable with people. It's not that they bother me or anything, but I've gotten used to always being a bit on my own and it's difficult for me to coordinate with others."
"And you still offered me your house?"
"You needed help."
"So you are a good boy, huh?"
"From time to time."
"Well, I am do going to abuse the kindness of this good boy and I'm going to sleep. I'm tired."
"Alright. Have a nice rest. As soon as I pick this up, I'll turn off the lights."
"Don't worry. No lights nor noise can disturb my sleep."
"For some reason, it doesn't surprise me."

Anna got up and rummaged in her suitcase until she found extremely wrinkled pajamas. Then, with them made a ball on her arm, she ducked into the bathroom while shuffled her feet.

About five minutes later she came out of there with her pajamas on and her loose hair falling over her shoulders. A more beautiful image than I expected to find before going to sleep. She lay down on the bed, bundled herself up, and looked at me with a sleepy smile.

"Kristoff."
"Yes?"
"Thank you."

It was just a word, but there was so much behind it that it hit me to the core.

"You are welcome."

And with the same smile, she closed her eyes and turned her back on me, entrusting her life to a complete stranger.