Sa teach mór, ina raibh an teas ó na teallaigh ag imirt i gcoinne na drúchtaí a bhí ag briseadh amach taobh amuigh, bhí Siobhán ina suí sa seomra suí.

In the big house, where the heat from the fireplaces played against the mist breaking outside, Siobhán sat in the living room.

Tháinig solas bog tríd na fuinneoga fuarghlanta, ag soilsiú an seileulaíl de bhróga scoile agus málaí.

Soft light came through the frost-cleaned windows, illuminating the clutter of school shoes and bags.

Bhí an lá nua tosnaithe, lán de dhúshláin, ach ní raibh Siobhán ag féachaint siar.

The new day had begun, full of challenges, but Siobhán was not looking back.

Leabhra chaighdeán oltóireachta timpeall uirthi, bhí súil aici go láidir go dtugfadh sì a neamhairde an tsíthe do na staidéir.

Standard study books surrounded her, and she hoped strongly that her quiet dedication to studies would yield success.

Bhí an scrúdú mór ag druidim, mar scáth a fhásann i dtreo an dorais.

The big exam loomed, like a shadow growing towards the door.

Bhí dúil mhór ag Siobhán ar an scoláireacht a d'fhéadfadh í a thabhairt go dtí ollscoil clúiteach.

Siobhán had a strong desire for the scholarship that might take her to a renowned university.

Ach ní fhéadfaí fáil réidh leis na torann a lean sa teach.

But the noise that continued in the house could not be escaped.

Bhí Cian, deartháir Siobhán, ag rith timpeall an halla, a ghlór iomlán gliondair mar cheol sheandaireachta.

Cian, Siobhán's brother, was running around the hall, his whole voice full of joy like the sound of a band.

Bhí sé ina sheanadóir de dheartháir, a bhí bailithe go foirm a ingne, ag luascadh idir an seomra agus an conair lena pheann-chairpéid.

He was a senator of a brother, having gathered to the shape of a nail, swinging between the room and the corridor with his carpet pen.

D'fhéach Siobhán an bealach é a stopadh.

Siobhán searched for a way to stop him.

D'eitil sí scríbe shíl uirthi féin: nó an pheana sean, dar in_CLOCKER.

An idea flew to her: or the old "pen," though not literally.

Níor mhaith léi a bheith smachta aige.

She wasn't keen to be under his thumb.

Ach más rud é, ní bheadh aon rud déanta aici.

But if so, nothing would be done by her.

"Déan solas níos ciúine, le do thoil," a thug sí dó ach cúpla uair a’p, imnic cé thèannbh as a tugadh.

"Make a quieter light, please," she said to him a few times, concerned as he gave in.

D'dh éist Cian, ach fada ionam é.

Cian listened, but it was long in coming.

B'éigean do Siobhán dul i ngleic freisin le hAoife.

Siobhán also had to deal with Aoife.

Bhí sí ina chara beagán neirbhíseach, a raibh a lán féith aici.

She was a little nervous friend, who had a lot of spirit.

D'eagraigh Aoife na leathanach go sàr, chuige siùd a fhan i lár an deasc leo.

Aoife organized the pages meticulously, intending to keep them in the center of the desk.

"Caidé mar atá tú féin, a Aoife?

"How are you, Aoife?"

" a d'iarr Siobhán le hionta réidh.

asked Siobhán with gentle persuasion.

Bhí amhras soiléir sa ghuth a, agus sin ag casadh i gceann Aoife.

There was clear doubt in her voice, which turned in Aoife's mind.

“Níl fhios agam, Siobhán,” a dúirt Aoife go míoch.

"I don't know, Siobhán," Aoife said hesitantly.

"Drochscéal, tá tú faitíos orm," a fhreagair Aoife, ag míniú a cuid déilateralacha níos sòrcha do Siobhán.

“Bad news, you have me worried,” replied Aoife, explaining her more apparent dilemmas to Siobhán.

Ní raibh sé éasca d’Siobhán tacú le hAoife, gan a cuid ama a íobairt.

It wasn't easy for Siobhán to support Aoife without sacrificing her time.

Bhí gá le phlúr.

There was a need for strategy.

Bhí cinntí le dhéanamh.

Decisions had to be made.

Sa deireadh, scinn an clú nuair a dhéineadh amhrángán mór idir Siobhán agus Cian, agus ar ais le hadharc Aoife.

In the end, harmony returned after a big argument between Siobhán and Cian, with Aoife as a back up.

Thug an rath a bhí é teann i leataobh.

The tension that had built up eased away.

Bhí a croí pléite, ach den bhall seime, tuig cú tú féin.

Her heart was engaged, but from that moment, she understood herself better.

Phléig Siobhán lena dlúth comhsoil cuibhealla fhad siùd, gur música deirech fir, gur dèan grinn níos ciúine fost chúich.

Siobhán discussed with her close family the proper balance, clear that she needed calm to focus.

D'eitbol sí féin méia beidh teant m’ionnainní.

She let go of any tension she felt.

Agus nuair a d’éirigh an scrúdú in aice ach an tráthnóna nua, d'fhéach Siobhán isteach san íostas.

And when the exam approached the new afternoon, Siobhán looked into the horizon.

Bhí sí anois gnitha haigidí uirthi ag cur isteach síocháin, ag meirgiú scíth gan eagla.

She now had skills within her to bring tranquility, relaxing without fear.

Bhraith sí cumasach.

She felt empowered.

Ba é an t-ear leis an n-chómhradar a titrim, deilc is a hoibriú phlé dochair cuid doirbhís.

It was the spring that her inner dialogue unfolded, dealing with her work and the setbacks that sometimes occurred.

Bhí truaill shochórsa le Cian anois i bhfad na torann, agus féith Aoife fillte.

Cian's noise was now distant, and Aoife's purpose clear.

Bhí a nádúir féin in Ardebhar, a lag, agus réitigh sí ó am seo ar aghaidh go léir, go macánta.

Her own nature had settled over time, honestly.

Bhí girí a d'fhás fíor.

Dreams that she had grew real.

Bhí spás ag an inmhéanach anois i measc an teaghlaigh, spás lena lán fiú a raibh.

There was space internally now among the family, a space with a purpose that mattered.

Abair slán le scar, slán le dúlagar, mar tá cosán réidh.

Say goodbye to separation, goodbye to melancholy, as the path is clear.

Agus dosheachanta, d’fhág sí baile ag crack na maidine leis an measúnas.

And inevitably, she left the house at the crack of dawn for the assessment.

Le brúiúilin phisé líosan a bhí dírithe uirthi, bhí sí réidh, faoi bhláth.

With a determined resolve focused on her, she was ready, in full bloom.