Sudden decisions

84 - The albatross, the Phoenix and the ocean of destiny

Can

I look out from the large window of the new Fikri Harika while I hear the buzz of the creatives chasing each other with colored cards, the sound of phones, the overwhelming energy of an agency that has not only returned to the top but has become an international reference point. I turn slightly and through the glass wall, I can see the true miracle in the next office.

Sanem is no longer just my muse; she is an incredible businesswoman who has transformed her gift into an empire. Besides making the agency thrive, she has launched her own perfume line in an international partnership with Pilar, who has finally cut ties with Fabri. She then wanted her friend Ayle by her side as head of production, arrived from Gölcük with her practicality and undeniable skills in cosmetics, while Mrs. Remide supervises everything with enormous wisdom and her infallible business instinct.

Sanem is an extraordinary woman, I have always known it, and over time she has proven capable of succeeding in everything she does. Yet, despite the magazine covers, the awards, and the international success, to me, she remains the girl with the sneakers, her eyes wide open to the world, and that unmistakable scent of wild flowers. That fragrance I once used to breathe in secretly is now the very air in my lungs.

I promised myself that I would have only one true goal in life: to make her happy and fulfill every single desire that shines in her eyes. At the center of my past existence, the one before her, there was a continuous wandering, without a destination, always searching for novelty and adventure, whereas now my only true destination is her smile.

And so it is that that evening at home, trying to maintain a professional and serious tone, while I pull the suitcases out of the closet to bring them into the bedroom, I tell her: "Sanem, our schedule is extremely tight, we have to leave tomorrow to meet an essential international client who cannot reach us in Turkey."

She follows me down the hallway with her lower lip slightly pouted, that worried expression I know all too well. "Is it really necessary to go, Can? And the children? What do we do about school, afternoon activities, homework?"

I reassure her, stopping for a moment to take her in my arms and press her against my chest. "The grandparents have already called an emergency family meeting to divide the tasks. Nihat has already set the shifts with my father to drop them off and pick them up from school, while Mevkibe will take care of the meals. Leyla and Metin have prepared the rooms, and Alp is thrilled at the idea of having his little cousins over for a few days. Cey Cey... well, Cey Cey will act as general supervisor in his quirky and hyperactive way, you know him, he's probably already filling pages upon pages with to-do lists. Everything is organized, you can rest easy."

I place a light kiss on her forehead, right where her thoughts always race too fast, and I feel, as usual, her muscles relax against me, as if my embrace were the only safe harbor capable of soothing all her anxiety.

When we arrive at the airport the following day, I guide her toward our gate and I can't help but smile when she suddenly stops, her feet glued to the floor, her eyes fixed on the illuminated departure board indicating our destination:

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

Her eyes widen, she turns to me with trembling lips and short breath. "Can... I don't understand. The client? The meeting?"

I step in front of her so I can look into her eyes. "The client doesn't exist, aşkım, my love, there is only us. The time has come to live the honeymoon that was stolen from us at the time of our wedding. I want to give you the trip you have always dreamed of, and for this, we are going to take a whole month just for ourselves, to write your book and to be alone, just the two of us, without interruptions, without shadows, without anything or anyone that can ever harm our happiness again."