Shadowing Practice: The One Lover Who Hopes to Marry - Learn English Speaking with Video
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374 sentences
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My name is Daniela, and I want to tell you my story.
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I live in a small town called Brighton Bay, not far from New York City.
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It's quiet here, with calm streets, cozy cafes, and the sound of waves always nearby.
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I'm 29 years old, and I work as a receptionist at a small hotel near the beach.
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Life was simple, some might say boring, but I liked it.
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I had a few close friends, a small apartment, and a routine that felt safe.
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I wasn't looking for love.
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After a few bad relationships in the past, I told myself that it was better to stay alone.
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But sometimes, life brings someone into your world when you least expect it.
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That person was Michael.
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Michael came to the hotel for a business trip.
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He looked different from the usual guests, calm, polite, and a little tired.
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He had soft eyes, a gentle smile, and a quiet way of speaking.
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When he asked for a room, I helped him check in, and he thanked me in a way that felt personal.
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I noticed the way he looked at me.
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Not in a bad way.
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Just… kind.
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I smiled back without even meaning to.
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The next morning, he came down to the lobby and asked for directions around town.
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I told him where to get the best coffee, where the beach was nice and quiet, and which seafood restaurant locals liked best.
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He listened to me carefully, really listened, and I liked that.
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Most people don't.
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After that, we started talking more.
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He stayed for two weeks.
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Every evening when his work was done, he would come to the lobby and we would chat.
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Some days we walked along the beach.
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Other times we sat on a bench near the lighthouse.
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We talked about life, books, music, dreams.
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He told me about the stress of his job in the city.
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I told him about my quiet life here.
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I felt comfortable with him.
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I felt seen.
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One night we were walking by the water.
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The stars were out and the breeze was soft.
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He turned to me and said, Being with you feels like peace Those words stayed in my heart
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I think I started falling for him that night
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When his two weeks were over He left Brighton Bay But we kept in touch Every day he sent me messages
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Every night we talked on the phone We laughed We shared stories And I missed him more than I thought I would
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A month later, he came back This time, he didn't stay at the hotel
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He rented a small house near the harbor and asked me to visit We made dinner together
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We listened to music and danced in the kitchen
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It felt like we had been together for a long time I felt lucky, but then one evening, something changed.
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We were sitting on the couch, drinking tea, and he looked serious.
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He took a breath and said, Daniela, I need to tell you something.
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I looked at him.
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My heart started to beat faster.
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I'm married, he said, looking at the floor.
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I have two children.
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My body froze.
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I couldn't speak.
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My hands felt cold.
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I looked away.
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I didn't mean to hide it, he said.
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I didn't expect to meet you, but my marriage is not good.
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We live in the same house, but it's not love anymore.
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I stay for the children.
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That's all.
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His voice was low.
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He sounded sad.
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But I couldn't say anything.
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My thoughts were all over the place.
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I stood up and walked outside.
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The air was cold and I could hear the ocean waves.
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I felt like crying.
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He followed me out.
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I understand if you don't want to see me again, he said.
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I nodded and walked home.
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That night, I couldn't sleep My head was full of questions Why didn't he tell me before?
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Why did this happen to me?
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But I also remembered the way he looked at me The way he spoke The way he made me feel safe
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I was confused I wanted to be angry But I missed him The next day,
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he sent me a message.
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I'm sorry, it said, but I miss you.
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I didn't reply.
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For days, I felt lost.
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I couldn't focus at work.
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I kept checking my phone.
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My heart and my mind were fighting.
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I told myself to forget him, but I couldn't.
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A week later, I saw him again.
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We met near the beach.
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I told him I felt hurt, that I didn't like being kept in the dark.
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He said he understood.
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He didn't try to excuse it.
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He only said, I care about you. And then, I stayed.
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I know it's wrong.
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I know many people will say I made a bad choice.
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I know I became the other woman.
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But at that time, I wanted to believe him.
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I wanted to believe this was temporary.
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That maybe one day, he would leave his wife that maybe he would choose me.
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So we continued in secret.
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He visited Brighton Bay once or twice a month.
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He stayed in that little house.
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I went there after work.
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We ate together.
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We talked.
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Sometimes we watched old movies or just sat in silence.
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It felt real, but also like a dream that could end any time.
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We never went out together.
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We never held hands in public.
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No photos, no dates, no future plans.
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Just small moments in a quiet house.
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But in those moments, he made me feel special.
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He listened to me.
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He remembered the little things I said.
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He helped me cook, made me laugh, brought me books I mentioned once.
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He made me feel loved.
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Still, deep inside, I knew the truth.
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I was not his first choice.
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I was not part of his real life.
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I was something on the side, something easy, without problems.
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And yet, I didn't leave.
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Why?
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Why?
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Because I loved how he made me feel.
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Because I believed him.
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Or maybe, because I was afraid to be alone.
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Those quiet nights with him gave me something to hold on to.
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Even if it hurt, it was better than nothing.
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But slowly, things started to change inside me.
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I stopped smiling the way I used to.
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I waited for his messages more than I should.
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I made my schedule around his visits.
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I said no to friends.
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I stayed home, always waiting for him to call.
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My world became smaller.
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Just him. And silence.
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Sometimes I stood on the beach and asked myself, is this love?
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Or am I just lost?
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And I would tell myself, wait, maybe one day things will be different.
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But the questions didn't stop.
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They grew louder.
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The weeks passed, and I stayed in that quiet world, waiting for Michael.
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I still loved him, but something inside me was changing.
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I started to feel tired.
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Not just in my body, but in my heart.
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I was always waiting.
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Waiting for a message.
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waiting for a visit, waiting for love that was only mine for a few hours at a time.
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Sometimes he came for a weekend.
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We stayed in the little house near the harbor.
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We talked, cooked, and held each other.
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But when he left, the house felt cold and empty.
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I looked around and saw only my things.
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He never left anything behind.
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No clothes.
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No photos.
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No sign that he had ever been there.
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It was like he lived two lives.
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And in one of them, I didn't exist.
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I tried to tell myself that love takes time.
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I believed he cared about me.
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Maybe he did.
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But he still went back to his wife, to his children, to the life where I did not belong.
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And I began to wonder, why do I let this happen.
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One night, after he left, I sat by the window and watched the rain fall.
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I asked myself, what am I doing with my life?
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I loved someone who could not give me a full heart.
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I was always second.
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I had dreams too.
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A home.
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A child.
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A man who would choose me every day.
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But instead, I had empty rooms and silent nights.
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I started to feel that I deserved more. But I was scared.
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I didn't want to lose him.
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I didn't want to feel lonely.
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Some part of me hoped he would change That one day,
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he would come to me and say I left I'm here now Just for you But that day never came
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I spoke to my friend Nina The only one who knew the truth I told her how I felt Tired,
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sad, confused You deserve to be first, Daniela, she said.
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You should be with someone who's proud to love you.
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Someone who walks with you in the daylight, not just hides with you in the dark.
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Her words stayed with me.
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I started to notice how much I had changed.
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I didn't laugh like I used to I didn't go out I always checked my phone
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I had stopped doing things I loved Reading by the sea, walking in the park Having dinner with friends
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My world had become small And I was the one who let it happen One evening,
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Michael visited again He smiled, brought flowers kissed my forehead.
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He acted like everything was fine, but I was quiet.
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What's wrong? he asked.
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I don't know if I can keep doing this, I said.
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He looked surprised.
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Why now?
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Because I feel like I'm not living my own life, I said.
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I'm living in your shadow.
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I wait for your visits, your calls, your words, but I'm always waiting.
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I want more.
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I need more.
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He sat down and said nothing for a while.
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Then he said, I love you, Daniela.
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You know that.
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Then why don't you choose me?
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I asked.
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He looked away.
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It's not that easy I have children A family And what am I?
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I asked softly Just a secret He didn't answer.
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That night I cried again.
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Not because he was cruel.
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He wasn't.
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But because I finally saw the truth.
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He would never leave.
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Not for me.
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Not for anyone.
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After he left, I didn't message him.
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I didn't call.
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I needed time to think.
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I walked by the beach every morning before work.
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I let the wind touch my face.
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I watched the waves and thought about my life.
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What did I want?
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What made me happy?
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Slowly, I remembered the old me, the girl who loved long walks, coffee with friends, books by the fire.
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I missed her.
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I also thought about love.
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What does real love look like?
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Not just flowers and kisses, but someone who stands with you in the open.
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Someone who says, you're mine.
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Without fear.
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I didn't have that.
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Not with Michael.
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I started writing in a notebook every night.
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Just thoughts and feelings.
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It helped me understand what I wanted.
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And every page I filled made me a little stronger.
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Michael still sent messages.
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I miss you.
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I'm thinking about you.
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Can I see you?
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But I didn't answer.
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Not right away.
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I needed time.
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One week later, he showed up at my door.
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I was surprised, but I let him in.
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I needed to see you, he said.
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You've been quiet.
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I've been thinking, I told him.
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He sat down. About us?
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Yes, I said. About everything.
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We talked for a long time.
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I told him how I felt. About waiting.
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About being second.
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About losing myself.
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I can't keep doing this, I said.
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I love you.
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Maybe I always will.
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But I need a real life.
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I want to be with someone who can give me all of their heart, not just a part.
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He looked sad.
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I can't leave them, Daniela.
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I've tried to imagine it.
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But I can't do that to my children.
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I nodded.
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I understood.
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But I also understood something else.
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This was the end.
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I hope you find peace, I said.
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I hope we both do.
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He stood up.
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He hugged me.
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I'm sorry, he whispered.
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Then he left.
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And that was the last time I saw him.
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That night I cried again.
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But it felt different.
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The pain was real, but it was also clean, like a deep breath after holding it too long.
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The next morning, I walked down to the sea.
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I stood there for a long time, just watching the waves.
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The sky was clear.
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The wind was soft.
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I felt something I hadn't felt in months.
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Calm.
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I knew healing would take time, but I also knew I had taken the first step.
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For the first time in a long time, I was not waiting for a message.
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I was not checking my phone.
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I was just standing there with myself.
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And that was enough. For now.
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Months passed after I said goodbye to Michael.
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At first, the days felt long
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and heavy I missed him I missed the way he smiled
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The way he held me The small things we used to share
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Some mornings I wanted to call him Some nights I cried
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in bed Holding my pillow close Remembering the sound of his voice But slowly 3.
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Things began to change.
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I started spending more time with my friends again.
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Nina invited me for coffee every weekend.
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We talked and laughed.
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Sometimes we sat in silence, just enjoying each other's company.
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It felt good to be around people who loved me for me,
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With no secrets, no lies I also returned to the things I once enjoyed I began reading again Soft stories,
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quiet ones About love and hope I walked on the beach every evening I watched the sunset
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And listened to the sound of the waves The sea always made me feel calm It reminded me that life moves forward,
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no matter what happens
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I also started working on my goals I took a small
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class at the community center Something simple about writing stories I
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didn't tell many people about it I just wanted to try something for myself Each week,
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I wrote a few pages about my thoughts and dreams It felt good to write It helped me heal.
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One evening after class, I was walking home when I stopped by a bookstore near the corner.
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I hadn't been there in a long time.
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Inside, I saw a man looking at travel books.
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He smiled when he saw me, and I smiled back.
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He looked familiar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen him before.
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He walked over and said, Hi.
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You're in the writing class, right?
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I nodded.
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Yes, I am.
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I just joined last week, he said.
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I'm David.
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We talked for a few minutes about the class, about books, about the cold weather.
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It was nothing special, but something about his voice made me feel at ease.
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The next week, he sat near me in class.
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After class, we walked together to the cafe across the street.
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We talked about simple things, family, work, favorite food.
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He was kind.
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He listened.
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And when I spoke, he looked into my eyes.
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I didn't feel nervous.
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I felt calm.
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We started meeting after class more often,
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Sometimes for coffee, sometimes just a short walk He didn't ask me about my past He didn't push
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He was patient One evening,
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we sat near the beach on a wooden bench The sky was orange and the air was cool
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I looked at him and said Can I tell you something? Of course, he said.
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I was in a relationship before.
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It wasn't good.
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He was married.
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I waited for him for a long time.
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I loved him, but I was always second.
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I don't want that kind of love again.
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He was quiet for a moment.
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Then he said, Thank you for telling me.
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I think you're brave.
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And you deserve better.
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That night, I went home with a warm feeling in my chest.
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Not because I was falling in love, but because I felt understood.
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Weeks turned into months.
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David and I spent more time together.
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We went for walks, watched movies, and talked about our dreams.
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He never rushed me.
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He never asked for more than I could give.
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I started to smile more.
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I laughed without pain.
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I felt free.
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One day, I looked in the mirror and saw something I hadn't seen in a long time.
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Myself.
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Not the sad girl who waited for messages.
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Not the woman who cried alone at night.
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But Daniela, strong, gentle, and alive David became a part of my life slowly like the sun rising after a long night.
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He didn't try to fix me.
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He just stood beside me.
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And in his quiet way, he showed me what real love can look like.
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One evening, we were sitting in the park watching children play.
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Do you ever want a family?
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I asked.
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Yes, he said.
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One day.
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With the right person.
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I smiled.
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Me too.
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We didn't need to say more.
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I knew now that love doesn't have to hurt.
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It doesn't have to be hidden or painful Love should feel safe It should feel like coming home Looking back,
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I don't regret my past It taught me important lessons
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I learned that love without respect is not enough
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That waiting for someone who cannot choose you will only bring pain That no one else can give you peace.
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You have to find it inside yourself.
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And now, I have peace.
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I have hope.
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I have love.
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Not from someone who hides me, but from someone who walks beside me.
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If someone asked me today, was it worth it?
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I would say yes, because through all the sadness, I found myself.
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And in finding myself, I opened the door to a new kind of love, a better one, one I truly deserve.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “The One Lover Who Hopes to Marry”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: felt, looked, quiet. This video has 374 sentences and 3005 words to shadow. The speech runs for 26:42. The speaker talks at a steady 113 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| nod verb | /nɑd/ | To incline the head up and down, as to indicate agreement. |
| lobby noun | /ˈlɑ.bi/ | An entryway or reception area; vestibule; passageway; corridor. |
| heal verb | /ˈhiːl/ | To make better from a disease, wound, etc.; to revive or cure. |
| harbor noun | /ˈhɑːbə/ | Any place of shelter. |
| gentle adjective | /ˈd͡ʒɛntl̩/ | Tender and amiable; of a considerate or kindly disposition. |
| beside | /bɪˈsaɪd/ | Next to; at the side of. |
| breathe verb | /bɹiːð/ | To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases. |
| bookstore noun | /ˈbʊkstɔː/ | A store where books are bought and sold. |
| receptionist noun | /ɹɪˈsɛp.ʃə.nɪst/ | An employee (such as a secretary) who works in reception (receiving visitors and/or calls) for a person or business, especially an office. |
| lighthouse noun | /ˈlaɪthaʊs/ | A tower or other structure exhibiting a light or lights to warn or guide sailors. |
| seafood noun | /ˈsiːfuːd/ | Food from the sea, including that derived from fish, shellfish, crustaceans, cephalopods, seaweed, algae, marine mammals, and other marine organisms. |
| whisper verb | /ˈ(h)wɪspɚ/ | To speak softly or under one's breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter words without sonant breath; to talk without that vibration of the… |
| notebook noun | /ˈnoʊtˌbʊk/ | A book (physical or digital) in which notes or memoranda are written. |
| softly adverb | /ˈsɔftli/ | In a soft manner; gently. |
| daylight noun | /ˈdeɪˌlaɪt/ | The natural light that is ambient in daytime, being mostly sunlight (both direct and indirect, on either sunny days or cloudy days). |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go out verb | To leave, especially a building. |
| look away verb | To ignore something; to pretend not to have seen or noticed something; to avoid dealing with something. |
| stand up verb | To rise from a lying or sitting position. |
| come back verb | To return to a place. |
| come down to verb | To reach by moving down or reducing. |
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. |
| look around verb | To inspect a building or area. |
| look back verb | To think of (past events) in retrospect (in hindsight). |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I wasn't looking for love.
- Why did this happen to me?
- Then why don't you choose me?
- Do you ever want a family?
- If someone asked me today, was it worth it?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | someone who could · man who would · one who knew |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | You've been · I've tried |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | being kept · be hidden |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | wasn't looking · were walking · were sitting |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 64 contractions and reduced forms, such as didn't, I'm, couldn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like nod, lobby, heal.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.