10 Minutes

görüşürüz

December 1, 2021

The streets were lined with beautiful Christmas decorations. Unlike her birthplace of Turkey, Costa Rica was a country that held Christian beliefs. More precisely Catholic Christian roots. Although many missionaries had arrived over the years, from Mormons to Jahovas Witness'; to evangelize the country, it had been introduced to Catholic Christianity with the a arrival of the Spanish in the 19th century. She had marveled at its churches and open displays of pilgrimage during the religious feasts and felt a deep respect for the people as they expressed their faith. She had been raised in a secular family environment albeit it conservative. She was taught to be respectful of her Muslim heritage as well as other religions. She understood them to be both the reason and the excuse for peace and war. However in this tiny country that had wrapped its sweet and comforting arms around her broken heart, she only saw the beauty of the Christian tradition and it's expectant awaiting of the Christ child's birth. Second only to the Easter Season in importance within its religious doctrine and tradition, it was by far the most celebrated around the world even by cultures who didn't practice the Christian faith. Her own homeland, primarily in its major cities and of course the jewel that was Istanbul, celebrated the idea of the Christmas tree if not the reason for the season. Turkey had a large population of Christians that had existed from the times before Islam dominated the region. She had visited Christian churches and the holiest of all, the Hagia Sophia boasted an incredible past and a current life. Here however, there was a feeling of joy and wonder in the children's eyes. A feeling of great expectation as they awaited one holy and miraculous night. For them St. Nicholas was a representation of love and happiness with his sleigh full of toys. For the more conservative and religious in the country, children and adults alike, the manger that would hold the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes was the meaning of all life and hope. The streets were beautifully adorned and the cathedrals and local churches were decorated with the flora that was unique to the country. The weather, once again unlike the winter chill of Turkey at this time of year, boasted summer sun making it at times hard for her to embrace the holiday fully with the warmth of the country. Christmas during summer was something that was new to her but she embraced it fully. All in all it was a magical time and she enjoyed it immensely at the side of the children in the hospital. They had begun decorating the tree days before and weeks before that she had provided them with many different art projects to make their own ornaments and special gifts for their parents and the staff that cared for them. For her part, she had provided the hospital with a one of a kind painting that depicted the children of the hospital, holding watch over the humble manger scene, with candles in hand. She wanted to tie the two together. The children's hopes and dreams for health and recovery were wished for miracles represented by the candles. The manger scene was a source of hope and a promise of salvation. She hoped she had done it justice and was there today at its unveiling. She had been startled to see Can there and equally saddened that Alejandro had chosen to stay away. In truth he had left on some business for his holdings in Argentina and wouldn't  be back for a week or so. It saddened her that they had parted on less than friendly terms, although they spoke honestly; she knew she had hurt him but he had fallen off his pedestal in her eyes. In all honesty she had placed him there herself but it hurt her nonetheless. Thinking back to their argument as she sat in her office picking at a salad she had ordered for lunch, she had angered him when she told him she was moving into a villa some 40 miles from his own home. He had not expected it and when she tried to explain that it was best for them both, he had accused her of wanting space in order to explore her feelings for and with Can. At the time she had been insulted and embarrassed at his choice of words and couldn't think of a reply fast enough before he spoke again "I knew it. You're not over him and you want nothing better than to give him enough room to ruin your life once more. Well go right ahead, far be it from me to try and stop you but as your friend, I'm warning you, he will hurt you. I love you, but I'm not a saint nor a martyr and I refuse to watch you....." When she had finally found her tongue, amid the anger and the humiliation of his words; she didn't hold back. "Thank you for the warning and spelling it all out for me. I see that you still view me as some sort of delicate, and naive child which perhaps I was when I first arrived but let me be the first to tell you that the Sanem who left Istanbul is not the same Sanem standing before you and I don't need you or any other man to tell me what I want or what I should want. I trusted you. I relied on you and you were my knight in shining armor but when I asked you to wait, and be patient you disregarded that and instead decided for me and... and you took advantage of..." Recalling it now made her drop her fork in her salad and cover her face with her palms. She had been mortified and humiliated and then angry and hurt. Alejandro had decided he knew better and pursued her pushing aside his typical gentlemanly behavior and ignoring her state of inebriation. She didn't hold him fully to blame. She had allowed him entry and he felt he had some sort of claim. In the end she was more hurt than angry but by then they had said hurtful words to one another and neither of them backed down. She knew in her heart that she had made the right choice to move out. She had overstayed her welcome and had created a situation where, had he been a man with bad character; would have expected something from her long ago. She knew he wasn't that type of man. Of that she was sure, but he was human and he had fallen in love with her and when the moment came he had confessed it to her and she had expressed real feelings for him. The problem was that no sooner had Can Divit walked back into her life she recognized that what she felt for Alex was different than what she had felt for Can. Now what she needed to know was if she still felt that way or if she was simply wishing and hoping for some miracle to make it all better. She thought of the painting and the candles that held the hopes and dreams and prayers of all the children and mentally lifted one herself. If the creator saw fit to grant her request, what would she pray for? For the pain she felt in heart to cease? For the ability to forgive him completely and move on without him? Or, and she barely could admit it to herself, for another chance with Can? The knock at the door brought her out of her thoughts as she looked up. The secretary entered "Señorita Sanem, ya llegó su abogado para su sita". Sanem paused and frowned, "what do you mean? Cual sita y con cual abogado? (Which appointment and with which attorney?). Before the secretary could answer ... in walked Metin. With a huge smile on his face as he opened his arms and walked toward her. Sanem was stunned but quickly pushed her chair back and rounded the desk in a hurry reaching him and embracing him in return. "Allah, Allah. Metin, Ah ah. How is it that you are here? Is everyone alright? Is there some problem with my parents? I don't understand!". Sanem smiled through her misty eyes but looked up into to his face expectantly. "Yok, Sanem, Yok. I'm here to see you and to take a vacation and well.... I didn't come alone....". Before she could ask him another question the door opened again and in walked her brother.... Her twin....Osman.