Epilogue

Eli and Anna were sitting on Eli's bed.

'Eli, do you want me to give you a makeover?'

'If you want - but I'm a bit sleepy.'

'Oh well, maybe tomorrow. You're not really into make-up and stuff, right?'

'No. Sorry.'

'That's OK. You're very pretty, so I guess you don't need it anyway.'

Eli blushed, and was about to reply, when she was interrupted by Oskar knocking on the open door. He stepped into the room.

'It's girls only in here!' said Anna, and threw a pillow at him.

Oskar picked it up and approached them, making a gesture as if to hand it over to Eli, and instead flung it at Anna.

'Hey!'

Eli and Anna exchanged glances, and then got up and seized one of Oskar's arms each, trying to pin them to his sides and tackle him; he had managed to break free from Anna's grip, but not from Eli's, when they were interrupted by knocking.

'It's only me,' said Emma. 'Eli, Stina just called. I was wondering if you're up for your boxing lessons tomorrow?'

'I don't know - Anna, do you want to come and watch? It's not actually fighting, it's more like training.'

'Sure.'

Emma hesitated; in the meantime, Eli let go of Oskar's arm and took his hand in hers.

'Anna, I'll check with your dad first to see if it's OK with him, if not, maybe we can all go swimming or something. Good night, you two, don't stay up late. Come on, Oskar, out.'

Eli let go of Oskar's hand, and they kissed goodnight.

'Good night, Anna.'

'Good night.'

Oskar and Emma left for their respective rooms.

'Is Oskar taking boxing lessons too?'

She would never say anything about it, but Anna could see what Eli saw in him.

'No. Stina doesn't want to teach boys.'

'Oh. She's that friend of your foster mother's that went to my house with her and you two, right?'

'Yes. She's my friend, too, and I've known her almost since I've known Emma.'

'I don't think I ever asked you how you first met her. Were you in an orphanage?'

'No, I had an accident and Emma was there and she helped me.'

'Oh. Were you badly hurt?'

'Well, it hurt a lot but I was better soon.'

'Maybe it was a good thing in the end - you can tell she loves you very much, you and Oskar.'

'Yes. We've been very lucky.'

'The three of you, yes. Eli, I've been wondering... well, you never explained to me why you said you were a boy. You even said your name wasn't Elisabet when I asked you.'

She elbowed Eli gently, making a face of mock anger.

'You had Pappa fooled, you know. I'm sure he really thought that you were a boy that looked like a girl.'

That was what had been agreed upon - the official story was that Eli had always been a girl called Elisabet.

'Well, I... used to think of myself as a boy, a long time ago.'

'But not any more?'

'No, not any more.'

'And Oskar likes girls, right?'

'Yes.'

'Well, I'm glad you're a girl, because if not maybe Pappa wouldn't have let you stay with me when you went for a sleepover. We need to do it again, but for longer this time. In the summer we should have week-long sleepovers, instead of just the weekend, what do you think?'

'Sure, I'd like that.'

And I'm sure Vincent wouldn't have minded us sharing a bed even if I hadn't become a girl, as long as I was cured.

'I'm sure Pappa will say yes, what about your foster mom?'

'I think she'll say yes, too.'

'Good! And you know, Pappa really means it, when he says Oskar has a knack for photography and he'd love to teach him more about it, if he's interested.'

'He is. He told me.'

'That's settled, then. Eli... I know there are lots of things you're not telling me.'

'I'm sorry. But it's... complicated.'

Anna nodded.

'That's OK. Everyone's allowed to have secrets.'

Eli, what terrible things were done to you? You don't talk about them because you're afraid of hurting me, or because you don't want to remember?

'Anna, maybe we should go to sleep now, if we're going to my boxing class tomorrow.'

'OK. I'll switch off the light.'

As Anna got up to do so, Eli switched on a lamp next to her desk.

'I'm sorry. I forgot you're afraid of the dark.'

'That's OK, I think I'm getting better. If we open the curtains, there'll be enough light from the street so I won't feel blind.'

Anna sat on the bed.

'But in the daytime...'

'I'm fine now, it was just right after I got better from my allergy that I was still afraid of sunlight.'

Anna gave her a hug.

'I'm sorry, I wish things were easier for you.'

'But they are. A lot easier than they were.'

***

'Hello?'

'Hi, Vincent, it's Emma.'

'Hi, how's everyone doing?'

'The kids are fine, they've gone to bed. I wanted to ask you, Eli takes boxing lessons with Stina on Saturdays, and Anna wants to come along tomorrow and watch, is that OK with you?'

'Sure, no problem. How about Oskar, is he going along as well?'

'Probably not, he usually goes swimming while Eli's at her boxing lessons.'

'I'm glad he has no problem with swimming pools, given his experiences.'

'Yes.'

'And Eli...?'

'She's doing well, she's not afraid of sunlight at all any more. Her fear of the dark is getting better.'

Emma, she used to be part of what makes darkness fearsome.

'But I imagine that the hardest part wouldn't be adapting to not being a... vampire, but the other change.'

'Well, once she learned the practicalities of being a girl, I think she just didn't think about it. She's a tomboy, of course.'

'I see.'

'Being female isn't that bad, you know.'

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean...'

'No, it's OK. Vincent...'

She paused, trying to collect her thoughts.

'You remember what it was like to be a boy Oskar's age, and you have a daughter... Vincent, what worries me, what keeps me awake at night, is what's gong to happen to them as they get older. What's going to happen to their love, as they'll both inevitably change with age.'

'You know, when I was thirteen, I had a girlfriend my age. I liked her, but it was nothing special or serious for me. I can't even remember how it ended. About a decade later, I found out she had just died after a car crash.'

'How horrible.'

'Yes. When she was dying, her last words were... my name. We hadn't met in years. She was only thirteen when we were boyfriend and girlfriend, yet it was obviously a serious relationship for her. So it can happen, even if it rarely does. And Eli and Oskar saved each other's life.'

Emma didn't answer, pondering his words.

'Anyway, they seemed to be doing fine, last time I saw them.'

'Yes.'

Emma wished Vincent had asked questions about the boxing, or had discussed it instead of immediately agreeing.

'Vincent, do you think the boxing lessons are a good idea?'

'Yes, of course. Look, Anna's been taking karate lessons for a while, and it doesn't mean...'

'But given Eli's past, I'm not sure it's good to...'

'She showed me a lot of her past, you know. And I still think it's good that she should learn some type of self-defence. And I think with Stina she's in good hands.'

Stina is the sort of woman I'd like Anna to have as a role model.

'You're probably right.'

'Emma, for what it's worth, I think you're doing a pretty good job as their mother. Anyway, say hi to the kids for me.'

'Sure.'

'And give Stina my regards when you see her.'

'I will. Bye.'

'Bye.'

***

Emma rang the doorbell. Stina opened the door.

'Come in. Eli's in the shower.'

Emma and Oskar stepped in.

'Hi, Oskar,' said Anna, standing next to Stina.

'Hi.'

Soon Anna was showing him the moves she had learned on Stina's punching bag, in the former bedroom Stina had turned into a gym, while Emma and Stina sat on the couch.

'Eli's getting good at it, you know. I think she could beat most boys her age in a fistfight. Don't look at me like that, she needs to be able to defend herself.'

'I guess so. I take it Anna was interested as well?'

'Oh yes. Pity she doesn't live nearby, it'd be fun to regularly teach the two of them.'

'Since when do you like children?'

Before Stina could answer, Eli came out of the bathroom. She was fully dressed but her hair was still dripping wet.

'I was just telling Emma that you're getting good at boxing. Oh, and Anna is showing off what she learned today, why don't you show them how it's done?'

Eli smiled, and went off to join Anna and Oskar.

'Stina...'

'Hmm?'

'I was thinking of taking the kids to that new Italian place for ice cream. Would you like to come?'

'I don't like ice cream.'

'Come on, you can have coffee or something.'

'Yes, but...'

'Stina, the children like you. Come on.'

Emma saw hesitation, perhaps even a certain anguish, on Stina's face.

'Well, all right.'

***

As Eli's scream died down, Emma and Oskar nearly ran into each other as they rushed into Eli's room. Emma switched on the light.

Eli had sat up in bed, covered in cold sweat, her frightened eyes wide open.

'I'm... OK. I had a nightmare.'

A few minutes later, Emma and the children were sitting around the kitchen table. Eli took a sip of the hot cocoa Emma had lovingly prepared, and took Oskar's hand in hers.

'I... I dreamed that I was still sick and I was drinking blood from your arm and... I couldn't help myself, I just couldn't and... Oskar, I went for your neck. You fell and I landed on top of you, you were trying to push me off but I was much stronger and I... broke your arms and bit you. And drank.'

'Eli, in the real world you never attacked me.'

'You know, this is the first time I'm glad I'm not strong any more.'

'Did you miss being strong a lot, before?'

'No. The only thing about being strong I really miss is carrying you.'

Eli remembered what Anna had said, on the night they had met, about carrying Oskar and, for the first time since she'd woken up, smiled a little. She noticed Emma was smiling thoughtfully. She met Eli's gaze.

'I was just thinking that in a way your life is the opposite of your nightmare; you didn't bite Oskar...'

'I nearly did...'

'... and you used your strength to save his life. And instead of the infection controlling you and destroying Oskar, the infection is gone.'

***

Vincent put away the photographic paper in its packaging, and put it in a drawer.

'Ready, Oskar.'

Oskar turned off the red light and switched on the regular white light. The two of them examined the photograph, still wet, they'd just printed. It was a black and white photo of Anna and Eli smiling with a kind of mischievous innocence.

'I think it's pretty good, what about you?'

Oskar nodded in agreement.

'Vincent...'

'Yes?'

'Thank you.'

'What for?'

'For... everything, I guess.'

Thank you for being the nearest thing I have to a father that cares.

'It's been a pleasure. Let's print it again, then Anna and I can keep a print and and you and Eli can keep another. What do you say?'

'Sure.'

***

'Hello?'

'Stina?'

'Speaking.'

'Hi, this is Vincent. I wanted your advice on something.'

'Fire away.'

'Well, I think Anna has enjoyed the couple of times she's been to Eli's boxing lessons, so I've been thinking about boxing lessons for her. She's been taking karate for a while but I think it's beginning to bore her.'

'I see. So you want me to teach her?'

'Well, the problem is we live a bit far away for that to happen weekly, but maybe you know someone...'

'I'm afraid I don't. Still, you and Anna are welcome to drop by any time.'

'Thanks.'

'Actually, if it makes it easier for you, Anna is welcome to stay overnight, or with Emma, I'm sure she wouldn't mind. We can probably arrange something, at least occasionally. Anna is a nice girl.'

'That's very generous of you. You live alone, right?'

'Yes. Space wouldn't be a problem.'

'Well, maybe we could arrange on a lesson every fortnight, something along those lines. What would your charges be?'

'Let me think about it. I don't charge for Eli's lessons, so I haven't worked it out. Vincent, why are you so keen on self-defence for her? Karate, boxing?'

'I want her to be able to defend herself. I don't want her to be bullied again. I take it Oskar and Eli didn't tell you how we met?'

'No, they didn't.'

'Some older boys from school bullied Anna and a friend of hers. I ambushed and threatened their leader with a knife. I was older and stronger than him, but it hadn't mattered to him that he was older and stronger than Anna. They left her alone after that. Eli and Oskar saw what happened. Eli had drunk blood that was tainted somehow, and she looked ill, and they came to my place. I gave Eli a little of my blood, but I made them leave as obviously it was dangerous to have Eli around Anna. The rest I think you know already.'

'I think you did the right thing.'

'Anyway, since Anna got bored with karate but seems interested in boxing, or at least in your boxing lessons, I decided to ask you. I've not talked to Anna yet but I think she'll like the idea.'

'Well, let me know what she thinks, and I'm sure we can work something out if she's interested.'

'Sure. Bye.'

'Bye.'

***

Eli was leaning against a tree, with her eyes closed, feeling the sunlight on her skin. Though she had overcome her fear of the dark, she much preferred daylight.

Oskar tiptoed out of the house, walking noiselessly on the grass.

'Eli, think fast!'

Oskar threw a water balloon at her; Eli managed to stop it with her arm, splashing her face.

'I'll get you for this!' yelled a smiling Eli.

Oskar rushed into the house, chased by Eli; he was stronger, and a faster runner on an open field, but Eli was more agile and Stina had trained her to use it to her advantage. Emma watched anxiously from the couch, hoping they would neither hurt themselves nor break anything.

Eli managed to give Oskar a playful kick; he regained his balance but Eli then managed to tackle him onto the rug in the middle of the living room, landing on Oskar's back and quickly pinning his arms.

'I give in!'

Eli grinned, enjoying her victory. Emma saw something change in her expression, a certain glint in her eye. Then something seemed to trouble her, and Emma saw fear in her eyes. Eli released Oskar and fled to her room.

Oskar sat up.

'What happened?'

'I'm not sure,' said Emma. 'I'll go talk to her, I think it's best if you stay here.'

Oskar nodded uncertainly.

Emma went to Eli's room and knocked on the door, getting no response.

'Eli, it's me. What's wrong?'

'I... come in.'

Emma did so. Eli was sitting on her bed and gazing out the window.

'Eli...'

'I'm sorry.'

'Eli, what scared you?'

Eli turned towards Emma, biting her lip.

Should I make assumptions?

'I think I have some idea of... I read the look in your eyes before you became frightened. I realize this must be embarrassing, but I want to understand, and I want to help you, you and Oskar.'

'After I landed on Oskar, I... I wanted to... I don't know.'

But you do know, I think. Is it so terrifying that you cannot say it?

'Eli, come here.'

Eli reluctantly stood up; Emma put her hands on Eli's shoulders and gently pulled her towards the wardrobe mirror.

'Take a look at yourself. You're biologically a healthy adolescent girl -a gynaecologist concluded that, as did Stina- and you've been that for a while now. You know as well as I do that it's natural that you... Eli, talk to me, what exactly are you afraid of?'

'I'm not sure.'

And I was foolish enough to worry that you two would go too fast as you got older.

'It's not... bad. Things could be a lot more difficult, I mean, imagine if you had discovered you liked girls, for example.'

'Oskar didn't care that I wasn't a girl. Even if I liked girls I would love him,' said Eli fiercely.

'Yes. Fortunately neither you nor Oskar need to make that kind of sacrifice.'

Eli nodded.

'I realize it must difficult, but if you feel you need to talk to someone, remember I've been female longer than you have, and I was once a teenager. Anyway, poor Oskar is in the living room, wondering what the hell happened. Shouldn't we go join him?'

***

Emma paused to sip her coffee.

'Anyway, it should've been obvious to me what jumping on someone and feeling a craving of some sort would remind Eli of. But I didn't think of it until later - at first I didn't think anybody was thinking of anything other than rough-and-tumble play, and then when I saw the look on Eli's face, I didn't think of her past as a... hunter.'

'But she didn't deny anything of what you told her, right?' asked Stina.

'No, she didn't.'

'Well, then at least you interpreted the look on her face correctly.'

'I guess so. But... well, what do you think I should do? How do I help Eli deal with her past?'

'Emma, I'm a pathologist, my patients are not the type that talk about their problems or that require a particular bedside manner, I'm as clueless as you are. In other circumstances I'd say some sort of therapist should talk to her, but there's no therapist that would believe the truth. Apart from us two, and Oskar and Vincent, nobody would.'

'I don't think Vincent could help much, do you?'

'No, he's got many fine qualities, but I don't think he can help with this.'

'I don't know what to do.'

'I think doing nothing is best; teenagers need their own space after all. And you're like a mother figure.'

'That's why I didn't insist more. I was tempted to, but I do remember what being a teenager was like.'

A mother figure? In any case, I love them as if they were my own, I guess.

'I have no professional expertise on this, but I think you've handled everything very well. With any luck, Eli's... issues are something she'll overcome, like her fear of the dark.'

'I hope you're right. Anyway, if I'm sort of a mother figure to them, you're sort of like a big sister to Eli.'

'I'm older than you, and I'm too old to be her sister.'

'Eli's much older than you.'

'You know what I mean.'

'Stina... a teenager might be more willing to talk to an older sister than to a mother.'

'Well, I did talk to her about her new physiology, and she wasn't keen to hear about the new organs inside her.'

'That's not what I meant, I see no reason to worry about her physical health right now, but... Well, I think her issues are with the new feelings she's experiencing as she gets older, but for all I know it's about something else, like being a girl in and of itself, most boys...'

'Yes, but Eli wasn't most boys, at least not since it all started.'

'True, but clothes are one thing, her body...'

'Look, I think it would be more worrying if this sort of thing wasn't happening, I remember that the first time...'

Emma signalled her to stop.

'Stina, if it gets worse or something, would you talk to her? And try to be tactful?'

'No problem. But they'll be fine, you'll see. Maybe one day Eli will want our help choosing a wedding dress...'

Emma shrugged.

'I wouldn't be much help, I've never really been into the whole white wedding thing.'

'Suit yourself.'

***

'OK, see you all later.'

Emma and the kids left, closing the door behind them. Vincent looked at Stina as she walked past the window, her dark hair shimmering in the sunlight.

Nice figure. Her face is not unpleasant, even if not beautiful in a conventional way.

'I hope you don't mind my asking, but have you talked to Oskar about sex?'

Vincent winced, and Stina sat in front of him.

'No. You think I should?'

'Well, I'm not doing it.'

'Fair enough. Yes, a man should do it. Is that why you don't to do it? Because he's a boy?'

'Well... I know nothing about boys, Vincent. I mean, nothing about male children. I don't have any brothers or nephews, so...'

'Is that why you didn't want to give him boxing lessons?'

'Yes, kind of.'

'I think you've always been closer to Eli than to Oskar.'

'So? You've always taken more of an interest in Oskar than in Eli. Sorry, I didn't mean to...'

'No, it's OK, what I meant was that I think I can relate to you feeling less confident with Oskar because he's a boy. You know, I worry about Anna - that ideally a girl would have a grown woman in the same household as a role model.'

'But she seems to be doing fine.'

'I think so, but still... You know, when Anna was little, once I gave her some toy trucks, foolishly enough. She tied ribbons on them and put them to bed.'

He chuckled. Stina smiled.

Vincent, you worry too much. Anna's doing perfectly fine.

'Anyway, about Oskar, has anything happened? I mean, is there any particular reason why you want me to talk to him?'

'Well, Emma saw Eli give Oskar a certain look when she jumped on him while playing.'

'Oh. You mean... Has anyone talked to Eli about... birth control?'

'Not in a lot of detail. When I was telling her about her new anatomy, I explained about the uterus and periods, and I began explaining about pregnancy and how to prevent it and Eli... poor thing, I thought she was going to run out of the room screaming.'

Vincent gave her a look.

'I realize Eli has had... gender confusion for a long time, but still, for someone who used to be a boy, hearing about a uterus inside you and so on and that you can get pregnant, and knowing that it could really happen to you...'

'Well, you know how badly she used to react to her periods, I thought if she understood what was happening a little better, it would help.'

'Yes. But my guess is that what really scared Eli about them was... well, bleeding down there probably brings back very bad memories.'

'I guess so...'

Damn it, Vincent, you're the one who should talk to her about these things. I may be a doctor, but you remember what being a boy was like. And unless Emma has a secret boyfriend I don't know about, you're the only male in Eli's life apart from Oskar.

'...Anyway, Emma is worried because after Eli gave Oskar that look, she became scared and ran to her room.'

'What did Oskar do?'

'Nothing. I don't think he had a clue about what happened, unless he has eyes in the back of his head - Eli jumped on his back.'

'So it's not likely that she was embarrassed or something.'

'Emma thinks it's because of Eli's past. That jumping on Oskar and wanting something reminded her of when she used to kill people.'

'Maybe. Last time she developed new cravings, it wasn't good. The same goes for last time her body changed.'

'Also, you know she had helpers that...'

'Yes. My gut feeling is that for that very reason even though she knows a lot about the mechanics of these things, about the rest... she understands less than Oskar does, less than any normal teenager does.'

Stina nodded in agreement.

'Anyway, as for Oskar, he surely already knows the basics so... I think I'll tell him that he can ask me anything about it, or that if he just wants someone to listen, I'll be there for him, and leave it at that. I think he'll be fine, my father never talked to me about those things and it worked out well. In any case, Oskar seems to be doing fine, it's Eli who seems to have issues.'

'I know. Vincent, what do you think will happen? As she gets older?'

'I think they'll both be fine. At least that's what I like to think.'

***

Emma and Oskar shook a whimpering Eli, who violently sat up as she awoke. Her eyes were at first wide open in terror, then they focused on Oskar.

'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...'

Shaking, she seized his hand, holding it for a moment, then released it as if it were burning coals.

'It didn't happen...'

She closed her eyes and clenched her fists; then she took a deep breath, as if coming to some decision. Then she reached out and hugged Oskar so tightly and suddenly that he lost his balance and fell on the bed.

Eli kissed the top of his head again and again, sobbing.

'I didn't... I'm so sorry, Oskar, I'm so sorry...'

Oskar simply hugged her back tightly, and she was deeply relieved that his strength was greater than hers.

'Eli, you didn't hurt me,' said Oskar in a muffled voice.

She wept, and then glanced up and her eyes met Emma's gaze, and seeing the look of love and compassion in her eyes Eli felt ashamed that she had not even acknowledged her presence. Emma gave her a faint smile and caressed her cheek.

***

'Oskar...'

'Hmmm...'

Barely awake, for a moment he thought he was back in Blackeberg and Eli was outside his window, waiting for permission to come in. But the voice came from the doorway.

'Come in, Eli.'

Eli walked up to the bed, silent as a cat. Oskar made room for her without thinking about it, but she did not climb into the bed, and simply sat on the floor next to it.

'I just wanted to hold your hand.'

She took it and kissed it, closing her eyes, and felt at peace with herself.

***

Emma entered, careful to make as little noise as possible. As her eyes adjusted to Oskar's room, she saw Eli sitting on the floor, asleep, leaning against Oskar's bed. Oskar was lying near the edge of the bed, his arm hanging down next to Eli.

Like an outcast in her own home, instead of at Oskar's side.

She silently berated herself for her insistence that they no longer sleep together; yet she knew this was not the reason why Eli had not climbed into Oskar's bed.

Surely not Oskar's choice either, but because she is... afraid? Afraid of herself?

Emma felt tears in her eyes; she wiped them with the back of her hand and left the room, returning shortly afterwards with a blanket. She approached Eli and slowly, very slowly, wrapped the blanket around her, every moment dreading she would awake. But she didn't, and Emma sighed with relief.

If only I could do more...

She wanted to hug them, to thank them for having entered her life, for having been granted the grace of witnessing their love.

Compared to their love, Eli's cure and transformation is the lesser miracle.

Not wanting to wake them, and failing to find any adequate way of expressing what she felt, Emma silently wished them good night.

***

Eli came down in her pyjamas as Emma was making breakfast. Eli smiled sheepishly, with a worried and inquisitive air.

Is she embarrassed about the blanket, that I found out she spent the night in Oskar's room? Or does she think I'm angry?

'Eli, I've been thinking - we could move your bed to Oskar's room, or his bed to your room, if you want and he's OK with it. That way you could sleep in the same room, just in separate beds. Would you like that?'

Eli nodded uncertainly.

'Sorry to... I don't mean to embarrass you - I think you worry even more than I do about what could happen, so it's OK with me for you two to share a room again if you want.'

Eli blushed, denying nothing.

I probably wouldn't trust any other teenager on this. The idea of getting pregnant must be very, very scary if you used to be a boy. And then there's... well, pregnancy is after all about having another living thing inside you, and given Eli's past...

They glanced towards the stairs.

'Morning.'

'Morning, Oskar. Eli and I were talking about rearranging some furniture...'

***

Hidden near the top of the stairs while Anna was in the kitchen helping Emma make dinner, Eli couldn't catch every word Vincent and Stina were saying in the living room, but in any case it wasn't the conversation that she found revealing. She ran to her and Oskar's room.

'Oskar, come quick,' she whispered.

Oskar followed her, a puzzled look on his face. Eli crouched silently behind the staircase's railing, motioning Oskar to do the same.

At first Oskar didn't notice anything unusual, but then he noticed something in the way Vincent and Stina looked at one another. He gave Eli a questioning look. Then they saw Vincent take Stina's hand.

'I think Anna might just get a mother,' whispered Eli.

Oskar smiled a sad smile, remembering his own mother.

Once Eli and I are adults, I will see her again.

***

'I wanted to tell you... You know that Stina and me being together... Even if it works out, you'll always be number one girl.'

'Don't worry, Pappa. I like Stina.'

***

'When you two get married, can I be a bridesmaid?' asked Anna.

'Sure,' said Eli, with a hint of nervousness.

Oskar smiled mischievously.

'Get married? I haven't proposed to Eli yet, don't go making assumptions just because she's the most wonderful girl in the world and...'

A couple of minutes later, Oskar was lying on his bed facing down, tightly wrapped in a blanket. Eli was lying on top of him, and Anna was lying on top of Eli. Eli had wrapped her arms around Oskar's stomach, ready to squeeze.

'I give in! Eli, will you marry me? And let me breathe?'

Eli let go of Oskar's belly, took his hand and squeezed it hard. Anna got to her feet.

I like Oskar's smile. If he weren't taken, I'd jump on him and kiss those lips. I wish I had a boyfriend that loved me like he loves Eli.

Anna blushed, and was grateful they weren't looking in her direction. She took a look at Eli's face.

She loves him so much. She also looks... relieved? As if she had been afraid something terrible would happen? What did they do to you, Eli, that you're so afraid? I'm sorry I looked at your boyfriend like that; but I think you know I would do anything for you to be happy, for you two to be together. You deserve all the love anyone can give you.