A love reborn from the ashes.

36 - Towards the future

Yusuf

Life was very strange, for years I had been completely alone for miles and miles on this side of the Bosphorus coast, and now I was among a crowd of cheerful and smiling people.

After that Sunday lunch Aziz came to stay with me, it was a relaxing company even if you had to wonder: what could an old fisherman and a well-known businessman have in common?
Bah nothing probably, but no one knows how we found ourselves sharing a pleasant routine made of chatting under the porch and drinking tea in the shade of the big tree while Aziz never lost sight of the movements of the nearby properties.
Above all he was interested in those of the property a little further away.

He told me about his affair with Mihriban more than 30 years ago, and how he had never forgotten her all that time, and now that fate had unexpectedly allowed him to find her, he would never let her go again.

I had so much fun watching Can's maneuvers with Sanem and Aziz's with Mihriban, ah ask, love! What he wasn't able to do.

Sanem

I had been invited to go to Yusuf and Aziz's after lunch for coffee, and of course Mihriban would come too. Mihriban had become inseparable from Aziz, or to be precise, Aziz was glued to his heels as if he was afraid he might disappear at any moment.
It was hilarious to see them flirting shyly like two teenagers, Can was obviously happy for his father and I was happy for Mihriban who seemed to have magically flourished under Aziz's gaze, ah ask, love!

I arrived pushing Nihat's baby carriage to the table that Can had built under the big tree in the garden behind Yusuf's house, they were all already there and welcomed me with hugs and kisses. Little Nihat was immediately kidnapped by his grandfather who started tickling his tummy, making him laugh with that contagious laughter typical of newborns. How beautiful was their relationship, Aziz had done well to come and live here, he was establishing a beautiful relationship with his grandson.

At a certain point I thought I saw Can glance at the others, then he took my hand and asked if he could talk to me for a moment.
We walked away towards the dock, I was curious to know what he wanted to talk about but, inexplicably he remained silent.
He invited me to get on his boat because he had something to show me, he motioned me to go below deck in front of him but first, he said, he had to blindfold me because he had a surprise for me.

He led me down the steps then stopped and removed the blindfold.

- Open your eyes Sanem -

I stood in front of a mirror but this time there wasn't one message for me, there were hundreds. I was left speechless.

-I'll leave you alone for a moment if you want to read them.... -

So saying, he went back to the upper deck of the boat.
I stood there incredulous and excited reading: seni çok seviyorum, I love you, you are my life, you make my heart beat fast, every breath I take is for you, you are my everything, I can't live without you, you are my star, I love you erkenci kus ...

With each note my heart did a triple somersault never, during our history, Can had been so open about his feelings, he had been affectionate of course, but now he was clearly giving his best.
I was so intent on reading that I barely realized something was off, were we moving? Was that possible? I hurried to the deck. I couldn't believe it, Can was at the helm and we were sailing in the middle of the Bosphorus.

- Caaan ne yapıyorsun, what are you doing? Where are we going? -

- Towards our future Sanem! -

- Caaan are you crazy? Let's go back to Nihat -

- Don't worry it couldn't be in better hands, sit here next to me Sanem, enjoy the sun, the sea, the sky, the clouds and the air in your hair.
Enjoy the view of Istanbul flowing in front of your eyes, let's enjoy this moment together Sanem, you don't know how much I would have wanted you near me in these months-

I sat down on the sofa next to him, a bit stiff at first but then I started to do what he advised me to do, I watched the seagulls flying high as they crossed our path, I looked curiously at the facades of the houses overlooking the Bosphorus, I saw a child waving at me from a nearby boat. I began to enjoy the journey and the pleasure of the sun kissing my skin. It was wonderful!

Can

I saw her close her eyes and offer her face to the sun as was her custom whenever she went outdoors, that was my Sanem, she enjoyed every single aspect of life even the simple warmth of the sun was a source of joy for her.

Soon we arrived at our destination, I approached the boat at a pier slightly hidden by an inlet, Sanem was clearly curious to know where we were going.
Once the mooring maneuvers were finished, I helped her down and guided her up a steep staircase carved into the rock, it seemed endless but I couldn't complain, the sight of Sanem climbing up in front of me was not unpleasant at all.
She turned around, caught a glimpse of me and shouted -Caaan!- Laughing we made it to the top but before we turned the corner I pulled out the bandana again and blindfolded her - Again? -

I pushed her slowly forward - Shhh it's a surprise, come on I'll guide you. What do you feel Sanem? - I saw her stiffen at the memory of having already experienced this situation.
- Do you hear the voice of Istanbul? -
I heard her breathing hard without daring to speak, I approached her, took her in my arms whispering softly in her ear.
- I'm still in love with you Sanem-
I stroked her hair softly.
- When I close my eyes I still see only you, when you're there and when you're not, wherever I go or have gone you've always been there Sanem, if I looked at the sky you were there Sanem. You are and you have always been the only one Sanem - I took the blindfold off her, we looked at each other for a long time, then I turned her around so she could see where we were even though, at this point, I thought she understood. 

- This, if you will Sanem, will be our future.
I saw her startled.
- Yes you got it right, when you asked me where I was taking you I wasn't kidding when I said we were going to our future.
If you agree to share your life with me Sanem, this will be our home, I grew up here, this is the only place that meant family to me and this is where I would like our son to grow up -

I got down on my knees and pulled out a small box with a ring....