Oslo, August 31st

You’re sitting alone in a café. At the table next to you, two people are talking about getting their master’s degrees, where they should go afterward, what kind of jobs they can find, and what their future might look like. By the window, three women are sitting with their young children, talking about raising them — their worries, their exhaustion, and their hopes. A few tables away, some young people are laughing and teasing each other, trying to find a way into each other’s hearts. You look outside through the glass. A musician walks quickly down the street with his instrument, as if someone is waiting for him somewhere. Life is happening. The city feels more alive than ever. But you are not a part of it. It feels like you don’t belong anywhere. No one is waiting for you. No one’s life depends on your presence. You lost the role you once had in this flow of life, and you missed so many chances that you no longer even believe you can find a new one. It feels like standing behind a window, watching a happy family. You can hear their laughter, see the warmth inside their home, but you know you were never meant to be a part of it.