The taxi driver's gaze searches for hers again. She looks elsewhere, she looks at the city. Winter streets, winter country. The people out there are dressed warmly, wrapped in thick down jackets that they wear over their beautiful clothes. Their breaths steam in the light of the street lamps. "Walk like an Egyptian" fades out slowly and the announcer sighs as he announces that only six hours remain until the year changes. Liv put on her makeup in the afternoon, in the studio apartment on Oxenstiernasgatan. Officially, of course, she lives at her parents' house. She rented the apartment through an ad on Blocket. She has had it for three months now and will have it for another three. The owner traveled to Bali to find herself. Liv goes there as often as she can. Straight after school. She tells her parents lies that she is sleeping over at her friends', that she has homework to do, that she needs to study. In the summer, she will graduate.
She has never felt the desire to reveal her hiding place. There is someone she would like to invite, but she knows that will never happen. The car turns, descends into the tunnel. Straight ahead lies Södra Ström. Opposite, the thousands of city lights are reflected in the water. When the car goes up on the Danvik Bridge, the tires bounce. Liv puts her hand in her bag, takes out a small bottle of vodka and brings it to her lips. She searches in her bag again. She finds the pill in the inner pocket and places it on her tongue. Its familiar bitter taste spreads in her mouth. "How was your year?" the taxi driver asks. "So-so. My mother died two weeks ago." Lately, she finds it very easy to tell lies. The first time she lied about her mother was at a party, about a year ago.