Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

79. If you don't want to

Nihat stared in shock at what Mevkhibe was telling him that evening as she gets water from the fridge. He'd gone to visit a neighbor for a bit and upon his arrival just moments ago, he hears that Can had been there looking for Sanem and she did a runner. "Are you sure she's not in there?" he asks skeptically.

"Yes Nihat, the window is wide open and her room is empty."

"So he came and she jumped ship? Do you think there's a problem?"

"Nihat, even if there were one, you don't just climb out the window and run from it! You face it!"

"One more Mevkhibe," Nihat holds out his now empty water glass and she pours. "She's always been like that though dear, she either climbed out the window or snuck out the door so that's nothing new, but why do it when Mr Can is here?"

Mevkhibe shakes her head. "If Leyla were here we would have found out easily." She sighs and walks out to the garden with her glass. "I wonder if she's done something wrong?" she wonders aloud as she sits down.
"Mr Can said no but I'm not so sure. What if she's done something serious this time Nihat?"

"Mevkhibe calm down, our daughter isn't a troublemaker. Think about it logically, I mean what could she have done that's this bad. No."

"This girl has completely lost her marbles, gone crazy... and you're looking for logic in her behavior?"

Nihat shrugs. "Enthusiastic maybe, and a little unusual but Sanem isn't crazy."

The front door opens and clicks shut again, making Mevkhibe tap his arm and nod towards it. "Maybe that's her," she whispers and stands up, "I'll go and check, perhaps I can fish about what happened."

"Good luck. And don't be too soft on her!" He whispers back. "Be strict, and no nonsense. Like me."

Mevkhibe hums and walks through the kitchen to the door. She frowns when there's no one and then hears Sanem's bedroom door closing upstairs.

Hurrying up, she opens the door without knocking. "Sanem, where on earth have you been?" She whispers urgently, walking in to Sanem just  sitting down at her small desk.

"Does it matter? I'm here now. Can we talk later mom? I'm tired." Sanem keeps her back turned to her mother, not wanting her to see that she's crying.

Mevkhibe walks closer. "Of course it matters, I was..." Mevkhibe trails off after turning Sanem to face her and then pauses. "Sanem?" She looks at her youngest closer. "What is it? What's happened?" She sweeps Sanem's hair back lightly and takes her face in her hands. "Why are you crying?"

Sanem blinks, and sniffing, shakes her head a little.

"What's wrong, darling?"

"Nothing mom, it's nothing."

"Is it...Is it Mr Can? Did he do something that upset you?"

No, it was all my fault and I hate myself for doing what I did. This is self pity for my own mistakes and causing so much hurt.

"Did he fire you? Is that why he was here?"

"No mom," Sanem says, wanting to keep his image clean in their eyes. "He didn't do anything."

"You better tell me what's going on then, don't make me drag it out of - "

"I can't tell you mom!" Sanem snaps and stands up. "Why do I have to tell everyone everything all the time?! I'm really upset right now and my heart is broken! I just want to be alone!" Sanem sobs. "Do you have to know everything?! Just let it go!" Sanem turns and storms over to her closet, crying harder than before.