Ode To Freedom

Ett

Spring, 2020

It was a bright day in Stockholm, Sweden. The sun shone brightly after rain had fallen overnight, leaving a stunning view from the window. On Skeppsholmen, inside Mono, four people were enjoying a joyful time together after wrapping up their recording session. This was their first full day of recording since deciding to fully commit to their new music project, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement.

Benny, seated at the keyboard, was mixing their voices. His usual warm and gentle demeanor had shifted to one of deep concentration. Björn sat next to him with his guitar on his lap, occasionally strumming a few chords as he discussed "I Still Have Faith in You" with Benny, wondering if they should add another harmony. They had been working on the new album for a few years now, especially with plans for their own arena. Both Benny and Björn knew that new songs were essential for the upcoming concert, so they had been hard at work.

Agnetha sat behind them in a lounge chair, her face mask resting on her nose to keep herself safe. Her presence was softer than ever as she watched silly videos of her grandchildren trying to entertain themselves during quarantine. Anni-Frid, or Frida as she was affectionately called, sat beside Agnetha. Her silver hair rested perfectly just below her ears. She was scrolling through her iPad and occasionally showing things to Agnetha.

"So, the mix of 'I Still Have Faith in You' is ready," Benny said, turning his chair towards the women with a grin. "Let's hear it." He pressed play, and the soft intro of the song began instantly. Benny adjusted the volume, and everyone scooted a bit closer.

Frida gasped softly as she heard her voice blending with the melody, followed by Agnetha's voice joining in. Tears welled up in her eyes as emotions washed over her; it was as if she were hearing "Dancing Queen" for the first time all over again. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, she couldn't help but grab Agnetha's hand when the final chorus began. Agnetha, overcome with emotion herself, didn't mind at all. She gently squeezed Frida's hand, lowering her face mask briefly to wipe her nose. The four of them shared an indescribable feeling—it was starting to feel real, and they knew they were doing the right thing.

As the song ended, silence hung in the air. Benny and Björn exchanged knowing looks, soft smiles playing on their lips as they observed Agnetha and Frida, both lost in their emotions. Agnetha wiped her nose again while Frida brushed away her tears. It wasn't until Frida let out a soft, embarrassed giggle that Benny and Björn looked at her with concern. "It's beautiful," she whispered. "More than beautiful. I don't have the words to describe what this made me feel." Her voice was filled with sincerity and love. She reached over to stroke both Benny's and Björn's cheeks. "You did an amazing job."

"I can only agree," Agnetha said, smiling gently under her mask. Even though her smile was hidden, the love and admiration in her eyes were unmistakable. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepened, showing just how widely she was smiling. "We still have it in us," she added, nudging Frida playfully.

"Imagine how this will look with our ABBA-tars," Björn chimed in, trying to lighten the mood. Frida laughed, her infectious laughter unmistakable.

"As long as we don't have to get into those suits again. Five weeks was more than enough," Agnetha chuckled. Everyone nodded in agreement, turning back to what they had been doing. Their work for the day was done, and with it only being four in the afternoon, there was still time to get home and spend time with their families. Agnetha was the first to leave, especially since she felt safer at home, within her contact bubble, with the grandchildren and outside nature she adored so much.

"I'm home!" she announced softly as she took off her shoes and set her car keys aside. The house was bustling with activity, just as she preferred it. Linda was helping Esther with her homework while Tilda and Signe watched an overstimulating Netflix show on the couch.