Chapter 1: Introduction
I'd been sitting at the bar for a while, nursing a drink and watching the crowd shuffle by outside the tinted windows. I was a stranger in this city, far from home and with no desire to fit in. I preferred to keep to myself, my thoughts drifting over the day's training sessions on the football field and my curiosity peaked by the thrill of discovery that comes with exploring a new place.
That was when she walked in.
A gust of wind kicked up the rain while the door swung open, sending a shiver of water droplets onto the cement floor.
In stepped Fridolina Rolfö, her tousled hair sticking to her forehead and her leather jacket glistening with dampness. As she shrugged off her jacket and shook the rain from her hair, I could hardly help but notice her confident and adventurous aura, drawing my gaze like a magnet.
She caught my eye and smiled warmly, her curiosity piqued by my presence as well. Fridolina moved gracefully towards the bar, her eyes still locked on mine.
Her boots echoed softly against the worn wooden floorboards, creating a rhythmic pattern of sound that seemed to reverberate through the room. She slid into the empty seat beside me and motioned for the bartender, a tall and lanky man with a thick beard.
"Schnapps, please," she said, her voice deep and rich. The bartender nodded, turning to grab a small glass and the nearest bottle of clear liquor. He poured her a drink, placing the glass in front of her on a coaster.
I looked at Fridolina Rolfö, taking in her powerful presence as she brought the schnapps to her lips and let out a satisfied sigh. The room seemed to grow smaller, as though we now occupied our own little world.
She turned to me then, her gaze lingering on my own features as she asked, "And what brings you to my pub, stranger?"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should share the details of my personal journey with this intriguing woman.