Mikkel trak sjalet tættere omkring skuldrene, mens snefnuggene dalede ned i Tivoli.

Mikkel pulled the shawl closer around his shoulders, while snowflakes descended in Tivoli.

Omkring ham strakte julemarkedet sig med sine farverige boder.

Around him, the Christmas market stretched out with its colorful stalls.

Lyset glimtede i træerne, og duften af gløgg og æbleskiver svømmede i luften.

The lights twinkled in the trees, and the scent of gløgg and æbleskiver filled the air.

Mikkel følte sig lille blandt de mange mennesker, der lo og delte øjeblikke af glæde.

Mikkel felt small among the many people who laughed and shared moments of joy.

Katrine ved hans side strålede af livsglæde.

Katrine at his side radiated with the joy of life.

"Mikkel, denne stand ser spændende ud," sagde hun og trak ham mod en boder fyldt med håndlavede gaver.

"Mikkel, this stall looks exciting," she said, pulling him towards a booth filled with handmade gifts.

Mikkel sukkede og kiggede rundt.

Mikkel sighed and looked around.

Han tænkte på sin niece, der ventede på juleaften.

He thought of his niece, who was waiting for Christmas Eve.

Hun elskede eventyr, præcis som han gjorde som barn.

She loved adventures, just as he did when he was a child.

"Hvad leder du efter?"

"What are you looking for?"

spurgte Katrine blidt.

asked Katrine gently.

Mikkel tøvede.

Mikkel hesitated.

"Noget særligt.

"Something special.

Men jeg ved ikke rigtigt, om jeg har råd til noget specielt," indrømmede han.

But I don't really know if I can afford anything special," he admitted.

Hun klappede ham på skulderen.

She patted him on the shoulder.

"Husk, det er tanken, der tæller."

"Remember, it's the thought that counts."

De gik videre.

They moved on.

Mellem boderne fandt Mikkel en gammel trælegetøjsmager.

Among the stalls, Mikkel found an old wooden toy maker.

Håndværkene mindede ham om hans barndom.

The crafts reminded him of his childhood.

Små trædukker, der mindede om hans bedstefars værksteder, hvor historier blev skabt gennem simple figurer.

Small wooden dolls that reminded him of his grandfather's workshops, where stories were created through simple figures.

Hans hjerte svulmede op.

His heart swelled.

"Den her," hviskede han og pegede på en lille træelefant.

"This one," he whispered, pointing to a little wooden elephant.

Den trængte til en historie, præcis som de mange historier, han havde indrammet på sine lærreder hjemme.

It needed a story, just like the many stories he had framed on his canvases at home.

Katrine smilede.

Katrine smiled.

"Perfekt."

"Perfect."

Det lille ord bar større betydning, end Mikkel kunne have forestillet sig.

The small word carried more significance than Mikkel could have imagined.

Han følte sig lettet.

He felt relieved.

Med elefanten i hænderne nærmede de sig kasseapparatet.

With the elephant in hand, they approached the cash register.

Kostbare ting kunne ikke måle sig med noget så ærligt.

Precious things couldn't compare to something so honest.

Med gaven omhyggeligt pakket begav de sig videre gennem Tivolis eventyrlige have.

With the gift carefully wrapped, they moved on through Tivoli's enchanting garden.

Den kolde vinterluft blev opvarmet af deres smil og glæde.

The cold winter air was warmed by their smiles and joy.

Mikkel følte en ny våge.

Mikkel felt a new sense of purpose.

Han var værdifuld, præcis som han var.

He was valuable, just as he was.

Turen til julemarkedet blev en påmindelse om det enkle, det sande.

The trip to the Christmas market became a reminder of the simple, the true.

Alt hvad han behøvede for at genskabe sig selv, var allerede ved hans side.

Everything he needed to recreate himself was already by his side.

Mikkel greb Katrines hånd og lovede sig selv aldrig at glemme det igen.

Mikkel grabbed Katrine's hand and promised himself never to forget it again.

Sammen gik de, fyldt med varme og glæde, videre ind i den glitrende vinternat.

Together, filled with warmth and joy, they walked further into the shimmering winter night.