【英语时差8,16】不再亲密的恋情

Dear Annie: Last August I met the man of my dreams. I thought I had finally found someone to spend the rest of my life with. "Boyd" works¹ alternate² 12-hour shifts³. Right now, he is working nights. I know he is tired when he comes home, but lately he has been distant. When I question him, he says he is exhausted⁴. It is really hard for me to sleep alone, so I don't fall asleep until a few hours before he gets home. I thought returning to bed when Boyd does would be a way for us to share time together, but lately, he doesn't seem to care if I join him or not. I have noticed the same attitude with other things that used to be special between us. We no longer hold hands or share looks the way two people in love do. Is he trying in his own way to tell me it is over, or am I just paranoid because of my past lousy experiences? — Lost Dear Lost: It's possible Boyd is simply exhausted, and when you wait up for him, he feels pressured to "perform," which makes him resentful. We recommend⁵ you give him some space, while making your home a relaxing refuge⁶ for him. If something else is going on, you will find out soon enough.

1 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

2 alternate   

adj.交替的，间隔的；v.（使）轮流　　

参考例句：

• He and I clean our room on alternate days.我和他隔日轮流打扫我们的房间。
• That was a week of alternate rain and sunshine.那是晴雨天交替的一周。

3 shifts   

n.转换( shift的名词复数 )；切换键；（汽车等的）变速；更换v.改变( shift的第三人称单数 )；去掉；摆脱掉；换挡

参考例句：

• The action of the novel shifts from Paris to London. 小说情节从巴黎移到了伦敦。
• I work split shifts in a busy restaurant. 我在一家繁忙的餐馆上间隔班。

4 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

5 recommend   

vt.推荐，介绍；劝告，建议；使成为可取，使受欢迎

参考例句：

• Can you recommend me a good book?你能给我介绍一本好书吗？
• I can recommend this play to all lovers of good theatre.我把这个剧推荐给所有爱好优秀戏剧的人。

6 refuge   

n.避难（处），庇护（所）；v.庇护，避难（所）

参考例句：

• They took refuge in a cave yesterday.他们昨天是在一个洞里避难的。
• We took refuge in the lee of the wall.我们在墙的背风处暂避。