Bhí brat bán éadrom ag clúdach na páirce agus ionaid na scoile.

A light white blanket covered the field and the school grounds.

Sa scoil ard seo i sráidbhaile beag i nÉirinn, sa gheimhreadh, ba ghnách le Liam a shealúchas a dhéanamh as fuinneoga na ranga amach.

In this high school in a small village in Éirinn, during the winter, Liam used to make a distraction for himself by gazing out the class windows.

Bhí na crainn lom taobh amuigh, cosúil le scáthchruthanna ina sheasamh in aghaidh na spéire liath.

The bare trees outside stood like silhouettes against the gray sky.

Taobh istigh den scoil, bhí an boladh téite tosta de leabhair agus ceapairí dul isteach sna hallaí.

Inside the school, the warm aroma of books and sandwiches filled the halls.

Bhí Nollaig na mBan ag teannadh linn, nóctaí ar thine bhlár.

Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas) was approaching, the naked days glowing with the embers of a distant hearth.

Liam, buachaill óg cliste agus spórtlach, bhí paisean aige do sacar.

Liam, a smart and athletic young boy, had a passion for soccer.

Bhí brionglóid aige imeacht a imirt don fhoireann.

He dreamed of playing for the team.

Ach tháinig an scéala, ceann trom.

But the news came, a weighty truth.

Go tobann, bhí air glacadh leis an bhfírinne go raibh asma ainsealach air.

Suddenly, he had to accept that he had chronic asthma.

Éaganta is bhí eagla air go nglacfadh a chairde leis mar laige.

Distressed, he feared that his friends would see this as a weakness.

“Liam, anseo i bhfad,” arsa Aoife a cara dílis, ag brainsí lena aghaidh brónach.

“Liam, over here,” said Aoife, his loyal friend, brushing away the worry on her face.

“Ní bheidh mé ag rá le héinne, geallaim.”

“I won’t tell anyone, I promise.”

Bhí cúrsaí ag dul ar aghaidh, agus dúirt Liam le hAoife amháin faoinasma.

As things progressed, Liam confided only in Aoife about his asthma.

Bhí sé ag iarraidh an rún a choimeád sábháilte.

He wanted to keep the secret safe.

Ba é an faic roimh an oiliúnt, ba mhian leis a bheith ar an bpáirc.

Despite everything before training, his desire was to be on the field.

Ach, thosaigh Aoife ag tabhairt bos mór spioraid agus meabhrúcháin dó gan a gháire a thógáil.

But Aoife started giving him strong encouragement and reminders to keep his spirits up.

Ar lá mór an chluiche ceannais, le beathannan na mealltracha ag séideadh, bhí Liam ag imirt go díograiseach.

On the day of the big final, with the gusts of the ball swirling around, Liam was playing with determination.

Ach ansin, tar éis rith an t-imeall amach go tapa, tharla sé.

But then, after a quick burst down the sideline, it happened.

Méadaíodh ar a anál, is bhí ionsaí asma air os comhair gach duine.

His breath became labored, and he had an asthma attack in front of everyone.

Tháinig Aoife chuige ar an bpáirc, ceann urlabhartha ina lámha léi.

Aoife came to him on the field, inhaler in hand.

Le cabhair a tuiscint agus cúram, thóg siad amach é go cúramach.

With the help of her understanding and care, they gently led him off the field.

Bhí rud éigin athraithe anois.

Something had changed now.

Ní fhéadfadh Liam a chroílár a sheachaint níos faide.

Liam could no longer avoid the truth at his core.

Thosaigh sé ag tabhairt aire dá shláinte ar bhealach faiseanta.

He began to take care of his health in a mindful way.

Níor thóg sé fada dó fios a chur gurb é an líonadh istigh agus a bheith oscailte faoi a shláinte a lig dó a aisling sacair a leanúint go freagrach.

It didn’t take him long to realize that being true to himself and open about his health allowed him to pursue his soccer dream responsibly.

Bhí croí Liam socair, cé gur ar bhealach eile é.

Liam's heart was at ease, though in a different way.

Bhí sé ag foghlaim anois go raibh rud ar bith is féidir le duine a dhéanamh tríd, le hionracas agus le craic.

He was now learning that almost anything is possible with integrity and fun.