Erik stod utanför Vasamuseet i Stockholm.

Erik stood outside the Vasamuseet in Stockholm.

En kall novemberbris fångade hans jacka.

A cold November breeze caught his jacket.

Löven var gyllene och bruna, och det knarrade under hans steg.

The leaves were golden and brown, and they crunched under his steps.

Han hade precis återvänt till Sverige efter många år utomlands.

He had just returned to Sweden after many years abroad.

Idag skulle han träffa sin familj för första gången på flera år.

Today, he would meet his family for the first time in several years.

Han var spänd.

He was excited.

Lena, hans kusin, hade organiserat återföreningen.

Lena, his cousin, had organized the reunion.

Hon var alltid den som hade koll på familjens hemligheter.

She was always the one who had a handle on the family's secrets.

Erik hade sett fram emot denna dag, både för att träffa sina släktingar igen och för att kanske få lära sig något nytt om sin familjs förflutna.

Erik had been looking forward to this day, both to see his relatives again and perhaps to learn something new about his family's past.

De gick in i museet, där den stora Vasaskeppet tornade upp sig framför dem.

They went into the museum, where the large Vasaskeppet loomed before them.

Det var en mäktig syn, berättade om Sveriges historia och havets osäkerheter.

It was a majestic sight, telling of Sweden's history and the uncertainties of the sea.

Vasaskeppet var gammalt, men ståtliga.

The Vasaskeppet was old but regal.

Precis som vissa av hans släktingar tänkte Erik och log.

Just like some of his relatives, thought Erik and smiled.

Astrid, Eriks faster, stod i skuggan nära ett av utställningsföremålen.

Astrid, Erik's aunt, stood in the shadow near one of the exhibits.

Hon hade en mystisk historia som ingen riktigt kände till.

She had a mysterious history that no one really knew about.

Det var också något i hennes ögon, en slags hemlig kunskap.

There was also something in her eyes, a kind of secret knowledge.

Erik var beslutsam att få reda på mer.

Erik was determined to find out more.

Under en paus från husets rundtur, när de alla samlades för kaffe och kanelbullar, närmade han sig Lena.

During a break from the house tour, when they all gathered for coffee and cinnamon buns, he approached Lena.

"Berätta om vår familj," sade han allvarligt.

"Tell me about our family," he said seriously.

Lena ryckte på axlarna, syntes tveksam.

Lena shrugged, looking hesitant.

"Vissa saker är bättre osagda," svarade hon, men Erik gav inte upp.

"Some things are better left unsaid," she replied, but Erik didn't give up.

Medan de fortsatte turen, stannade Erik vid en gammal fotografi.

As they continued the tour, Erik stopped at an old photograph.

Det föreställde ett skepp till sjöss, med en ung kvinna och en man som stod tätt tillsammans.

It depicted a ship at sea, with a young woman and a man standing close together.

Det föll honom in hur mycket den unga kvinnan liknade en ung version av hans faster Astrid.

It occurred to him how much the young woman resembled a young version of his aunt Astrid.

Efter turen drog Erik Astrid åt sidan.

After the tour, Erik pulled Astrid aside.

"Jag såg ett foto," sade han.

"I saw a photo," he said.

Astrid såg bekymrad ut men också lite road.

Astrid looked worried but also a little amused.

Hon log svagt.

She smiled faintly.

"Den kvinnan är min mormor," avslöjade hon.

"That woman is my grandmother," she revealed.

"Hon var ombord när skeppet byggdes.

"She was on board when the ship was built.

Det finns så många historier runt oss, vet du."

There are so many stories around us, you know."

Erik tyckte det var fascinerande.

Erik found it fascinating.

Mormodern hade arbetat med skeppet, varit en del av dess historia.

The grandmother had worked with the ship, been part of its history.

Familjens rötter sträckte sig så mycket djupare i Stockholms historia än han någonsin förstått.

The family's roots extended so much deeper into Stockholm's history than he had ever understood.

Vid dagens slut kände Erik sig mer bunden till sin familj.

By the end of the day, Erik felt more connected to his family.

Hemligheterna som tidigare kanske skapat misstänksamhet, hade nu blivit en källa till stolthet.

The secrets that might have previously created suspicion had now become a source of pride.

Han visste nu att hans familjs historia var en del av något mycket större.

He now knew that his family's history was part of something much larger.

Det var en del av Sveriges stolta historia, precis som skeppet de besökt.

It was a part of Sweden's proud history, just like the ship they had visited.

Helheten gjorde honom mer hel och förenad med dem.

The whole made him feel more complete and united with them.

Erik lämnade museet med ett leende, redo att skriva nästa kapitel i sin och hans familjs historia.

Erik left the museum with a smile, ready to write the next chapter in his and his family's history.