Regret - Part II

Regret - Part 4

Can arrived with Leyla, Mevkive and Osman later in the day. Ayhan had already called Osman earlier to inform that Sanem was now stable and capable of receiving visitors.
"Can Bey, Osman hello. " Guliz greeted them as they arrived.
" How is Sanem? Is she asking for me? " Mevkive asked anxiously.
" She is well. The doctors have already visited her once. She even smiled at me... " CeyCey answered reassuringly.
" Anne, we should go in and check on Sanem now... " Leyla urged Mevkive towards Sanem's room.
" Can will you come too plz... " Mevkive beckoned Can with tears in her eyes. Can noded and walked behind them.
Sanem was propped up in the bed. Her head was still bandaged but thankfully the tubes were missing and she was breathing on her own.
" Sanem, daughter... " Mevkive rushed beside Sanem and with trembling fingers touched her shallow cheeks.
"Anne...please do not cry.. " Sanem whispered through parched lips. She looked pale and terribly tired. As if just uttering those words costed her too much. Can clenched his hands and stood at the foot of the bed like a man facing his worst nightmare. His own inability to ease her pain, knowing that he was the cause for it made him want to slam his fists in the wall and break something.
"Sanem, sister..."Leyla called out to Sanem. She slowly turned her face towards Leyla a small smile breaking out on her wan face till she spotted Can standing mutely behind Leyla. The smile dissappeared like the thin trickle of sun light that fought valiantly but lost to the ominous clouds in its path. It's loss hit Can so acutely that he unconsciously rubbed his chest to ease some phantom pain in there.
"I should wait outside... " was all he managed before dashing out of the room. He came out and took a deep breath. The last time he had ever felt this helpless was when he had gotten lost in the forest at nine. The fog that had surrounded him then had completely obstructed his vision. He had been but a child then, alone, helpless and without any means of help. When he had been rescued he had vowed he would never ever be in such a situation again. Alla must have laughed in the heaven at his foolishness. Here he was again just as helpless, just as scared and just as alone.
" Give her some time... " Can turned towards Osman. "...our Sanem is forgiving to a fault! "
" How will I forgive my self? "
" Only you are capable of doing that Can...you must forgive yourself first before you can forgive others... " Osman says gravely.
Can nodded his head slowly and sat down beside Osman.

Mevkive and Leyla came out of the room after sometimes.
" Can I cannot thank you enough son... " Mevkive broke down while holding Can's hands tightly.
" No. Please. I... " Can looked desperately at Osman.
" No really Can Bey, we cannot thank you enough for all that you have done.." Leyla continued oblivious to the guilt that lashed at Can at her words.
" Evet. Leyla, Mevkive let us go and speak to the doctors about when they might discharge Sanem. " Osman ushered them towards the doctors's office. He turned once and Can offered him a grateful smile.

As they disappeared from view, Can make his way towards Sanem's room. He waited outside unable to master the courage to face her on the other side of the room. He finally took a deep breath and turned the knob...

" Anne I don't need a blanket... "
" It's me Sanem..." Can interrupted as he entered the room fully. His eyes darted everywhere not resting at one place for too long and never meeting Sanem's as well.
" Are you in pain...?" he finally asked breaking the awkward silence.
Sanem didn't answer till Can looked at her. Even then she just shook her head. She lowered her eyes again and waited for Can to continue.
" I... " Can stopped as words desert him and he looked on helplessly at Sanem.
She looked up at Can eventually and then lifted her frail hands to beckon him to come nearer.
He immediately reached beside her and lowered himself on the side of the bed. Sanem scooted a little to make space for him.
" I am so sorry Sanem, can you forgive me? " Can asks haltingly. He sounds so tormented that Sanem feels an immediate urge to comfort him.
" Its not your fault at all Can Bey. It was foolish of me to ride the bike without the helmet..."
" Sanem... " Can stopped her with a finger on her lips.
" ...Please. I am so so sorry" he traced her cracked lips with his finger.
Sanem closed her eyes and pressed a tiny kiss against his finger.
" What have I done to deserve your forgiveness...? " Can reached for her hand and gently entwined his fingers with her's.
" When Osman called last night I thought I had lost you. Had he not brought you here on time... " Can inhaled sharply as if voicing the thought caused him pain.
Sanem slowly reached with her other hand and touched his hair lightly..
" Am here Can... "
Can looked at her and slowly leaned towards her..." You mean everything to me Sanem... You are my reason to live... " he kissed her softly on the lips. A fleeting touch but no less potent. Sanem trembled at the gossamer contact but didn't pull back. Can lifted his head and smiled at Sanem who looked down shyly.

There was a sudden knock on the door. Can scrambled up from the bed and darted towards the open window. Osman, Mevkive and Leyla entered along with two other gentlemen who were obviously the doctors.
" She can be discharged by tomorrow. But she needs to rest as much as possible. Also to obtain full mobility, physiotherapy is mandatory " the doctors explained to Mevkive and Leyla.
" We can assign a very good therapist for her, infact he should be here any moment... ah Sinan please come in"
Can turned as the newcomer entered the room.
"Sinan...?"
"Sanem...?"
" You know each other? " the doctors ask perplexed.
" Oh yes. " Sinan exclaimed. "Sanem is a childhood friend. I have known her since she used to play football with me in shorts... " Sinan smiled broadly.
" You remember her from when she played with you in shorts" Can asked incredulously.
" Oh she was the most beautiful girl I knew back then... " Sinan continued oblivious to the tention his innocent words invoked in Can.
" Ah Sinan you haven't changed one bit... " Sanem exclaimed with a smile.
Osman coughed to hide his laughter at the obvious discomfort on Can's face who glared at him in return having caught him in the act.
" Sinan is a very capable therapist..." Can blocked out all voices his focus absolute on Sinan. How dare he look at Sanem like that. My god calling her beautiful...Why did she smile at him so? Did she like this guy? No noway. Sanem loved me and this joker had no hold on her...
"Can.. Can.. " Osman whispered loudly to return his attention to the present.
"...but there are stairs in our house. Sanem will have to climb the stairs to reach her room.. "Leyla finished helplessly.
"No climbing stairs. She needs to only walk in plain ground till the cartilage in her knee is fully healed... " the doctors point out emphatically before walking out of the room with Sinan.
" Sanem can stay with me... " Can realized that he had spoken out aloud when he found four pair of eyes on him with varying emotions ranging in them. Osman's danced with mirth, Mevkive looked scandalized. Leyla looked as if he had grown two heads.
" I mean my house would be best suited as it had no stairs..." Can scrambles to salvage the situation. He quickly darted his eyes towards Sanem and found her turning a unbecoming shade of red as she tried to control her laughter.
Witch... Happy is she at my plight!!
He schooled his expression and explained to Mevkive in his most sincere voice, " My house has no stairs. There is a guest room that Sanem can stay in. She will have all the care she needs. I will personally take care of her... " he looks straight at Sanem as he said this. She blushed furiously and looked down to hide her reaction.
" But Can, Sanem cannot just stay like that on her own at your place... " Mevkive interjected with a bewildered expression.
"I could stay with Sanem... " Leyla piped in.
"Now Leyla... " Osman started to speak.
" I think its an excellent solution...." Can cut in while looking at Osman placidly.
Osman glared at him but didn't say anything further.
" I am still not sure... " Mevkive protested half heartedly.
" Anne, I will be there. Moreover Can Bey and Sanem are working on an important campaign. This way they will also get the work done on time.."
" We don't want to impose on you son... " Mevkive offered one last argument.
"I insist. Its no imposition at all. And as Leyla said Sanem will also be able to provide her inputs where work is concered."
" And am sure you have a lot of work to catch up on.. " Osman added sarcastically.
"Yes we do, absolutely..." Can smiled at Osman's sour mood.
"Then it's decided. Sanem will stay at my house till she recovers the full mobility of her legs.... " Can proposed before anymore arguments were voiced. Mevkive walked to Sanem and embraced her. She cradled her head in my ample bosom and droppef a kiss on her head.
"Are you sure about this arrangement daughter?" Mevkive whispered so that only Sanem heard her.
She turned her face slightly towards Can and whispered back "Evet Anne, am sure... "

To be continued...