Winter Swan

Saturday noon at Oslo's Vigeland Park.

The park was busy with couples and families enjoying the beautiful day. Silje arrived on time; she looked down at her watch and wondered, 'Is he here?'

She looked around, but there was no sign of Kail. Silje walked around and reached the end of the park path, but even then, she didn't see him anywhere. As she walked back to the park entrance, Silje murmured to herself, "So it looks like he's not even going to show up."

Perhaps it was best that Kail didn't come.

As the wind blew against her, she looked down at her outfit. She carefully planned to wear her best clothes today, but unfortunately, she didn't have much to begin with. She had a meager allowance from her adoptive parents and whatever she earned at the cafe went into her savings for her future.

She wore her usual pink acrylic sweater and black coat, which showed clear signs of wear.

Did she look awful?

Looking down at her only pair of black fur boots, Silje smiled bitterly. She never cared about her looks before, so why was she so concerned now?

A date…

It didn't suit her to go on dates like the other girls.

Silje rarely met with people other than at work, so she felt uncomfortable with her current situation. And of all people, she was going on a date with Kail, the most popular guy from school.

It didn't feel real.

"Oh well, at least I kept my promise. So even if he doesn't come, it doesn't matter."

She was here, but she didn't plan on waiting for Kail for hours. She actually arrived a little earlier than the agreed time, so Silje decided to wait just a little while longer.

She walked around, enjoying the view. It was a crisp sunny day and the lake looked beautiful.

Silje walked up the gray stone stairs slowly when suddenly, she remembered why she chose Vigeland Park.

Passing the white swans in the lake, Silje quickly walked to the place where all the sculptures were displayed. She had forgotten the reason why she wanted to come here. It was because she wanted to see these statues.

"I always wanted to come here, and since I'm here now, I should enjoy it," Silje murmured to herself.

She had been busy with school and work that she hasn't had time to enjoy anything.

The sculptures were figures with various expressions. Some had frowns while others were smiling happily. Studying them carefully, Silje felt like she had entered the world of gods.

Standing in front of a statue with a scowl on its face, Silje couldn't take her eyes off of it.

In this world, there was much more sadness and pain than happiness. She was only eighteen, but her world was not golden and bright like some of the other girls'. Her life was unpredictable, dark, and gloomy. Silje felt like she was living in a cold and harsh snowstorm because she had gone through such incredible hardships already.

She knew that she will have better days in the future. Many sunny days were soon ahead, and with that hope, she had to endure the coldness she called her life.

Just a little while longer…

A freezing wind blew. With her usual stubborn expression, Silje put her hands in her pockets and continued to study the statues.

Just then, she heard his voice like a dream.

"You need to move aside a little. You are blocking the sunlight."

Silje slowly turned around and to her disbelief, she found Kail laying on the marble floor among the sculptures.

His face was covered with a book he was reading. Slowly, he moved the book away from his face and looked at Silje leisurely.

"You are so late that I fell asleep here."

"What?"

Silje shrugged her shoulders in annoyance. Kail stood up quickly and walked toward her.

Silje asked, "When did you get here? I walked around, but I didn't see you…"

"Did you think I wouldn't show up?"

Kail stretched his arms and to Silje's shock, he hugged her from behind.

Silje gasped, "I told you not to do things like this! Didn't you hear what I said before? Or are you just ignoring my wishes…"

Silje protested, but his hot breath and scent against her felt too good.

Kail murmured, "…Emotions."

His voice was quiet and seductive as he continued, "So many emotions here. The emotions of humans… Desperation, sadness, and pain. They are very similar to Goya and Munch's works. Can you feel the incredible pain within these pieces? People are so helpless against unhappiness and pain. That includes you and me too, don't you think? However, I must say that I fell for you because I saw that you wouldn't give up until the end even in the worst situations."

Kail smiled faintly, and Silje suddenly felt fearful that he was going to disappear in front of her eyes.

He was still holding her tightly, trying to feel her warmth and breath.

"…"

She could've pushed him away, but she didn't.

Just as she couldn't take her eyes off from the statues, she couldn't refuse Kail's warm hug. She didn't know why, nor did she want to.

She felt alive when she was with him. She had always been very dark inside like the black sea, but with him, she could feel more than just the coldness.

Even if it was only for a moment, she wanted to feel his warmth.

Silje turned around and asked, "Is your opinion based on your own life? Are you telling me that you had a painful life?"

At her quiet question, Kail only smiled and refused to answer. Silje wasn't surprised by his silence. Besides, he didn't have to say anything. Looking into his eyes, she could tell. His eyes told her everything she needed to know.

Silje asked again slowly.

"Tell me your story, Kail. Like these sculptures in Vigeland Park, tell me your story. I want to know about your life."

At her challenge, Kail finally opened his mouth. He was still hugging her as he replied, "You told me once that you will never run away. I was the same."

Kail smiled bitterly as he continued slowly, "It happened when I was very young. I was taken to one of Oslo's brothels. The first thing they did was put me in a dark basement for a few days. They did it because I wouldn't obey them. I was like a wild monkey then. I was rough on the edges and violent. My grandfather, who was a cruel man, beat me. Very unlike my own father. I guess I resemble my grandfather more than my father."