Constantinople's Cherry

IV - 44. Kurban etmek

Because this was written beforehand and not to keep you waiting, here's the next chapter.

It will anwser most of the questions hanging since the begining of Part IV.

TW : Disturbing mention of death, assassination, torture.

Prepare your tissues.

....

Kiraz sniffed, as Alizé handed her a clean handkerchief.

"Kiki, stop, your father will realise you have cried when he comes back." Alizé conforted, rubbing Kiraz's shoulders as she clutched Eda Yıldız's letter and cried again and again reading the words.

As of now, Kiraz had only readen her father's love letters to her mother. Her mother's side of the correspondence was either lost or only Serkan had them.

She didn't knew her mother would make her cry even more. Her father's  writing was poetically touching. Her mother's was more raw. Closer to rambling from her heart, which is what she did on this piece of fabric.

Kiraz sniffed, she had hated a mother that had thought living impossible after splitting from her.

She had thaught the woman ready to sacrify herself for her father was the one that had betrayed him.

How wrong she had been.

And how indebted to Eda Yildiz she was. Why was this woman like this ? The more she learned, the more Kiraz fell in her own eyes for the jugement she gave her.

But what did this mean ? Had she intended to kill herself ? Was that whh her Papa was so sure she was gone ? Was that what he hid because it was too painful ?

"Let him see." Kiraz sniffed.

Alizé looked down at her. "You want to be caught ?" She asked.

"I want to know what happened to my mother Alizé." Kiraz sniffed again, and Alizé took her in her arms.

When Serkan came back, a short while later, and found a crying Kiraz. His heart panicked with worry.

"Kiraz, my baby, what's wrong ?" He was at his side in an instant. "What happened ?" He asked Alizé.

Alizé gave him a sympathetic smile. "I'd better leave you alone." She excused, and rubbed Kiraz's shoulder. "See you tomorrow Kiki."

Serkan watched her leave and tilted Kiraz's chin, full of tears.

"Someone hurt you ? Something's wrong at University ?" Serkan craddled her cheek.

Kiraz shook her head and sniffed. "Papa, what's this ?" She revealed the piece of cloth folded neatly.

And Serkan let out a gasp, immense pain filling his eyes. "Where did you find it ?" He asked under his breath.

"Does it matter ? Tell me what happened, why did she write this ? What did she mean ?" Kiraz pressed.

Serkan's eyes filled with tears as he sat beside Kiraz and looked at the chimney ahead of them, eyes full of trauma.

"Eda blamed herself a lot for what happened to Armenians. And she blamed herself for what happened between us." Serkan let out with a strained and pained voice, shutting his eyes to remember and narrate what probably was the worst day in his life.

***

A couple of hours passed away, after Arev's convoy had left. Serkan had cried for longer than Eda. They had to give up on Kiraz.