Moonlight 💫

~ Chapter 41~

The night stretched on endlessly. The city outside the windows was silent, but Feraye wasn't. She lay in bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, listening to the absence of him beside her. Every second he wasn't there pressed heavier on her chest, like the quiet itself was mocking her.

Her jaw clenched. He didn't even hesitate, she thought bitterly. Didn't think twice about leaving me alone in his bed.

But beneath the anger was something softer, something fragile and aching because she knew he was hurting too.

Somewhere past midnight, a sound jolted her low, rough, broken.

Her heart stopped.

"Ates?" she whispered into the dark.

Another muffled sound, a strangled breath this time louder. She threw back the sheets and hurried downstairs, her silk robe sliding against her bare skin, the thin strap of her night top slipping off her shoulder as she reached the living room.

Ates was on the couch, tangled in the blanket, sweat beading his forehead. His chest heaved, his body tense, caught in whatever nightmare was clawing through his sleep.

"Ates," she said softly, kneeling beside him. Her hand trembled as she touched his face. "Hey, it's me... wake up."

He jerked awake, sitting up fast, eyes wild and unfocused until they landed on her. His breath came in short bursts, chest rising and falling under the loose white shirt he'd thrown on earlier.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was heavy, pulsing with leftover fear and something else something unspoken.

Feraye reached for a napkin on the coffee table and gently wiped his forehead. "You were having a nightmare," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

He didn't answer. His eyes didn't move from her face. They stayed locked on her, studying the way her hair fell over her shoulder, the way the dim light kissed her collarbone, the worry in her eyes she couldn't hide.

Under that gaze, Feraye's breath faltered. Her hands slowed, her cheeks warmed, and she suddenly couldn't meet his eyes. "You're okay now," she said quietly, trying to stand.

But as she turned, his hand caught her wrist.

She froze.

His grip wasn't forceful just firm enough to keep her there, to make her feel every beat of his pulse against her skin. Slowly, she looked back at him.

"Don't go," he said, his voice low and rough from sleep.

Her lips parted, her throat tight. "Ates..."

He didn't say anything more he didn't have to. His eyes held everything: confusion, hurt, longing. It was as if every word he hadn't said tonight was staring back at her, demanding to be understood.

Feraye felt her resolve crumble. She sat back down beside him, their knees brushing. The contact sent a shiver through her that she tried to ignore.

He looked down, voice softer now. "Every time I close my eyes, I see you walking away from me. Even in my dreams, you're leaving."

Her chest tightened. "I'm not leaving," she whispered, though even she could hear the doubt in her tone.

He lifted his gaze again steady, piercing. "Then stop acting like you already have."

The words hung between them, raw and honest.

For a long moment, they just stared at each other close enough to feel each other's breath, close enough for every heartbeat to echo between them. But neither moved. Neither dared.