Enmig de l'aire fred i net d'hivern, el sol s'alçava majestuós sobre les agulles de Montserrat, il·luminant el camí que serpentejava cap amunt.

Amidst the cold and clear winter air, the sun rose majestically over the peaks of Montserrat, illuminating the path that wound upwards.

Oriol, amb una motxilla plena de provisiones i esperances, mirava cap a les altes muntanyes amb una barreja d'entusiasme i inquietud.

Oriol, with a backpack full of provisions and hopes, looked towards the high mountains with a mix of enthusiasm and unease.

Al seu costat, la seva cosina Mireia somreia àmpliament, mentre Laia, recent tornada de les seves aventures acadèmiques a l'estranger, compartia històries plenes de meravelles.

Beside him, his cousin Mireia smiled broadly, while Laia, recently returned from her academic adventures abroad, shared stories full of wonder.

El camí començava suau, amb un brunzit de converses i rialles.

The path began gently, with a buzz of conversations and laughter.

"Carnestoltes arriba aviat," comentà la Mireia, pensant en la festa que animaria el poble proper.

"Carnival arrives soon," Mireia commented, thinking of the festival that would enliven the nearby village.

Tots tres caminaven al ritme de la natura, el silenci només interromput pel cruixir de les fulles sota els peus.

The three of them walked to the rhythm of nature, the silence only interrupted by the crunch of leaves underfoot.

Però, com més amunt pujaven, més Oriol sentia el pes invisible de la seva ansietat, com una ombra que no el deixava gaudir del moment.

But the higher they climbed, the more Oriol felt the invisible weight of his anxiety, like a shadow that wouldn’t let him enjoy the moment.

La mirada d'en Mireia li donava forces, però el cor d'en Oriol bategava ràpidament, massa ràpidament.

The look from Mireia gave him strength, but Oriol's heart was beating rapidly, too rapidly.

Va aturar-se, sentint com la respiració es feia feble i superficial.

He stopped, feeling his breath becoming weak and shallow.

"Estic bé, només necessito un moment," va dir Oriol, intentant somriure.

"I'm fine, I just need a moment," said Oriol, trying to smile.

Però Laia, astuta i atenta, coneixia bé els signes.

But Laia, astute and attentive, knew the signs well.

"Oriol, pren-te un moment," li va suggerir amb calma.

"Oriol, take a moment," she suggested calmly.

"Escolta el teu cor, i respira.

"Listen to your heart, and breathe."

"En aquell moment, el pendent de la muntanya semblava més amenaçador que mai.

At that moment, the mountain's slope seemed more threatening than ever.

Sentia la terra tremolar sota els seus peus, una il·lusió creada pel seu propi pànic.

He felt the ground trembling under his feet, an illusion created by his own panic.

Mireia li va posar una mà a l'espatlla.

Mireia placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Som aquí amb tu," va dir amb fermesa.

"We're here with you," she said firmly.

Per uns instants eterns, Oriol va tancar els ulls i va seguir el consell de Laia, amb respiracions lentes i profundes.

For a few eternal moments, Oriol closed his eyes and followed Laia's advice, taking slow and deep breaths.

Les muntanyes, que semblaven tan formidables, van començar a semblar-li més familiars.

The mountains, which seemed so formidable, began to appear more familiar.

L'aire fred li refrescava la cara i, a poc a poc, el seu cor es va calmar.

The cold air refreshed his face and, slowly, his heart calmed.

La seva ansietat, tan forta abans, començava a dissoldre's com el gebre al sol del matí.

His anxiety, so strong before, began to dissolve like frost in the morning sun.

Amb pas decidit, Oriol va dir: "Continuem, però a poc a poc.

With determined steps, Oriol said, "Let's continue, but slowly."

" Laia i Mireia li van seguir el ritme, mostrant-li que la calma també era un camí cap a l'èxit.

Laia and Mireia matched his pace, showing him that calm was also a path to success.

Quan el grup va arribar a un mirador preciós, el panorama els va robar l'alè.

When the group reached a beautiful viewpoint, the panorama took their breath away.

Des d'allà, la vall es desplegava davant ells com un tapís de colors hivernals.

From there, the valley unfolded before them like a tapestry of winter colors.

Oriol va sentir una onada d'alegria i gratitud.

Oriol felt a wave of joy and gratitude.

Havia conquerit no només una muntanya, sinó també una part de si mateix.

He had conquered not just a mountain, but also a part of himself.

Ara, sabia que podia confiar en els seus amics i, potser el més important, en el seu propi coratge.

Now, he knew he could trust his friends and, perhaps most importantly, his own courage.

Carnestoltes seria una celebració especial aquell any.

Carnival would be a special celebration that year.

Per a Oriol, les màscares no eren necessàries: ja n'havia deixat caure una feixuga en aquell dia d'hivern.

For Oriol, masks were unnecessary: he had already shed a heavy one on that winter day.

Montserrat, amb tota la seva grandesa, havia estat testimoni d'un triomf personal.

Montserrat, with all its grandeur, had witnessed a personal triumph.

La lliçó havia quedat clara: el camí és més fàcil quan es comparteix.

The lesson was clear: the path is easier when shared.