Bhí an t-aer friochta le draíocht na Nollag nuair a shiúil Cian isteach sa Mhargadh Nollag i nGaillimh.

The air was filled with the magic of Christmas as Cian walked into the Margadh Nollag in Gaillimh.

Bhí gach áit gléasta go hálainn le soilse gealánacha agus boladh fíon spíosrach ag líonadh a nafs.

Everywhere was beautifully decorated with twinkling lights, and the smell of spiced wine filled his senses.

Bhí sé tamall fada ó bhí sé anseo, agus rinne sé a chroí lán le muinín agus imní ag an smaoineamh bualadh lena chairde Aoife agus Ronan arís.

It had been a long time since he was here, and his heart filled with both excitement and anxiety at the thought of meeting his friends Aoife and Ronan again.

Aoife bhí ann cheana féin, an gáire is geal uirthi agus cupán deas té sa lámh.

Aoife was already there, her brightest smile on display and a nice warm cup in hand.

"Cian! Cá fhad ó chonaic mé thú! Tá sé dochreidte," arsa sí, barrúil agus ag impí air dul isteach sa chaidreamh.

"Cian! It's been ages since I last saw you! It's unbelievable," she said, cheerfully inviting him into the gathering.

Bhí Aoife i gcónaí mar an éinín a bhí sona.

Aoife was always the joyful one.

Tháinig Ronan níos moille, a aghaidh beagáinín stoic, ach fós trína chéile ag an athrú arís.

Ronan arrived a bit later, his face somewhat stoic, yet still unsettled by the change again.

Níor thug sé le fios fós dá chairde, ach bhí rún aige pleananna a dhéanamh chun bogadh thar lear.

He hadn't revealed it to his friends yet, but he planned to move abroad.

Bhí réiteach aige féin a dhéanamh, ach níor mhothaigh sé sásta faoin bpléniú go fóill.

He had resolved it within himself, but he wasn't entirely happy about the plan yet.

Bhí an margadh beo le siamsaíocht; ceoltóirí sráide, boladh castaí milis, siopaí beaga le bréagáin agus rudaí cruthaithí.

The market was bustling with entertainment; street musicians, the smell of sweet pastries, small shops with toys and creative items.

Chomh luath agus a bhí siad le chéile, rinne Cian iarracht glacadh le hAoife agus gáire a chur ar aghaidh.

As soon as they were together, Cian tried to embrace Aoife and spread laughter around.

"Tá gach rud athraithe, nach bhfuil? Ach is maith atá tú fós mar atá gaolta," a dúirt sé, ag iarraidh croí a ligean isteach.

"Everything's changed, hasn't it? But it's good that you're still as family," he said, trying to let his heart in.

Bhí na blianta, gan dabht, curtha ina lámha acu.

The years, undoubtedly, were in their hands.

Ronan fhéach ar an dá ghlacaire agus chaith aighneas tiniúil isteach.

Ronan looked at the two and threw in a fiery discussion.

"Tá plean agam," a dúirt sé, a thon tromchúiseach, "tá mé ag smaoineamh ar bhogadh go dtí tír eile."

"I have a plan," he said, in a serious tone, "I'm thinking of moving to another country."

Bhí Cian freeze de réir an phoist, cé go raibh a fhios aige go maith go bhféadfadh sé seo tarlú.

Cian was taken aback by the statement, although he knew well that this could happen.

Thóg sé cúpla nóiméad dó iad go léir tús a chur ag iarraidh a leithscéal a bheith breithniú an gcaidreamh uathu.

It took a few moments for them all to start trying to offer their understanding and perspective on the relationship.

Bhí Aoife á cheilt, ach shocraigh sí go tapa ar ghrá éigin a thabhairt isteach sa staid.

Aoife was initially taken aback, but she quickly decided to bring some love into the situation.

"Tá a fhios agat, tá ár gcairdeas i bhfad níos láidre ná an fad ón áit.

"You know, our friendship is much stronger than the distance from the place.

Tá sé dochreidte an uair a chaitheann muid le chéile anseo," mhol sí, a croí saor in aisce.

It's incredible the time we spend together here," she suggested, her heart open.

Aontaigh Cian leo beirt.

Cian agreed with both of them.

"B'fhéidir nach féidir linn an t-am atá caite a chur ar ais, ach is féidir linn an nóiméad seo a cheiliúradh," chinn sé, ag ardú a chupán ardaing sinseartha.

"Maybe we can't bring back the past, but we can celebrate this moment," he decided, raising his special cup.

Rinne siad tósta leis na mugaí agus d'aithin go raibh siad ag fáil scéal difriúil anois.

They toasted with their mugs and recognized that they were now receiving a different story.

Bhí geasa láidir orthu, ach, b'fhéidir, b'fhéidir nach bhfadh siad chomh difrúil céanna.

They were under a strong spell, but, perhaps, they might not be so different after all.

Fiú más rud é go mbeithfeagh Ronan ag dul ar aghaidh chuig eachtra nua, d'fhan siad cairde go deo.

Even if Ronan would move on to a new adventure, they remained friends forever.

Agus leis sin, tháinig Cian ar an gcomhaontú go raibh luach aige sa rinn ag dul ar aghaidh, fiú más rud é go mbeadh a mbealaí difriúil.

And with that, Cian came to the conclusion that there was value in moving forward, even if their paths would be different.