Page 100 of The Secret to Belonging

your muscles ache

your heart smiles

ELVE (ELEVEN)

at home again

you hear ringing in your dream

in your dream

Espen’s calling to say he loves you

he wants to take you backpacking

across Europe

Eurail passes

hostels

hitchhiking country roads

the backpacking plan is actually real

you were awake for that

but the ringing phone is also real

and it shouldn’t be

it’s after midnight

your stomach constricts

your breath comes fast

the cupboard in your chest locks

you keep your eyes closed

roll over

try to escape back into sleep

back into your dream

but

you can’t close your ears

Bjørn’s faraway voice

echoes from the front hall

hallo? ja? yes, please wait a moment

you know it’s for you