Mariatorget

Mariatorget is identified in the novel as the location of Sofia Zetterlund’s office. The office provides a recurring setting for consultations: Samuel Bai becomes more communicative there after Sofia suggests speaking Krio, and Linnea Lundström later sits across the desk from Sofia, who is surprised by how quickly the girl has come to trust her.

Setting and Function

The text identifies Mariatorget through the office attached to it, rather than describing the surrounding area. Its significance is practical and relational: it is a place where Sofia meets people in her professional role and where conversation can begin to establish trust.

Consultations at the Office

During a meeting with Samuel Bai, Sofia notices that he initially seems reserved and uninterested. When she suggests they speak Krio instead of English, he opens up and becomes more communicative. The change makes language choice a concrete part of their encounter at the office.

In another consultation, Sofia offers to review her files and suggests meeting again in a few days. The offer leaves open the possibility of continuing their conversation rather than treating the meeting as conclusive. Later, Linnea Lundström arrives, and Sofia goes out to meet her in the waiting room; soon afterward, Linnea is sitting on the other side of Sofia’s desk. Sofia’s surprise at how quickly Linnea has gained trust makes the office a setting not only for scheduled meetings but also for the early formation of a therapeutic connection.

Narrative Significance

Mariatorget recurs as a location marker for Sofia’s office, linking separate consultations without making the place itself a detailed subject of description. Across the encounters shown, the office frames trust as something that develops through specific acts: adapting the language of conversation, offering a further meeting, and welcoming a hesitant visitor into the consultation room.