10 Minutes

Ghosts

The breeze off the water should have made her feel comforted like it always did. It should have made her want to breath it in and allow it to fill her soul. It should have been a welcome tonic from the routine of doctor visits that she had fallen into. Instead it seemed to chill her to the bone. She shivered as she stared out over the softly rolling waters and closed her eyes as unwanted visions filled her mind while a vice seemed to squeeze her heart mercilessly. Why? Why was it so difficult for them to find a measure of peace and happiness? Why now when they had finally found each other in every way? Why, why, why? She wrapped her arms around herself and blinked the tears away. Memories of the past two years invaded her mind and heart and she felt them each as if she were living them anew. Evil had come to snatch their happiness away and they had fallen into its trap because they allowed misunderstandings and lack of trust and faith to rule their hearts and minds. He had betrayed her love but as she stood there now, looking out across the expanse of blue; she admitted her own betrayal to herself. She could no longer deny it for she as surely betrayed his confidence and love by omission. She had been a coward then and until now remained afraid of how he might react. She could not allow this to steal her happiness this time around. Surely they had both suffered enough, lost enough already to pay yet another toll. She must trust in him and in his love for her. She had made him a promise, a vow...and she would be damned if she didn't keep it.

The air seemed to have been sucked out of the room with the words his father spoke. Had it not been so serious he would have taken it for a joke. A bad one but a joke nonetheless. However nobody was laughing least of all him. Every man's face seemed to mirror his own except for Metin that wore a look of exasperation. It was Leylas's face that revealed much about the situation but then when he turned to look at Sanem his heart stopped. Literally it failed to beat. It seemed as if all the blood had drained from his body because in the next moment he shook with a fury that wouldn't be quelled by even his sisters entreaties. "This is not true. None of it. I won't accept it because it's impossible. I won't allow another person to hang their desires of fortune around my neck as a noose. No more! No more!" He looked wildly at each person in the room and nearly jumped from the shock at Sanems gentle touch to his arm. There she stood. As quiet as a scared little bird. Her eyes were shimmering and huge. She said nothing but continued to look at him, eye to eye, until he let out his breath and shook off the anger that threatened to envelope him. "Oglum....what is being requested is trivial if you are adamant in your...". Can turned to his father slowly. His head inclined looking down at the older smaller man, and his brows furrowed in consternation. "I say it once more for all to hear. I refute the allegations, without question. There is not a gram of truth to it. I didn't sleep with that woman, and I most certainly did not father her child. I don't give a damn about their request. The sooner we take it to court the better. I'll provide them with blood, skin or hair samples if that is what they want. I will not be blackmailed, extorted or condemned once again. I will not allow her or whoever is behind her to ruin my life again. This is my life. My future. Ours- mine and Sanem's. This time I will not run because everything I ever wanted and needed is right here. So yes Baba....I am adamantly refuting her claim. I have fathered no children, with her or anybody else!"

Can raked his hands through his hair as he paced the floor of his room. Sanem had asked him to walk her to her room so that she could change. She had remained quiet as they came to her door and when he would have spoken she turned and surprised him into silence "Can....give me a few minutes to freshen up. Alone. I am just as surprised as you and.... although I think we should talk about this.... please know.... I believe you. I love you Can. This changes nothing. Not for me!" He furrowed his brow as she stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek and run her fingers through his beard. He scarcely touched her arm before she went through the door, closing it behind her. He said her name seconds later, slightly shocked that she hadn't hurled curses at him or thrown something at his head. He stared at the closed door and touched the handle fully prepared to invade her space to demand that she speak with him but then it registered finally. She was going to speak with him. She was giving him time to gather his thoughts and she hers. What if she wanted to end it with him? What if she was just gathering her wits in order to slip away? Fear settled deep in his gut as his mind and heart envisioned a life without her in it. He fisted his palms and gritted his teeth. He backed away from the door until he was standing in front of his own door. He hated this feeling of loss and vulnerability. Why was this happening? What had he done to deserve this? He walked through the door and looked around him slowly as if he had never been there before. It took him a moment to shake himself of the fear that was gripping his heart. He walked into the bathroom and flipped on the light and looked into the mirror and stared at the face looking back at him. He closed his eyes and thought back to the night the blonde had been in his room.