Det var en kold, klar eftermiddag i København.

It was a cold, clear afternoon in København.

Tivoli Gardens sprudlede af liv.

Tivoli Gardens was bustling with life.

Lysene glitrede i træerne som små stjerner.

The lights glistened in the trees like little stars.

Duften af gløgg og ristede mandler fyldte luften.

The scent of gløgg and roasted almonds filled the air.

Lars gik alene gennem de smalle stier.

Lars walked alone through the narrow paths.

Selvom julen snart var her, havde han svært ved at mærke glæden.

Although Christmas was soon approaching, he struggled to feel the joy.

Lars stoppede ved en bod.

Lars stopped at a booth.

Han betragtede de glade mennesker omkring sig.

He watched the happy people around him.

Skæve juletræer, fyldt med pynt, tårnede op på begge sider.

Crooked Christmas trees, filled with decorations, towered on either side.

Børn lo, mens de krammede i deres tykke jakker.

Children laughed as they hugged in their thick jackets.

Men Lars følte sig alene, som om en usynlig mur skilte ham fra resten.

But Lars felt alone, as if an invisible wall separated him from the rest.

Lars sukkede og overvejede at gå.

Lars sighed and considered leaving.

Men da hørte han en kvindes latter.

But then he heard a woman's laughter.

"Nej, Mikkel, du holder det forkert!"

"No, Mikkel, you're holding it wrong!"

stemte Ingrid ind, hendes stemme varm og indbydende.

chimed in Ingrid, her voice warm and inviting.

Lars drejede hovedet mod lyden.

Lars turned his head towards the sound.

Mikkel holdt et krus varm kakao i begge hænder og grinede.

Mikkel was holding a mug of hot cocoa in both hands and laughing.

Lars tog en dyb indånding.

Lars took a deep breath.

Det var nu eller aldrig.

It was now or never.

Han gik hen til dem.

He approached them.

"Undskyld?"

"Excuse me?"

sagde han forsigtigt.

he said cautiously.

Ingrid vendte sig mod ham med et venligt smil.

Ingrid turned towards him with a friendly smile.

"Hej!

"Hi!

Vil du med os?"

Would you like to join us?"

spurgte hun, overraskende muntert.

she asked, surprisingly cheerfully.

Lars tøvede, men noget ved deres åbne ansigter gjorde beslutningen lettere.

Lars hesitated, but something about their open faces made the decision easier.

"Gerne," svarede han.

"Sure," he replied.

Sammen fandt de en bænk og satte sig.

Together, they found a bench and sat down.

De begyndte at snakke om deres juletraditioner.

They began talking about their Christmas traditions.

Lars fortalte om sin barndom på landet.

Lars spoke of his childhood in the countryside.

Ingrid og Mikkel delte historier om deres hjemlige juleaftener, langt væk fra Danmark.

Ingrid and Mikkel shared stories about their Christmas Eves at home, far away from Danmark.

De drak varm kakao og spiste æbleskiver.

They drank hot cocoa and ate æbleskiver.

Snakken flød let, og Lars følte en varme han længe havde savnet.

The conversation flowed easily, and Lars felt a warmth he had long missed.

Det var som om, al hans frygt og ensomhed smeltede væk i lyset fra deres nye venskab.

It was as if all his fear and loneliness melted away in the light of their newfound friendship.

Da natten faldt på, var Tivoli oplyst af tusindvis af lys.

As night fell, Tivoli was illuminated by thousands of lights.

Lars sagde farvel til Ingrid og Mikkel med et smil, der kom helt fra hjertet.

Lars said goodbye to Ingrid and Mikkel with a smile that came straight from the heart.

"Tak," sagde han, "for selskabet."

"Thank you," he said, "for the company."

De nikkede, glade for den nye forbindelse.

They nodded, happy for the new connection.

Lars gik gennem portene ud i natten, men han følte sig ikke længere alene.

Lars walked through the gates into the night, but he no longer felt alone.

Han vidste nu, at åbne sig selv kunne føre til uvurderlige venskaber.

He now knew that opening himself up could lead to invaluable friendships.

Lykkelig og tilfreds slentrede han bort, med en ny glæde for julen i sit hjerte.

Happy and content, he strolled away, with a new joy for Christmas in his heart.