Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

88. The gift of a quill and a surprise visitor

Can offers to drive Sanem home once outside. The driver that brought her was long gone and to his clear surprise, she accepts. She could have called a taxi but she didn't. She regretted this decision as soon as he starts driving though, because he decides to take his time getting there - driving 40 in a 120 zone.

Sanem glances at the speedometer every now and again, then at him. He would look over at her as well, before turning his attention back to the road.

Why is he torturing me? I just want to go and cry and never leave my bed.

She looks at the small screen again, leaning over. "Mr Can? You are aware that you're driving 40 miles per hour right?"

"Yes, I am," he says and then inhales, "I don't like speed. I have a phobia."

Sanem's lips turn up slightly and she looks out her window. Since when?

"It happened very recently," he shifts in his seat and clears his throat lightly.

"Oh, okay," she smiles anyway with her face turned the other way, and blinks away the tears starting with the memory.

"Hm," he nods quietly, leaning against the door as he drives.

Thirty minutes later, he pulls up outside her house and parks. The rest of their trip had silent and somehow sad. Much like now as they were just sitting and looking out the window in front of them.

"Thank you for driving me," Sanem says after a couple of minutes and  unclips her seatbelt.

Can stops her before she can open the door. "Sanem, wait."

She looks at him and he reaches over across her lap, taking out a long rectangular black box from the glove compartment with red ribbon tied round it.

"This is for you." Her eyes shoot up to his. "A farewell gift." He clears his throat. "From the whole agency." She slowly takes it from him. "You can open it when you get inside."

"You didn't have to go to all this trouble," she comments, looking at it, unsure how to feel. "It really wasn't necessary for a gift, but thank you." She shifts to get out, her body feeling numb.

"Sanem - " Can stops her again and Sanem turns back. Can is looking at his lap, where his left hand was laying across his leg. "If you leaving work is in any way because of me..." He looks up at her. "I mean, if it's my presence there that's the problem, then you don't have to worry about it anymore. I'm returning abroad."

Sanem stares at him. It's all true...

"What I'm trying to say," Can looks out the window again, "is there's no reason for you to quit anymore."

Sanem takes a moment, and then asks, "So it's decided, you really are leaving?" He doesn't answer, giving her her answer. "When?"

"Very soon."

Sanem throat constricts painfully, threatening to cut off her air supply.
Very soon...

"There's nothing keeping me here, Sanem." Unless you tell me to stay right now...

Sanem nods, feeling like she's been punched in the gut.

"You..." Can pauses and then turns his head to her. He had to tell her this before he left. "You're a very special young woman, Sanem."
He kept his voice barely above a whisper, but in the silence of his car, nothing more was needed. "You're smart, and creative. Funny, and practical. You have a lot of amazing features and talents, and you'll reach high places with that if you stay with the agency." I believe that with all of me.