Tightrope

Chapter 8 (**REWRITE**)

Author's Note: Sorry, guys. After I published, I realized I wasn't happy with this chapter. Also, some of your comments made me aware of holes I meant to fill, but, in my haste to get the next chapter out, I totally forgot about including! So thank you for asking great questions! I hope you'll have the patience to read this chapter again, because this version is much better and I am much happier with it. :) See the end of this chapter if you're interested in a breakdown of Can and Sanem's ages by year. I had to figure it out, myself--I was getting confused and miscalculated in previous chapters (what can I say? I'm an English teacher and numbers are not my strong suit). ;)

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Previously:

Can heard something fall near the entrance to the store and turned his head to see, but he couldn't see anyone. He was next in line and the cashier called him to the counter. He shrugged and walked up to check out.

***

Sanem stood up with her bag in her hand and walked out of the store. It was time to start her new adventure.

Istanbul, August 2008

Can only had a week in Istanbul before he and Metin had to be in Milan for the beginning of the semester. He had to find Sanem, but he didn't know where to start.  When his family moved to Geneva, everyone who worked for the estate scattered, and he didn't know how to get in touch with them.

A search on social media left him mostly empty handed, but he did find their driver. Can sent him a message asking if he knew where the Aydins had gone, but he had no idea.

With every day that passed, he hated Huma more for forcing him away from Sanem, for hiding everything from him. He felt desperate, he felt like a piece of him was missing. He didn't want to accept that he really couldn't find her. She was his whole world for more than 10 years, and now she was just gone. How could it be that he really couldn't find her? How must she be feeling? What must she be thinking about him? When he thought about her hurting because of him, it tore him apart and he felt helpless. His arms ached with missing her. He needed to hold her. He needed to bury his face in her neck and smell her and taste her. He needed to see her smile at him, hear her laugh, feel her touch.

Before he knew it, his week back in Istanbul was over and he and Metin were boarding their plane. "I'm sorry you couldn't find her, Brother," Metin said to Can.

"Thank you, Metin. I'm not giving up.  She's somewhere, and I have to find her."

Milan, March 2010 (Can 20, Sanem almost 18)

"Okay, birthday boy. Tonight is your night! I'm your wing man. Anyone you want, just let me know--we'll get her for you," Metin said, putting his arm around Can and squeezing the back of his neck.

Can ran his fingers through his long hair, pushing it back from his face. "That's what you always say, and the next thing I know I look up and you're in a dark corner with your tongue down someone's throat."

Metin laughed. "You're right. I can't help it if the ladies can't resist me. I think you do alright on your own, though. Always a different girl, Can Bey. If I ever see you with the same girl more than once, I'll give you my car."

"Rest easy, that will never happen. I don't have anything to offer a girl for more than one night," Can said.

London, November 2015 (Can 25, Sanem 23)

"Happy Birthday, Sani!!" Sanem looked up to see one of her roommates, Lisa, walking toward her through the crowded pub with her arms held out and a huge smile on her face.