If You Tell Me To Stay

Chapter 3

Can knocked on the front of door and took a step back, taking in the sight once more of this deteriorating house. 

What a fixer upper!

After a moment of no response, he knocked again. Nothing.

He peered through the widow on the right and looked in between the curtains seeing an empty kitchen.

"Hello!" he called.

No answer.

He looked around. The scooter was still parked in the driveway. So she hasn't gone anywhere.

He glanced across the street to his aunt's house. He didn't see her at her usual spot by the window.

Melihat must not be awake yet.

"HELLOO!!" he called again louder through the door.

What if this Sanem was an old lady and she had fallen?

He tried opening the front door but it was locked.

He went around to the back door to try that way in.

Success!

Now that he was inside, he noticed how cold it was.

Did Yusuf not turn the heat on for her? Why would he let an old woman sleep here in a freezing house. He called again louder now with worry, "Hello? Miss Sanem?"

She wasn't on the lower level so he made his way upstairs, "Miss Sanem? Yusuf sent me to check on you..."

Still nothing.

He walked to the bedroom to the left. He knocked and called again for her as he opened the door.

He saw a bundle of blankets on the bed that appeared to be vibrating. "Miss Sanem?" He said as he walked over. Beneath all those layers of blankets Can could see a face poking out.

Not an old lady.

A beautiful young woman. Maybe in her mid 20s. He just stared at her for a moment. She looked like an angel. She had dark brown hair, soft golden skin and full lips that he noticed were trembling like the rest of her body. He snapped out of his revery. She's freezing.

He took her in his arms and she began to stir. He made it about halfway down the stairs when she started squirming and pushing against his chest, causing him to lose his balance slightly.

"Shh... Sanem. I'm here to help. Calm down."

She seemed to believe his words. She relaxed and snuggled into him, burying her face in the warmth of his chest.

He walked her to his truck. He thought about taking her to Melihat's. It was closer. But she wasn't awake and when she did wake up to find him with a mysterious girl in her house.. well she would cause a ruckus. She would try to help, and up just being in the way.

Can managed to get Sanem in the passenger seat and was leaning across her to secure her seat belt into the buckle.

His face was inches from hers. He hadn't been this physically close to her yet. He gently moved a piece of her hair from her face to behind her ear. The simple touch sent an electric charge through his arm.

He got into the driver's seat, turned the heater on as high as it would go, and sped off to his house.

He mentally cursed Yusuf for allowing this to happen. Soon Can turned his anger toward himself.

I should have been there sooner. Why did I have breakfast after my shower? I lollygagged in my warm house, while she was alone and shivering in the the cold. I was there earlier. I was looking at the house during my run. How did I not sense something was wrong? How could I let this happen?