The Wedding Night...

Finding different outlets...

Baran was curious about his wife's plans. He was concerned that she had taken the route back home. However, she made a turn, and they left the pavement behind. They were surrounded by nature, sheltered by big trees. He now knew where they were headed. "Is that why we stopped to buy groceries?" He asked. "Do you have any complaints?" Looking around, it was just what he needed. They pulled down the windows and let the fresh air in. "Not at all." Soon, they found themselves in front of a cabin. The cabin where Baran proposed to her, but more importantly, where he trusted her again. She got out of the truck and waited for him. "You will go there and cut wood for us while I unload the food." He knew what she was trying to do. "So instead of hitting the sandbag..." She nodded. "You will pour your anger into the wood. Let the ax be your hands." He smirked at her. She had found the safest way for him to numb himself. Although, he knew of another way. But he was putting that aside for the moment. He walked away to collect the trunk pieces when he remembered. "Wait, you said you would make my wishes come true. Maybe I'll cut the wood later..." She raised her hand and backed down. "Fine, fine. I'm pausing the time for when you finish with the wood. You get one more hour." He thought that was not fair. "No, no, Mrs. Karabey. Most of the first hour was wasted by coming here and the store." She said as she turned. "Your problem, Mr. Karabey. Not mine." She was giving him attitude. Good. Two could play that game. "We will see. From where I'm standing, it will become your problem very soon." He left without checking on her, but he could predict her reaction. She would blush. Her mind going exactly where he wanted it to.

Baran gathered all the pieces of wood and began his work. Like Dilan told him, he tried to release his anger with each swing. He was out of practice, which allowed him to smash each log against the stand several times before they broke. He was halfway done, and he was already exhausted. Still, the thoughts didn't come out of his mind. His uncle not only killed the most important person to him growing up, but he also attempted to kill his future. Dilan. He came so close to losing her that time. The possibility of his uncle walking free despite everything he had done drove Baran mad. Numbing his body was not enough to quiet his mind. He stopped and looked around. Dilan was done taking the things from the truck to the inside of the cabin. He was taking the opportunity to call Kerem. He needed to know if there had been any progress. "Baran!" He rechecked his surroundings, just in case. "Any news regarding my uncle?" His friend gave him a summary. "We met with Okhan and told him everything. He also asked for the gun, but Mr. Hikmet explained. With this new information, Okhan is reexamining Şihar's case. Let's hope he finds something." So, still nothing. "Keep me informed, Kerem." The call ended, and Baran resumed his work. His rage renewed. He needed to blow steam. He kept at it until it turned dark and didn't have enough light to continue shopping the wood. Looking at the pile he had made, they had enough for the weekend. He took a load in his arms and walked towards the house, stopping for a second to feel the environment. The smell of the trees and the soil. The sound made by the wind colliding with the levees. Peaceful, and yet his mind wasn't. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply, letting the air fill his lungs and leveling his breathing. He heard the door to the cabin as it was opened. He turned to find Dilan with her eyes closed.

Dilan copied Baran. "Don't you feel the breeze is dancing around us and taking our problems away?" She opened her eyes to find her husband staring at her from the bottom of the stairs. She smiled and got close to him, welcoming him. She wiped the cold sweat from his face. "Did it help?" He winked at her. "What do you think?" She examined the pile of wood by the side of the cabin. "Well, at least it was a workout." He examined his clothes. "I got nothing to change into." She teased him. "Hmm! There is a blanket inside. You can wear that." He moved one step up. He was now at her level. "I have no problem with that, Ms. Dilan." The look he gave her made her feel hot all over. Her cheeks instantly flushed. He cocked his eyebrow. "I wonder what came to my wife's mind just now?" She tried to change the subject. "I... I've prepared some sandwiches for us." She cursed to herself. She could not keep it together. He shook his head in amusement and entered the cabin. Then, he yelled. "I will have the fire going in no time. Why don't you look for that blanket you offered me." Dilan was mortified. It was her idea. However, as usual, it got out of hand. That was Baran's power. He would disarm and turn the tables on her with just a few words. She picked a few pieces of wood before returning inside. She handed them to him and waited at the table. "Done!" Dilan heard him say. "Soon, the cabin will be warm." He came walking in her direction, looking around like he lost something. "Where is the blanket?" She rolled her eyes at him. "Let's eat, Baran."