Ece's Secret (Fazilet Hanim ve Kizlari Fanfiction)

Chapter 22: Past Returns

The woman stared out of the airplane window. Istanbul was beautiful at night. The aerial view was breathtaking. The European and Asian sides where covered in lights whilst the bridges connecting the continents sparkled. They were landing just as the sun was setting, the last rays of sunlight glimmering across the Bosphorus. She loved her hometown but nothing could match the beauty of Istanbul. She had been back to Turkey to visit her hometown now and then but she hadn't been to Istanbul in years. Now she was moving here. She made some mistakes over the years and nearly avoided making her biggest mistake yet. Now she was here in Istanbul to start her life over and to fix one of her biggest regrets.

"Yes, everything is fine anne. I'll come done to visit you as soon as I'm settled." she tried to soothe her worried mother.
"Maybe I should come up there? Help you get set up?"
"Don't worry. I'm staying with Defne until I find my own place. You should visit me once I find my own flat. Okay, anne? I have to go, Defne's here to pick me up. I love you."

Defne ran up to her friend, wrapping her up in a tight hug.
"It's been ages. When was the last time I saw you?"
"Wasn't that last year?"
"In Turkey I mean."
"Oh..." she let a long exhale and scratched her head. "7 years ago?"
"You don't love me?" Her friend pouted.
"I love you the most Defnecim. In my defense last time I came to Turkey you were in Adana and the time before that you were in Frankfurt."
"The stars have now aligned. The dream team is reunited. I like your new look by the way. Or should I say old look?"
"There are alot of things from the past I'm revisiting, not just my hair."

Defne and the woman where the best of friends. They were neighbours growing up, went to the same schools up until the end of high school. They had to part ways when they went off to university. Defne went to Stuttgart and her friend went to Baltimore. They saw each other a couple times after that but only for a short time.
"So, when do you start your new job?"
"In three weeks."
"Are you excited?"
"In more ways than one." she said vaguely. Defne replied with a knowing smile.
__________________

Ece decided every morning she wakes up going forward she would repeat the same mantra: I am worthy. Yağız was right. If she didn't have any self-respect her child might end up the same way and that thought was terrifying. She had to let go of Yasin. First thing Ece decided to do was go down to the local jeweler.
"How much can I get for this ring?
"500 lira."
"Don't try to rip me off. It's worth more than that."
"Sorry miss, resale is based on the weight. This ring is only 6 grams and it's 10k gold."
"Fine. Take it for 500."
"If you really need money you should sell that diamond ring" the shop keeper deliciously eyed the sparkling rock on her finger. Ece closed her hand protectively. ,"I could give you at least 60,000 TL for that."
"This one is not for sale, sorry." After Hazım passed away she couldn't bring herself to take off the ring. Their short marriage was unconventional but he was kind and they had mutual respect for one another. She would always remember that there was once a stranger willing to sacrifice so much for her and her unborn child. She wasn't ready to put away his memories yet.

Ece left the store. Her mind was scattered. She took her first step in letting go of Yasin. She sold the engagement ring he gave her. She sat down at a nearby cafe to gather her thoughts.

"How many months along are you?" Ece looked up to see the inquisitive woman. She was maybe in her mid to late 20s. She was slim with short dark blond hair. The woman was beautiful, especially her smile.
"22 weeks." Ece replied.
"Mashallah. Is it a boy are a girl?"
"I don't know. I want it to be a suprise." Ece smiled thinking of the day she would get to meet her baby.
"Your first?" Ece nodded yes in reply. "You and your husband must be excited." The woman cautiously reached our her hand seeking permission to touch Ece's baby bump. Yağız, technically her husband, was not excited at all.
"I can't wait." She couldn't speak for Yağız but she could speak for herself. "Do you have kids?" Ece curiously asked.
"Not yet. Haven't found the right man. Hopefully that will change soon, inshallah."
"Amen."