Lyset fra vinterhimlen var grått og diffust da det snek seg inn i leiligheten i Oslo.

The light from the winter sky was gray and diffuse as it sneaked into the apartment in Oslo.

Inne ved middagsbordet hadde Emma nettopp satt pinnekjøtt og kålrabistappe på bordet.

Inside, by the dining table, Emma had just placed pinnekjøtt and mashed kålrabi on the table.

Duften fylte rommet, lokket fram minner fra tidligere familiemiddager.

The scent filled the room, evoking memories of past family dinners.

Men i dag lå det en stille, nesten elektrisk spenning i luften.

But today, there was a quiet, almost electric tension in the air.

Sofie satt ved bordet ved siden av broren Lars som helte melk i sitt glass.

Sofie sat at the table next to her brother Lars, who was pouring milk into his glass.

Hun så på moren sin, Emma, der hun hastet rundt med de siste smådetaljene for å gjøre alt «perfekt».

She looked at her mother, Emma, as she hurried around with the last little details to make everything “perfect.”

Sofie visste at i dag var dagen hun måtte fortelle dem om avgjørelsen sin.

Sofie knew that today was the day she had to tell them about her decision.

Hun hadde gruet seg i flere dager.

She had been dreading it for several days.

"Skal vi begynne å spise?" spurte Emma mens hun tok plass ved bordet med et varmt smil.

"Shall we start eating?" asked Emma as she took her place at the table with a warm smile.

Det var Valentinsdagen, men kjærligheten var i ferd med å bli utfordrende.

It was Valentine's Day, but love was about to be challenging.

De tre satte seg, og de første minuttene forløp i en slags rolig stillhet fylt med typiske hverdagslige samtaler.

The three sat down, and the first minutes unfolded in a kind of peaceful silence filled with typical everyday conversations.

Lars snakket om fotballkampen han hadde sett, og Emma om været og hvor kaldt det hadde blitt.

Lars talked about the soccer match he had watched, and Emma about the weather and how cold it had become.

Da samtalen ebbte ut, visste Sofie at øyeblikket var kommet.

As the conversation dwindled, Sofie knew the moment had come.

Hun tok et dypt pust.

She took a deep breath.

"Mamma, Lars," begynte hun og kjente hjertet slå raskere, "jeg har noe å fortelle dere."

"Mom, Lars," she began, feeling her heart beat faster, "I have something to tell you."

Emma la fra seg bestikket og så på datteren sin med nysgjerrighet.

Emma put down her utensils and looked at her daughter with curiosity.

"Ja, Sofie? Hva er det?"

"Yes, Sofie? What is it?"

"Jeg har fått en jobbtilbud i Berlin," sa Sofie mens hun prøvde å holde stemmen stødig.

"I've received a job offer in Berlin," said Sofie, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Og jeg har bestemt meg for å flytte dit."

"And I've decided to move there."

Et øyeblikk, et dypt pust fra Emma, mens stillheten la seg som et teppe over bordet.

For a moment, a deep breath from Emma, as silence lay like a blanket over the table.

Så brøt morens stemme ut.

Then her mother's voice broke out.

"Flytte til Berlin? Hvorfor det, Sofie?"

"Move to Berlin? Why, Sofie?"

Sofie kjente presset fra spørsmålet og Emmas kritiske blikk, men visste hun måtte stå fast.

Sofie felt the pressure from the question and Emma's critical gaze but knew she had to stand firm.

"Det er en stor mulighet for meg, mamma.

"It's a big opportunity for me, mom.

Det er innenfor det jeg alltid har ønsket å jobbe med."

It's in the field I've always wanted to work in."

Emma rynket brynene.

Emma furrowed her brows.

"Men hva med familien din her?

"But what about your family here?

Vi trenger deg, Sofie."

We need you, Sofie."

Før stemningen ble for bitende tok Lars ordet.

Before the mood became too tense, Lars spoke up.

"Mamma, kanskje dette er en god sjanse for Sofie.

"Mom, maybe this is a good chance for Sofie.

Vi vil alltid være familie uansett hvor hun er."

We'll always be family no matter where she is."

Emma så fra Lars til Sofie, og Sofie så hvordan spenningen begynte å slippe litt taket.

Emma looked from Lars to Sofie, and Sofie saw how the tension began to ease a bit.

"Jeg vil bare at du skal være lykkelig, Sofie," sa Emma med en så vidt hørbar stemme.

"I just want you to be happy, Sofie," said Emma with a barely audible voice.

"Jeg kommer til å savne dere," svarte Sofie, nå med mer selvtillit.

"I will miss you," responded Sofie, now with more confidence.

"Men jeg føler at dette er riktig for meg."

"But I feel this is right for me."

Hun så kjærligheten i morens øyne, sammen med en tristhet men også en svak glød av forståelse.

She saw the love in her mother's eyes, along with a sadness but also a faint glow of understanding.

Emma nikket sakte.

Emma nodded slowly.

"Hvis dette virkelig er det du vil, så støtter vi deg," sa hun til slutt.

"If this really is what you want, then we support you," she finally said.

Lars smilte til søsteren sin, og Sofie kjente lettelsen i hele kroppen.

Lars smiled at his sister, and Sofie felt relief throughout her body.

Hun skjønte at selv gjennom uenighet og frykt hadde familien hennes en sterk kjærlighet som ikke kunne brytes.

She realized that even through disagreement and fear, her family had a strong love that could not be broken.

Middagen fortsatte med en ny stemning av aksept og forsoning.

The dinner continued with a new atmosphere of acceptance and reconciliation.

Utenfor var kvelden fortsatt kald og vintermørk, men inne ved det lille bordet var det varmt.

Outside, the evening was still cold and winter dark, but inside at the little table, it was warm.

Sofie visste nå at med deres støtte kunne hun oppnå hva som helst, og hun så frem til eventyret foran seg.

Sofie knew now that with their support, she could achieve anything, and she looked forward to the adventure ahead.