I Københavns forstad Hildegade, hvor grønne blade blev gyldne og falmede ind i de kolde efterårsvinde, var Mikkel på vej til sin årlige helbredsundersøgelse.

In the Copenhagen suburb of Hildegade, where green leaves turned golden and faded into the cold autumn winds, Mikkel was on his way to his annual health check-up.

Han gik langs de smalle fortove, som nu blev prydet med små græskar og spøgelseslignende dekorationer.

He walked along the narrow sidewalks, which were now adorned with small pumpkins and ghost-like decorations.

Halloween var på vej, og kvarteret forsøgte at omfavne denne nye tradition.

Halloween was approaching, and the neighborhood was trying to embrace this new tradition.

Mikkel var en mand af rutine.

Mikkel was a man of routine.

Som arkitekt elskede han orden og detaljer.

As an architect, he loved order and detail.

Inden for de sidste par måneder havde han følt små, uforklarlige symptomer.

Over the past few months, he had felt small, unexplained symptoms.

En skarp smerte her, en svimmelhed dér.

A sharp pain here, a dizziness there.

I dag ville han have svar, at få styr på sin uro.

Today, he wanted answers, to get a handle on his unease.

Når han nåede lægehuset, blev han budt indenfor af en venlig sygeplejerske.

When he reached the doctor's office, he was welcomed inside by a friendly nurse.

Ventetiden var fyldt med tanker.

The waiting time was filled with thoughts.

Han spillede opmuntrede samtaler med sig selv i hovedet - "Det er sikkert ikke noget seriøst.

He played encouraging conversations with himself in his head - "It's probably nothing serious."

"Men da lægen endelig konfronterede ham, ændrede hans verden sig på et øjeblik.

But when the doctor finally confronted him, his world changed in an instant.

Diagnosen var uventet og skræmmende.

The diagnosis was unexpected and frightening.

"Vi bliver nødt til at tage flere tests," sagde lægen stille.

"We need to run more tests," the doctor said quietly.

Mikkel gik fra klinikken med et tungt hjerte.

Mikkel left the clinic with a heavy heart.

Fortvivlelsen voksede, og et mørke truede med at overvælde ham.

Despair grew, and a darkness threatened to overwhelm him.

Hjemme var Astrid.

At home was Astrid.

Hun underviste altid med en kraft af optimisme, men hun havde bemærket Mikkels stille bekymringer.

She always taught with a power of optimism, but she had noticed Mikkel's quiet worries.

Denne aften skulle have været hyggelig, de havde forberedt sig på at modtage få børn fra nabolaget og give dem slik.

This evening was supposed to be cozy; they had prepared to receive a few children from the neighborhood and give them candy.

Men Mikkel syntes anderledes, distraheret.

But Mikkel seemed different, distracted.

"Er alt okay?

"Is everything okay?"

" spurgte hun, mens de skar græskarlys i køkkenet.

she asked as they carved jack-o'-lanterns in the kitchen.

"Ja, jeg.

"Yes, I...

jeg tror, det er fint," mumlede han, Mikkel forsøgte at skjule sin frygt, men følelserne var for stærke.

I think it's fine," he mumbled, Mikkel tried to hide his fear, but the emotions were too strong.

Halloween-lyden af små latterfyldte børn udenfor syntes så fjern fra hans indre tumult.

The Halloween sound of small, laughing children outside seemed so distant from his internal turmoil.

Endelig, da de satte sig ved pejsen, brød Mikkel sammen.

Finally, as they sat by the fireplace, Mikkel broke down.

Tårerne strømmede frit, og med dem kom ordene.

The tears flowed freely, and with them came the words.

"Astrid, jeg har fået en diagnose.

"Astrid, I've received a diagnosis.

Jeg.

I'm...

jeg er bange.

I'm scared."

"Astrid satte sig tættere, tog hans hånd og sagde intet et stykke tid.

Astrid sat closer, took his hand, and said nothing for a while.

Hun lyttede bare, hendes varme nærvær lagde ro over hans kaos.

She just listened, her warm presence casting calm over his chaos.

"Vi finder ud af det sammen," hviskede hun til sidst.

"We'll figure it out together," she whispered eventually.

Den nat, mens røg sloges med kølig efterårsluft, følte Mikkel en vægt løfte sig.

That night, while smoke battled with the cool autumn air, Mikkel felt a weight lift.

Deres hus, med dets simple Halloween-dekorationer, var ikke længere fyldt med spøgelser af angst, men med en ny styrke formed af kærlighed og støtte.

Their house, with its simple Halloween decorations, was no longer filled with ghosts of anxiety but with a new strength formed by love and support.

Mikkel besluttede at acceptere sin usikkerhed.

Mikkel decided to accept his uncertainty.

Han indså, at han ikke kunne kontrollere alt, men han behøvede ikke at klare det alene.

He realized that he couldn't control everything, but he didn't have to go through it alone.

Han ville kontakte sine læger, vil have klare svar og kæmpe det gode slagsmål med Astrid ved sin side.

He would contact his doctors, get clear answers, and fight the good fight with Astrid by his side.

Med morgengløden kom en ny begyndelse.

With the dawn came a new beginning.

Hildegade, med sine trækroner og stille charme, fortsatte som altid, men med et ekstra lag af dybde.

Hildegade, with its tree crowns and quiet charm, continued as always but with an added layer of depth.

For som Mikkel havde lært, var efteråret ikke kun en tid for skift og vind, men en tid for fornyelse og styrke.

For as Mikkel had learned, autumn was not just a time for change and wind, but a time for renewal and strength.