Love in the dark

Was it easy to run away?

Early in the morning, Asi heard noises from her workroom after getting ready.

"Neriman abla, is that you?" Asi called.
Asi's apartment doubled as both her home and office. Her living room was transformed into a professional workspace where she met clients amid shelves of law books and files. The kitchen offered a place of respite, and one bedroom provided solace after long days. Her workroom, a private retreat, was where she meticulously analyzed cases and prepared for courtroom battles. Together, these spaces reflected her dedication to both her legal practice and personal sanctuary.
"It's her ghost," Neriman replied.

Neriman, her house and office keeper, arrived each morning, cleaned, prepared dinner, and left around midnight.

Asi, grabbing her bag filled with case files, said, "Always the same joke."

"You'll laugh one day, kızım," Neriman responded.

"I don't think so. I'm not laughing now. I'm leaving. Goodbye. AND DON'T FORGET TO TAKE YOUR MEDICINE!"

And with that she closed the door and headed to her car.

Arriving at the courthouse in her sharp black suit, she wears only black in all her cases,Asi exuded confidence and professionalism. Colleagues and clients who nicknamed her "Kara Kılıç," greeted her with admiration as she walked briskly to the courtroom, ready to tackle another challenging case.

---

In the courtroom, Asi stood before the jury, her demeanor calm and composed. She began her defense with conviction, her voice steady and clear. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my client, Mrs. kara, is innocent of the charges against her. Yes, she was found near her husband's body, but this alone does not prove her guilt. Today, I will present evidence that will show she came home to find him already dead and encountered a masked intruder fleeing the scene."

Asi turned to face the jury directly. "Months of relentless investigation have brought us here. Witnesses have confirmed seeing a figure in a mask leaving the house shortly before Mrs. Kara arrived. She immediately called the police upon discovering her husband's body, a reaction of someone shocked and terrified, not guilty."

The family lawyer, an older gentleman with a stern expression, stood to counter her argument. "Asi Hanım, these so-called witnesses have not been very reliable. Isn't it possible they were mistaken?"

Asi smiled gently, maintaining her composure. "I anticipated that argument, sir. That's why I've gathered more concrete evidence. We have security footage from a neighbor's camera showing a masked individual leaving the house just minutes before Mrs. Kara arrived. This footage was obtained after diligent work, piecing together the timeline meticulously."

She played the footage for the court, the grainy video clearly showing a masked figure exiting the house. "This is the proof that Mrs. Kara was telling the truth all along."

Asi continued, her tone growing more impassioned. "But I didn't stop there. I dug deeper, following every lead. It turns out, the victim had a stepbrother with a substantial motive – jealousy and financial gain. After months of investigation, I discovered that this stepbrother had access to the victim's house and a history of disputes with the victim. DNA evidence from the crime scene matched the stepbrother, who tried to cover his tracks by framing my client."

She held up the final piece of evidence – a DNA report. "This report conclusively links the stepbrother to the crime scene. The true killer is not my client, but the victim's stepbrother."

The courtroom buzzed with murmurs as the evidence was presented. The family lawyer, looking taken aback, responded, "asi Hanım, this is quite a revelation."

Asi nodded, her voice calm yet firm. "Indeed, it is. Justice is not served by convicting the wrong person. My client is innocent, and the real culprit must face the consequences."

The jury members exchanged glances, clearly impacted by the compelling defense. Asi returned to her seat, her heart pounding but her expression serene. She had worked tirelessly to uncover the truth, and now, justice was within reach.
---

The tension in the courtroom was palpable as Asi presented her final arguments, meticulously weaving together evidence and testimony that pointed to her client's innocence. After weeks of intense legal battles, the jury finally delivered their verdict: "Not guilty."

Asi stood beside her client, Mrs. Kara, who was visibly overwhelmed with emotion. Tears streamed down Mrs. Kara's cheeks as she turned to Asi and embraced her tightly, whispering heartfelt thanks. "Thank you, Asi. You saved my life."

Asi, usually composed and stoic, felt a lump form in her throat. She returned the hug, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You're welcome, Mrs. Kara. You deserve justice."

As Mrs. Kara pulled back, still clutching Asi's hands, the courtroom erupted in subdued applause. Asi managed a faint smile, nodding gratefully to the judge and jury.

Asi stepped out of the courtroom,The hallway outside was quiet compared to the courtroom's buzz, offering her a moment of solitude to gather her thoughts. She took a deep breath, feeling a mix of relief and satisfaction.
—-

After meeting with her clients, exhaustion weighed heavily as she opining her door Yet, she couldn't bring herself to complain; this was what she had chosen, what she had pursued with unwavering determination. She busied herself constantly, warding off any moment of free time to let thoughts drives her crazy. It had been five long years since she last felt anything, as if her emotions had been locked away in an empty void, denying herself the luxury of feeling anything at all ,She chose to run away. Starting fresh was her decision. Now, all those choices felt heavy. During her pregnancy, everything had meant so much. She had carried within her someone of her own blood—a baby that she lost after just two months of pregnancy due to health problems. The weight of those brief moments of hope now matched the depth of her sorrow.
And what's most heartbreaking is that she blames herself for what happened,not knowing that she was too young for this,  for growing up without a mother,for all what she's been through five years ago .. for what alaz did to her she was so young yet a survival.
---
As Asi was about to enter her bedroom after dinner, her phone rang. On the screen flashed "Guven Abi," the only person who knew where is she and had helped her from the start.

Asi's heart raced as she heard Guven's troubled voice over the phone.

Asi: "Guven Abi? What happened "

Guven's response was heavy with regret and concern.

Guven: "Asi, my dear... Alaz knows. I just walked into my office and saw that someone had gone through my emails. They stopped at the one where I sent you some of your clients medical information. I wasn't home all day, and I fear it might have been Alaz."

The mention of Alaz's name pierced Asi's heart like a dagger. She sank into a chair, overwhelmed with a flood of emotions she had buried,the pain he caused, the shattered trust, and the agonizing decision to leave five years ago.

Asi, her voice trembling: "Guven Abi, what are you saying?"

Guven's voice wavered with remorse.

Guven: "I'm so sorry, kizim. I promised you that no one will know.

As Asi struggled to comprehend the gravity of Guven's words, a persistent knock broke the tense silence in her apartment.
Asi: "tamam abi I'll call u later,im ok,good night."
Panic gripped her as she was looking for her gun,just when she thought the person is gone when the knock was stopped,she heard him.

Alaz's voice, tinged with begging and regret, called through the door.

Alaz: "Asi, open the door..."