I Kongens Have i hjertet af København, gik Mikkel og Clara side om side.

In the King's Garden in the heart of Copenhagen, Mikkel and Clara walked side by side.

Træerne omkring dem viste deres smukke efterårsfarver.

The trees around them displayed their beautiful autumn colors.

Blade i gyldne og orange nuancer faldt lavt til jorden og dannede et blødt tæppe under deres fødder.

Leaves in golden and orange hues fell gently to the ground, creating a soft carpet under their feet.

Luften var frisk og fyldt med den jordede duft af efterår.

The air was fresh and filled with the earthy scent of fall.

Mikkel var stille.

Mikkel was quiet.

Han havde været venner med Clara i årevis.

He had been friends with Clara for years.

Hun var altid så livlig og spontan.

She was always so lively and spontaneous.

Hun havde en evne til at få ham til at føle sig mere fri og levende.

She had a way of making him feel more free and alive.

Men i dag føltes det anderledes.

But today felt different.

Mikkel havde en hemmelighed, en der brændte i hans hjerte længe nu.

Mikkel had a secret, one that had been burning in his heart for a long time.

Han var forelsket i Clara.

He was in love with Clara.

Han havde altid sagt til sig selv, at han ville fortælle hende det en dag.

He had always told himself he'd tell her someday.

Men nu, mens de gik sammen i parken, føltes det som nu eller aldrig.

But now, as they walked together in the park, it felt like it was now or never.

Han frygtede hendes reaktion.

He feared her reaction.

Hvad hvis hun ikke følte det samme?

What if she didn't feel the same?

Hvad hvis han mistede hende som ven?

What if he lost her as a friend?

Clara gik ved siden af ham, glad og ubekymret.

Clara walked beside him, cheerful and carefree.

Hun pegede på træerne og sagde, hvor smukt efteråret var.

She pointed at the trees and said how beautiful the autumn was.

"Se, Mikkel," sagde hun, "det er som om hele verden bliver til guld."

"Look, Mikkel," she said, "it's like the whole world is turning to gold."

Mikkel nikkede, men hans tanker var et andet sted.

Mikkel nodded, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

Hans hjerte slog hurtigt, og han vidste, han måtte tage beslutningen.

His heart was racing, and he knew he had to make a decision.

De nærmede sig en bænk.

They approached a bench.

Den stod beskedent under et træ.

It stood modestly under a tree.

Mikkel stoppede og sagde, "Lad os sidde et øjeblik."

Mikkel stopped and said, "Let's sit for a moment."

Clara smilede og sagde, "Selvfølgelig, det ser rart ud her."

Clara smiled and said, "Of course, it looks nice here."

De satte sig ned.

They sat down.

Mikkel tog en dyb indånding.

Mikkel took a deep breath.

Træets gyldne blade blidt faldt rundt om dem.

The tree's golden leaves gently fell around them.

Dette var øjeblikket.

This was the moment.

"Clara," sagde han, hans stemme lidt svag, "jeg har noget, jeg har brug for at fortælle dig."

"Clara," he said, his voice a bit weak, "there's something I need to tell you."

Clara vendte sig mod ham.

Clara turned to him.

Hendes øjne var varme og opmærksomme.

Her eyes were warm and attentive.

"Selvfølgelig, hvad er det?"

"Of course, what is it?"

Mikkel kunne næsten høre sit eget hjerte banke.

Mikkel could almost hear his own heart beating.

"Jeg har tænkt på det her i lang tid.

"I've been thinking about this for a long time.

Jeg er forelsket i dig."

I'm in love with you."

Der var en stilhed, men den var ikke ubehagelig.

There was silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

Clara så på ham med et blik, der ændrede sig fra overraskelse til noget blødere og mere forstående.

Clara looked at him with an expression that shifted from surprise to something softer and more understanding.

Så smilede hun.

Then she smiled.

Det var et blidt smil.

It was a gentle smile.

"Mikkel, jeg har ventet på, at du ville sige det."

"Mikkel, I've been waiting for you to say that."

Mikkels hjerte lettede.

Mikkel's heart lifted.

Han kunne næsten ikke tro det.

He could hardly believe it.

Clara lagde en hånd på hans.

Clara placed a hand on his.

"Jeg har følt det samme," sagde hun.

"I've felt the same way," she said.

Deres øjne mødtes igen, og det var som om verden omkring dem blev endnu mere gylden og lys.

Their eyes met again, and it was as if the world around them became even more golden and bright.

Mikkel følte sig fri, for første gang i lang tid var han ikke bange.

Mikkel felt free, for the first time in a long time he wasn't afraid.

Han indså, at nogle gange kræver det at tage en risiko for at få noget vidunderligt.

He realized that sometimes it takes taking a risk to gain something wonderful.

De to sad der et stykke tid.

The two of them sat there for a while.

De talte og grinede, som om det altid havde været sådan.

They talked and laughed, as if it had always been this way.

Mikkel følte sig modigere nu, mere åben for verden.

Mikkel felt bolder now, more open to the world.

Efterårslugten, lyset fra de faldende blade, og Clares blide smil – det ville han aldrig glemme.

The autumn scent, the light from the falling leaves, and Clara’s gentle smile—he would never forget it.

Det var begyndelsen på noget nyt.

It was the beginning of something new.

Og det var smukt.

And it was beautiful.