Jens sad ved et lille bord på en brostensbelagt terrasse i Nyhavn.

Jens sat at a small table on a cobblestone terrace in Nyhavn.

Aftenen var kølig, og efterårsløvet dansede i vinden.

The evening was cool, and the autumn leaves danced in the wind.

De farverige huse ved kanalen spejlede sig i vandet, og lyset fra gadelygterne kastede et blødt skær over scenen.

The colorful houses by the canal reflected in the water, and the light from the streetlamps cast a soft glow over the scene.

Han kiggede hen over bordet på Astrid, mens stearinlyset flakkede mellem dem.

He looked across the table at Astrid, while the candlelight flickered between them.

Astrid smilede kærligt, og han vidste, at nu var det tid.

Astrid smiled lovingly, and he knew that now was the time.

Jens havde planlagt denne aften med stor omsorg.

Jens had planned this evening with great care.

I sin lomme bar han en kostbar familiering, der var gået i arv i generationer.

In his pocket, he carried a precious family ring that had been passed down for generations.

Han havde drømt om dette øjeblik længe.

He had dreamed of this moment for a long time.

Planen var enkel: en aften, der skulle kulminere i et spørgsmål.

The plan was simple: an evening meant to culminate in a question.

De nød deres middag, da Jens pludselig opdagede, at ringen var væk.

They were enjoying their dinner when Jens suddenly noticed that the ring was gone.

Hans hjerte sprang et slag over.

His heart skipped a beat.

Han havde lagt den i en lille fløjlspose, og nu var posen sporløst forsvundet.

He had put it in a small velvet pouch, and now the pouch had disappeared without a trace.

Astrid bemærkede hans uro.

Astrid noticed his unease.

"Jens, er der noget galt?"

"Jens, is something wrong?"

spurgte hun forsigtigt.

she asked cautiously.

Jens forsøgte at holde roen.

Jens tried to remain calm.

Han så sig omkring i restauranten, hvor andre gæster sad og snakkede.

He looked around the restaurant, where other guests were sitting and talking.

Kun få bord længere væk sad en kvinde ved navn Freja.

Just a few tables away sat a woman named Freja.

Jens lagde mærke til, at hun kiggede nervøst rundt og gentagne gange tjekkede sin taske.

Jens noticed that she was looking around nervously and repeatedly checked her bag.

Var det en tilfældighed?

Was it a coincidence?

Efter middagen, mens Astrid gik ud for at beundre udsigten, nærmede Jens sig Freja.

After dinner, while Astrid went out to admire the view, Jens approached Freja.

"Undskyld, men mistede du noget?"

"Excuse me, but did you lose something?"

spurgte han forsigtigt.

he asked cautiously.

Freja satte en kop ned med et ryst og rødmede.

Freja set down a cup with a shake and blushed.

"Øhm, ja, jeg troede, jeg havde tabt noget i min taske," sagde hun.

"Um, yes, I thought I had dropped something in my bag," she said.

"Jeg mistede en ring.

"I lost a ring.

Måske faldt den op i din?"

Maybe it fell into yours?"

foreslog Jens med lav stemme.

suggested Jens in a low voice.

Freja så overrasket ud og kiggede ned i sin håndtaske.

Freja looked surprised and glanced into her handbag.

Efter en kort søgning trak hun en lille fløjlspose frem og sagde undskyldende: "Åh, det må være din.

After a brief search, she pulled out a small velvet pouch and said apologetically, "Oh, it must be yours.

Den må være faldet ned, da servitøren gik forbi."

It must have fallen in when the waiter walked by."

Jens tog spændt posen og takkede Freja.

Jens eagerly took the pouch and thanked Freja.

Han gik tilbage til Astrid med ringen sikkert i hånden.

He went back to Astrid with the ring safely in hand.

Hans hjerte slog hurtigt, men nu var beslutningen klar.

His heart was pounding, but now his decision was clear.

"Skal vi gå en tur langs kanalen?"

"Shall we take a walk along the canal?"

foreslog Astrid.

suggested Astrid.

De gik side om side, og under den svage gadelygts lys faldt Jens på knæ.

They walked side by side, and under the dim streetlamp light, Jens fell to one knee.

"Astrid, jeg elsker dig.

"Astrid, I love you.

Vil du gifte dig med mig?"

Will you marry me?"

Astrid lo glad og nikkede.

Astrid laughed joyfully and nodded.

"Ja, selvfølgelig vil jeg det," sagde hun, mens tårerne glimtede i hendes øjne.

"Yes, of course I will," she said as tears glistened in her eyes.

Det var ikke de perfekte omstændigheder, Jens havde forestillet sig, men det var perfekt alligevel.

It was not the perfect circumstances Jens had imagined, but it was perfect nonetheless.

Han havde lært, at det at vise følelser ikke betød, at alt skulle være fejlfrit; det var hjertet, der betød noget.

He had learned that showing emotion didn't mean everything had to be flawless; it was the heart that mattered.