Det var en stille vintermorgen efter en vild nytårsnat.

It was a quiet winter morning after a wild New Year's Eve.

Snefnug lå stadig på gaderne i København, og lyset udenfor var gråt og koldt.

Snowflakes still lay on the streets of København, and the light outside was gray and cold.

Inde i politistationen var der travlhed.

Inside the police station, there was a lot of hustle and bustle.

Folk kom for at rapportere alt fra stjålne cykler til glemte telefoner.

People came to report everything from stolen bicycles to forgotten phones.

Lars sad på en hård bænk og ventede på, at det blev hans tur.

Lars sat on a hard bench, waiting for his turn.

Hans tanker var kun på én ting – Mette, hans yngre søster.

His thoughts were focused on only one thing – Mette, his younger sister.

Hun var ikke kommet hjem efter nytårsaften.

She hadn't come home after New Year's Eve.

Lars bekymrede sig, fordi Mette ofte var impulsiv.

Lars was worried because Mette was often impulsive.

Hun kunne finde på at tage på eventyr uden at tænke det igennem.

She might go on adventures without thinking them through.

Han følte skyld.

He felt guilty.

Han burde have passet bedre på.

He should have taken better care.

Endelig blev han kaldt ind til betjent Erik.

Finally, he was called in to see Officer Erik.

Erik kendte familien.

Erik knew the family.

Han havde mødt Lars og Mette før, da Mette engang var kommet til skade på rulleskøjter.

He had met Lars and Mette before when Mette once got injured while roller skating.

Erik var en god mand, altid rolig og forstående.

Erik was a good man, always calm and understanding.

"Godmorgen, Lars," sagde Erik venligt.

"Good morning, Lars," said Erik kindly.

"Hvad kan jeg hjælpe dig med i dag?"

"How can I help you today?"

Lars forklarede situationen.

Lars explained the situation.

Hans stemme rystede lidt, mens han talte om, hvordan Mette ikke var vendt tilbage efter festen.

His voice trembled a little as he spoke about how Mette hadn't returned after the party.

Erik lyttede opmærksomt.

Erik listened attentively.

Han forstod Lars' bekymring.

He understood Lars' concern.

"Vi skal have udfyldt nogle papirer først," sagde Erik.

"We need to fill out some paperwork first," Erik said.

"Men jeg kommer til at hjælpe så meget, jeg kan."

"But I will help as much as I can."

Lars nikkede, men han følte sig stadig magtesløs.

Lars nodded, but he still felt powerless.

Papirarbejdet tog tid, og det blev kun til mere venten.

The paperwork took time, resulting in more waiting.

Erik kunne se frustrationerne gro i Lars, og han vidste, systemet kunne være langsomt.

Erik could see the frustrations growing in Lars, and he knew the system could be slow.

Derfor lænede han sig lidt tættere på og hviskede: "Hvis jeg var dig, ville jeg overveje de steder, Mette godt kan lide.

So he leaned in a bit closer and whispered: "If I were you, I'd consider the places Mette likes.

Måske festivaler eller små markeder."

Maybe festivals or small markets."

Inspireret af Eriks råd begyndte Lars at handle.

Inspired by Erik's advice, Lars began to take action.

Han forlod politistationen med beslutsomhed.

He left the police station with determination.

Han tænkte på de steder, Mette elskede – og så var der en festival, han havde hørt om uden for byen.

He thought of the places Mette loved – and there was a festival he had heard about outside the city.

Lars tog derhen med det samme.

Lars went there immediately.

Der var små boder, varm gløgg og duftende æbleskiver.

There were small stalls, hot gløgg, and fragrant æbleskiver.

Skønt det var vinter, emmede stedet af liv.

Although it was winter, the place was vibrant with life.

Han spejdede rundt.

He looked around.

Og der, ved en bod med lys, så han Mette.

And there, at a stall with lights, he saw Mette.

Hun sad alene og stirrede ud i verden, hendes ansigt lidt bedrøvet, men hun var uskadt.

She was sitting alone, staring out into the world, her face a bit sad, but she was unharmed.

Lars skyndte sig hen til hende.

Lars hurried over to her.

"Mette!"

"Mette!"

råbte han lettet.

he called out in relief.

Hun kiggede op, overrasket og lettet.

She looked up, surprised and relieved.

"Lars...

"Lars...

Jeg har det fint.

I'm fine.

Jeg havde brug for lidt tid alene," forklarede hun.

I just needed some time alone," she explained.

"Jeg skulle tænke over nogle ting."

"I needed to think about some things."

De satte sig sammen, og for første gang i lang tid talte de ærligt om følelser.

They sat together, and for the first time in a long time, they talked honestly about their feelings.

Lars lærte at åbne op, og Mette delte sine tanker om fremtiden.

Lars learned to open up, and Mette shared her thoughts about the future.

Sammen gik de tilbage til byen, hånd i hånd, med et løfte om at støtte hinanden bedre.

Together they walked back to the city, hand in hand, with a promise to support each other better.

Det var en ny begyndelse for dem begge.

It was a new beginning for them both.

Mette havde fundet klarhed, og Lars havde fundet modet til at være til stede.

Mette had found clarity, and Lars had found the courage to be present.

Deres bånd var stærkere end før, og de vidste, at de kunne klare det hele sammen.

Their bond was stronger than before, and they knew they could handle anything together.