Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: A Silent Struggle: Finding Breath Beyond Pride
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-11-04-23-34-02-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Die sonlig stroom deur die groot vensters van die Stellenbosch Hoërskool se biblioteek.
En: The sunlight streams through the large windows of the Stellenbosch Hoërskool library.

Af: Die lug ruik na jasmyn en vars gesnyde gras.
En: The air smells of jasmine and freshly cut grass.

Af: Elmar sit aan 'n tafel, sy pen in die hand.
En: Elmar sits at a table, his pen in hand.

Af: Dit is eksamentyd en sy hande bewe liggies.
En: It's exam time, and his hands tremble slightly.

Af: Marlize, sy klasgenoot, sit by 'n ander tafel.
En: Marlize, his classmate, sits at another table.

Af: Sy glimlag vir hom, maar Elmar sien dit nie.
En: She smiles at him, but Elmar doesn't see it.

Af: Sy gedagtes is besig met die eksamenvraestel voor hom.
En: His thoughts are occupied with the exam paper in front of him.

Af: Hy voel die druk.
En: He feels the pressure.

Af: Hy wil nie misluk nie.
En: He doesn't want to fail.

Af: Die biblioteek is stil.
En: The library is quiet.

Af: Net die geluid van penne op papier.
En: Only the sound of pens on paper.

Af: Maar binne-in Elmar is daar 'n storm.
En: But inside Elmar, there is a storm.

Af: Sy asemhaling raak vinnig.
En: His breathing becomes rapid.

Af: Dit voel asof 'n swaar klip op sy bors lê.
En: It feels as if a heavy stone is on his chest.

Af: Sy hand reik vir sy inasemer, maar die inasemer is leeg.
En: His hand reaches for his inhaler, but the inhaler is empty.

Af: Paniek slaan hom vas, maar trots keer dat hy hulp vra.
En: Panic grips him, but pride prevents him from asking for help.

Af: Marlize kyk op en sien hom sukkel.
En: Marlize looks up and sees him struggling.

Af: Haar wetenskaplike brein werk vinnig.
En: Her scientific mind works quickly.

Af: Sy moet iets doen.
En: She needs to do something.

Af: Sy skryf haastig 'n nota en vou dit sorgvuldig.
En: She hurriedly writes a note and folds it carefully.

Af: Sy staan op en stap na Elmar se tafel, haar beweging glad en natuurlik.
En: She stands up and walks to Elmar's table, her movement smooth and natural.

Af: Terwyl die toesighouer net vir 'n oomblik wegkyk, laat val sy die nota by Elmar op die tafel.
En: While the supervisor looks away for just a moment, she drops the note on the table by Elmar.

Af: Elmar, sukkelend om sy asemhaling te kalmeer, buk vorentoe en lees die nota.
En: Elmar, struggling to calm his breathing, bends forward and reads the note.

Af: Daar is 'n kort plan geteken hoe hy rustig moet asemhaal en die beweging van die eksaminator moet dophou.
En: There is a brief plan drawn on how he should breathe calmly and watch the movement of the examiner.

Af: Dit gee hom net genoeg tyd om sy asemhaling te beheer.
En: It gives him just enough time to control his breathing.

Af: Met hernude fokus en kalmte, voltooi Elmar die eksamen.
En: With renewed focus and calmness, Elmar completes the exam.

Af: Na die tyd loop Marlize hom tegemoet.
En: Afterwards, Marlize approaches him.

Af: "Dankie," fluister hy bewend.
En: "Thank you," he whispers shakily.

Af: Hy verstaan nou die waarde van hulp aanvaar.
En: He now understands the value of accepting help.

Af: Sy oë blink van dankbaarheid.
En: His eyes shine with gratitude.

Af: Deur hierdie ervaring besef Elmar dat dit belangrik is om ondersteuning toe te laat.
En: Through this experience, Elmar realizes the importance of allowing support.

Af: Marlize glimlag breed en weet dat sy 'n spesiale plek langs sy kant verwerf het.
En: Marlize smiles broadly, knowing she has earned a special place by his side.

Af: Hulle stap saam uit die biblioteek in die warm lente sonlig, ieder 'n bietjie meer verstaan en waarderend vir die ander.
En: They walk together out of the library into the warm spring sunlight, each a little more understanding and appreciative of the other.

Af: En so begin 'n nuwe vriendskap, een gegrond op wedersydse begrip en ondersteuning.
En: And so begins a new friendship, one grounded in mutual understanding and support.

Af: Elmar beplan om sy trots en angs meer in toom te hou, terwyl Marlize leer dat hulpvaardigheid nie altyd gekritiseer word nie, maar dikwels verwelkom word.
En: Elmar plans to keep his pride and anxiety more in check, while Marlize learns that helpfulness is not always criticized but often welcomed.


Vocabulary Words:

• streams: stroom
• library: biblioteek
• jasmine: jasmyn
• trembles: bewe
• occupied: besig
• pressure: druk
• fail: misluk
• storm: storm
• rapid: vinnig
• inhale: inasemer
• pride: trots
• scientific: wetenskaplike
• hurriedly: haastig
• smooth: glad
• calmly: rustig
• renewed: hernude
• gratitude: dankbaarheid
• support: ondersteuning
• broadly: breed
• grounded: gegrond
• mutual: wedersydse
• appreciative: waarderend
• anxiety: angs
• understanding: verstaan
• approaches: tegemoet
• experience: ervaring
• plan: beplan
• struggling: sukkelend
• supporter: ondersteuner
• toesight: toesighouer