April 21, 2025

Saying Farewell: A Sibling Journey atop Tafelberg

15 minutes

Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Saying Farewell: A Sibling Journey atop Tafelberg
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-04-21-22-34-02-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Die vroeë mis het stadig oor Tafelberg gerol, en die koel herfslug het Anika se longe gevul terwyl sy en Pieter die kronkelende pad na bo volg.
En: The early mist slowly rolled over Tafelberg, and the cool autumn air filled Anika's lungs as she and Pieter followed the winding path upward.

Af: Cape Town lê wyd uitgestrek onder hulle, skemer in die vroeë oggendlig.
En: Cape Town lay sprawling below them, shadowy in the early morning light.

Af: Dit was die plek waar hul pa dikwels gegrap het die wêreld aan sy voete lê.
En: It was the place their father often joked the world lay at his feet.

Af: Vandag dra Anika 'n klein houtkissie in haar hande, swaar in haar hart.
En: Today, Anika carried a small wooden box in her hands, heavy in her heart.

Af: Pieter loop 'n entjie agter haar, sy kop gebuig.
En: Pieter walked a short distance behind her, his head bowed.

Af: Hy het altyd die meer avontuurlustige van die twee gesigte, maar sedert hul pa se dood was daar 'n donker wolk oor hom.
En: He had always been the more adventurous of the two, but since their father's death, a dark cloud hung over him.

Af: Hulle pa se laaste wense was duidelik: hy wou hê sy as moes van Tafelberg af gestrooi word.
En: Their father's last wishes were clear: he wanted his ashes scattered from Tafelberg.

Af: Maar die werklikheid van die oomblik was meer kompleks.
En: But the reality of the moment was more complex.

Af: “Is jy seker dat ons dit nou moet doen?
En: "Are you sure we should do it now?"

Af: ” vra Pieter skaars hoorbaar, sy stem swaar van emosie.
En: Pieter asked, barely audible, his voice heavy with emotion.

Af: “Ja, Pieter,” antwoord Anika ferm, maar haar oë was sag.
En: "Yes, Pieter," Anika replied firmly, but her eyes were gentle.

Af: “Dit is wat hy wou hê.
En: "This is what he wanted.

Af: Ons moet sy laaste wense eerbiedig.
En: We must honor his last wishes."

Af: ”Die pad na die top was nie maklik nie, en elke tree het herinneringe skuil gehou.
En: The path to the top was not easy, and every step held memories.

Af: Buite die gesig van die stad, alleen in hul gedagtes, het die herinnering aan 'n gelukkige gesin vlugtig voor hulle oë verskyn.
En: Out of sight of the city, alone in their thoughts, the memory of a happy family appeared fleetingly before their eyes.

Af: Toe hulle uiteindelik die kruin van die berg bereik, het die uitsig oor die oseaan en die stad hulle met 'n gevoel van verlange gevul.
En: When they finally reached the summit of the mountain, the view of the ocean and the city filled them with a sense of longing.

Af: Die kleurvolle herfsblare het rondom hulle gesidder, ‘n rustige getuienis van die natuur se cycles.
En: The colorful autumn leaves shivered around them, a peaceful testament to nature's cycles.

Af: Pieter sak neer op 'n rots en kyk uitdagend na die see.
En: Pieter sank down on a rock and looked defiantly at the sea.

Af: “Ek is nie reg nie, Anika.
En: "I'm not ready, Anika.

Af: Hy’s weg.
En: He's gone.

Af: Ek is nie gereed om te sê totsiens nie.
En: I'm not ready to say goodbye."

Af: ”Anika plaas die kissie sag neer en sit langs hom.
En: Anika gently placed the box down and sat beside him.

Af: “Ek weet, Pieter.
En: "I know, Pieter.

Af: Ek mis hom ook.
En: I miss him too.

Af: Maar hy is hier, in ons herinneringe, in elke stappie op hierdie berg.
En: But he's here, in our memories, in every step on this mountain."

Af: ”Hulle sit in stilte toe die son stadig oor die horison begin klim, sy warm strale bietjie-bietjie die koue verteer.
En: They sat in silence as the sun slowly began to climb over the horizon, its warm rays gradually consuming the cold.

Af: “Ek dink,” sê Anika uiteindelik, “dat dit nie 'n afskeid is nie, maar 'n dankie.
En: "I think," Anika said finally, "that it's not a farewell, but a thank you.

Af: Dankie dat ons hom gehad het.
En: Thank you that we had him.

Af: Dankie vir die liefde.
En: Thank you for the love.

Af: Vir die stories.
En: For the stories.

Af: Die vryheid om te droom.
En: The freedom to dream."

Af: ”Pieter knik stilweg.
En: Pieter nodded quietly.

Af: Sy oë flikker soos die lig oor die golwe weerkaats.
En: His eyes flickered as the light reflected off the waves.

Af: “Dan,” sê hy sag, “maak ons maar klaar.
En: "Then," he said softly, "let's finish."

Af: ”Saam staan hulle op en draai na die hemel, liggies die as versprei oor die winde wat alreeds die betekenis van vryheid ken.
En: Together they stood and turned to the sky, gently spreading the ashes into the winds that already knew the meaning of freedom.

Af: Met 'n gevoel van rustigheid en saamhorigheid, laat hulle hul pa vry.
En: With a sense of calm and togetherness, they let their father go.

Af: Terwyl die oomblik gly in die rykdom van hul geheue, besef Anika dat sy nie alleen hoef te wees nie, dat Pieter daar is om te help dra.
En: As the moment slid into the richness of their memory, Anika realized she didn't have to be alone, that Pieter was there to help carry.

Af: En Pieter besef dat vryheid nie beteken om te vergeet nie, maar om vas te hou aan wat was en voort te beweeg met wat is.
En: And Pieter realized that freedom didn't mean forgetting, but holding on to what was and moving forward with what is.

Af: Daar, bo-op die wêreld, op Tafelberg, het broer en suster die afgelope hoofstuk met liefde en hoop afgehandel.
En: There, atop the world, on Tafelberg, brother and sister concluded the past chapter with love and hope.

Af: En met die belofte van nuwe begin, draai hulle stadig terug, die paadjie na onder tegemoet.
En: And with the promise of new beginnings, they slowly turned back to face the path downward.

Vocabulary Words: