Bhí oíche Nollag ann, agus bhí an sneachta ag titim go bog ar shráideanna Dhún Laoghaire i mBaile Átha Cliath.

It was Christmas Eve, and the snow was gently falling on the streets of Dún Laoghaire in Baile Átha Cliath.

Bhí gach teach ag lonrú le soilse Nollag, agus bhí Caoimhe ag mothú brú uirthi faoi dhíonta lán díospóide a muintire.

Every house was glowing with Christmas lights, and Caoimhe was feeling the pressure under the full roofs of her family's disputes.

Bhí guthanna arda agus gáire á chloisteáil sa teach, ach seasamh Caoimhe sa chúinne, a hintinn chomh laistigh dá cás féin.

Loud voices and laughter could be heard in the house, but Caoimhe stood in the corner, her mind deep within its own confines.

Caoimhe, ógánach an teaghlaigh, bhí sí ann de ghnáth ag éisteacht agus ag comhlíonadh, ach inniu, bhí uirthi éalú.

Caoimhe, the youngster of the family, would usually be there listening and complying, but today, she felt the need to escape.

Bhí sí idir dhá thine Bhealtaine, ag smaoineamh ar an éalú seo don chéad uair.

She was caught between two fires, contemplating this escape for the first time.

In aice leis, bhí Eoin, a chara óige a tháinig abhaile ón bFrainc.

Nearby was Eoin, her childhood friend returned from France.

Thuig sé a cruachás agus bhí sé ina thacaíocht láidir di.

He understood her predicament and was a strong support for her.

Thosnaigh Eoin ar an mbealach amach as an seomra go mícharthasach.

Eoin started making his way out of the room ungraciously.

Lean Caoimhe é, a rabha iarraidh fanacht a thuilleadh.

Caoimhe followed him, unwilling to stay any longer.

D'éirigh leo sleamhnú amach an doras cúil go ciúin gan duine a bheith airdeallach orthu.

They managed to slip out the back door quietly without anyone noticing.

Bhí an aer úr fuar amuigh faoin spéir dhorcha, lán de bhraoiníní sneachta ag soilsiú sa solas sráide.

The fresh cold air greeted them under the dark sky, full of snowflakes shining in the streetlight.

"Go raibh maith agat, Eoin," a dúirt Caoimhe, agus iad ag siúl trí phairc dubhreatha.

"Thank you, Eoin," said Caoimhe, as they walked through the dark park.

"An sos beag a bhí uaim.

"A little break was what I needed."

""Le do mhuintir, is deacair uaireanta," ar Eoin.

"With your family, it's tough sometimes," said Eoin.

"Ach tá d'imeacht féin tábhachtach.

"But your own path is important."

"Bhí an sneachta ag carnadh thart orthu agus iad ag teacht chuige ar pháirc sheireneach.

The snow was gathering around them as they reached a serene park.

Shuigh siad síos ar bhinse clúdaithe le sneachta, a análachtaí ag feiceáil sa reo.

They sat down on a bench covered with snow, their breaths visible in the frost.

"Ceapaim go bhfuil mé ag cailleadh mé féin," a dúirt Caoimhe, a súile trom le mearbhall.

"I think I'm losing myself," said Caoimhe, her eyes heavy with confusion.

"Bíonn siad ag súil liom a bheith mar an gcéanna leo.

"They expect me to be just like them."

""Eirí as an ngnáth," a dúirt Eoin.

"Break away from the norm," said Eoin.

"Ach tá an neart ionat do féin a leanúint.

"But you have the strength to follow your own path.

Tá tú níos láidre ná mar a cheapann tú.

You're stronger than you think."

"D'fhán siad i ciúnas tamall, Caoimhe ag smaoineamh ar na focail sin.

They stayed silent for a while, Caoimhe pondering those words.

Bhí sí ann, le croí na bliana a oscailt óna chéad chuimhne.

She was there, with a year's heart opening from its first memory.

Le himeachta an oíche, tháinig misneach inti.

As the night progressed, courage blossomed within her.

Agus thug Eoin barróg uirthi, a dúirt sé, "Aislingigh mór, Caoimhe.

And as Eoin hugged her, he said, "Dream big, Caoimhe.

Ná bí buartha má thógann sé am.

Don't worry if it takes time."

"Nuair a tháinig siad ar ais chuig an teach, bhí an t-atmaisféar fós as dóigh.

When they returned to the house, the atmosphere was still as hectic.

Ach anois, bhí a fhios aici cad a bhí uirthi a dhéanamh.

But now, she knew what she had to do.

Bhí sí ag dul isteach, réidh le labhairt, réidh le rá lena muintir faoi na mianach a bhí aici fhéin.

She was going in, ready to speak, ready to tell her family about her own desires.

Shiúil Caoimhe isteach an seomra mór.

Caoimhe walked into the large room.

Le hEoin taobh léi, rinne sí a cás soiléir.

With Eoin by her side, she made her case clear.

Cé go raibh iontas ar a muintir ar dtús, ba ghearr go dtuigeadar a misneach an oíche sin.

Although her family was surprised at first, they soon understood her courage that night.

Sa deireadh, ní raibh sí sáinnithe a thuilleadh.

In the end, she was no longer trapped.

Bhí sí saor chun a pleananna féin a chur i ngníomh, fé mar a bhí sí i gceist.

She was free to pursue her own plans, just as she intended.

Leis an tacaíocht ó chara dílis, bhí muinín aici ina féiniúlacht, d'ainnis sé chéim amháin mall ach cróga.

With the support of a loyal friend, she gained confidence in her identity, taking one slow but brave step.

Agus leis sin, tháinig síad uile go chéile i mbaile geal, ceolmhar na Nollag.

And with that, they all gathered together in a bright, musical Christmas home.