Winter Swan

When she didn't say a word, Kail turned toward her and hugged her tight.

He didn't ask her why she didn't say anything. She didn't pity him or feel sorry for him. It would have been nice for her to console him, but Silje couldn't think of the right words to say. She herself had a cold life surrounded by merciless people, so she had no warm words to offer him.

"…"

However, she was trembling, and she couldn't stop. Silje felt cold and as she looked into his frozen eyes, she realized the truth.

His eyes were empty just like hers. They both had gone though so much in life already. Growing up in the frozen northern land, Kail's eyes showed the desolation from living in it. They resembled each other so much and that was why she couldn't turn away from him.

He was her other half.

They looked at each other for a very long time.

"Why are you shivering? Are you cold?"

When Kail asked, Silje didn't look away. Instead, she answered quietly, "I think it's because I thought you might be cold. When I think of you in that cold land, I can't stop shivering."

There was no exaggeration in her words; Silje was just telling him exactly how she felt. She added, "I guess it just means that I can feel how you must've felt in that cold place."

Overwhelmed, Kail reached out and embraced her. He looked into her eyes and whispered, "I want you with unnerving desperation… Right now! When you die, I will take your body to Valhalla, to the gods. You will be the only woman I love until I die."

His words reached her blood and heart like poison.

Kail seeped into her soul like seductive venom.

***

Was it a dream?

She dreamed that a giant wave swept her away. The wave was the size of a house, and it licked her entire body. Every time the wave touched her, it stung. Yet, it felt strangely warm. The wave enveloped her gently and Silje felt peaceful and cozy.

"Don't worry. We are together, so give all of yourself to me."

The wave whispered to her, "Give up all your pain, fear, and worries, and give yourself to me completely."

The sun was shining on her.

There was the bright sun and the crystal-clear waves.

A complete and utter peace. Just for a moment, she wanted to let herself rest and give herself up to the wave. The tingling feeling that started from her ankles began to move up. Her body felt alive and electrified as the huge dark wave continued to engulf her.

She has always been alone, but not anymore. The wave gave her his hand and it was an incredibly seductive offer.

To not be alone anymore…

Silje thought, 'Sorry, but I want to be loved. To be honest, I have been so lonely. I want to stay in this warm wave forever… I don't ever want to leave.'

She felt ecstatic and happy.

When she woke up finally, she realized that her eyes were wet.

***

"Kail, I can hear the green linnets singing in the bushes."

Summer in the forest. The birds sang beautifully and constantly, letting everyone know that summer had arrived.

Silje drank in the fresh air.

"Kail, are you there?"

The trees created shadows all around her. When she heard a sudden noise behind her, Silje quickly turned around.

"Kail?"

Nothing, nothing, nothing…

Then Silje screamed as Kail suddenly jumped out and hugged her.

"… Haha."

Kail laughed and gave her a storm of kisses. Then, he took her hand and pulled her toward the stream.

He started to run, and Silje yelled at him with a breathless voice.

"Kail, you are running too fast! I can't breathe."

Kail just laughed and continued to run on the carpet of grass. The sun shone on them warmly and their bodies were sweating. Silje finally laughed and called out his name.

"Kail!"

A beautiful summer forest.

She was barefoot and with every step, the smell of freshly crushed grass filled her nose. Wildflowers and cool winds…

In the fairy tale woodland, they ran together.

When they reached the calm lake, they saw a boat floating on it waiting for them.

The scorching sun, blue water, and the green forest. Everything looked so beautiful and peaceful.

It was because Kail was with her.

Silje knew this would end someday, but she couldn't help but pray for this to last forever. She wanted to fall asleep in this place and never wake up. It would be such a sweet dream. Her eyes kept closing. To be with him forever…

When she woke up, she knew Kail had the same dream. The scent of the fresh forest still tickled her nose. She could still feel the exhilaration of running with Kail in the woods.

Bright sunlight. A never-ending light.

She smiled at the thought that perhaps this would last forever. Silje smiled often nowadays. She secretly wondered if the dark cloud in her heart would completely disappear one day.

The white nights of July.

It seemed like winter would last forever, but summer had arrived.

The Scandinavian summer.

"The white nights will begin in July. The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the summer when the sun remains visible during midnight. There will be various summer festivals…"

"Silje… Don't go. Stay with me."

Whenever she woke up, he was there with her and he would whisper her name sweetly. Life with Kail was too good, too seductive. Her life had always been such a battle that she couldn't refuse this peace. It was like she was dreaming.

She still couldn't believe this was real.

They spent all day enjoying each other. They would stay in the sauna or play in the grass outside. If it became too hot, they would run to the lake, swim, and make love. This was their secret life.

Just the two of them.

"The white night has finally ended. It has lasted a few months, and now the night has come back. The familiar winter will arrive soon…"

The summer they thought would last forever finally ended.

It was over.

And now, the familiar cruel winter was coming for them again.