The story was special. The legend was powerful.
There were moments or story lines I desperately wished for, and moments that at times seemed small but were so important to discover and delve into. This is a book of these moments that I wanted to ex...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Can set Sanem down as he broke their kiss, desperate to see Sanem's beautiful eyes. She smiled back at him with a dazed satisfied expression that made Can tighten his grip around her.
He leaned his head forward to meet hers and asked, "Is this real? please let this be real."
Sanem was beaming as she nodded feeling the wait of his forehead on hers," Yes it's real."
Can smiled feeling an explosion of life stir within him once again.
She didn't leave, she stayed.
With his eyes still closed, Can traced the outline of Sanem's face wanting to soke in every feature, every curve. It felt too good to be true. Can couldn't believe the hope he lost was slowly being repaired.
Sanem breathed in his scent and enjoyed the touch of Can's strong hands. She missed that feeling of being so completely cherished and loved just from the delicate exploration of his fingers. Holding back tears, Sanem kissed the inside of Can's palm. This loving gesture made Can break a little. He knew it was his fault that he almost lost her. He almost spent the rest of his life without the person that made him feel the most alive. Can never wanted that to happen again. He couldn't survive it if it did. The thought was too much to bare and Can couldn't hold back anymore letting a tear escape and fall onto Sanem's cheek.
With a hitch in his voice, Can said in a whisper, "I'm so sorry."
Sanem nodded understanding as she held on to his hands tighter around her face.
Can pulled back to look at Sanem and asked with trepidation, "So what happens now?"
Sanem with a sad but hopeful smile answered, "We need to talk, Can. Really talk."
Can was terrified but nodded in agreement.
"We can't go back to how we were," Sanem said swallowing the grief of everything that had happened, "Not this time."
Can nodded and said in a raspy hurt voice, "I know."
Sanem reached for Can's hand and linked her fingers with his. The small gesture comforted them both. And in that moment they knew they would make this work- they had to.
Sanem said with a smile and hope in her heart, "I was supposed to be away for 3 days, so instead I'll stay here... with you."
Can's smile widened as he imagined 3 glorious days alone with Sanem. Can knew it was going to be a difficult few days but it was worth it.
Suddenly Sanem's phone started to ring.
Sanem gasped looking at the number calling, "It's my Anne!"
"What are you going to tell her?" Can asked nervously rubbing his beard.
Sanem panicked. She started to think which lie she could tell next to stop her mother from getting upset or worried. Should she pretend she's in Izmir? Should she say she didn't go but will be staying at Ayhan for a few days?
Sanem looked up from her phone and saw Can's big brown eyes of concern. She remembered all the lies that got her to this moment. All the pain and suffering she caused to Can and herself from not being able to say who she really was or how she really felt. Sanem couldn't do it anymore. She was tired of lying. She was tired of how those lies always seemed to hurt her and the people she loved most.
Sanem with a shrug finally said, "I'm going to tell her the truth."
Can was speechless and impressed by Sanem's determination.
Sanem stepped away to talk to her mom privately without any distractions. It was an important moment for Sanem where she felt she was actually growing up. She wasn't going to lie to her mother anymore, just like she wasn't going to gloss over what happened between her and Can. She was going to face these difficult conversations the best way she could- with the truth. No more asking permission to explain herself or sugar coating difficult truths to avoid confrontation. Instead she would speak the truth, and fight for who she was rather than who everyone wanted her to be.
Out of ears shot Sanem picked up the phone, "Hello Anne how are you?"
"Ah Sanem ok I was worried did you get to Izmir yet? You didn't call."
Sanem took a deep breathe closing her eyes, "I'm ok Anne, but I didn't go to Izmir."
"What? Why not?"
"I... I needed to work things out with Can."
Mevkibe was silent, so Sanem took the opportunity to continue.
"I'm with Can now. We needed to talk. He stayed, Anne, and I needed to as well."
"So he listened to me? Ah good boy," Mevkibe sounded proud over the phone.
Sanem was confused by what her mom meant but before she could ask more her mother asked the one thing she was dreading.
"So when are you coming home? You will be here for dinner right?"
Sanem swallowed hard, "No...No Anne... I wont be home for dinner."
"Ok don't get home too late though, what would the neighbors think with Can driving you home so late?"
"I don't care."
"Excuse me?!"
"I don't care Anne, and I'm sorry you are going to hate what I am about to say but I'm not coming home tonight. I'm staying with Can for a few days to sort everything out."
"Sanem!" Mevkibe shouted horrified, "This better be a joke! Get back here NOW."
"I'm sorry Anne I love you but I am an adult now. I'm not a child and I need to work this out with Can. I can't lose him again and he doesn't want to lose me either. We need this time uninterrupted to talk."
Sanem braced herself as the phone went silent.
Mevkibe in a tight and eerily calm voice said, "Where. Are. You?"
"I cant tell you that, Anne, but I'm safe. Im sorry you are disappointed but I need to live my life for me now and not for you."
"Sanem, tell me where you are right now! I am not joking!"
"I love you Anne, I will see you in three days."
"Sanem don't you dare hang up this phone! this is unaccap...."
Sanem hung up the phone feeling stronger than she ever had before.
