The church bells begin to ring. Those gathered in the pews of the church listen to the sound. It almost like the air is vibrating with the sound of the bells. Outside it is an overcast November day. There is snow in the air. The weather is as sad as the moment. Eskil thinks of Lars and everything they have done over the years, they met in primary school. They followed each other through primary and secondary school. After graduating, Lars became a doctor and Eskil studied theoretical physics and eventually earned a doctorate in industrial economics. An odd combination, but one that has proved successful. Lars earned his doctorate in clinical physiology and became a popular doctor and colleague. This is evident when you see all the people gathered here today. Several other doctors and healthcare professionals. Some old friends and Lars' partner Anders.
Eskil's thoughts fly away during the act, thinking about what they did together and how empty life will be without Lars. They still met regularly, had dinner at KB, a restaurant, once a month, it had become a routine. Usually, it was just Eskil and Lars. Sometimes Anders would join, but they had the most fun with just the two of them. Lars had not yet turned fifty when he suffered a rupture of the main artery. It took thirty minutes before he was dead.
During the procession, Eskil stops for a moment by the coffin. He looks at the nameplate and mumbles a few words, thanking him for all the times they have spent together and finally says "see you," just as he always said when they parted.
Eskil has been divorced from his wife for five months ago. They had been married for twenty years and the divorce had been difficult for him. Their daughter lives with her mother, even though she has met a new partner.
At the gathering afterwards, Eskil sits down at a table, letting those closest to Lars be seated together. He ends up next to a woman who introduces herself as Maja. They chat a bit about Lars, and Eskil understands that she was a colleague, even though she is ten years younger than Lars was. They talk about Lars and his work. Lars had been Maja's mentor and supervisor. As people start to leave, they shake hands and part ways. Eskil goes up to Anders and thanks him for a nice funeral, wondering what he will do now.
"I really don't know. It will be so empty, even though we didn't live together, we met often, had a lot in common."
Eskil says something about them getting together, staying connected. The kind of thing you say and usually mean, but which then runs out of steam. Eskil goes out in the dark November afternoon. He stands at the bus stop and waits for the bus. He sees Maja who is also waiting. They nod to each other. When the bus arrives, they end up next to each other again.
"Where are you going?" Eskil asks.
"I live in the city, going to Odenplan. But I feel so sad. Such a sad day," she says.
"Yes, really. Yes, I'm also going to Odenplan, I live on Sveavägen. But I do not want to go home. Feels so empty."
"Indeed, funerals are difficult, I always get depressed. And the weather doesn't help. It feels like the cold is eating into my body, everything is just cold. Isn't there somewhere that has a nice warm fire and comfy armchairs? A hot drink and just thaw out."
"I don't know about fires. I don't think I've seen it anywhere. Otherwise, it would be a fantastic idea. A mug of hot wine or tea with rum would be nice," Eskil replies, thinking of all the ski trips he and Lars have made over the years.
"Can't we go somewhere, find somewhere warm, just sit and relax. But I want to get out of these awful clothes first. Have to go home and change."
"Yes, that would be great. Do you have any place in mind? I can go first, and you can join me after you change."
"No, I don't know any good places. But I have a fireplace, and wine. Would you like to come to my house? Or is that a bit too forward, not something a woman should suggest with someone she's just met. But Lars has often told me about you, when he has drawn parallels with my research work, I think I know you quite well already."
"Sounds fantastic. Yes, if you can manage to have a guest, that would be fantastic."
"Come on, we have to get off now."
The bus stops at Odenplan and Eskil follows Maja as she walks to the street she lives on. She opens a door, and they take the elevator up three flights of stairs. Once inside the hall, Eskil looks around. A nice hall with a fireplace. A sofa that is angled towards the fireplace. On one wall hangs a large painting of a boat in waves. A heavy curtain makes the hall look cozy, provides warmth.
"Are you good at making fire? Firewood and lighters are there. I need to go and change, get a bit more comfortable. Make yourself at home in the meantime."
Maja disappears into the apartment. He hears her rattling her clothes, flushing water and then it sounds like she is doing something in the kitchen. In the meantime, Eskil has started the fire in the stove and it is getting really hot. Maja comes back with a tray of cups and honey. She is wearing a long, warm, and comfortable bathrobe that goes all the way down to her feet. A pair of furry slippers on her feet. She has let her hair out, so it hangs freely down to her shoulders, framing her face. She looks cute, a little girlishly cute. A smile on her lips when she sees the fire.
"How nice. The tea is almost hot. All that's missing is some candles. I'm crazy about candles," she says, setting out two silver candelabras and lighting the candles. A warm glow illuminates the room. Maja goes into the kitchen to get the tea. Eskil has sat down on the sofa and set out the cups.
When Maja returns, she leans forward and starts pouring tea into the cups. A gap in the bathrobe gives Eskil a good view of Maja's breasts, which are only half hidden. They hang down a little and he sees the gap between her breasts. She is not wearing a bra, it seems. Eskil tears his eyes away from the view and meets Maja's eyes, which are smiling at him. "Wow, what is this? Was it deliberate or did it just happen?" he thinks. She must have seen that Eskil was looking and understood what he saw.
When the tea is poured, she goes around the table and sits next to Eskil. They take honey and add some rum. They sit quietly next to each other, stirring the cups and looking into the fire. As they begin to sip the tea, they both feel the warmth returning to their bodies. The fire is warming from the outside and the tea from the inside. Eskil glances at Maja. She is sitting to his right and her bathrobe is open towards him. When she moves, he can see how her body moves under the bathrobe. The gap allows him to glimpse her breasts.
"Oh, that's nice, now I'm starting to thaw out. How do you feel? Make yourself comfortable if you want, it looks almost uncomfortable with a jacket and tie. Do you want a bathrobe too? I didn't think of that. I have one that I'm sure will fit you perfectly."
"It looks nice, the way you have it. Loose and warm. Yes, please, if it doesn't feel strange to you," says Eskil.
"No, just the opposite. Feels more comfortable if you are comfortable too," she says and goes out to get a bathrobe.
"How should I do this?" Eskil asks himself when he gets the bathrobe. Should he strip here and put it on or sneak into the toilet? He starts to take off his jacket and tie. It feels strange to wear the shirt, so he takes it off and then puts on the bathrobe. Maja looks at him with a slightly funny smile. Is this a test, to see how he copes with the situation? He wraps his bathrobe around him but keeps his pants on.
"You can't keep your pants on, it looks a bit strange," says Maja.
"Yes, is it okay if I take off my pants too?" says Eskil a little hesitantly.
"Yes, you should not have anything under a bathrobe. It's most comfortable that way. But you do what you want," she says encouragingly.
Eskil turns around, unbuttons his pants, and takes off both them and his underwear. If there's nothing underneath, there should be nothing. At the same time, it feels a little nerve-wracking to take everything off, be naked under the bathrobe and know that she knows he is naked. Eskil can only guess that she is just as naked, he hasn't seen her take off her clothes.
"There you go. That feels better. Now we are on the same playing field. Of course, it's nice and a little, well a little..." she says.
