El vent d'hivern bufava fred a l'aeroport del Prat.

The winter wind blew cold at el Prat airport.

Les llums de Nadal brillaven al sostre, donant un toc càlid a l'hall ple de gent.

The Christmas lights shone on the ceiling, adding a warm touch to the hall full of people.

Martí, amb la maleta a la mà, mirava el panell de vols.

Martí, with the suitcase in hand, looked at the flight board.

Retrasat.

Delayed.

Un altre cop.

Again.

El cor li va fer un tomb.

His heart sank.

Volia estar a casa per Nadal.

He wanted to be home for Christmas.

Feia mesos que era a Londres, treballant en una nova feina.

He had been in London for months, working at a new job.

L'experiència era enriquidora, però la soledat es feia sentir.

The experience was enriching, but the loneliness was palpable.

Els dies eren rutinaris, i els caps de setmana, silenciosos.

The days were routine, and the weekends, silent.

Martí somiava amb el sopar de Nadal: el rostit de l'àvia, la música de fons, i sobretot, les rialles de la seva família.

Martí dreamed of the Christmas dinner: Grandma’s roast, background music, and above all, the laughter of his family.

Decidit a no perdre's l'ocasió, va anar de seguida a una taquilla.

Determined not to miss the occasion, he immediately went to a ticket counter.

"Vull un altre vol cap a Barcelona, si us plau."

"I want another flight to Barcelona, please."

La noia del mostrador li va somriure comprensiva i es va posar a teclejar.

The girl at the counter gave him an understanding smile and started typing.

Martí es recolzava al taulell, sentint l'angoixa del temps que s'escapava.

Martí leaned on the counter, feeling the anxiety of time slipping away.

Mentrestant, a casa, Gemma i Àlex ja ho tenien tot preparat.

Meanwhile, at home, Gemma and Àlex had everything ready.

La taula llarga, decorada amb espelmes i galets, esperava el seu fill.

The long table, decorated with candles and galets, awaited their son.

La Gemma fregia els últims calamars, mentre l'Àlex afegia llenya al foc.

Gemma was frying the last of the squid while Àlex added logs to the fire.

“Creus que arribarà a temps?” va preguntar Àlex, mirant per la finestra.

“Do you think he’ll make it on time?” asked Àlex, looking out the window.

La neu començava a caure suaument, cobrint tot d'una capa blanca.

The snow began to gently fall, covering everything in a white layer.

A l'aeroport, Martí finalment va trobar un vol.

At the airport, Martí finally found a flight.

Corria pels passadissos, esquivant viatgers amb pressa.

He ran through the corridors, dodging hurried travelers.

El seu cor bategava ràpid.

His heart was racing.

Va filar-se entre la gent amb agilitat, el bitllet ferm a la mà.

He weaved through the crowd with agility, the ticket firm in his hand.

Finalment, va pujar a l'avió, sentint l'estirabot de l'adrenalina i l'esperança renéixer.

Finally, he boarded the plane, feeling a rush of adrenaline and hope blossoming again.

Les hores van passar lentes a l'aire.

The hours passed slowly in the air.

Martí no podia aguantar les ganes d'aterrar.

Martí could barely hold back his excitement to land.

Quan finalment van arribar a Barcelona, es va llençar per la porta, optimista.

When they finally arrived in Barcelona, he rushed out the door, optimistic.

El seu cor bategava amb força.

His heart was pounding.

Sabia que corria contra el temps, però no es va detenir.

He knew he was racing against time, but he didn't stop.

La terminal brillant amb unes llumetes li va semblar més amable que mai.

The terminal, glowing with little lights, seemed kinder than ever.

Martí travessà la porta de sortida amb energia renovada.

Martí crossed the exit door with renewed energy.

Dins la casa, els seus pares s'asseien a taula amb un aire melancòlic.

Inside the house, his parents were sitting at the table with a melancholic air.

Just en aquell moment, la porta es va obrir bruscament.

Just at that moment, the door swung open.

Martí, amb les galtes enrojolades pel fred, els mirava amb ulls brillants.

Martí, his cheeks flushed from the cold, looked at them with bright eyes.

Ells es van aixecar corrents i el van abraçar amb força.

They stood up quickly and hugged him tightly.

“Has arribat!” va exclamar la Gemma, amb llàgrimes a la cara.

“You made it!” exclaimed Gemma, with tears on her face.

Martí els va envoltar amb els braços, sentint-se, per fi, a casa.

Martí wrapped his arms around them, feeling finally at home.

L'àlex li va donar un cop afectuós a l'esquena.

Àlex gave him an affectionate pat on the back.

Al seu voltant, aquell sopar prenia vida.

Around him, the dinner came to life.

La distància no havia apagat l'amor.

The distance hadn't extinguished the love.

Martí ho entenia ara.

Martí understood that now.

Ser present era el que importava.

Being present was what mattered.

I davant d'ells, el Nadal brillava amb més intensitat que mai.

And before them, Christmas shone more brightly than ever.

Els plats es van omplir i la música va començar a sonar.

Plates were filled, and the music started to play.

Junts, van gaudir d'una vetllada que mai oblidarien.

Together, they enjoyed an evening they would never forget.

Aquell Nadal a casa era, definitivament, el millor regal.

That Christmas at home was, definitely, the best gift.