Tivoli Gardens i København var smukt denne aften.

Tivoli Gardens in København was beautiful this evening.

Lanternerne svømmede i den kølige luft, mens gyldne blade dansede omkring fødderne af de gæster, der gik gennem den gamle forlystelsespark.

The lanterns floated in the cool air, while golden leaves danced around the feet of the guests walking through the old amusement park.

Luften var fyldt med duften af brændte mandler og græskartærter.

The air was filled with the scent of roasted almonds and pumpkin pie.

Mikkel stod ved indgangen.

Mikkel stood at the entrance.

Han trak vejret dybt og så ud over festivalen, hvor mennesker gik hånd i hånd, grinede og nød det sidste af efterårets skønhed.

He took a deep breath and looked over the festival, where people walked hand in hand, laughed, and enjoyed the last of autumn's beauty.

Han ville det samme.

He wanted the same.

Han ønskede, at nogen greb efter hans hånd, og at han ikke følte sig så alene.

He wished someone would reach for his hand, and that he wouldn't feel so alone.

Men han var bange for, at ingen ville.

But he feared that no one would.

Fra hans højre side kom Jonas.

From his right side came Jonas.

"Du drømmer igen, Mikkel?

"You're dreaming again, Mikkel?

Pas nu på.

Be careful now.

Man kan hurtigt blive skuffet," sagde Jonas og dunkede ham venligt på skulderen.

It's easy to get disappointed," said Jonas, giving him a friendly nudge on the shoulder.

Jonas var Mikkels barndomsven og havde altid de samme råd – at passe på ikke at skynde sig ind i en romance.

Jonas was Mikkel's childhood friend and always had the same advice – to be careful not to rush into romance.

Mikkel smilede skævt.

Mikkel gave a crooked smile.

"Jeg ved, men det gør ikke noget, at drømme lidt."

"I know, but it doesn't hurt to dream a little."

Inde midt i folkemængden fangede Astrid’s lette latter hans opmærksomhed.

In the middle of the crowd, Astrid's light laughter caught his attention.

Hun var ny i byen og manglede også nogen at dele sit liv med.

She was new in town and also wanted someone to share her life with.

Hendes smil kunne lyse hele Tivoli op, og Mikkel følte et lille håb varme hans hjerte.

Her smile could light up the whole Tivoli, and Mikkel felt a small hope warm his heart.

De to så på hinanden et kort sekund, hvorefter Mikkel tog mod til sig.

The two looked at each other for a brief second, and then Mikkel gathered his courage.

Han gik over til Astrid.

He walked over to Astrid.

"Hej, jeg er Mikkel," sagde han lidt nervøst og stak hænderne i lommerne.

"Hi, I'm Mikkel," he said a bit nervously, sticking his hands in his pockets.

Astrid svarede med et varmt smil.

Astrid replied with a warm smile.

"Hej Mikkel, jeg er Astrid.

"Hi Mikkel, I'm Astrid.

Det er så smukt her, ikke?"

It's so beautiful here, isn't it?"

"Ja, virkelig," sagde Mikkel.

"Yes, really," said Mikkel.

"Vil du måske gå en tur og se på Halloween-forlystelserne med mig?"

"Would you maybe like to take a walk and look at the Halloween attractions with me?"

Astrid tøvede et øjeblik, men så nikkede hun.

Astrid hesitated for a moment, but then she nodded.

"Det vil jeg meget gerne."

"I'd love to."

De gik sammen gennem parken, mens Jonas fulgte dem på afstand med et skeptisk blik.

They walked together through the park, while Jonas followed them from a distance with a skeptical look.

Mikkel følte sig levende, som om Tivolis lys også oplyste hans indre.

Mikkel felt alive, as if Tivoli's lights were also illuminating him inside.

Men deres lille eventyr ledte dem til spøgelshuset, hvor maven på både Mikkel og Astrid krøllede sig sammen af spænding.

But their little adventure led them to the haunted house, where the stomachs of both Mikkel and Astrid curled up with excitement.

Inde i det mørke rum klamrede Astrid sig til Mikkel under et uventet chok fra et plastikspøgelse.

Inside the dark room, Astrid clung to Mikkel during an unexpected shock from a plastic ghost.

Mikkels hjerte bankede hurtigere.

Mikkel's heart beat faster.

"Undskyld," grinede hun, og Mikkel kunne ikke lade være med at smile tilbage.

"Sorry," she laughed, and Mikkel couldn't help but smile back.

Da de kom ud, var det som om, de havde krydset en usynlig grænse.

When they came out, it was as if they had crossed an invisible boundary.

De udvekslede telefonnumre under de faldende blade, der svævede som en dans af forandring.

They exchanged phone numbers under the falling leaves, which floated like a dance of change.

Mikkel følte, at han endelig havde fundet en del af den forbindelse, han havde længtes efter.

Mikkel felt he had finally found a part of the connection he had been longing for.

"Vi ses igen, ikke?"

"We'll see each other again, right?"

spurgte han, en anelse usikker, men også mere tryg end før.

he asked, a bit uncertain, but also more secure than before.

"Det kan du tro, Mikkel," smilede Astrid.

"You bet, Mikkel," Astrid smiled.

"Jeg glæder mig allerede."

"I'm already looking forward to it."

Og da de sagde farvel under lyset fra Tivoli, vidste Mikkel, at denne efterårsaften var begyndelsen på noget helt særligt.

And as they said goodbye under the lights of Tivoli, Mikkel knew that this autumn evening was the beginning of something very special.