November 14, 2025

Kertu's Autumn Awakening: Finding Strength in Vulnerability

16 minutes

Fluent Fiction - Estonian: Kertu's Autumn Awakening: Finding Strength in Vulnerability
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/et/episode/2025-11-14-23-34-02-et

Story Transcript:

Et: Tartu internaatkooli aknad helkisid hommikupäikese kiirtes, kui tuul oksi õõtsutas, kandes endaga kastemärgi ja krõbisevate lehtede lõhna.
En: The windows of the Tartu boarding school glimmered in the morning sunlight as the wind swayed the branches, carrying with it the scent of dew and rustling leaves.

Et: See oli sügis oma iluga, kuid Kertu ei suutnud seda ilu märgata.
En: It was autumn in all its beauty, yet Kertu could not notice this beauty.

Et: Ta istus klassiruumis, pilk südamevalu ja hirmust tuim.
En: She sat in the classroom, her gaze dull with heartache and fear.

Et: Ta pastakas libises vahel käest ja matemaatikaõpik tundus liiga raske.
En: Her pen occasionally slipped from her hand, and the math textbook seemed too heavy.

Et: "Kas sa oled okei, Kertu?"
En: "Are you okay, Kertu?"

Et: küsis Liis, tema pinginaaber, kes märkas Kertu kahvatut nägu.
En: asked Liis, her desk mate, who noticed Kertu's pale face.

Et: Kertu naeratas, kuid see naeratus oli nõrk ja sünnis valu peitmiseks.
En: Kertu smiled, but it was a weak smile, meant to hide the pain.

Et: "Ma olen lihtsalt natuke väsinud, ei midagi tõsist," vastas ta vaikselt.
En: "I'm just a bit tired, nothing serious," she replied quietly.

Et: Tunnid möödusid aeglaselt ja Kertu tundis, kuidas maailm tema ümber keerles.
En: The lessons passed slowly, and Kertu felt as though the world was spinning around her.

Et: Nagu oleks elu nõelravi punkti tabanud, koputades tema närvidele, iga nõelamine valusam kui eelmine.
En: It was as if life had hit an acupuncture point, tapping her nerves, each prick more painful than the last.

Et: Aga ta pidi püsima tugev, vähemalt seniks, kuni keegi ei märka.
En: But she had to remain strong, at least until no one noticed.

Et: Pärast matemaatikatundi oli vahetund.
En: After math class, there was a break.

Et: Kertu otsustas minna arsti juurde, kuigi midagi tema sees lausa karjus vastu.
En: Kertu decided to go to the doctor, even though something inside her screamed against it.

Et: "Ma pean sellele lõpu tegema," mõtles ta.
En: "I have to put an end to this," she thought.

Et: Internaatkooli meditsiinikabinet paiknes esimesel korrusel.
En: The boarding school's medical room was located on the first floor.

Et: Hinges kartus ja kergendus, jalutas ta raskete sammudega ukse poole, mille ees ootas Tõnu, kes tahtis samuti abi saada.
En: Filled with fear and relief, she walked with heavy steps toward the door, where Tõnu was waiting, also seeking help.

Et: "Tere, Kertu!
En: "Hi, Kertu!

Et: Kõik korras?"
En: Is everything okay?"

Et: küsis Tõnu, märgates tema kohmetust.
En: asked Tõnu, noticing her unease.

Et: "Tere, Tõnu.
En: "Hi, Tõnu.

Et: Jah, lihtsalt natuke halb olla," vastas Kertu.
En: Yes, just feeling a bit unwell," replied Kertu.

Et: Ta lükkas ukse vaikselt lahti ja sisenes ruumi, mille aknad avanesid puulehtede kuldvalge vaiba poole.
En: She quietly pushed the door open and entered the room, whose windows opened toward a golden-white carpet of tree leaves.

Et: Soojendava magamiskoti peal istudes tundis Kertu kõigest hoolimata, et temast on saanud vaevu hingav atlas, kes kannab seda suurt, nähtamatut maailma oma õlgadel.
En: Sitting on the comforting sleeping bag, Kertu felt, despite everything, like a barely breathing atlas, carrying this large, invisible world on her shoulders.

Et: Enne kui ta aru sai, pani pinge tema pea pöörlema ja järgmisel hetkel vajus ta kokku.
En: Before she realized it, the tension made her head spin, and the next moment she collapsed.

Et: Kui Kertu tuli teadvusele, oli õde tema kohal, murdis tavalise vaikuse soovide ja küsimustega tema olukorra kohta.
En: When Kertu regained consciousness, a nurse was by her side, breaking the usual silence with wishes and questions about her condition.

Et: Tõnu seisis ukse kõrval, oodates, mure tema näost peegeldumas.
En: Tõnu stood by the door, waiting, concern mirrored on his face.

Et: Kooli juhtkond võttis Kertu ema ja isaga ühendust.
En: The school administration contacted Kertu's parents.

Et: Raskus, tunded, mida Kertu oli nii kaua varjanud, tulid nüüd päevavalgele.
En: The burden, the feelings Kertu had hidden for so long, now came to light.

Et: Tema vanemad tulid kohale, olles murelikud ja hirmunud.
En: Her parents arrived, worried and frightened.

Et: Kuid nad ei olnud vihased.
En: But they were not angry.

Et: Nad tahtsid aidata.
En: They wanted to help.

Et: "Me ei teadnud, et see nii tõsine on," ütles ema, silitades Kertu käsi.
En: "We didn't know it was this serious," her mother said, stroking Kertu's hand.

Et: "Tähtis on see, et nüüd suudame midagi teha," vastas Tõnu julgustavalt, olles endiselt tubli sõber.
En: "The important thing is that now we can do something," Tõnu replied encouragingly, remaining a good friend.

Et: Kertu mõistis, et ükski hind ei ole tervisest kõrgem.
En: Kertu realized that no price is higher than health.

Et: Akadeemilisi saavutusi ei saa panna enesetunde hinnaga kaalule.
En: Academic achievements cannot be weighed at the cost of one's well-being.

Et: See oli tema jaoks ärkamine – abiga saab ta laiendada silmapiiri ja kasvatada armastust iseenda vastu.
En: It was an awakening for her—with help, she can broaden her horizons and grow love for herself.

Et: Nüüd, kui lehed Tartu teedel lehvima hakkasid, teadis Kertu, et kuigi ta teekond on alles algamas, pole ta kunagi üksi.
En: Now, as the leaves began to flutter on the streets of Tartu, Kertu knew that although her journey was just beginning, she was never alone.

Et: Tõeline tugevus ei tulene mitte vaikimisest, vaid sellest, et ollakse piisavalt julge, et abi küsida.
En: True strength comes not from silence but from being brave enough to ask for help.

Et: Ja vahel õitseb julgus kõige külmema tuule käes.
En: And sometimes courage blooms in the coldest wind.

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