Emma and Sarah had been best friends since childhood. They had shared everything together, from secrets to dreams. Their friendship seemed unbreakable. However, everything changed one autumn day. It was Sarah's thirtieth birthday, a milestone she had been eagerly anticipating. She had planned a small party with her closest friends and family. Emma was supposed to be the guest of honor. But Emma had been overwhelmed with work lately. Her new promotion had brought many responsibilities. She was working late every night and barely sleeping. In the chaos of deadlines and meetings, she completely forgot about Sarah's birthday. Sarah waited at her party, checking her phone constantly. Hours passed, but Emma never arrived. There was no phone call, no message, nothing. Sarah felt deeply hurt by Emma's absence. She tried to enjoy the party, but the disappointment was overwhelming. The next morning, Emma woke up and suddenly remembered. Her heart sank as she realized what she had done. She had missed her best friend's most important birthday. Emma immediately tried to call Sarah, but she did not answer. She sent multiple text messages, each one more apologetic than the last. But Sarah remained silent. Days turned into a week, and the silence between them grew heavier. Emma felt terrible and did not know what to do. She confided in her mother about the situation. 'A simple apology might not be enough,' her mother advised. 'You need to show Sarah how much she means to you.' Emma thought deeply about her mother's words. She decided to create something truly special. She started gathering photographs from their years of friendship. There were pictures from school trips, graduations, and countless adventures. Each photograph told a story of their unbreakable bond. Emma carefully arranged them in a beautiful scrapbook. Next to each photo, she wrote personal memories and heartfelt messages. She also baked Sarah's favorite chocolate cake from scratch. It took her several attempts to get it right, but she persevered. Finally, after two weeks of preparation, Emma was ready. She drove to Sarah's apartment with her heart pounding. She was nervous but determined to make things right. When Sarah opened the door, her expression was cold. 'What do you want, Emma?' Sarah asked without any warmth. Emma took a deep breath and began to speak. 'I know I hurt you deeply, and I am truly sorry,' she said. 'There is no excuse for forgetting your birthday.' Sarah's eyes softened slightly, but she remained guarded. Emma handed her the scrapbook and the cake. 'I made these for you because our friendship means everything to me.' Sarah opened the scrapbook and began looking through the pages. As she saw each photograph, memories came flooding back. She read the messages Emma had written beside each picture. Tears began to form in Sarah's eyes. 'You remembered all of this?' she whispered. 'I remember every moment we have shared together,' Emma replied. 'Getting that promotion made me lose sight of what truly matters.' Sarah looked at Emma with a mixture of emotions. 'It really hurt when you did not come,' she admitted. 'I felt like I did not matter to you anymore.' Emma felt her heart ache at these words. 'You will always matter to me, Sarah,' she said earnestly. 'I promise I will never let work come between us again.' Sarah was quiet for a moment, processing everything. Then, slowly, a smile appeared on her face. 'This scrapbook is absolutely beautiful,' she said. 'And you actually baked this cake yourself?' Emma laughed nervously. 'It took me four attempts, but I finally got it right.' Sarah could not help but laugh at this confession. The tension between them began to dissolve. 'Come inside,' Sarah finally said, stepping aside. 'We have a lot of catching up to do.' They spent the rest of the afternoon talking and sharing the cake. Emma learned about how Sarah had felt during those weeks of silence. Sarah understood how overwhelming Emma's new job had become. By the end of the day, they had forgiven each other completely. Their friendship emerged stronger than ever before.
English Story (B1)Making Amends
This B1 English story is designed for intermediate learners. Click any word for instant translation and build your vocabulary as you read.
aboutStory
Emma forgets her best friend Sarah's thirtieth birthday due to work stress. After weeks of silence, Emma creates a heartfelt scrapbook of their memories and bakes Sarah's favorite cake. Through her sincere apology and thoughtful gesture, they reconcile and their friendship grows even stronger.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Why did Emma forget Sarah's birthday?
2
What did Emma's mother advise her to do?
3
What did Emma create to apologize to Sarah?
4
How did their friendship end up after Emma's apology?
Vocabulary
40 words from this story
