Elliott's dad, Erik Hultqvist.
The atmosphere in the Landskyrkan is sombre yet warm. The vast majority of people sitting in the pews are probably wondering the same thing: where on earth could 20-year-old Elliott have gone?
– We are gathered here tonight because we all have one wish: that Elliott comes home. Being Elliott's father is an incredible gift. Words cannot express how much I love my children, says Elliott's father, Erik Hultqvist, his voice breaking.
It is 6pm on a Thursday and about 70 people are gathered in the large white church. The audience listens to every word, with some wiping away tears.
When Erik has finished, Anna Larsson takes the pulpit.
- – It's the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, so when we wake up tomorrow the sun and light will be on their way back. But right now it's the darkest hour and it feels like everything is at a standstill. Every day for the last three weeks has been like this.
She continues:
– At the same time, I know that every day brings us one day closer to hopefully finding out what happened to Elliott that night.
The family is very hopeful that they will find out what happened.
Elliott's mum, Anna Larsson, speaking.
– During this time, I have also dared to think and say out loud that we may never know. Today I also dare to say that I will come to terms with it. If it happens. Not today, because I hope we will get all the answers, but I have understood and realised that reconciliation is possible even in uncertainty, says Anna.
In front of the people in the church, Anna talks about what Elliott was like when he was a child. He would sometimes disappear, and every time he was found he was completely unconcerned.
He was always with a friend.
– Finding where Elliott was when he was a child was about finding out which friend he was with. That's what made us realise that something was terribly wrong that morning when he didn't turn up for work.
She ends her speech at the church by saying that although the family is in a dark place right now, Elliott's disappearance has also shown the beautiful side of people.
– If you look around this room now, you will see beauty, love and compassion. The light is already here.
Candles for Elliott.
Elliott's parents are the first to light candles for their missing son, then the rest of the gathering follows.
Since their 20-year-old son Elliott went missing on November 28, his family has been inundated with messages from people wondering how they are and how they can help.
– When this happened, we as a family were on the phone to the police, Missing Persons, and journalists. None of us had the energy to keep people outside the family informed, Anna told Norran the day before the gathering.
So the parents, together with the Church of Sweden, invited people to gather for Elliot.
– I've received hundreds of text messages saying 'contact me if you want to talk', but talking is the last thing I want to do. I can't bear to talk to my friends. The idea of this gathering is to give us a chance to meet as a family. To look each other in the eye and see that, under the circumstances, we are doing OK.
And there is a reason why the gathering takes place so close to Christmas.
Anna says it's to give people a chance to meet us so they don't have to go away for Christmas and wonder what happened to Elliott's family.
How has the support been over the past few weeks?
Elliott's mum, Anna Larsson (right), being comforted.
– The support has been absolutely amazing. Personally, I have been completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of sympathy and the outstretched arms of people. The first week we were all in shock and then people came with food. It was just what we needed, she says, continuing:
– Everyone feels powerless. What can I do? I get these messages saying 'I'm here, let me know if there's anything I can do', but in this situation we're in now. We just feel like we have to find our boy.
In her view, the best way to help right now is to search the area and roads that were passable on 28 November for Elliott and the car he may have been in.
- Do you know anyone who has a scooter that can be used on summer roads that have now been snowed over? Can you ride in the woods along the ditches? Support is what we need most. It is clear that not everyone has the opportunity to go out on a scooter, but our appeal is to those who can. Especially now, before Christmas.
Landskyrkan in Skellefteå
