It's a seemingly ordinary morning in the association's premises in central Örebro. But last week's events at Risbergska have shaken the operations to the core. A colleague will not return to work. The 54-year-old was one of those who were killed.
There is an enormous emptiness that has arisen. She was not just a colleague but also a close friend and filled an important role in the operations. There will be a vacuum now that she is gone, says Per Elovsson.
The premises belong to Fenix019, a non-profit association that works with support for people who want to get out of addiction or crime. Per Elovsson is the operations manager, his friend and colleague sat on the board.
Hard to take in
She will not only be missed by colleagues. Elovsson tells that the woman was a person who received visitors with open arms, regardless of what they had gone through.
She was a contact for so many people. If someone needed guidance, she was there, it didn't matter who it was, he says.
The woman was studying to become a nurse at Risbergska. The news of her passing came on Friday morning. A message that was hard to take in.
I didn't understand at first what they meant, I thought they had taken the wrong person. It was shocking, I couldn't comprehend.
"Emptiness and longing"
The association's premises are like an open living room. People come here to play games, eat food or just hang out over a cup of coffee. Lars Miller also works within the association and remembers the colleague as a big-hearted person who wanted to help.
When we got the news on Friday, we gathered for a morning meeting as usual in the premises, held a minute of silence and lit a candle. Then we decided to close for the day. It became too tough to be here, he says.
On Tuesday, visitors will gather in the premises and then march together to a manifestation. Afterwards, a memorial service will be held in the association's premises for the colleague.
Slowly it has sunk in, that a close friend has died, says Per Elovsson.
Lars Miller nods in agreement.
You feel an emptiness and great longing. We must help each other to get through this, he says.
