Die son skyn helder deur die groot vensters van die psigiatriese saal.

The sun shines brightly through the large windows of the psychiatric ward.

Die sagte lig speel oor die eenvoudige meubels en die groen blare van die potplante.

The soft light plays over the simple furniture and the green leaves of the potted plants.

Dit was 'n rustige somersdag, en Elmarie, die omgee-onderwyseres, loop stadig deur die gang.

It was a peaceful summer day, and Elmarie, the compassionate teacher, walks slowly down the hallway.

Sy hou stil voor 'n kamer.

She stops in front of a room.

Binne sit Riaan, 'n tienerseun, stil by 'n tafel.

Inside, Riaan, a teenage boy, sits quietly at a table.

Sy gesig is 'n mengsel van vrees en verlange, verlore in sy eie gedagtes.

His face is a mixture of fear and longing, lost in his own thoughts.

"Hallo Riaan," sê Elmarie met 'n sag, warm stem.

"Hello Riaan," says Elmarie in a soft, warm voice.

"Hoe gaan dit vandag?"

"How are you today?"

Riaan kyk op, sy oë vol wantroue.

Riaan looks up, his eyes full of distrust.

"Dis dieselfde," mompel hy, sy blik weggedraai.

"It's the same," he mutters, averting his gaze.

Elmarie glimlag vriendelik.

Elmarie smiles kindly.

Sy weet dat sy hom stadig moet nader.

She knows she has to approach him slowly.

"Ek het 'n idee vir 'n nuwe oefening," sê sy en haal 'n boek en pen uit haar tas.

"I have an idea for a new exercise," she says, taking a book and pen from her bag.

"Hoe sou jy voel oor 'n kreatiewe skryfoefening?"

"How would you feel about a creative writing exercise?"

Riaan trek sy skouers op.

Riaan shrugs.

"Ek weet nie," sê hy, maar daar is 'n vonkie van nuuskierigheid in sy oë.

"I don't know," he says, but there's a spark of curiosity in his eyes.

Elmarie plaas die pen en papier voor hom neer.

Elmarie places the pen and paper in front of him.

"Jy kan oor enigiets skryf.

"You can write about anything.

Wat jy voel.

What you feel.

Wat jy wil hê.

What you want.

Jy hoef dit nie met iemand te deel as jy nie wil nie."

You don't have to share it with anyone if you don't want to."

Die dag warm op, en Riaan sit in stilte.

The day warms up, and Riaan sits in silence.

Sy gedagtes draai in sy kop soos 'n warrelwind.

His thoughts whirl in his head like a whirlwind.

Skryf iets op papier voel aanvanklik absurd, maar tog... die behoefte om gehoor te word, te verstaan, was sterk.

Writing something on paper seems absurd at first, but still... the need to be heard, to be understood, was strong.

Die volgende paar sessies is stil, met min woorde tussen die twee.

The next few sessions are quiet, with few words exchanged between the two.

Elmarie sit net rustig daar, gee Riaan die tyd wat hy nodig het.

Elmarie just sits there calmly, giving Riaan the time he needs.

Sy weet dat geduld die sleutel is.

She knows that patience is key.

En toe, op 'n gewone Vrydagmiddag, verander alles.

And then, on an ordinary Friday afternoon, everything changes.

Riaan begin skryf.

Riaan begins to write.

Sy hande bewe eers, maar dan begin die woorde vloei.

His hands tremble at first, but then the words begin to flow.

Sy vrese, sy drome, sy wense, alles loei oor die bladsy.

His fears, his dreams, his desires, all pour over the page.

Elmarie sit by hom, stil maar ondersteunend, terwyl emosies uiteindelik uitgestort word.

Elmarie sits with him, silent but supportive, as emotions are finally poured out.

Riaan kyk op van die bladsye, sy oë rooi van trane.

Riaan looks up from the pages, his eyes red from tears.

"Ek... ek het nooit geweet dit voel so verlig nie," sê hy sag, sy stem rou van emosie.

"I... I never knew it felt so relieving," he says softly, his voice raw with emotion.

Elmarie glimlag teer.

Elmarie smiles tenderly.

"Soms is die harde deel net om te begin," sê sy.

"Sometimes the hardest part is just to start," she says.

"Jy het goed gedoen, Riaan."

"You did well, Riaan."

Van daardie dag af begin Riaan meer sessies bywoon.

From that day on, Riaan begins to attend more sessions.

Hy praat meer, glimlag meer.

He talks more, smiles more.

Daar is 'n verandering in sy houding, 'n lig wat begin flikker.

There's a change in his demeanor, a light that begins to flicker.

Elmarie voel tevrede, nie net vir Riaan se onthalwe nie, maar ook vir haar eie.

Elmarie feels satisfied, not just for Riaan's sake, but also for her own.

Sy het 'n verskil gemaak.

She has made a difference.

Dit het haar 'n nuwe insig in die krag van luister en wag gegee.

It gave her a new insight into the power of listening and waiting.

Sy het gesien hoe haar geduld en vertroue iemand nuut hoop gegee het.

She saw how her patience and trust gave someone new hope.

Die somerdae stap gevorder met elke straal van lig wat deur die vensters stroom.

The summer days continued, with each beam of light streaming through the windows.

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.

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.