After the first attempt, I was curious what would change if the sentence was longer, and if the person at the center of it wasn’t me, but “they.”
The Score
Write the same sentence three times.
Each time, change only one word — the one that feels most alive.
Map the emotional shift between versions with a single line or mark.
My First Try
(ORIGINAL)
They kept quiet while the others talked, but there was a flicker in their expression that made it clear they had already UNDERSTOOD more than they were willing to say out loud. (understood)
(ONE)
They kept quiet while the others talked, but there was a flicker in their expression that made it clear they had already SUSPECTED more than they were willing to say out loud. (understood)
(TWO)
They kept quiet while the others talked, but there was a flicker in their expression that made it clear they had already ACCEPTED more than they were willing to say out loud. (suspected)
(THREE)
They kept quiet while the others talked, but there was a flicker in their expression that made it clear they had already ENDURED more than they were willing to say out loud. (accepted)
First Line
A line that starts clear, trembles, bends, and then settles into something it has to hold.
My Second Try
(ORIGINAL)
They kept quiet while the others talked, but there was a flicker in their expression that made it clear they had already UNDERSTOOD more than they were willing to say out loud. (understood)
(ONE)
They kept quiet while the others talked, but there was a flicker in their expression that made it clear they had already RESISTED more than they were willing to say out loud. (understood)
(TWO)
They kept quiet while the others talked, but there was a flicker in their expression that made it clear they had already REVEALED more than they were willing to say out loud. (resisted)
(THREE)
They kept quiet while the others talked, but there was a flicker in their expression that made it clear they had already RELEASED more than they were willing to say out loud. (revealed)
Second Line
A line moving from recognition to resistance, to exposure, to letting go.
My Third Try
(ORIGINAL)
They kept quiet while the others talked, but there was a flicker in their expression that made it clear they had already understood more than they were willing to say out loud. (understood)
(ONE)
They kept still while the others talked, but there was a flicker in their expression that made it clear they had already understood more than they were willing to say out loud.
(quiet → still)
(TWO)
They kept still while the others talked, but there was a flicker in their expression that made it clear they had already understood more than they were ready to say out loud.
(willing → ready)
(THREE)
They kept still while the others talked, and there was a flicker in their expression that made it clear they had already understood more than they were ready to say out loud.
(but → and)
Third Line
A line that tucks in, levels out, leans forward, and ends without a “but.”
Sentences You Can Try
If you want to run the score with your own material, here are some possible starting sentences — from very simple to more complex, and from personal spaces to work and systems.
You can use them as‑is, or let them nudge you toward sentences of your own.
Short / Simple
I don’t know what I’m feeling.
I usually need more time than I plan for.
This is not what I expected.
Everyday / Home
I’m trying not to raise my voice, but I can hear the edge in it anyway.
We keep having the same argument and pretending it’s a new one.
They say everything is fine, but the way they move around the room doesn’t match.
Work / Professional
I know this deadline is unrealistic, but I nodded anyway because saying no felt riskier.
They said the change was for efficiency, but it mostly feels like fewer people doing more work.
I’m leading the meeting, but I’m not sure anyone is really with me.
I keep rewriting this email, trying to sound clear without sounding difficult.
Systems / Authority
The form says it will take ten business days, but I’ve learned not to trust timelines like that.
I’m not sure they’re really listening; it feels like they’re just typing what I say into a box they already had.
They keep assuring us the policy is neutral, but it doesn’t feel that way from here.
I keep telling myself this is just “how the system works,” but a part of me still hopes someone will admit it could be different.
Explore more:
Explore more from Practice in Motion
—
Check out Syntax of the Self: Part 1 → Part 2 → Part 3 → Author’s Note → Navigation Guide — then continue with The Sentence That Lets Us Belong.
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