“Yes, it’s still less complicated than a phone call. Luisa, I’m very sorry that Selma has died.”

I wanted to go to him, but I was afraid to move. I thought that if I moved even just a centimeter from the window, Marlies would pull the trigger.

“I have to stand right here,” I said.

“No, you don’t,” Marlies called.

Frederik came up to me. He looked exactly as he had ten years ago. Only the fine web of wrinkles that showed when he smiled was new. I gestured with my head at the window behind me. Frederik looked.

“Don’t look in here,” Marlies shouted, “it’s none of your business.”

“Should I go get someone?” Frederik whispered in shock, but the only person I could think of was Selma.

“She won’t do it as long as I stand here, so I’m standing here,” I said.

“But we can’t stand here forever,” Frederik said, and I was happy he said we.

I took his hand.

A red-and-white crossing signal had fallen on the tracks at the station when I said to Martin that I didn’t believe in Selma’s dream. A vision chart had fallen from the wall when the optician said, “But you love him,” and I replied, “No, not anymore.”

I glanced at Marlies, who looked crossed out behind the half-fallen curtain rod. She hadn’t changed position. She sat there with her chin on the muzzle and her hand near the trigger. Marlies would not let me in. She wouldn’t open a single one of her five locks and she wouldn’t let us talk her into coming out of her house because my recommendations were always shit.

Marlies had to be extracted in a different way, I thought, and thought also that you can’t always choose which adventure you’re made for. I took a deep breath.

“Frederik,” I said, “it was nice of you to come by, but it’s not such a good time.”

Behind Marlies an air freshener taped to the wall fell to the floor. It fell without a sound.

“What?” Frederik said.

He wanted to let go of my hand, but I held it tight. “We could talk on the phone once in a while. You always like calling me.”

A framed piece of embroidery Marlies had made for her aunt as a child fell to the floor. The glass shattered. Marlies gave it a glance, then put her chin back on the muzzle of the shotgun.

Frederik looked at me the way someone looks when the world no longer makes any sense and decides it’s better to stay away from it. Stay here, I thought, don’t go now. I thought it with all my strength. Marlies shouted, “Stop jabbering and go away.”

“Marlies is my best friend,” I said.

Nothing fell.

I repeated it with more emphasis. “Marlies is my best friend,” but nothing moved.