‘I killed Elisabeth, Eirik,’ I say again, louder this time, practically shouting the words, letting all the horror of that night loose into the night air. Her sweet face. The way she spoke about the future. She looked forward to it. The way she tried to fight me off, but couldn’t – she didn’t stand a chance. ‘I fucking killed her,’ I scream. ‘I killed my best friend for us, and you need to listen to me, right now! I know why you did what you did. I know that you fucked Leah and I believe you when you say it meant nothing. But you and I, Eirik, we are so much more than that. So I don’t give a flying fuck that you screwed her. She’s dead, and can’t hurt us now. We have a life together, a whole, beautiful life in Incognito Gata, and soon we’ll have an even better one in the prime minister’s residence. With our baby. Think about that, goddammit! Are you going to let all of this be for nothing? Think about it, Eirik. Even if you get away with it – a wife who kills herself in the middle of your electoral campaign? It’s not going to look good. I’m telling you right now, I’m no better than you. I’ve done the same, if not worse. And I can keep my mouth shut if you can. We can get off this mountain together. We can go home. Eirik, Jesus Christ, no, stop it, what are you doing, don’t, baby, please don’t.’

I pause for breath for a brief moment, adrenaline coursing through my blood at the sight of my husband looping the blue acrylic rope around a tree branch at the edge of the clearing. I remember the vivid vision I had of Leah hanging, of her twisted and stiff body swinging slowly back and forth on the breeze, her neck at a strange angle, the milky white palms of her hands turned outwards. Perhaps it was myself I saw there all along, hanging beneath the branches.

Eirik moves slowly toward where I’m lying in a heap on the ground, gathering the other end of the rope into a noose, expertly tying strong, unbreakable knots. I’m running out of time. Is this really what the last few minutes of my life will be like? No. I won’t allow it.

‘Your mother would be so ashamed of you,’ I say, using the last of my strength to keep my voice strong and unfaltering.

‘Shut up,’ he hisses, a look of surprise and pain washing over his face.