Dancing in the stars

Ekram Bey

There was something comforting in the silence that hung over Demir and Selin. His eyes locked on her lips, her eyes locked on his lips, breathlessness and rapid heartbeat, everything around them at that moment made them completely unaware of what was happening around them.

Demir looked away from Selin's eyes and realized that she had plunged into that strange moment as much as he did. When her eyes met his, he saw a mixture of desire and dread.

Selin closed her eyes tightly and let out a long, heavy breath. Demir smiled slightly before taking his hand to her hair and sliding his fingers through the black strands.

The affectionate way the doctor stroked the girl's hair left her completely relaxed and vulnerable. Selin wanted Demir to kiss her like she had never before wanted another man to do it. The mere possibility of him covering her lips with his made her elated.

But what if it all came from her imagination? What if he was just being considerate and she was confusing everything?

Demir was a handsome, charming and successful man. He could have any woman he wanted. Why, then, would he be interested in her? What did she have to offer him?

Selin was no longer a woman who could arouse a man's interest. She knew she was bound to spend the rest of her life locked up in a room waiting for someone to feed her and bathe her.

— I can hear you thinking. — Demir whispered. — Don't think, Selin. Just chill. You need to rest.

Selin did not answer. She knew he didn't want a verbal response. And even if he wanted to, at that moment, she was completely unable to formulate a sentence that even made sense.

She didn't know what was so special about Demir's touch, but the way his fingers massaged her hair softly made her feel completely light. It was as if nothing else existed in the world but the two and that moment. She could feel tiredness taking over her body and sleep getting closer and closer.

At the same time that she wished to sleep, Selin was afraid to return to that room in that small house in Sinop. What if Anise was waiting for her? What if when she woke up Demir wasn't there anymore? Worse, what if she was still asleep and everything that had happened had just been her imagination desperate for an answer?

No, she couldn't go back there. She couldn't be without an answer. She needed to know if this was real. She needed to make sure that Demir was right there and that he was fine.

To Demir's complete surprise, Selin suddenly opened her eyes. He looked at her startled expression in a puzzled way. On second thought, it was obvious that she wouldn't be able to sleep as easily. He could almost see her thoughts fighting for attention. No matter how tired she was, she still needed an answer. Demir only hoped to be able to provide it.

— Can't sleep? — Demir's statement sounded involuntarily like a question.

— Hm-hm.

— Want to tell me the reason?

— Çok korkuyorum. — Selin muttered sheepishly.

— Fear of what? — The doctor wanted to know, he was genuinely worried about her.

— To go back there. — She told in a whisper.

— Where would that "there" be?

— The nightmare I was having before you arrived. — She told, against her will.

— Do you want to tell me? — He asked fondly.

— Hayır. Ama...

Selin stopped herself from continuing. She couldn't and much less should she make her thoughts audible. Especially that ridiculous and childish thinking. What would Demir think if she said that out loud? She didn't want to be ashamed in front of him.