La llum tènue il·luminava amb prou feines el vell tauler de fusta.

The dim light barely illuminated the old wooden table.

El fum de les cigarretes feia que l'aire fos dens i difícil de respirar.

The cigarette smoke made the air thick and difficult to breathe.

Era una nit d'estiu, i Laia i Pau estaven asseguts a una taula en una taverna antiga de Barcelona.

It was a summer night, and Laia and Pau were sitting at a table in an old tavern in Barcelona.

Els dos eren escriptors lluitant per la seva última oportunitat.

They were both writers fighting for their last chance.

Necessitaven guanyar aquell joc de pòquer.

They needed to win that poker game.

Laia, amb els seus ulls foscos i determinats, observava cada moviment dels altres jugadors.

Laia, with her dark and determined eyes, watched every move of the other players.

Estava amagant un gran deute que amenaçava amb esborrar-la del mapa.

She was hiding a large debt that threatened to wipe her off the map.

Pau, confiat però ple de dubtes interns, mirava fixament les cartes.

Pau, confident but full of internal doubts, stared intently at the cards.

Havia estat rebutjat per tants editors que això era el seu últim intent de publicar la seva novel·la.

He had been rejected by so many publishers that this was his last attempt to publish his novel.

Els altres jugadors eren veterans, amb rictus rígids i somriures cínics.

The other players were veterans, with rigid expressions and cynical smiles.

Sabien com manejar les cartes i llegir els rostres dels seus adversaris.

They knew how to handle the cards and read their opponents' faces.

Laia sabia que estaria en perill si no guanyava.

Laia knew that she would be in danger if she didn’t win.

Pau sabia que era ara o mai.

Pau knew it was now or never.

Laia va decidir fer una aposta petita al principi, observant com reaccionaven els altres.

Laia decided to place a small bet at the beginning, observing how the others reacted.

Pau va seguir una estratègia similar, dubtant a l'hora de jugar les seves cartes fortes.

Pau followed a similar strategy, hesitating when playing his strong cards.

El temps passava, i la tensió augmentava.

Time passed, and the tension increased.

Els jugadors caien un a un fins que només quedaven Laia i Pau.

The players dropped out one by one until only Laia and Pau remained.

Amb el cor bategant fort, Laia va veure en Pau una decisió crucial.

With her heart pounding, Laia saw that Pau had come to a crucial decision.

Pau es va adonar també que no hi havia marxa enrere.

Pau also realized there was no turning back.

Laia va respirar profundament i va decidir que era el moment de bluffar.

Laia took a deep breath and decided it was time to bluff.

Va apostar tot el que tenia.

She bet everything she had.

Pau, sense més remei, va fer el mateix.

Pau, with no other choice, did the same.

Les cartes van ser destapades.

The cards were revealed.

La tensió era insuportable.

The tension was unbearable.

En aquell moment, compartiren una mirada.

At that moment, they shared a glance.

Pau va parlar primer.

Pau spoke first.

“Necessito publicar el meu llibre,” va dir, la veu tremolosa.

“I need to publish my book,” he said, his voice trembling.

Laia, amb els ulls plens de llàgrimes, va admetre: “Ho necessito per pagar els meus deutes.”

Laia, with tears in her eyes, admitted, “I need this to pay off my debts.”

Finalment, Laia va guanyar la mà.

Finally, Laia won the hand.

Pau va sentir un pes al cor, però ho va acceptar.

Pau felt a weight in his heart, but he accepted it.

Sabia que la Laia ho necessitava tant com ell.

He knew Laia needed it as much as he did.

Es van aixecar i es van abraçar en silenci.

They stood up and hugged in silence.

La victòria era agredolça.

The victory was bittersweet.

Van sortir de la taverna, sabent que encara tenien molt per lluitar.

They left the tavern, knowing they still had much to fight for.

Però van decidir que no ho farien sols.

But they decided they wouldn’t do it alone.

Amb el cor més lleuger i una nova determinació, es van prometre recolzar-se mútuament.

With lighter hearts and a new determination, they promised to support each other.

Tot i que la nit havia estat dura, sabien que la vida d’escritor continuava, i ara ho farien plegats.

Though the night had been tough, they knew that the life of a writer continued, and now they would face it together.

A la fi, ambdós van aprendre que les veritables victòries es guanyen amb suport i amistat, i que els seus somnis, tot i difícils, no estaven tan lluny si estaven junts.

In the end, both learned that true victories are won with support and friendship, and that their dreams, though difficult, were not so far off if they stayed together.