Bølger af efterårsblade svømmede henover indkørslen til det store familiehjem.

Waves of autumn leaves swam across the driveway to the large family home.

Astrid kiggede ud gennem vinduet.

Astrid looked out the window.

I det fjerne kunne hun se sine yngre fætre og kusiner lege i haven, hvor græskar lyste op i halloween-stil.

In the distance, she could see her younger cousins playing in the garden, where pumpkins glowed in Halloween style.

Denne dag skulle samle familien, men hos Astrid var der en uro som en lav murren i baggrunden.

This day was meant to bring the family together, but inside Astrid, there was a restlessness like a low murmur in the background.

Indenfor i stuen duftede det af kanel og nelliker.

Inside the living room, it smelled of cinnamon and cloves.

Familien havde pyntet hele huset med farverige dekorationer, og pejsen knitrede behageligt.

The family had decorated the whole house with colorful decorations, and the fireplace crackled pleasantly.

Jens lænede sig op ad et hjørne nær ilden.

Jens leaned against a corner near the fire.

Han var iført en sort T-shirt og et drilsk smil.

He was wearing a black T-shirt and a mischievous smile.

Astrid og Jens var tæt på hinanden, trods deres forskelle.

Astrid and Jens were close to each other, despite their differences.

Nu følte de begge det pres, der kom fra familiens forventninger.

Now they both felt the pressure that came from the family's expectations.

"Astrid, nu må du altså også begynde at tænke på at slå dig ned," sagde faster Inger med et blik, der havde mistet sin varme.

"Astrid, now you must start thinking about settling down," said Aunt Inger with a look that had lost its warmth.

Astrid kneb læberne sammen og så på Jens, der rullede med øjnene og forsvandt ud i køkkenet.

Astrid pursed her lips and looked at Jens, who rolled his eyes and disappeared into the kitchen.

Hun trak vejret dybt.

She took a deep breath.

Hun havde længe ønsket at sige noget – at bryde det stille spil.

She had long wanted to say something—to break the silent game.

"Jeg er glad for, hvor jeg er lige nu," sagde hun endelig, men hendes stemme lød mere tøvende, end hun ønskede.

"I'm happy with where I am right now," she finally said, but her voice sounded more hesitant than she wanted.

I køkkenet fandt Jens en flaske sodavand og hældte et glas op.

In the kitchen, Jens found a bottle of soda and poured a glass.

Han kunne høre samtalen blive mere intens i stuen.

He could hear the conversation becoming more intense in the living room.

Hans strategi var altid at glide udenom konfrontationer.

His strategy was always to slip past confrontations.

Han elskede sin familie, men hadede traditionernes kvælende krav.

He loved his family but hated the suffocating demands of traditions.

Da han vendte tilbage, havde en diskussion taget fart.

When he returned, a discussion had taken off.

Familietraditionen om at flytte tilbage til byen efter studierne blev debatteret.

The family tradition of moving back to the city after studies was being debated.

Astrid hævede sin stemme, nu mere modig.

Astrid raised her voice, now more courageous.

"Jeg har mine egne planer," sagde hun fast, og Jens så hvordan luften blev tung.

"I have my own plans," she said firmly, and Jens saw how the air grew heavy.

Med et uventet mod, trådte Jens frem.

With unexpected courage, Jens stepped forward.

"Vi behøver ikke gøre tingene som altid," sagde han, til familiens overraskelse.

"We don't have to do things the way we always have," he said, to the family's surprise.

"Det handler om at leve sit eget liv."

"It's about living one's own life."

Til dette fulgte en kort stilhed.

A brief silence followed this.

Faster Inger tøvede, så på Jens og derefter Astrid.

Aunt Inger hesitated, looked at Jens, and then Astrid.

"Måske har I ret," mumlede hun til sidst.

"Maybe you're right," she mumbled at last.

"Familien kan også tilpasse sig."

"The family can adapt too."

Astrid følte en lettelse strømme gennem sig, som et vindpust på en varm sommerdag.

Astrid felt a relief flow through her like a breeze on a warm summer day.

Hun vidste nu, at hun kunne finde sin egen vej uden at afskære sin familie.

She now knew she could find her own path without cutting off her family.

Jens havde vist hende, at man kunne være sig selv og stadig høre til.

Jens had shown her that one could be oneself and still belong.

Som aftenen sneg sig på og levende lys oplyste stuen, følte både Astrid og Jens, at noget havde ændret sig.

As the evening crept in and candles illuminated the living room, both Astrid and Jens felt that something had changed.

Familien var stadig den samme, men atmosfæren var lysere.

The family was still the same, but the atmosphere was lighter.

Astrid fandt sin stemme, og Jens sin plads.

Astrid found her voice, and Jens found his place.

De så på hinanden og udvekslede et smil.

They looked at each other and exchanged a smile.

Deres kamp var måske ikke ovre, men de var begyndt, og det var nok.

Their battle might not be over, but they had begun, and that was enough.