New Year’s Eve

British accent

It was New Year’s Eve. Anna was alone in her small flat. All her friends were with their partners. They sent Anna messages on their phones. The messages had photos, smiles, and happy words. Anna looked at the messages, but she was too sad to answer. She felt different from her friends because she didn’t have a partner.

The flat was very quiet. Outside, people talked and laughed in the street. Some people were already having a party. Inside the flat, Anna heard only the clock on the wall. Tick, tick, tick. She walked to the window and looked outside. Then she walked back to the kitchen. The air in the flat felt cold and empty.

Anna tried to read. She normally loved books, but tonight, she could not read. She read the same page again and again. Then she turned on the TV. A show was on, but it was boring. She turned it off. She tried to listen to music, but the songs made her feel sad.

After some time, Anna felt hungry. She looked at the clock. It was late. She did not want to cook. Cooking for one person felt boring. She picked up her phone and ordered a pizza. It was easy and fast. She hoped the pizza would make the evening better.

After a while, the doorbell rang. Anna opened the door. A man stood outside with a pizza box in his hands. He wore a red jacket. Cold night air came into the flat.

“Pizza for you,” the man said.

“Yes, thank you,” Anna said. She paid him and took the pizza box. Then she closed the door.

Suddenly, Anna heard a loud noise outside. She opened the door again and saw the pizza man. He was standing next to his bicycle. “Is there a problem?’’ she asked.

“My bicycle is broken,” he said. “I cannot ride it.”

Anna looked at the dark street. It was quiet now. She thought for a moment.

“You can come inside,” she said. “It is warm here.”

The man looked surprised, but he smiled. “Thank you,” he said. “My name is Leo.”

“I’m Anna,” she said.

They went into the kitchen and sat at the small table. Anna opened the pizza box. The pizza looked delicious.

“Do you want some pizza?” Anna asked.

“Yes, please,” Leo said.

They ate slowly. At first, they spoke only a little. Then they talked more. Leo said he worked many nights. New Year’s Eve was always very busy for him. Anna said she worked in a shop and liked quiet days.

“My friends are all with their partners tonight,” Anna said. “I feel very alone.”

“I understand,” Leo said. “I feel alone sometimes too, even when I meet many people.”

They talked about music, work, and the new year. Anna felt warm and relaxed. Time passed quickly.

At midnight, Anna stood by the window, looking at the snow outside. Leo stood next to her.

“Happy New Year,” Leo said.

“Happy New Year,” Anna said.

Later, Leo checked his bike again. “It works now,” he said.

At the door, Leo stopped. “Can I see you again?” he asked.

Anna smiled. “Yes,” she said.

Leo left. Anna closed the door. She was alone again, but she did not feel sad. The new year was here, and she was excited to see what it would bring.

📒 Key vocabulary

• New Year’s Eve – the evening of December 31^st, the last night of the year
• alone – with no other people
• flat – an apartment
• partners – husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend
• outside – not inside
• empty – with nothing inside
• boring – not interesting
• ordered (order, ordered, ordered) – ask for food to be brought to you
• doorbell – a bell you ring at a door
• broken – not working
• warm – not cold
• slowly – not fast
• relaxed – calm and comfortable
• excited – happy about something that will happen in the future

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See also

• Auld Lang Syne
  Jonathan Taylor counts down to midnight on New Year’s Eve to the tune of Auld Lang Syne