MINE (EDITED)

chapter 10

Gelin (bride)
Kız (girl)
Abla (sister)
Ağabey (elder brother)
Bacım (sister)
Canım (my dear)
Nolur/ lütfen (please)
Kuzum (my little lamb or my dear)
Aşkım (my love)
Damat (groom)
Sağol (thanks)
Teşekkürler (thank you)
Güzel (beautiful)

💗💙💗

The sound of Mammy's voice cut through the fog of my dreams, and I slowly blinked open my eyes. "Leyla, Uyan kizim, Wake up, It's four am already!" she called from the other side of the door, her tone more urgent than usual.

"Annem, I'm up," I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep, still lost between the world of dreams and reality. And then, in an instant, panic hit me like a jolt of electricity. Oh no. I shot up in bed. I'm leaving today.

How had I forgotten? It felt like the days had slipped away from me faster than I could catch them. My heart started racing as I glanced at the time. 4:15am—that meant I had less than an hour to get everything together.

In a panic, I scrambled out of bed, my legs feeling like jelly. I dashed into the bathroom, not bothering to look in the mirror. The cold water from the shower woke me up fully, and I moved quickly, praying that I wouldn't miss my flight. My mind was running a hundred miles an hour, with thoughts of Muhammad, my parents, and London all jumbled together.

After a quick, yet refreshing bath, I threw on my black yoga pants, a gray sweatshirt, and a black abaya with a matching veil. It was a simple outfit, but it would have to do. There wasn't time for anything fancier, not when I had to catch a flight across the world.

I headed downstairs, moving with a mix of anxiety and adrenaline. The house was quiet, and Mammy wasn't around—probably downstairs with Daddy, preparing for the day.

"Salamu alaikum," I greeted as I entered the living room, trying to sound calm, but my voice felt strained, like I was forcing myself to be okay when I wasn't.

"Wa alaikum salam, Hafsatu," my parents replied in unison. They both smiled at me, but their eyes held a sadness that tugged at my heart.

"Daddy, Annem, I'm ready," I said, even though I was still half in shock. Ready? I wasn't sure if I was ready for this at all.

"Okay, we're just waiting for Muhammad," Daddy replied, looking up from the newspaper. "He's coming to escort you."

Muhammad? Wait, what? The words hit me like a ton of bricks. Of course, I knew he would be there, but the reality of him being the one to take me to the airport... It caught me off guard.

"But Daddy, can't he meet us there?" I asked quickly, the words slipping out before I could think about it. I didn't want to travel with him, not when everything felt so complicated between us.

"No, he's almost here," Daddy answered without a second thought. "Don't worry, he'll be here soon."

I sighed, my stomach tying itself in knots. There was no escaping it now. I checked the time—it was 5:05am. Still plenty of time, but with British Airways, you have to be at the airport early. I needed to keep my cool.

I walked into the kitchen to grab a quick bite. I wasn't hungry, not really, but I needed something to settle my nerves. I grabbed a bag of chips, some garlic sauce, and peppered meat, the flavors helping to ground me even if only for a few minutes.

Just as I finished eating, I heard a knock at the door. My heart skipped a beat. It's him.

"Susan, open the door! It's probably Muhammad," I called, my hands suddenly trembling. I took one last deep breath before walking toward the living room, where I could already hear Mammy and Daddy talking.