Together Again

Chapter 17

Serkan stood at the edge of a cliff, looking out over the vast, sprawling valley before him. It was a place that felt both foreign and familiar, a mix of serenity and desolation. The winds whispered through the trees, carrying with them the scent of wildflowers and earth. But beneath the calm, a storm was brewing inside him. A year had passed, and he had yet to find her.

The journal in his hands was now worn, its pages frayed and filled with desperate, fragmented thoughts. But now, as he stared out into the horizon, he began to feel a deep exhaustion in his bones—emotional and physical. The relentless days of walking, the endless search for something he wasn’t sure even existed anymore, had begun to take its toll. He had lost weight, his face was lined with fatigue, and his eyes, once full of hope, now seemed hollow and distant. His reflection in the surface of a nearby stream had become a ghost of the man he used to be.

He had come so far. But had it been enough?

Serkan's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind him, light but steady, growing closer. His body tensed instinctively, his hand instinctively reaching for the knife he kept on his belt. It wasn’t out of fear, but caution. He had learned to be wary of strangers in these remote areas—people who might not always have the best intentions.

But when he turned, he was surprised to see an older man, weathered and worn, standing just a few feet away. His face was creased with age, but there was an undeniable kindness in his eyes. He was dressed simply, in rough clothes that had seen better days, and he held a worn satchel at his side.

Serkan hesitated for a moment before lowering his guard.

“Who are you?” Serkan asked, his voice rough from days of disuse.

The man smiled gently, taking a slow step forward. “I could ask you the same, son. But it looks like you’ve been searching for something, someone.” He paused, scanning the valley around them. “You’ve been searching a long time, haven’t you?”

Serkan felt a wave of bitterness rise within him. “A year. A year of walking, looking, hoping. And I’m no closer than I was when I started.” He clenched his jaw, his fists tightening. “I don’t even know what I’m looking for anymore.”

The man nodded slowly, his expression softening with understanding. “Sometimes, we walk for so long that we forget the reason we started in the first place. We get caught up in the journey and lose sight of the end. But maybe the end isn’t always about finding what we’re looking for. Sometimes, it’s about what we find along the way.”

Serkan shook his head in frustration. “I’ve seen nothing but endless miles and empty faces. No answers. No clues. I’m losing myself.”

The man stepped closer, his voice low but firm. “What if I told you I could help you find what you’ve been searching for?”

Serkan looked at him skeptically, the pain of his own unanswered questions etched into every line of his face. “How? How could you possibly help me?”

The man gestured toward the valley below, his gaze distant. “There’s a village not far from here. Not on any map. It’s a place where people come to be forgotten. Some come to escape their past. Some come to disappear entirely. But there are others... who come because they need answers. Answers they can’t find in the world they left behind. You’ve been searching for a year, my friend. Maybe it’s time to stop and listen to what the world has to say to you.”

Serkan felt his heart skip a beat. A village? A place that might hold answers? The possibility seemed too far-fetched, like a final glimmer of hope after so many days of despair.

He met the man’s eyes, searching for any sign that this wasn’t just another dead-end, another false lead. “How do you know about this place?”

The man smiled again, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “I’ve been there myself. Not all who wander know where they’re going, but sometimes, you find a way when you least expect it.”

Serkan swallowed hard, feeling a strange pull in his chest. He had nothing left to lose. “Show me.”

The man nodded, turning without another word, and Serkan followed.

The journey to the hidden village was long and treacherous, taking them through forests dense with overgrowth and across rocky ravines. Serkan moved mechanically, every step heavy with exhaustion, his mind still reeling from the past year of isolation. He didn’t speak much to the old man, but every now and then, the man would glance at him with those kind eyes, as if knowing exactly what Serkan was feeling.

As night fell, they camped under a sky full of stars. The fire crackled between them, the silence wrapping around them like a blanket. For the first time in ages, Serkan didn’t feel completely alone. The presence of the stranger, who seemed to know things Serkan couldn’t understand, brought him a strange comfort.

By dawn, they arrived at the village. The first thing Serkan noticed was how untouched the place seemed. The houses, made of stone and wood, were nestled in a valley, surrounded by tall trees that seemed to form a protective barrier. There was an eerie stillness in the air, like time itself had slowed to a crawl.

The man led him down a narrow dirt path, through a small wooden archway, and into the heart of the village. The people who lived here looked different—older, quieter, but there was something in their eyes that spoke of a life full of stories. They nodded as they passed, acknowledging the stranger and Serkan with a mix of curiosity and familiarity.

“This is it,” the man said softly, stopping in front of a small house with a thatched roof. “This is where the answers are.”

Serkan felt a chill run through him, a mix of anticipation and fear. He had no idea what to expect. But his heart thudded in his chest as the man knocked lightly on the door.

The door creaked open slowly, revealing a woman who looked almost as ancient as the earth itself. Her eyes were sharp, yet kind, and her silver hair cascaded down her back in waves. She regarded Serkan for a moment before her gaze softened.

“Come in,” she said, her voice low but clear. “You’ve been searching for her, haven’t you?”

Serkan’s breath caught in his throat. “Eda. How do you know about her?”

The woman stepped aside, allowing them into the room. “I know much more than you think. Sit. You’ve been carrying the weight of a heavy question. And it’s time you got your answer.”

As Serkan sat down, the old man closed the door behind them. The woman motioned for him to speak, but Serkan could barely find the words. His mind raced with a thousand questions—none of them making sense anymore.

Finally, he managed, “Where is she? Where is Eda?”

The woman’s eyes flickered with understanding, and for the first time in a long while, Serkan felt like someone—someone who knew more than just his name—had finally listened.