The First Goal

The Incident

Amel

As I sat in Baris's car, the world outside seemed distant, muted by the events of the night. He glanced over at me, his expression a mix of concern and frustration. "Are you okay?" he asked again, his voice laced with a nervous energy.

"I'm fine," I replied, this time more relaxed. There was something about being in his car that made me feel safe, cocooned away from the chaos I had just escaped. "Thank you, Baris."

"No, don't say thank you," he said, his tone shifting. "I should've broken his fucking hands. He's lucky the boys were there to pull me off." His fists clenched around the steering wheel as he spoke, the intensity of his anger palpable.

I couldn't help but admire the passion behind his words, even if I felt the need to reassure him. "He will go to court and suffer now," Baris added, softening his gaze as he turned to me, his concern visible.

We arrived at my apartment building, and I hesitated at the door, caught up in the moment. Baris walked me to the entrance, the weight of the night heavy on both our shoulders. As we reached the door, his eyes fell to my arms, which bore the marks of Mert's grip—red and bruised. "He did this to you?" he asked, confusion and anger battling within him.

"It's okay, I'm okay now," I said, pulling my arms back instinctively, not wanting to dwell on the pain.

His eyes met mine, and for a moment, it felt as if the world around us faded away. There was an unspoken connection lingering between us, as if he wanted to say something more but was holding back.

"Iyi geceler," (goodnight) I said softly, breaking the silence. "Thank you for taking me home."

"Iyi geceler, Amel," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. He stepped back, slipping into his car, and I watched as he drove off into the night, a sleek figure disappearing into the darkness.

Once inside, I closed the door and leaned against it, my heart racing as I processed everything that had happened. I felt the need for a long, hot shower, the steam enveloping me as I washed away the remnants of the night. I thought about Baris—his anger, his concern, and how he had stepped in when I needed him most.

Lying in bed, I couldn't shake the feeling of vulnerability that lingered. How could I have known that some pervert would attack me? I resolved then to take action, to train and toughen up. I wouldn't let fear dictate my life.

Tomorrow was a new day. I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of Baris's presence linger in my mind, and drifted off to sleep, hoping that whatever came next would bring more strength