His mother is lying on the stained couch. On the coffee table are some leaflets and a half-eaten chocolate cake, an empty pack of cigarettes, a full ashtray, an empty bottle of gin, a couple of beer cans. He turns around to see where Yassim went – he felt so real just a moment ago, there in the stairs. But he’s disappeared again. It’s just Jacob and his mother here now, and he goes over to the window, finds the handle and opens it. A cold wind swirls into the apartment, making the dirty curtains flutter.

He turns to his mother just as she’s opening her eyes and starts to sit up on the couch.

‘Matti?’ she says. ‘Matti, is that you?’

Jacob goes over to the couch and squats down beside her. She looks at him with cloudy, tired eyes, her skin grey, her hair thin.

‘Yes,’ he says. ‘It’s me.’

Acknowledgements

Thank you to:

My wonderful American and English publishers Jennifer Barth and Laura Palmer

My excellent translator Liz Clark Wessel

My Swedish publisher Helene Atterling

My friend and agent Astri von Arbin Ahlander

My careful, smart and patient Swedish editor Jacob Swedberg

My German publisher Nina Grabe who pushed me forward

My friend Tobias Almborg for the trip to Beirut, without which there would be no book

My brother Daniel Zander for all the tips and contacts in Beirut

My guide to Beirut from a distance, Professor Leif Stenberg

My invaluable contact at American University in Beirut, Rami Khouri

My guide into the heart of young, political Beirut, Dima Tannir

My friend Johan Jarnvik, like always

My parents for all the security and help

My Moa for everything

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