I gceart lár na ruathair, bhí chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath in aimhréidh iomlán.

In the midst of the raids, Dublin city was in complete chaos.

Scriosadh na foirgnimh agus bhí an dúlra ag éileamh ar ais ar an talamh.

Buildings were destroyed, and nature was reclaiming the land.

Bhí duilleoga glas ag fás ar an asfalt agus crainn ag léim suas as tithe tréigthe.

Green leaves were growing on the asphalt, and trees were sprouting from abandoned houses.

Bhí Siobhán ag seilg ar rud ar bith a d’fhéadfadh sí a úsáid chun maireachtáil.

Siobhán was scavenging for anything she could use to survive.

Bhí sí cróga agus diongbháilte, ach i ngan fhios di féin, bhí eagla uirthi go mbeadh sí ina haonar go deo.

She was brave and determined, but unknown to herself, she was afraid of being alone forever.

Bhí na laethanta fada sa samhradh te agus nach raibh stiúir ag a saol.

The long summer days were hot, and her life had no direction.

Ag an uair sin, tháinig sí ar fhear ainm Declan.

At that time, she came across a man named Declan.

Bhí sé ag breathnú ar an suíomh sluma céanna.

He was observing the same slum area.

Bhí Declan cosantach agus tugtha chun na daoine a chosaint, ach bhí rún dorcha aige a choinnigh sé faoina chroí.

Declan was protective and driven to defend the people, but he had a dark secret he kept close to his heart.

Bhí sé ina chonaí le mothú ciontachta agus géilleadh do na botúin a rinne sé.

He lived with a sense of guilt and remorse for the mistakes he had made.

Bhuail a súile le súile Siobhán, agus bhí an autocht de réir a chéile i n-aon bheithéarm.

His eyes met Siobhán’s, and there was a gradual connection between them.

“Tá bheithí ar fáil anseo,” a dúirt Declan. “An dtiocfá liomsa chun iad a fháil?”

“There are supplies here,” Declan said. “Would you come with me to get them?”

Scrúdaigh Siobhán é.

Siobhán scrutinized him.

Ní raibh fios aicí cé acu a d’fhéadfadh sí muinín a chur ann.

She didn’t know whether she could trust him.

Ach bhí sí traochta agus theastaigh uáithi deis.

But she was exhausted and needed an opportunity.

“Tá, tiocfaidh mé leat.”

“Yes, I’ll come with you.”

Ní raibh a fhios acu cad a bhí i ndán dóibh, ach bhí sé níos fearr ná bheith ina haonar.

They didn’t know what was in store for them, but it was better than being alone.

Bhí an áit stróicthe ag ruathair, ach bhí focail Declan cairdiúil.

The place was torn apart by the raids, but Declan’s words were friendly.

Bhí rud éicint ag a chuid lánfháine, ag cabhrú le Siobhán muinín a choinneáil.

There was something in his demeanor that helped Siobhán keep her trust.

Le linn an turais, thosaigh Declan ag naomiantais a chonaic an lá.

During the journey, Declan began to share what he had seen that day.

Chonaic Siobhán go raibh sé fial agus cineálta, ach bhí aige fós rún.

Siobhán saw that he was generous and kind, but he still had a secret.

“Oscail do chroí dom,” a d’iarr Siobhán lá amháin.

“Open your heart to me,” Siobhán asked one day.

Agus ar deireadh, d’inis Declan a chlár é féin.

And eventually, Declan confessed his story.

“Rinne mé rudaí uafásach roimhe seo i mo shaol,” a buenoigh sé.

“I did terrible things in my past,” he admitted.

“Ach níl mé ag iarraidh tú a ghortú.

“But I don’t want to hurt you.

Tá mé ag iarraidh athrú.”

I want to change.”

Bhí orm Siobhán a rian gan chríonna.

Siobhán felt a tug at her heart.

Uair amháin, agus iad ag cuardach soláthairtí, bhí bean móragair in éiric suas cás a ngunaí dóibh.

Once, while they were searching for supplies, a band of marauders cornered them.

“Gan scéal aslonnaithe ort!” a scair Declan ar an ngrúpa marauders.

“Don’t you dare hurt her!” Declan shouted at the marauding group.

Léim sé a fhad leo agus chuir sé é féin i mbaol díreach d’fhonn Siobhán a chosaint.

He leaped towards them, putting himself in direct danger to protect Siobhán.

Bhí na maraudersola chaiteirt orthu ach thite siad ann féin síos Béime don chreach, de bharr a choibhneas é.

The marauders were initially taken aback by his boldness but then closed in on them.

Déanta na fírinne, d’éirigh lex. Bhí na marauders buailte suas leo.

They fought fiercely and managed to fend them off together.

Chuaigh siad i mbun cath, agus d’éirigh leo iad a dhíbiú in idir leo. Bhí Siobhán agus Declan briste, ach fós ann.

Siobhán and Declan were battered but still standing.

“Is cúis le muinín an t-aontas,” a bhí le rá ag Siobhán ag a d'fhágaint.

“Trust is the foundation of any bond,” Siobhán said as they left the confrontation.

“Ní rudaí uilig fáinn cath is é mo chroí.”

“It’s not just about fighting; it’s about the heart.”

“Agus tá mé sásta tú a chosaint,” a dúirt Declan.

“And I’m willing to protect you,” Declan replied.

Bhí muinín nua orthu beirt.

They both felt a newfound trust.

D’fhág siad suíomh na hoiricis le chéile, níos láidre in n-aghaidh ára.

They left the scene of the ambush together, stronger against adversity.

Bhí áilleacht faoin a saol a chur faoi cheistiú mar d’éirigh leo nuálacht phearsanta dá dtagann beart.

There was beauty in questioning their lives as they achieved a personal breakthrough.

D’fhéach siad amach ar an cathair bhriste agus éasca go mb’fhéidir sruthán geal sa todhchaí a chur ar fáil le chéile.

They looked out over the broken city, hopeful that they might build a bright future together.

Agus an samhradh te fós i mbarr rénais, bhí Siobhán agus Declan réidh leis an ríthaisce chéile, dóchasach don amárach.

And with the hot summer still at its peak, Siobhán and Declan were ready for the journey together, hopeful for tomorrow.