MEMORIES....SOME LAST A LIFETIME

Chapter Sixteen

Her phone pinged;  A text from Can.......She held her breath...

" Sanem, sorry to bother you, but did you make me some awful tasting raw meat cutlets once? " 

Sanem:  " Yes, " did you remember or did someone tell  you? "  

Can:     " I remembered, I've had a couple of flashes. 

Sanem:       " OH, that's great. Are you home

Can:      "No" I'm on my way to Africa on assignment. When does the book get published 

Sanem:   " In the next couple of weeks. I'm in Marseille, France now starting the promo tour.

Sanem is shocked he is back to his old job, guess he's moving on too.  Guess he had nothing to stay in Istanbul for, she thought.  Her thoughts are with him and hopes this is the beginning of his recovery.  He just needed time..

Her first day of activities is like a whirlwind , cameras, interviews and the endless smiling.  She is dizzy and exhausted. Ready for her room and some rest.  Bedir had arrived late in the afternoon, taking over part of the interviews , that was  relief.  This was a lot more than what she bargained for.  She wished Can was with there to experience this with her. She half expected to see him at every turn. For so long now, her joy and fulfillment had been enhanced by Can being in her life.

Can can't believe that Sanem is in France , she didn't even tell  him, but she didn't tell him about her book either.  The need for her is growing more and more, he misses her but knows she needs this time...She has worked so hard for this, he's proud of her...

Can arrived and met up with the group.  The trip to the village took another few hours. He tried to keep his mind off of Sanem, but that wasn't unsuccessful. There are endless photo opportunities as they make their way to the village, his camera was constantly clicking. The  work began immediately when they arrive at the village.  It was grueling work but he was sure the outcome would be worth it....although the rewards are great, he still thought about the life he left behind....This was the type of assignments that had always gave Can that sense of pride in what he did. Even with the heavy workload, and the exhaustion at the end of the day, his thoughts of Sanem filled him, making sleep impossible for him. The memories were now coming back steadily, as if they where a rerun of a movie. It made him happy but at the same time it brought him pain. He welcomed his time alone, which was usually at night, when he was able to relive his past. He remembered how they met, he remembered how he felt the first time he saw her. He was falling in love with her all over again, piece by piece...

The next stop on the tour, Bordeaux, France, it was beautiful authentic French district. The tour was a bit more laid back there, relaxed and informal, she loved it. They treated her like royalty, it was like a fairytale. The book re-release had caused quite a stir, allowing the sales to double from what they had expected. But the main launch was coming next in Paris, the major market.  By the time they got to Paris, she was nervous wreck. Every night see would call her sister, just to calm down. Can had always been her rock and had the ability to keep her grounded.  She wished she could call him......

They had a huge party planned for after the launch and book signing, quite formal. There were these lavish gowns for her to chose from. Her team of personal care experts, did there job to the fullest, she looked and felt beautiful. She was living a Cinderella story now, but without her prince. The evening was special, to say the least. Just being in the city of love and there launching her new book, made her head swim. Her life was the fullest it had ever been, or was it.

Why was Can ever so present in thoughts, this was the time for her to stand alone, time for her to rise from the burning ashes. Had her memories of them changed. As the evening came to a close, and she returned to her hotel room, she got ready for bed. He hadn't even texted her in a few days, maybe his flashbacks have stopped, you're getting ahead of yourself. Those texts didn't mean anything. Stay the course, even if all of this isn't making you the happiest you've ever been. You have to do this for YOU...

She had planned to leave the next day, but decided to stay an extra day just to take in the city. They changed their plane tickets and extended the stay at the hotel. Suna had been gracious enough to agree to stay with her, for an interpreter and also a companion. She knew more about the city than Sanem did, since she use to live there.  The next morning, they started early, out to a cute little cafe on the sidewalk for breakfast.  It was all so very French, just as she imagined as a child. She would dream of places like this, romantic and charming. Back then, this is what she thought of for herself, but now , her heart was filled with the thoughts of a family, of a world tour on the boat or just simply laying in the arms of her one and only love, looking at the moon.

Can and the group had finished the last of the assignment and the plans for travel had been made. His last night, alone in his tent, his thoughts are of Sanem, not of the events of the last few weeks, they just didn't seem as important. His memory was sketchy, but he knew the things he had remembered were true, he felt them in his heart. At one time, this life was all that mattered to him, but now the vague memory of a naive young woman, had entered his heart and soul. It had happened, had someone touched him, changing his whole outlook on life and what it meant to be happy and content. He had to be sure and not rush. Let his thoughts and memories catch up with his heart. 

Her day was happy, she lived her dreams, but now it was time for to go back to herself. Go home, reconnect with your inner voice. This life was grand and fabulous, but the girl from the mashalla district was homesick or maybe it was heartsick. Which ever it was, she knew it was at home..........

Hello everyone, the next chapter will bring this story to a close. As one reader commented to me, this has sure been a roller coaster of emotions to read, this has been one to write also. I hope you enjoyed the story. I'm not sure on my next storyline but will post an update soon.