I lár an gheimhridh, i mbuncar rúnda lasmuigh den bhaile ag bun na gcnoic, chaith an siopa bláthanna solas bog ar shaol Eoghan.

In the middle of winter, in a secret bunker outside of the town at the foot of the hills, the flower shop cast a soft light on Eoghan's life.

Lá Fhéile Vailintín a bhí ann, agus bhí faobhar ar an ngníomh speisialta a bhí beartaithe aige.

It was Valentine's Day, and there was excitement about the special act he had planned.

Eoghan, buachaill ciúin agus smaointeach, stán sé ar na bláthanna timpeall air.

Eoghan, a quiet and thoughtful boy, stared at the flowers around him.

Bhí na cinn is mó tóir imithe cheana féin.

The most popular ones were already gone.

Ach ní raibh an crocus nó an lus an chromchinn riachtanach dó.

But he didn't need the crocus or the daffodil.

Bhí sé ag iarraidh rud a léirigh a ghiúmar féin agus na cuimhní cinn roinnte lena chara Aoife.

He was looking for something that reflected his own mood and the shared memories with his friend Aoife.

Bhí Niamh, a chara is fearr, in aice leis.

Niamh, his best friend, was next to him.

"Eoghan, níl uait ach smaoineamh amach as an mbosca," a dúirt sí le léargas agus misneach ina glór.

"Eoghan, you just need to think outside the box," she said with insight and encouragement in her voice.

Bhí a fhios aici go maith faoin gcumas croí a bhí ann, cé nach raibh sé féin cinnte.

She was well aware of the heartfelt potential he had, even though he himself was not so sure.

Smaoinigh Eoghan siar ar an lá sneachta sin sa pháirc, é féin agus Aoife ag gáire agus ag caitheamh cnuasógí sneachta.

Eoghan thought back to that snowy day in the park, he and Aoife laughing and throwing snowballs.

Cheap sé ar lusanna na hoíche seaca a bhí i bhfolach i measc na sléibhte ar an gcósta.

He thought about the frost flowers hidden among the mountains on the coast.

Bláthanna a léirigh áilleacht an fhómhair, fiú i lár an gheimhridh.

Flowers that represented the beauty of autumn, even in the middle of winter.

"Ceart go leor," a dúirt sé.

"Alright," he said.

"Bainfimid úsáid as lusanna na hoíche seaca.

"We'll use frost flowers.

Cuimhní cinn i mbotún.

Memories in a mistake."

"Le cúnamh ó Niamh, cheapadar socrú fiúntach.

With Niamh's help, they devised a meaningful arrangement.

Phacáil siad an gairdín beaga a rinne siad as na bláthanna san siopa.

They packed the small garden they made from the flowers in the shop.

Na scéalta lenár scáth suas na sléibhte, an gáire, agus na báiríní sneachta in aon áit amháin.

The stories with our shadows up the mountains, the laughter, and the snowball fights all in one place.

Tháinig an lá faoi dheireadh.

The day finally came.

Bhí Aoife istigh sa chaifé ina suí agus ag fanacht leis, súil ag dul ar an doras gach cúpla nóiméad.

Aoife was sitting inside the café, waiting for him, glancing at the door every couple of minutes.

Tháinig Eoghan isteach go mall, an bronntanas neamhghnách ina lámh.

Eoghan entered slowly, the unusual gift in his hand.

Nuair d'oscail Aoife an bosca céanna, bhí iontas uirthi.

When Aoife opened the box, she was surprised.

Phléasc sí amach i gáire agus ansin i ngáire níos milse.

She burst out in laughter and then sweeter laughter.

"Tá sé seo go hálainn, Eoghan," a dúirt sí le deora ina súile, ag admháil an doimhneacht taobh thiar de na bláthanna.

"This is beautiful, Eoghan," she said with tears in her eyes, acknowledging the depth behind the flowers.

Ag an nóiméad sin, bhí focail neamhghnácha ag teastáil ó Eoghan.

At that moment, Eoghan needed no unusual words.

Chuir sí a lámh ar a ghualainn agus leag sí a ceann air, ina suaimhneas leis an rithim chroí caidéise a bhí i solas an bhlaiseadh.

She placed her hand on his shoulder and rested her head on him, at peace with the rhythm of the heartfelt heartbeat shining in the moment.

Bhí sé soiléir.

It was clear.

Bhí cumarsáid níos mó ann, cumarsáid gan focail, cumarsáid idir cairde a thuigeann go fírinneach a chéile sa doras caol sin de thabhairt agus glacadh.

There was more communication, communication without words, communication between friends who truly understand each other in that narrow door of giving and receiving.

Lean Eoghan sa dorchadas an bhuncair ó shin, an misneach ina chroí tacsae mar thoradh ar an risce sin a ghlac sé.

Eoghan continued in the darkness of the bunker from then on, courage in his heart a guiding taxi as a result of that risk he had taken.

Agus mar sin rinne sé toradh nua, ag creidbheál nach raibh teip ann ach ceacht a fhoghlaim sa tslí is fearr.

And so he made a new path, believing that there was no failure, only a lesson to be learned in the best way.