Together Again

Chapter 25

Eda and Serkan stood together in the morning light, the tension from the night before still lingering but softened by the warmth of their embrace. They knew they couldn’t ignore Selin any longer—her words, her subtle threats, and her presence in their lives were pushing them to the edge. If they wanted true peace, they had to confront the past head-on.

Serkan broke the silence. “Eda, I think we should talk to the authorities. Selin’s obsession has gone too far. This is harassment, and it’s dangerous.”

Eda hesitated. “I know you’re right, but part of me worries it’ll only provoke her. What if it makes her escalate?”

Serkan held her shoulders gently, looking into her eyes with calm resolve. “If we keep letting her control us with fear, we’ll never be free of her. We need to take back our power, Eda. And the only way to do that is to stand up to her.”

She took a deep breath, her worry tempered by Serkan’s strength. “You’re right,” she said, nodding slowly. “We can’t keep running from this.”

That morning, they went together to the police station. The officers listened carefully as they recounted the years of trouble Selin had caused, from manipulating Serkan and Eda’s relationship to her recent intrusion into their personal lives. They shared all the details, no matter how small, hoping it would be enough for the authorities to take action.

An officer named Emre took the lead, asking questions and noting their responses. “It sounds like you’ve both endured a lot,” he said, his voice sympathetic. “With this kind of pattern, we may be able to pursue a restraining order, but to escalate it further, we’ll need more concrete evidence of a threat.”

Serkan clenched his jaw, frustration simmering. “So, basically, you’re saying she has to do something even worse before anything can really be done?”

The officer nodded, his expression regretful. “Unfortunately, in cases like this, the law requires a certain threshold. But we’ll open a case file, and if anything else happens, let us know immediately. We’ll do everything we can.”

After they left the station, Serkan could feel Eda’s disappointment mirroring his own. He wrapped an arm around her as they walked down the bustling street. “I know it feels like a setback, but this is still a step forward. Now she’s officially on their radar, and if she tries anything again, we’ll have a record.”

Eda leaned into him, nodding. “I just want this to be over, Serkan. I want us to be able to live without looking over our shoulders.”

“We will,” he promised, his voice filled with conviction. “And we’ll face whatever comes next, together.”

Days passed without any sign of Selin, but the unease lingered in the back of their minds. They took extra precautions—Serkan arranged for security cameras around their property, and Eda began notifying him whenever she left work or arrived home. Their lives took on a new layer of caution, and even though they hated it, they knew it was necessary.

One evening, as they relaxed at home, Eda was scrolling through old messages on her phone when she came across one she hadn’t seen in years. It was a draft—a message she’d written to Serkan before she left, telling him everything she felt. She remembered the intense emotions that had driven her to write it, the confusion and pain. She hadn’t sent it then, choosing instead to leave without saying a word.

She hesitated, then showed it to Serkan. “I never sent this. It’s from right before I left.”

Serkan read through it, his face softening as he took in her words.

Serkan, it read, I don’t know how to say this, and maybe that’s why I’m writing instead of telling you face-to-face. I feel trapped, like no matter what I do, I can’t escape Selin’s shadow. I love you more than I thought possible, but I can’t keep pretending that this doesn’t hurt. I don’t know if you’ll understand, or if I even want you to… but I need time. I need to find myself again.