Fluent Fiction - Croatian: Hope and Heroes: An Unexpected Election Day in Dubrovnik
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Story Transcript:

Hr: U srcu ljeta, zrak u Dubrovniku bio je težak i sladak od mirisa mora.
En: In the heart of summer, the air in Dubrovnik was heavy and sweet with the scent of the sea.

Hr: Povijesna zgrada blizu Starog Grada postala je privremeno biralište.
En: A historic building near the Old Town had become a temporary polling station.

Hr: Glasovi ljudi odjekivali su kamenom poput valova.
En: The voices of people echoed off the stone like waves.

Hr: Nikola je stajao u redu, oči usmjerene na ulaz.
En: Nikola stood in line, his eyes fixed on the entrance.

Hr: Suze su mu dolazile na oči od oštrog sunca, ali nije odustajao.
En: Tears welled up in his eyes from the harsh sun, but he did not give up.

Hr: Nikola je bio srednjih godina, s povijestom problema sa srcem.
En: Nikola was middle-aged, with a history of heart problems.

Hr: Bio je odlučan glasati.
En: He was determined to vote.

Hr: Kandidat kojeg je podržavao nudio je zdravstvene reforme, a njemu je nada trebala biti veća od straha.
En: The candidate he supported offered healthcare reforms, and he needed hope to be stronger than fear.

Hr: No, dok je stajao, osjetio je poznatu bol u prsima.
En: However, as he stood, he felt a familiar pain in his chest.

Hr: Bol je bila poput oštrog bodeža, ali nije htio odustati.
En: The pain was like a sharp dagger, but he did not want to give up.

Hr: Iza njega je stajala Ivana.
En: Behind him stood Ivana.

Hr: Mlada medicinska sestra, ali bila je odjevena jednostavno.
En: A young nurse, but she was simply dressed.

Hr: Htjela je ostati neprimijećena, skrivena od pogledom poznatih lica.
En: She wanted to remain unnoticed, hidden from the eyes of familiar faces.

Hr: Došla je glasati, ali i pobjeći od osobnih problema.
En: She had come to vote but also to escape from personal problems.

Hr: Dok je gledala Nikolina leđa kako se savijaju zbog boli, odlučila je promatrati.
En: As she watched Nikola's back bending due to the pain, she decided to observe.

Hr: Red je napredovao sporo, vrijeme kao da se zaustavilo.
En: The line moved slowly, time seemed to stand still.

Hr: Bol u Nikolinim prsima postajala je jača.
En: The pain in Nikola's chest grew stronger.

Hr: U glavi su mu se vrtjele misli.
En: His head was spinning with thoughts.

Hr: "Trebam glasati.
En: "I need to vote.

Hr: Ne smijem odustati.
En: I must not give up."

Hr: " No, srce je govorilo drugačije.
En: But his heart said otherwise.

Hr: Oči su mu počele tamniti i osjetio je vrtoglavicu.
En: His eyes began to darken, and he felt dizzy.

Hr: Netko iz reda je viknuo: "Pazite!
En: Someone from the line shouted, "Watch out!

Hr: Čovjek pada!
En: The man is falling!"

Hr: "Nikola se držao za stol, ali koljena su ga izdala.
En: Nikola held onto a table, but his knees gave way.

Hr: Ivana je instinktivno skočila naprijed.
En: Ivana instinctively jumped forward.

Hr: Srce joj je lupalo, ali profesionalna dužnost bila je jača od straha.
En: Her heart was pounding, but her professional duty was stronger than her fear.

Hr: "Sklonite se!
En: "Move aside!

Hr: Ja sam medicinska sestra!
En: I'm a nurse!"

Hr: " povikala je.
En: she shouted.

Hr: Nikola je pao na pod, oči zatvorene.
En: Nikola fell to the ground, eyes closed.

Hr: Ivana je brzo počela s reanimacijom.
En: Ivana quickly began resuscitation.

Hr: Red je bio u šoku, ali nitko se nije micao.
En: The line was in shock, but no one moved.

Hr: Ivana je stisnula njegove grudi, tražeći znak života.
En: Ivana pressed on his chest, searching for signs of life.

Hr: Konačno, čuo se Nikolin udah.
En: Finally, Nikola's breath was heard.

Hr: Ljudi su pljeskali kad su medicinari stigli.
En: People clapped when the paramedics arrived.

Hr: Nikola je odvezen u bolnicu, ali nije zaboravio zašto je bio tamo.
En: Nikola was taken to the hospital, but he did not forget why he was there.

Hr: S vremena na vrijeme oči su mu se otvarale i shvaćao je da su mu pomogli nepoznati ljudi.
En: From time to time, he opened his eyes and realized that strangers had helped him.

Hr: Kasnije toga dana, Ivana je došla u bolnicu.
En: Later that day, Ivana came to the hospital.

Hr: Tiho je stajala kod vrata, ali Nikola ju je prepoznao.
En: She stood quietly by the door, but Nikola recognized her.

Hr: "Hvala ti.
En: "Thank you.

Hr: Zbog tebe sam ovdje," rekao je s osmijehom.
En: Because of you, I’m here," he said with a smile.

Hr: Ivana je uzdahnula, ispunjena osjećajem obnove.
En: Ivana sighed, filled with a sense of renewal.

Hr: "Svi mi imamo svoje bitke.
En: "We all have our battles.

Hr: Ti si pokazao koliko je život važan.
En: You showed how important life is."

Hr: "Nikola je shvatio vrijednost života iznad svih trenutnih ciljeva.
En: Nikola understood the value of life above all current goals.

Hr: Ivana, pak, ponovno je pronašla svoju dužnost i svrhu.
En: Ivana, on the other hand, rediscovered her duty and purpose.

Hr: I dok su sunčeve zrake milovale stari Dubrovnik, život je dobio novi okus — okus nade i zajedništva.
En: And as the sun's rays caressed old Dubrovnik, life gained a new taste—a taste of hope and togetherness.


Vocabulary Words:

• heart: srce
• summer: ljeta
• air: zrak
• sweet: sladak
• scent: miris
• sea: more
• historic: povijesna
• polling station: biralište
• stone: kamen
• waves: valovi
• entrance: ulaz
• determined: odlučan
• vote: glasati
• reforms: reforme
• sharp: oštrog
• dagger: bodeža
• hidden: skrivena
• pain: bol
• line: red
• dizzy: vrtoglavicu
• shouted: povikala
• instinctively: instinktivno
• professional: profesionalna
• resuscitation: reanimacijom
• signs of life: znak života
• paramedics: medicinari
• hope: nada
• fear: strah
• renewal: obnove
• togetherness: zajedništva