February 28, 2025

From Silence to Words: A Journey of Healing and Hope

15 minutes

Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: From Silence to Words: A Journey of Healing and Hope
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-02-28-23-34-02-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Die son skyn helder deur die groot vensters van die psigiatriese saal.
En: The sun shines brightly through the large windows of the psychiatric ward.

Af: Die sagte lig speel oor die eenvoudige meubels en die groen blare van die potplante.
En: The soft light plays over the simple furniture and the green leaves of the potted plants.

Af: Dit was 'n rustige somersdag, en Elmarie, die omgee-onderwyseres, loop stadig deur die gang.
En: It was a peaceful summer day, and Elmarie, the compassionate teacher, walks slowly down the hallway.

Af: Sy hou stil voor 'n kamer.
En: She stops in front of a room.

Af: Binne sit Riaan, 'n tienerseun, stil by 'n tafel.
En: Inside, Riaan, a teenage boy, sits quietly at a table.

Af: Sy gesig is 'n mengsel van vrees en verlange, verlore in sy eie gedagtes.
En: His face is a mixture of fear and longing, lost in his own thoughts.

Af: "Hallo Riaan," sê Elmarie met 'n sag, warm stem.
En: "Hello Riaan," says Elmarie in a soft, warm voice.

Af: "Hoe gaan dit vandag?"
En: "How are you today?"

Af: Riaan kyk op, sy oë vol wantroue.
En: Riaan looks up, his eyes full of distrust.

Af: "Dis dieselfde," mompel hy, sy blik weggedraai.
En: "It's the same," he mutters, averting his gaze.

Af: Elmarie glimlag vriendelik.
En: Elmarie smiles kindly.

Af: Sy weet dat sy hom stadig moet nader.
En: She knows she has to approach him slowly.

Af: "Ek het 'n idee vir 'n nuwe oefening," sê sy en haal 'n boek en pen uit haar tas.
En: "I have an idea for a new exercise," she says, taking a book and pen from her bag.

Af: "Hoe sou jy voel oor 'n kreatiewe skryfoefening?"
En: "How would you feel about a creative writing exercise?"

Af: Riaan trek sy skouers op.
En: Riaan shrugs.

Af: "Ek weet nie," sê hy, maar daar is 'n vonkie van nuuskierigheid in sy oë.
En: "I don't know," he says, but there's a spark of curiosity in his eyes.

Af: Elmarie plaas die pen en papier voor hom neer.
En: Elmarie places the pen and paper in front of him.

Af: "Jy kan oor enigiets skryf.
En: "You can write about anything.

Af: Wat jy voel.
En: What you feel.

Af: Wat jy wil hê.
En: What you want.

Af: Jy hoef dit nie met iemand te deel as jy nie wil nie."
En: You don't have to share it with anyone if you don't want to."

Af: Die dag warm op, en Riaan sit in stilte.
En: The day warms up, and Riaan sits in silence.

Af: Sy gedagtes draai in sy kop soos 'n warrelwind.
En: His thoughts whirl in his head like a whirlwind.

Af: Skryf iets op papier voel aanvanklik absurd, maar tog... die behoefte om gehoor te word, te verstaan, was sterk.
En: Writing something on paper seems absurd at first, but still... the need to be heard, to be understood, was strong.

Af: Die volgende paar sessies is stil, met min woorde tussen die twee.
En: The next few sessions are quiet, with few words exchanged between the two.

Af: Elmarie sit net rustig daar, gee Riaan die tyd wat hy nodig het.
En: Elmarie just sits there calmly, giving Riaan the time he needs.

Af: Sy weet dat geduld die sleutel is.
En: She knows that patience is key.

Af: En toe, op 'n gewone Vrydagmiddag, verander alles.
En: And then, on an ordinary Friday afternoon, everything changes.

Af: Riaan begin skryf.
En: Riaan begins to write.

Af: Sy hande bewe eers, maar dan begin die woorde vloei.
En: His hands tremble at first, but then the words begin to flow.

Af: Sy vrese, sy drome, sy wense, alles loei oor die bladsy.
En: His fears, his dreams, his desires, all pour over the page.

Af: Elmarie sit by hom, stil maar ondersteunend, terwyl emosies uiteindelik uitgestort word.
En: Elmarie sits with him, silent but supportive, as emotions are finally poured out.

Af: Riaan kyk op van die bladsye, sy oë rooi van trane.
En: Riaan looks up from the pages, his eyes red from tears.

Af: "Ek... ek het nooit geweet dit voel so verlig nie," sê hy sag, sy stem rou van emosie.
En: "I... I never knew it felt so relieving," he says softly, his voice raw with emotion.

Af: Elmarie glimlag teer.
En: Elmarie smiles tenderly.

Af: "Soms is die harde deel net om te begin," sê sy.
En: "Sometimes the hardest part is just to start," she says.

Af: "Jy het goed gedoen, Riaan."
En: "You did well, Riaan."

Af: Van daardie dag af begin Riaan meer sessies bywoon.
En: From that day on, Riaan begins to attend more sessions.

Af: Hy praat meer, glimlag meer.
En: He talks more, smiles more.

Af: Daar is 'n verandering in sy houding, 'n lig wat begin flikker.
En: There's a change in his demeanor, a light that begins to flicker.

Af: Elmarie voel tevrede, nie net vir Riaan se onthalwe nie, maar ook vir haar eie.
En: Elmarie feels satisfied, not just for Riaan's sake, but also for her own.

Af: Sy het 'n verskil gemaak.
En: She has made a difference.

Af: Dit het haar 'n nuwe insig in die krag van luister en wag gegee.
En: It gave her a new insight into the power of listening and waiting.

Af: Sy het gesien hoe haar geduld en vertroue iemand nuut hoop gegee het.
En: She saw how her patience and trust gave someone new hope.

Af: Die somerdae stap gevorder met elke straal van lig wat deur die vensters stroom.
En: The summer days continued, with each beam of light streaming through the windows.

Af: Binne die saal was daar nou 'n nuwe gevoel van hoop en heelwording, ‘n herinnering aan die krag van 'n helpende hand en 'n luisterende oor.
En: Inside the ward, there was now a new sense of hope and healing, a reminder of the power of a helping hand and a listening ear.

Vocabulary Words: