【英语时差8，16】对未婚妻的前男友无法释怀

 Dear Annie:

I am 20 years old and engaged to the girl of my dreams. "Liza" is beautiful, smart and very loving. We have no problems in our relationship.

Before she dated me, Liza dated one of my best friends. In fact, I once witnessed them making out at a party. The problem is, every time we become intimate¹, that image plays in my head. I know what happened before we dated is not really my business, but I feel I should let her know what is bothering me.

I know Liza would never cheat on me, but how do I tell her something she did in her past is affecting me every time we make love? － Troubled in TexasDear Texas:

This isn't really Liza's problem－it's yours. She cannot do anything about the images in your head. It's up to you to replace those troublesome pictures with something else. Whenever you start to remember Liza kissing your friend, make a conscious decision to envision something more pleasing－perhaps substitute² your face for his.

If you do this each time, it will get easier and, unless you deliberately³ bring up the old images, they will fade away. If you cannot do this, you may be on your way to a total obsession⁴ with thoughts that will eventually destroy your relationship.

1 intimate   

adj.亲密的，密切的；个人的，私人的；v.暗示、提示、宣布、通知

参考例句：

• The two of them were as intimate as sisters.她们俩处得好像亲姐妹一样。
• I can't tell them my intimate thoughts.我不能告诉他们我内心深处的想法。

2 substitute   

n.代理，代理人，代用品，代替物；vt.代替；vi.替代，取代

参考例句：

• Can you substitute for the singer who is ill?你能替一下那位得了病的歌手吗？
• Yogurt is a perfectly acceptable substitute for cream in cooking.酸奶是烹饪用的特别受欢迎的奶油替代品。

3 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

4 obsession   

n.困扰，无法摆脱的思想(或情感)

参考例句：

• I was suffering from obsession that my career would be ended.那时的我陷入了我的事业有可能就此终止的困扰当中。
• She would try to forget her obsession with Christopher.她会努力忘记对克里斯托弗的迷恋。