Snefnug dalede stille udenfor vinduet, dækkende verden i et hvidt tæppe.

Snowflakes drifted quietly outside the window, covering the world in a white blanket.

Inde på hospitalet var der en lidt anden stemning.

Inside the hospital, there was a slightly different mood.

Rummet var koldt og sterilt, men små papirfnug og et lille plastikjuletræ i hjørnet gav et hint af højtidsstemning.

The room was cold and sterile, but small paper snowflakes and a little plastic Christmas tree in the corner gave a hint of holiday spirit.

Mikkel lå i sengen, pakket ind i et blødt tæppe.

Mikkel lay in the bed, wrapped in a soft blanket.

Han havde netop gennemgået en mindre operation, og kroppen krævede hvile.

He had just undergone a minor operation, and his body needed rest.

Han kiggede ud af vinduet, mens tankerne kredsede om den forestående jul.

He looked out the window, while his thoughts circled around the upcoming Christmas.

Det var en tid for familie, men Mikkel ønskede ikke at være en byrde.

It was a time for family, but Mikkel didn't want to be a burden.

Han sukkede dybt.

He sighed deeply.

Døren åbnede sig stille, og der trådte Astrid ind med et smil på læben.

The door opened quietly, and Astrid stepped in with a smile on her face.

"Hej storebror," sagde hun glad.

"Hi big brother," she said happily.

"Hvordan har du det?"

"How are you feeling?"

Mikkel prøvede at smile, men bekymringerne vejede tungt.

Mikkel tried to smile, but the worries weighed heavily.

"Du behøvede ikke komme, Astrid," sagde han.

"You didn't need to come, Astrid," he said.

"Jeg klarer mig."

"I can manage."

Astrid satte sig ved siden af hans seng.

Astrid sat down next to his bed.

"Julen handler om at være sammen," svarede hun.

"Christmas is about being together," she replied.

"Og jeg vil ikke lade dig være alene her."

"And I won't let you be alone here."

Mikkel trak vejret dybt.

Mikkel took a deep breath.

Han mindedes tidligere juleaftener, fyldt med latter, julemad og duften af nybagte småkager.

He remembered past Christmas Eves filled with laughter, Christmas food, and the smell of freshly baked cookies.

De varme minder bragte et svagt smil til hans læber.

The warm memories brought a faint smile to his lips.

"Kan du huske dengang, vi byggede en snemand i mors have?"

"Do you remember the time we built a snowman in mom's garden?"

spurgte Astrid pludseligt.

Astrid suddenly asked.

"Den havde gulerodsnæse og fars gamle hat."

"It had a carrot nose and dad's old hat."

Mikkel lo svagt, minderne om den skæve snemand fik ham til at føle sig varmere.

Mikkel laughed softly, memories of the crooked snowman made him feel warmer.

"Ja, det var en god dag," indrømmede han.

"Yes, that was a good day," he admitted.

Astrid trak en lille pakke op af tasken.

Astrid pulled a small package out of her bag.

"Jeg har noget til dig," sagde hun.

"I have something for you," she said.

Mikkel åbnede pakken og så en smuk, håndlavet ornament.

Mikkel opened the package and saw a beautiful, handmade ornament.

"Den er til vores juletræ, for vores familie," forklarede hun.

"It's for our Christmas tree, for our family," she explained.

Hans hjerte blev fyldt med varme, og øjnene blev våde.

His heart filled with warmth, and his eyes became wet.

Den lille gestus betød alverden for ham.

The small gesture meant the world to him.

"Tak, Astrid," sagde han blødt, vel vidende at kærligheden i deres familie altid vil være der.

"Thank you, Astrid," he said softly, knowing that the love in their family would always be there.

For første gang i lang tid følte Mikkel sig ikke alene.

For the first time in a long time, Mikkel didn't feel alone.

Han så på sin søster og nikkede.

He looked at his sister and nodded.

Måske var det okay at tage imod hjælp og værdsætte de mennesker, der var omkring ham.

Maybe it was okay to accept help and appreciate the people around him.

"Skal vi tage hjem og fejre jul sammen?"

"Shall we go home and celebrate Christmas together?"

spurgte Astrid, mens hun rejste sig op.

Astrid asked as she stood up.

Mikkel tog hendes hånd og smilede.

Mikkel took her hand and smiled.

"Det lyder som en plan," sagde han.

"That sounds like a plan," he said.

Før han vidste af det, trådte de ud i sneen, hånd i hånd, klar til at fejre julen med deres familie.

Before he knew it, they stepped out into the snow, hand in hand, ready to celebrate Christmas with their family.

Mikkel havde lært, at nogle gange betyder familie mest, og at man er stærkest, når man er sammen.

Mikkel had learned that sometimes family means the most and that you are strongest when you are together.