R I P

You all know what this post is going to be about.

I wasn't in Oslo when it happened. I'm visiting my mum at the moment, an hour away from Oslo (in the opposite direction from Utøya). As far as I know so far, nobody I know has been hurt in the attacks.

Still, it's really hard. I always feel a lot for other people and having something this dramatic happen so close to me makes me feel it even more. 

For one thing, the bombing was in my hometown. Where I've grown up. Even though we appear to have gotten away with relatively few lives lost in the bombing, things will never be the same. Our country has always felt so safe. Now I expect we also will see more security and restrictions, even though the politicians are saying Norway will stay the same. I hope it will, but I have my doubts.

Naturally what has affected me even more is the massmurder at Utøya. They were innocent kids. Some as young as 13 years old. I was shocked this morning when I woke up and my mother told me the number of confirmed deaths had risen to 84. It's insane. And incredibly surreal. That one person can do so much harm in such a short amount of time. I don't understand how anyone can bring themselves to do something like this.

I can't help but think of the summers when I too went to political youth camps. When I was 15 and 16 I went for a week with my political party to an island. It was very similar to this. And I had some of my best experiences there. I can only attempt to imagine what is must have been like to have those wonderful times turn into a nightmare. I think what I think about the most is the fear they must have felt and how horrific that must have been. To not know if you're going to survive and hearing and seeing your friends be killed around you.

My heart goes out to all the people who lost their family and friends yesterday. Most of all, my heart goes out to everyone who was at that island and survived. I can't imagine what you're going through, but believe me when I say, I feel for you. I've been crying on and off all day today. Our entire country is in mourning. As are a lot of other people in the world. That gives me hope.

Love from Maja.