V zgodnjem jesenskem jutru sta Aljoša in Mateja, brat in sestra, prispela do Škocjanskih jam.

On an early autumn morning, Aljoša and Mateja, brother and sister, arrived at the Škocjanske Caves.

Sonce je sijalo skozi rumene liste, ko sta se spustila v hladno senco, ki jo je ustvarjal gozd okoli vhoda v jame.

The sun shone through the yellow leaves as they descended into the cool shade created by the forest around the entrance to the caves.

Aljoša je z velikim korakom vodil pot, Mateja pa je hodila nekoliko zadržano za njim.

Aljoša led the way with large steps, while Mateja walked slightly hesitantly behind him.

Škocjanske jame so bile vedno poseben kraj za Aljošo.

The Škocjanske Caves had always been a special place for Aljoša.

Njihova lepota mu je vlivala mir in jasnost misli.

Their beauty instilled peace and clarity of thought in him.

Upal je, da bo ista atmosfera pomagala tudi njemu in Mateji, da premagata preteklost in obnovita svojo vez.

He hoped that the same atmosphere would help both him and Mateja overcome the past and rebuild their bond.

Ko sta stopila v prvo dvorano, ju je obdala tišina.

As they entered the first chamber, they were enveloped by silence.

Mateja je pogledovala okoli sebe.

Mateja glanced around.

Stalaktiti so viseli kot ledene sveče s stropa, podzemni tok je brnel v daljavi.

Stalactites hung like icicles from the ceiling, and the underground stream murmured in the distance.

„Kako mogočno,“ je zamrmrala.

"How powerful," she murmured.

Aljoša je prikimal.

Aljoša nodded.

Čutil je, da je pravi trenutek, da začne pogovor.

He felt it was the right moment to start the conversation.

„Mateja,“ je začel, ampak ona ga je prekinila.

"Mateja," he began, but she interrupted him.

„Pusti, da povem,“ je rekla.

"Let me speak," she said.

Njene oči so izžarevale odločnost.

Her eyes radiated determination.

„Dolgo sem imela občutek, da me nihče ne razume.

"For a long time, I felt that no one understood me.

Prepiri zaradi dedovanja so me ranili.

The arguments about inheritance hurt me.

Ni šlo za denar, ampak za občutek, da nisem enakovredna.“

It wasn't about the money, but about the feeling that I wasn't equal."

Aljoša je poslušal.

Aljoša listened.

Telo je imel napeto, a si je prizadeval ne prekinjati.

His body was tense, but he tried not to interrupt.

V prostoru je odmeval samo njen glas.

Only her voice echoed in the space.

„Rada bi, da bi se vrnila tisti občutek bratstva, ki sva ga imela kot otroka,“ je nadaljevala Mateja.

"I wish we could return to that sense of siblinghood we had as children," Mateja continued.

„Ne vem, kako začeti. Oprosti...“

"I don't know how to start. I'm sorry..."

S komaj slišno šepetajočim glasom je Aljoša zbral pogum.

With a barely audible whisper, Aljoša gathered the courage.

„Ti... ti si mi pomembna, Mateja.

"You... you matter to me, Mateja.

Razburjenje okoli dediščine me je zaslepilo.

The turmoil around the inheritance blinded me.

Želim si, da bi lahko popravila stvari.

I wish I could fix things.

Rabiva začeti komunicirati bolj odprto.“

We need to start communicating more openly."

Z besedami težo sta stala tam dolgo.

They stood there with the weight of words for a long time.

Med njih jima je padla svetloba svetilk iz skritih kotičkov jame.

The light from hidden corners of the cave fell upon them.

Potem je Mateja stopila bliže.

Then Mateja stepped closer.

„Lahko začneva tukaj,“ je rekla mehko.

"We can start here," she said softly.

„Prvi korak.“

"The first step."

Počasi, skupaj, sta nadaljevala pot po jami, a sedaj je bila tišina polna novih obetov.

Slowly, together, they continued their path through the cave, but now the silence was full of new promises.

Oba sta vedela, da ničesar ne moreta popraviti čez noč, a pomemben temelj je bil položen.

Both knew that nothing could be fixed overnight, but an important foundation had been laid.

Ko sta iz Škocjanskih jam spet stopila v svetlo jesen, sta bila njuna srca že malce lažja.

When they stepped out of the Škocjanske Caves into the bright autumn day, their hearts were already a little lighter.

Aljoša se je učil biti bolj odprt in ranljiv.

Aljoša was learning to be more open and vulnerable.

Mateja pa je, izgovorjena iz navzkrižja besed in čustev, izkusila moč izrekanja svojih misli.

Mateja, spoken out from a tangle of words and emotions, experienced the power of voicing her thoughts.

Pred njima je bila dolga pot, vendar sta stopala po njej skupaj.

Before them lay a long journey, but they were walking it together.

In to je za zdaj zadoščalo.

And for now, that was enough.