did the world stop spinnin'?

the misfortune that leads to grace

That day in Stockholm had dawned rainy and gray, very different from other beautiful summer days they had had. Hans, Frida and Henry got out of the car, surrounded by the drizzle that covered the afternoon in a melancholic veil. "Are you ready?" Henry asked with concern and looking at Frida tenderly.

Frida nodded, sketching a slight smile. She was grateful for every moment that Henry was by her side, every look of support and every gesture of love that kept her strong in such a delicate moment. She would not feel alone with him there. It was not easy to enter the house where Benny shared his intimacy, his love and joys with his wife, it would be a difficult blow to face.

Ludvig was already waiting for them at the foot of the door, so he immediately went to help them with their suitcases and invited them in. "Welcome," he said.

"Hello, Ludvig." Frida greeted him, both of them sharing a tight hug full of love and gratitude between them, it had always been that way.

"Come in, mom and dad are in the dining room," he said, closing the door behind him as soon as Hans entered.

In the dining room, they found the scene of Benny and Mona, she helping him eat his lunch. Frida felt like an intruder at that moment. Benny, upon seeing her enter, immediately stopped eating, his eyes lit up and a mixture of joy and surprise was reflected on his face. However, as soon as he noticed Henry's presence, an expression of uneasiness took over his countenance.

"Frida!" He exclaimed in a sigh. "You're here..." his voice was shaky and full of emotion. "You've come home," he added, as if the 43 years of divorce had not existed.

Frida smiled softly, approaching him cautiously, feeling inside her the tension of not knowing how he would react. Although Mona had tried to prepare him for their arrival, there was no way to foresee how Henry's presence would complicate the moment.

"Yes, Benny. I'm back," she replied, unsure of the right words to use in this situation, aware of every glance Henry and Mona directed at her from behind.

Benny reached out a hand towards her, and Frida leaned down to take it, sensing the fragility in his grip. Henry, out of respect, stood by the entrance, while Hans placed a hand on his shoulder in support.

"Who is he?" Benny asked, looking at Henry with a mixture of confusion and distrust.

Frida held his hand with a gentle squeeze, trying to remain calm. "This is Henry, Benny... we've talked about it. He's been with me these past years."

Benny nodded, although the glint in his eyes revealed that he was still having a hard time assimilating that answer. Then he looked at Frida, sketching a sad smile. "I'm happy you're here, Frida. I missed you so much," he murmured, his voice breaking. "Now that you're here... everything's going to get better, right?"

Frida swallowed, touched by Benny's vulnerability. She had imagined this moment so many times, but having him in front of her, so fragile and yet so hopeful, made her own emotions swirl in silent chaos. "I'm going to be here for you, Benny. Everything's going to be okay," she said, though deep down she wasn't sure how much she could promise.

Suddenly Benny looked away at Mona and, pointing to the plate of food, said in a tense voice, "I don't want to eat anymore. I'm fine."

Mona, understanding the weight of the situation, patted his shoulder in support. "It's okay, Benny. You can finish later if you want," she replied, trying to downplay it so he wouldn't feel pressured.

Frida turned to Henry and Hans, who were waiting nearby, silently. Henry offered her a calm, warm smile, a reminder that he was there to support her, no matter how complicated this process was.