Chapter XVII

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Zeynep.

I woke up sometime during the night. I was lying on the couch, wrapped in the blanket I had covered myself with earlier. I must have fallen asleep crying, curled up in a ball with my hand between his two. I remember it being so comforting after everything my heart went through yesterday. I was tired of so many emotions, thoughts and voices in my head. I was close at that moment to lie in his lap, between his arms, forget that he hurt me and just rest. That was all I wanted to do..

I blinked a few times to clear my blurry vision. It was dark and outside was still snowing.

There was no one next to me and around me. I was lying by the fireplace alone, but I could smell his scent of ocean and freedom too strongly. I looked around and saw that it was actually coming from the jacket that was covering me under the blanket.

I sat up and craned my neck left and right. I unfolded the blanket and hesitantly brought the collar of his jacket up to my nose. Ocean.

I immersed myself in this fragrance, as if I were diving into the free waves of the sea, which take me somewhere, no matter where. Because it meant freedom.

I pressed the fabric to my chest and buried my head in the garment for a moment. Then I lay on it like a pillow case and inhaled my favorite scent with every breath I took.

I closed my eyes for just a moment before I heard a noise behind me. I stood up again and looked around the room. It was empty. I thought he was on the bed behind the couch, but no one was lying there. I scared a little at the thought that I was here alone, but then I heard a noise coming from the porch again. I approached the door window and looked out. I saw him.

He had his back to the door, arms folded in front of him, probably from the cold seeping through his sweater. He was watching the trees in front of the cottage from the high porch and was kicking the boards of the railing to clear them of the accumulated snow.

I could not help it. I opened the door and shivered at the chilling cold wind.

"You are awake?" he said quietly, surprised by my appearance.

"Yes"

I nodded then put the jacket that was hugging me a moment ago over his shoulders and fastened 2 buttons in front of his chest. Without saying anything more, I just looked at him for a second and hid inside the hut. My heart sank. He looked tired and so did I. But at least I managed to sleep, and he chose to stay outside over taking a nap.

...

In the morning I woke up on the double bed. But how did I end up here? I was sure I fell asleep on the couch after I gave him his coat. He carried us to bed, crossed my mind.

I rubbed my eyes and sat up in bed. The couch was empty. Did he even sleep? I shrugged at my own question.

"Good morning," I heard his quiet, calm voice behind me, from the kitchen counter in the corner of the room.

"Good morning," I said quietly and stood up.

"Here" - he handed me a cup of tea with the most expressionless face and went back behind the counter. - "I prepared breakfast." - he walked over to the table and left something that looked like an omelette -"As far as I know, this is your favorite breakfast."

"And how do you know? Yes, it is."

"Ms. Nermin had mentioned it."

I watched his movements and could definitely feel how bad he was feeling. Even worse than me, since I managed to fall asleep so quickly. It's because of the fresh air! cried the voice in my mind. I guess as much as I don't want to admit it, this kidnapping had a good effect on me. At least I'm with him, not alone in Emine's room, pulling out tissue after tissue to wipe away my tears.

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