𝑨𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑶𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒏

Letters

It's July, 1945

It's a normal day in the Tamtamis family. Amara is in the living room, crawling on the floor, occasionally throwing things at her grandpa while Tam helps her mother in the kitchen. The doorbell rings, making Noor run to the door. "Who is it?" Noor says under her breath as she opens the door slightly...

It's a man in the enlisted marine service uniform, standing tall with a small suitcase in his hand. By rank, he's a Lance corporal
"Fello" Noor exclaims in excitement. Soon the head of the family, Mr Etregül walks up behind Noor and chuckles "who is this on my doorstep" he continues "Gurbet, Atiye, look who's here"

As Tamtamis and her mother run to the door, drying their hands off with an old towel, Fello walks inside, taking off his service hat. "Good afternoon, ma'am... Good afternoon, Tam" he says in a soft tone, looking down at his feet.
Gurbet had never felt so relieved and anxious at the same time before...she was relieved to see a familiar face returning back from the front after years but anxious, because her love was nowhere to be seen.
Mr Etregül pats Fello's back as he invites him to the living, followed by everyone else.

As the man in uniform sits on the couch, Gurbet sits right beside him. "Where's Silas?" She asks right away. Amara crawls to her mother's feet. Fello clears his throat and puts the suitcase on his lap, unlocking it slowly...
He places his hand on Tam's, "Gurbet-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Gurbet exclaims "no no"

The Corporal brings out a few envelopes out of his case, 6 to be exact, two photographs and a Marine emblem. All letters signed off by sergeant Silas...
"He would want you to have these" Fello clears his throat and sheds a tear, and stands up, closing his case. "Stay for dinner" a shaky voice stops the man ready to leave.
"Please" says Mrs Atiye...

Later that evening during dinner

The atmosphere is quiet, even the birds can't be heard outside.
"It was 9 in the morning, we were advancing towards an airfield captured by the enemies, Silas was leading the nine of us. The enemies were shelling us constantly. Despite all that Silas continued running towards the enemy, not looking back as the other Marines running with him were blown apart. A marine was hit behind us, his leg was torn off. Silas turned back and ran back to get the wounded Marine when a bullet tore through his torso and his arm...he didn't fall there. Despite being hit, Silas continued dragging the Marine to safety but another bullet hit his chest and he fell right there" Fello continues "he was an excellent Marine". Nothing but occasional sobs could be heard.

August, 1946

"Why should I be afraid to die? I belong to you. If I go first, I'll wait for you there, on the other side of the dark waters. Be with me, my love

Yours forever

Silas"

Tamtamis sits on a rock at the beach where she shared her first kiss with Silas. She is holding the letter, one of the letters which Silas couldn't send her. Tamtamis stares out at the setting sun and as birds fly by, she weeps as she contemplates her life without the man she loved.