I hjertet av våren, når de første blomstene forsiktig inviterer solen inn i verden, satt Morten i den psykiatriske avdelingens fellesrom.

In the heart of spring, when the first flowers gently invited the sun into the world, Morten sat in the psychiatric ward's common room.

Rommet hadde myke, dempede farger, som en stillfarende vårdag.

The room had soft, muted colors, like a quiet spring day.

Stoler stod komfortabelt spredt, og fra høyttalerne sildret dempet musikk.

Chairs were comfortably spread out, and from the speakers, subdued music trickled.

I dag var det en liten shoppingdag i fellesrommet, med klesstativer stilt opp langs veggene og speil satt ut med omhu.

Today, there was a little shopping day in the common room, with clothing racks set up along the walls and mirrors placed with care.

Morten følte en svak uro i magen.

Morten felt a faint unease in his stomach.

Han var ikke vant til så mye liv rundt seg.

He was not used to so much life around him.

Pasienter og ansatte beveget seg rolig mellom klærne, mens småsnakk fylte luften som lyden av fjerne fugler.

Patients and staff moved calmly among the clothes, while small talk filled the air like the sound of distant birds.

Men i dag ville han prøve.

But today, he wanted to try.

Han ønsket å finne et antrekk som kunne bringe ham litt nærmere den han hadde vært før.

He wished to find an outfit that could bring him a bit closer to who he had been before.

Kari, en sykepleier han stolte på, gikk ved siden av ham.

Kari, a nurse he trusted, walked beside him.

"Hvordan føles det?

"How does it feel?"

" spurte hun med et vennlig smil.

she asked with a friendly smile.

"Det er mye å ta inn," mumlet Morten ærlig.

"It's a lot to take in," Morten mumbled honestly.

Kari nikket forståelsesfullt.

Kari nodded understandingly.

"Prøv å fokusere på én ting om gangen.

"Try to focus on one thing at a time.

Hva om vi starter med en jakke?

How about we start with a jacket?"

"Morten så på klærne.

Morten looked at the clothes.

Det var en overveldende mengde farger og former.

There was an overwhelming amount of colors and shapes.

Hjertet slo raskere, men han trakk pusten dypt og prøvde å følge Karis råd.

His heart beat faster, but he took a deep breath and tried to follow Kari's advice.

Svein, en annen pasient, passerte dem med et muntert nikk.

Svein, another patient, passed them with a cheerful nod.

"Hei, Morten!

"Hey, Morten!

Fant du noe fint?

Did you find anything nice?"

"Morten løftet sin hånd litt usikkert og ga et beskjedent vink tilbake.

Morten lifted his hand a bit uncertainly and gave a modest wave back.

"Ikke ennå," svarte han, hans stemme nesten druknet i mumlingen rundt ham.

"Not yet," he replied, his voice almost drowned in the murmur around him.

De beveget seg langs et av klesstativene.

They moved along one of the clothing racks.

Det var jakker i flere nyanser.

There were jackets in various shades.

Morten lot fingrene stryke over stoffene, til han plutselig stoppet opp ved en dypgrønn jakke.

Morten let his fingers brush over the fabrics until he suddenly stopped at a deep green jacket.

Den minnet ham om en han en gang hadde hatt, og han så for seg lyse vårdager fra fortiden.

It reminded him of one he once had, and he envisioned bright spring days from the past.

"Hvordan føles denne?

"How does this feel?"

" Kari spurte forsiktig, merket hvordan Mortens øyne lyste litt opp.

Kari asked gently, noticing how Morten's eyes lit up a little.

Morten så på jakken, deretter på seg selv i speilet.

Morten looked at the jacket, then at himself in the mirror.

Et øyeblikk kjente han frykten for det nye, men også en dyp lengsel etter det kjente fra fortiden.

For a moment, he felt the fear of the new, but also a deep longing for the familiar from the past.

"Jeg tror.

"I think...

Jeg tror jeg liker den," sa han endelig, stemmen litt mer sikker.

I think I like it," he said finally, his voice a bit more confident.

Med Karis oppmuntring kjøpte han jakken.

With Kari's encouragement, he bought the jacket.

Da de forlot fellesrommet sammen, følte Morten en liten men betydelig bølge av tilfredsstillelse.

As they left the common room together, Morten felt a small but significant wave of satisfaction.

Han hadde gjort noe for seg selv.

He had done something for himself.

Han visste det var et lite steg, men likevel et nøkkelskritt mot å gjenvinne kontrollen over livet sitt.

He knew it was a small step, but nonetheless a key step towards regaining control over his life.

Morten lærte at å be om hjelp ikke var en svakhet, men en styrke.

Morten learned that asking for help was not a weakness, but a strength.

Og mens vårsolen forsiktig strakte seg inn gjennom vinduene, følte han seg straks litt mer som seg selv igjen.

And as the spring sun gently stretched through the windows, he felt a little more like himself again.