Snow fell softly outside Café Vete in Stockholm’s old town, Gamla Stan. Inside, warmth and the rich scent of cocoa filled the air. Astrid and Erik sat at a small table by the frosted window, their hands wrapped around steaming mugs of hot chocolate.
Astrid’s blue eyes sparkled as she raised her mug. “Skål!” she said, her voice tinged with excitement.
Erik clinked his mug against hers. “Skål,” he echoed, his tone subdued.
They sipped their drinks in silence. Astrid savored the creamy sweetness, while Erik’s face tightened almost imperceptibly.
“How is it?” Astrid asked, noticing his expression.
Erik forced a smile. “It’s good. Very… warming.”
Astrid nodded, her gaze drifting to the snowy street outside. “Remember when we were kids? We’d play in the snow at Djurgården until our fingers turned blue. Then we’d rush home for mom’s hot chocolate.”
Erik’s grip on his mug tightened. “Those were simpler times.”
“Life’s still simple, isn’t it?” Astrid said, turning back to him. “We have good jobs, a nice apartment in Södermalm. What more could we want?”
Erik took another sip, wincing slightly. “Astrid, I need to tell you something.”
Her smile faded. “What is it?”
He stared into his mug, unable to meet her eyes. “I… I’ve been offered a job. In Gothenburg.”
Astrid’s mug clattered against the saucer. “Gothenburg? But that’s… that’s so far.”
“I know,” Erik said softly. “But it’s a great opportunity. Better pay, more responsibility.”
“When did you find out?”
Erik’s shoulders slumped. “Two weeks ago.”
Astrid’s eyes widened. “Two weeks? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I didn’t know how,” Erik admitted. “I was afraid of how you’d react.”
Astrid’s gaze fell to Erik’s mug. A faint, bitter scent reached her nose. “Erik, what’s really in your hot chocolate?”
He sighed heavily. “Cognac. I needed… I needed some courage.”
Astrid’s face hardened. “Courage for what? To leave me?”
“No!” Erik reached across the table, but Astrid pulled her hands away. “I want you to come with me.”
“To Gothenburg?” Astrid shook her head. “My whole life is here. My job, my friends, my family.”
“We could start fresh,” Erik pleaded. “Build something new together.”
Astrid stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. “I need some air.”
She rushed out of the café, leaving Erik alone with his spiked hot chocolate. Outside, she leaned against the cold stone wall, letting the snow cool her flushed cheeks.
Minutes passed before the café door opened. Erik stepped out, his breath visible in the frosty air.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I should have told you sooner.”
Astrid nodded, her anger fading. “Yes, you should have.”
“What do we do now?” Erik asked.
Astrid turned to face him, her eyes glistening. “I don’t know. But whatever we decide, we do it together. No more secrets.”
Erik nodded solemnly. “No more secrets.”
They stood in silence, watching the snow fall on the cobblestone street. The sweet aroma of hot chocolate drifted from the café, mingling with the crisp winter air.
Astrid took Erik’s hand. “Let’s go home. We have a lot to talk about.”
As they walked through the snowy streets of Gamla Stan, the bitter taste of truth lingered on Erik’s tongue. But with each step, the warmth of Astrid’s hand in his own reminded him that sometimes, the most difficult conversations can lead to the sweetest outcomes.
