Tears of love

08 | 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞

Nehir didn't even dare to meet Oguz that night. She texted him, saying that her mother was carefully watching and she couldn't get away.

She knew Neslihan did not care whether she saw Oguz or not. She didn't have a choice. She knew what she had to do.

Running was the only option. It had always been. She was a fool to think she could just say she didn't want to marry Yavuz and her problems would go away. Even if her father caught them, it didn't matter. He would kill them, but at least they'll be together. At least he wouldn't be able to torment them after death.

Two days passed before Nehir gathered the courage to meet Oguz. Ayşe had called again and again, but she didn't answer. She didn't know what to say, and she didn't want to let Ayşe know about her plan. If she wanted to succeed, then no one could know.

Hakan suspected something was between them, but her brother didn't say anything. Whatever Oguz told him had seemed to convince Hakan. Nehir had a feeling Fidan wouldn't share her secret. Her sister-in-law told her that she had tried to get in contact with some friends from Istanbul but failed.

She met Oguz long after midnight, when everyone had gone to sleep. The bodyguards weren't near the house, but at the gate, as her father had grown tired of seeing them every morning.

Neslihan hadn't said anything else about the wedding. She had seemed to decide to leave the wedding in Dilek's hands rather than handle it herself.

Nehir was sure her father had no idea about her and Oguz. He had seen her mother's intentions during the engagement, and he took advantage. He had known Neslihan long enough to realise she had come to the restaurant knowing what the outcome would be.

He waited for her behind her father's office, far away from the house and the bodyguards.

"What happened?" Oguz asked.

"Nothing. Ayşe convinced me to refuse at the engagement, but it didn't work."

She raised her hand, showing the ring on her finger as proof. She mentioned nothing about her mother threatening his family.

Neslihan hadn't said anything more about them, but Nehir knew the threat still had value. Her mother would not let go of such an opportunity. It wasn't in her nature.

"Are you okay?" Oguz asked, his voice full of concern.

"I'm fine. But we don't have much time. It has to be soon."

She had no intention of coming even close to marrying Yavuz. They had to run as fast as possible. Before her mother decided to move the wedding earlier.

"Tomorrow night," Nehir said. "It has to be tomorrow night. My parents want to go to the Uçars' for dinner. I'll say I don't feel well."

"Okay," Oguz said. "We'll do it tomorrow night. We'll run."

Nehir nodded. "You can't come close to the house with the car, not without the bodyguards growing curious. I'll find a way to get out and meet you down the road."

"And then we'll be free," Oguz said. "We'll manage, Nehir. Trust me."

"You know I do."

He was, maybe, the only person she trusted except her sister.

Hakan wanted her to be safe, even if that meant sacrificing her happiness. Her parents only cared about themselves. Ayşe had always been there for her, as well as Oguz. They were the only ones she could trust.

"Where will we go?"

"To Istanbul," Nehir replied. "To my sister. Ayşe will help. And then we'll go abroad. Anywhere."

A smile lit up her whole face. There was hope. Looking into Oguz's eyes, Nehir found hope. In them. In their love.

They'll run for as long as they had to. They both knew they would face a life on the run. But they would be together. They won't have to sacrifice their lives or their happiness for Nehir's father or anyone else.

"I was thinking about Spain," Oguz said. "Or England. Or Sweden."

"We'll find a place to call home."

They also would have to find jobs. Her savings and whatever Hakan had given Oguz wouldn't last forever. But they would manage somehow. Together, they will manage.

"Are you sure?" Oguz asked. "I can't give you half of the things you already have. I don't even have a house."

"It doesn't matter to me," Nehir said. "As long as we have each other, we'll be happy. And we'll manage."

"It's dangerous."

"So is staying. For me, at least. I am tired of being a pawn in my father's plans. I want to be free."

Oguz nodded. They both wanted the same thing. And, together, they'll do their best to achieve it.

"And if we're caught?" Oguz asked.

Nehir shruged. "I don't know. My father won't show mercy. He will kill us. I guess we'll know we did our best and that we died for a chance at happiness."

"It's good enough for me," he said.

Nehir made a step forward and hugged him. She didn't dare do more in her family's backyard. But just hugging the one she loved made her feel better. It gave her hope in what they were about to do. Maybe that hope was wrong. Maybe they both would die tomorrow night. But she still allowed herself to hope. To believe they had the chance of a better future, a better life. She allowed herself to believe their love was stronger than her father.

After all, hope died last.

"I love you," Oguz muttered after Nehir pulled away. "I love you more than anything."

"I love you to the moon and back."

She wanted to kiss him. But she knew they couldn't. Not when her father was sleeping in the house. She had never kissed him. But they will have enough time. The first thing they would do when they reached Istanbul would be to get married. And then they'll have a lifetime together.