‘Think? That I can’t be bothered to let it get to me any more.’

They both shrugged and sat down on the rain-sodden cushions on the garden sofa.

Their friendship had begun thirty-two years earlier. They had been young back then, and the years had passed quickly; they had less than half of their lives left.

Ewert looked at his old friend. The only one he had really, the only person he talked to outside work, the only one he could bear to be with.

Bengt was still in good shape, slim, lots of hair. They were roughly the same age, but Bengt looked much younger. Maybe that was the effect of having young children. They forced you to stay young, as it were.

Ewert had no children and he had no hair and his body had grown heavy. He had a limp, while Bengt walked with a light step. They were both policemen and shared past and present in the Stockholm city force. Both had been given a finite gift of time, but Ewert had used up his faster.

Bengt let out an exasperated sigh.

‘It’s so bloody wet. I can’t even get the kids out of the house any more.’

Ewert was never sure why the family asked him over for breakfast, whether it was because they thought it would be nice or whether it was out of duty. Maybe they felt sorry for him, so lonely, so naked outside the four walls of the police headquarters. Whenever they asked, he went and never regretted it, but still he could not help wondering.

‘She seemed well today. Sent her regards. At least, I’m sure she would have.’

‘And what about you, Ewert? Are you all right?’

‘Why do you ask?’

‘I don’t know. It’s maybe just that you look… heavier these days. No, more burdened. Especially when you talk about Anni.’

Ewert heard him say this, but didn’t reply. He looked around and observed with disinterest the suburban life that he could not understand. The small villa was actually quite nice. Very normal. Brick walls, a bit of lawn, a bunch of neatly trimmed shrubs.