Turbulence

Chapter 15

Eda kept her eyes closed and deeply inhaled Serkan's scent mixed with the strong, sterile smell of the hospital. She thought she had already fallen asleep and dreamed about waking up with Serkan in his bed. 

In her dreams, he always first stroked her cheek and then kissed her, exactly how he used to do in the old happy times when everything was perfect, and they were happy together. It wasn't even so long ago, only a little over a month, but it felt like a lifetime. She wasn't even sure if all of that wasn't just a beautiful dream that she made up to cover the horrid reality.

Eda sighed slightly, not wanting to open her eyes. She wanted to feel more in her dream. A thumb stroked her cheek, and she felt a movement under her. She smiled to herself. This dream was more realistic than the ones she had so far. It almost felt real.

"Eda?" A hoarse voice called her. It was quiet, barely a whisper, but it couldn't be mistaken. "You're crushing my shoulder."

Eda's eyes flew open, and she picked up her head to see Serkan awake and looking at her. The tears immediately ran down her cheeks. She lifted herself on her elbow and cupped Serkan's cheeks.

"You're awake. Serkan, you're awake." She kept repeating until her voice cracked and stopped to cooperate with her, but she needed to say it out loud to make sure it was really happening. It couldn't be another dream.

Serkan was watching her while she stroked his cheeks. He cleared his throat with a small frown, and Eda panicked. It was obvious he wanted to say something more, but she couldn't let him speak first. It was she who needed to talk and explain herself before it would be too late, so she launched at Serkan's neck and held his shoulders with both hands. 

Eda knew she was acting ridiculous, keeping him down in case he would want to push her away while he didn't move at all, but she was too afraid to take any risk, not after waiting so long to see him awake. She had one chance and couldn't waste it.

"I'm so sorry for what I said. I was stupid. Please forgive me. I should've never broken up with you. Please, give me a chance." Eda started to speak fast, tears flowing from her eyes and falling on Serkan's face. She leaned closer and kissed his lips, and, to her relief, he kissed her back.

"Is that true what you said earlier?" He asked in a raspy voice, slowly raising his hand to put it on the back of her head. "Do you love me?"

"Could you hear me?" Eda looked at him with wide eyes.

"Just that. So?"

"I love you, Serkan. I really do." She answered tearfully.

"I love you, too." Serkan pulled her to his chest.

Eda hid her face in the crook of his neck and burst into tears. She was so relieved now. A huge rock fell from her chest and she wasn't feeling so light for weeks. Not only did Serkan wake up and not demand that she had to leave the moment he saw her, but he loved her too. 

Her hot tears of happiness were wetting Serkan's neck as she shook from cries in his arms. She couldn't believe her luck. She couldn't ask for more. She barely could believe it was true.

Eda lifted her head, leaned closer to Serkan's face, and smiled at him through tears. She looked into his beautiful eyes in awe. She missed looking into their depth so much, and right now, she didn't need anything more to the end of her life but just be able to look into them.

Serkan swallowed and cleared his throat again, wincing slightly, and Eda realized that he had just woken up after a month of being in a coma, he was struggling to speak, and his throat must've been sore while she didn't even think about giving him water.