Det var en kold vintermorgen i den lille fiskerby, da sneen blidt begyndte at falde fra himlen.

It was a cold winter morning in the small fishing village as the snow gently began to fall from the sky.

De små huse i byens gader var pyntet med gran og små lanterner.

The small houses in the town's streets were decorated with fir branches and small lanterns.

I den frostdækkede havn vuggede bådene roligt på det iskolde vand.

In the frost-covered harbor, the boats rocked calmly on the icy water.

Mikkel sad ved vinduet og kiggede ud på det stille landskab.

Mikkel sat by the window, looking out at the quiet landscape.

Hans ben var pakket ind i varme tæpper, og selvom han prøvede at ignorere det, kunne han ikke undgå smerten i sit ben, der stadig mindede ham om ulykken for nogle uger siden.

His legs were wrapped in warm blankets, and although he tried to ignore it, he couldn't avoid the pain in his leg, still reminding him of the accident a few weeks ago.

En fisker uden at kunne fiske føltes som et skib uden sejl.

A fisherman unable to fish felt like a ship without sails.

Astrid, Mikkels trofaste partner, kom ind i stuen med en dampende kop te.

Astrid, Mikkel's faithful partner, came into the living room with a steaming cup of tea.

"Nu er det snart jul," sagde hun med et smil.

"It's almost Christmas," she said with a smile.

"Vi kunne måske pynte torvet sammen?

"Maybe we could decorate the square together?

Børnene vil elske det."

The children would love it."

Mikkel kæmpede med en følelse af afmagt.

Mikkel struggled with a feeling of helplessness.

Han ville gerne være i stand til at hjælpe, men frygtede at skuffe dem begge, hvis han ikke kunne klare det.

He wanted to be able to help but feared disappointing them both if he couldn't manage it.

"Jeg vil gerne prøve," sagde han stille og så på Astrid.

"I would like to try," he said quietly, looking at Astrid.

Hun nikkede forstående.

She nodded understandingly.

De iklædte sig varmt tøj og gik ud mod byens torv.

They dressed warmly and headed towards the town square.

Det var en malerisk plads, hvor midten prydedes af en gammel fontæne omkranset af grantræer og lys.

It was a picturesque place, with the center adorned by an old fountain surrounded by fir trees and lights.

Mikkel satte sig for at begynde med lysene, hans hænder rystede let af anstrengelse.

Mikkel set about starting with the lights, his hands shaking slightly from the effort.

Astrid kunne se, hvordan han kæmpede, og hun trådte hen til ham.

Astrid could see how he struggled and stepped over to him.

"Lad os gøre det sammen," foreslog hun.

"Let's do it together," she suggested.

"Vi kan være hurtigere og det bliver hyggeligere."

"We can be faster and it will be cozier."

Efter lidt tid tøvede Mikkel, men så rakte han endelig hænderne frem for at få hjælp.

After a little while, Mikkel hesitated, but then he finally reached out his hands for help.

De satte lysene op sammen, grinede og sang julesange i takt med arbejdet.

They put up the lights together, laughed, and sang Christmas songs as they worked.

Mikkel følte sig lettet over at have Astrid ved sin side.

Mikkel felt relieved to have Astrid by his side.

Da mørket faldt på, tændtes lysene over torvet, og hele pladsen blev badet i et varmt, gyldent skær.

As darkness fell, the lights over the square were turned on, and the whole place was bathed in a warm, golden glow.

Julelysene glimtede som stjerner midt i vinterens stilhed.

The Christmas lights twinkled like stars in the silence of winter.

Mikkel betragtede det færdige arbejde og følte en dyb tilfredshed.

Mikkel looked at the finished work and felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

Han havde gjort det, de havde gjort det sammen.

He had done it; they had done it together.

Og mens sneen fortsatte med at falde sagte, indså Mikkel noget vigtigt.

And as the snow continued to fall softly, Mikkel realized something important.

At bede om hjælp, at arbejde sammen, gjorde ham ikke svagere.

Asking for help, working together, didn't make him weaker.

Det gjorde ham stærkere.

It made him stronger.

Han tog Astrids hånd og kiggede op mod lygterne med taknemmelighed i hjertet.

He took Astrid's hand and looked up at the lanterns with gratitude in his heart.

For i denne lille by, hvor vinterhavnen vuggede blidt, havde julen fået en ny, stærkere betydning.

For in this small town, where the winter harbor rocked gently, Christmas had taken on a new, stronger meaning.