Mine

Chapter Twenty Three

Where there is a flame someone's bound to get burned...

Miray's heart is in her ears and it's pumping out just one word. Pleasepleasepleaseplease... Her father is at her back as they bolt out of the elevator and down the hospital corridor. She's glad for his presence after he insists on driving her because she's in no condition to come alone.

She spots Boran first, his clothes are dishevelled and torn and he's bleeding, a busted lip and bruise on his cheek. For a second, Miray is confused that perhaps she misunderstood her mother and it's Boran was injured. She's momentarily relieved because he seems to be okay until she sees Kubilay sitting in the same state. His dark hair is dishevelled and his knuckles are bloody and scraped, one eye is puffy and his jaw is red with the promise of bruises. Miray's confusion deepens until she sees her mother and the doctor coming towards her. Over her head she sees her mother give her father a small nod of acknowledgement before focusing back on her.

The doctor greets her and his somber expression chills her blood. "Your son has had a very serious fall, I'm afraid."

Miray's knees turn liquid and her father wraps an arm around her. She turns instantly to Boran. "How? How the hell did this happen? Where were y..."

His eyes are haunted with guilt as they meet hers and she takes in his appearance again along with Kubilay's.

"Is this what you two were doing when you were supposed to be watching my son?" Rage fills her as she points back and forth between both men. She shoves at Boran. "Were you fighting?"

Miray's mother reaches between them and cups her face. "Alihan is all that matters now. Let's listen to the doctor and focus on what's best for my grandson, okay?"

Miray squeezes her eyes shut and nods turning back to the doctor.

"He took a very serious fall off a wide piece of scaffolding. I don't know how he and a group of children got there. A construction site by the studio."

Kubilay stands then. "They snuck out after Alihan finished his-"

"We didn't notice he was missing-" Boran adds.

"Both of you...not now!" Miray snaps, afraid she will hurt them both.

"The fall caused blunt force trauma to his head, causing his brain to swell but I'm confident we can bring that down. His back took the brunt of the impact as he hit a set of cinder blocks-"

"Dear God," Miray moans covering her face and losing the ability to stay upright. His tiny body... Her father wraps an arm around her waist and holds her until she recovers her strength in her limbs.

The doctor's eyes warm with sympathy but he continues in his professional manner "His kidneys sustained significant damage-"

"I got here as soon as I heard! God, the whole outside is swarming with press!" Her sister, Ipek, rushes towards them.

Miray breaks away from her parents reaches an arm towards her sister, burying herself in her arms before the urge to break down becomes to strong and Miray forces herself to turn back to the doctor.

"What happened to you two?" Ipek asks, taking in Boran and Kubilay.

"The important thing right now is Alihan," Miray insists, tightening her hands into fists. She can't think of Boran now. She can't think of Kubilay and the guilt that is threatening to choke her that this is somehow all her fault because she knows they were fighting about her. Put the wall up. Don't think about that. Don't think about anything but your little boy.