Lena awakes during the night to find that Ole was not in their bed. She puts on her robe and goes downstairs to look for him.
She finds him sitting at the kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee and staring at the wall.
She watches as he wipes a tear from his eye and takes a sip of his coffee. "What's the matter, dear?" she whispers as she steps into the room, "Why are you down here at this time of night?"
Ole looks up from his coffee, "I am just remembering when we first met 20 years ago and started dating. You were only 16. Do you remember back then?" he says solemnly.
Lena is touched to tears thinking that Ole is so caring, so sensitive. "Yes, I do" she replies.
Ole pauses. The words were not coming easily. "Do you remember when your father caught us in the back seat of my car?"
"Yes, I remember" said Lena, lowering herself into a chair beside him.
Ole continues. "Do you remember when he shoved the shotgun in my face and said, "Either you marry my daughter, or I will send you to jail for 20 years?"
"I remember that too" she replies softly.
He wipes another tear from his cheek and says ... "I would have gotten out today."
From Harley Refsal patterns
