Red watched in horror as the red liquid as it pervaded the lines on the back of her hand. She quickly wiped it off on her dark pants, grateful that the blood wouldn't show on the rough brown fabric. She sneaked past the guys' dorm as quietly as possible, flinching when a board creaked, finally gaining the washroom. No one was in there. She locked the door and ran to a mirror.

Her face looked as white as a ghost. Blood smeared across her cheek made it look even paler.

She quickly scrubbed at it, relieved when it finally disappeared. She sighed, then made her way to the boys' room. Maybe some poker would take her mind off things.

- - - - - - -

The ridged tin groaned a bit as footsteps tried to cross it. They finally stopped by the edge of the roof, as the owner sat down, dangling their feet over the ledge. The cool night air swept over already chilled bones.

Red had sneaked up onto the roof one last time before it got too cold. She knew it wouldn't help her health-wise at all, but everything resonated so well up there. She took a deep breath. The sweet sounds of melody echoed in the still night air. She closed her eyes ant listened to the music flowing like a river over her parched tongue. The sounds always calmed her.

An Cétean i anns feasgar solus deàrrs rach air sibh

Red's breath showed in the crisp fall air as she sat on the rooftops. She looked up. Strangely enough, only the North star was prominent in the evening sky.

An Cétean i ciamar ordhche tuit dbhur cridhe ciamar

She coughed, glad no one was around to hear it. Her heart ached from the hacking and the hurt.

Thu coisich fhéin rathhad

"Oh, how true it is," she whispered to herself. "Lonely beyond your imagination."

Oh! Ciamar air falbh thu an seo dhachaidh

She thought of her family, now gone. All dead. Some because of hate, others because of accidents that could have been prevented.

Ordhche thig

A temporary depression stole over her as she thought of it.

Creid agus sibh faigh dbhur slighe

She read the old, worn Bible of her mother's every day. But even so, she felt as lost as the lamb in Jesus' parable.

Ordhche tuit

She suddenly had a steel in her spine. She wouldn't give in. Not today.

Cum anail rianns sibh an dràsda

She still had things to live for. She had Tyke. He couldn't lose anyone else now.

An Cétean i dubh gairm cuileag air falbh

She thought of what Jack had told her. "Yer biggest barrier is yerself."

An Céteam i sibh turus air chon solus an latha

As she sat, she cleansed her soul. The age-old cobwebs were swept away along with shame and sorrow. She couldn't exactly blame herself for anything that had happened to her family. She saw that now.

An oidhche tugainn sibh an Cétean érich chon faigh grian

There would always be a light at the end of the tunnel. There is always something to live for.

Oidhche thig

Even when life seems at it lowest, you can still overcome.

Creid agus sibh faigh dbhur slighe

She thought of something her mother always used to say. "Meallan muilte Dé go mall ach meallan siad go mion." God's mill may grind slowly, but it grinds finely.

Oidche tuit

Darkness would never prevail. Faith would overcome it. Like Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)

Cum anail rianns sibh an dràsta

She had a duty.

Cum anail rianns sibh an dràsta

She had a promise.

And she couldn't keep them if she left.

She rose from her precarious spot on the ledge. She finally decided.

She was needed here. At least for a little while longer.

As she crawled under warm covers, she fell asleep with a lighter heart she'd had in weeks. She'd finally forgiven herself. There would be problems ahead, still other obstacles to overcome. But one thing was for certain.

She was home.

- - - - - -

So, that's a Gaelic translation of "May It Be" by Enya. Sorry about the belated updatedness, I'll try to be better. Thanks for my faithful readers and reviewers!