Melek"Come, Melek, let's go find a place where you can get cleaned up." Erdem says to me, as he tries to get me out of the car. We enter the hospital and he heads towards the reception where there is a woman who appears to be a nurse, behind a line of phones. "Excuse me, could you tell me where my friend can get cleaned?""Yes, sure, you can use the nurses' room, let me call one to take you." She makes a phone call and asks us to hold."Another thing, do you know where they took my brother, Habbab Arslan?"She types some things on her computer and then looks at Erdem, who also looks nervous and worried. The way he referred to Habbab... Her brother. Until now I had understood that they only had a working relationship, truth be told, this is the first time we have had a real conversation and I assumed he was just my husband's assistant, nothing more. I shouldn't be surprised, they have lied about everything, everything I know about Habbab, is a vile lie, and now he could die without me
I have no idea how much time has passed, but I have fallen asleep in the uncomfortable hospital chairs. I wake up because I hear someone screaming. When I open my eyes I find a furious Enise coming at me with momentum and looking like a lunatic."This is your fault, you stupid bitch, I hate you!" She screams at me and I shrink back somewhat frightened, she goes to hit me, but Erdem gets in her way and holds her back from hitting me. "It's all your fault. That Habbab is about to die is your fault, do you hear me? I'm going to make you pay.""My fault?" I stand up to face that crazy woman. "You were the ones who came into my life through lies and tares. I never asked for that man to marry me and then leave me. None of this is my fault, and all this time you knew the truth and didn't say a word. You are a coward.""You don't know anything about cowardice, you don't know who I am and what I've had to suffer since Habbab started this whole revenge thing. You married my...""Enise, shut up
Chapter 27MelekDilay waits for me outside the booth, watching out that no one sees me or on the lookout for my grandfather or another of his goons, finding his way to me. My cousin's phone rings once, twice, three times... I start to get nervous and kick the heel of my shoe. Finally someone answers."Hello?" It's Esat's voice and I think it's the first time I'm glad to hear it."Esat?""Melek? Cousin? Is that you?""Yes, Esat, yes, it's me, Melek.""Cousin, where are you, where are you calling me from?""From the Presbyterian hospital, I came with Habbab, someone shot him and I brought him here.""Melek? How come you saved the life of the man who ruined yours? Have you lost your mind?""Esat, that doesn't matter now, listen to me. Grandfather went after me, to kill me, and now he's coming again. I need you to come for me, to get me out of here and save me. Please, cousin, please.""Okay, I'll be there in thirty minutes, hide until I can get there, do you have a phone nearby?""No, I
I felt like my heart was about to explode inside my chest, pounding non-stop, scared to death in case someone saw us go into the room where they had left my husband. Finally, I walked in and took a calming breath as soon as I heard the door click. The room was a typical hospital room, white, sterile and smelling of disinfectant.In the middle of the room was Habbab, my husband, lying on his bed with an IV in his arm and a device monitoring his heartbeat. I walked to his side, held his hand and was about to burst into tears.I wish I could turn back time, there was a moment in our relationship when I was sure things would not work out between the two of us. And I told him so, I told him to leave him, but then my father convinced me otherwise, he told me he was a good man, I could see it in his eyes, and I believed him, because I am a fool.I shouldn't have trusted the man who sat next to me while my grandfather beat and tortured me throughout the course of my life. I shouldn't have tru
We escaped my grandfather and also the Arslan, for the first time in weeks I can breathe easy."I can't believe I'm free." I say as I allow myself to be happy for a few minutes."Melek, you're not going to like what I'm going to tell you, but it's the best thing for everyone." My cousin says."What's wrong?""I'm going to take you to the airport. I'm going to get you out of the country.""You sound just like Habbab. You can't do that to me, I want to see my family first. My parents and my sister.""I'm sorry, Melek, but you have to listen to me, you have to leave so I can protect you."I sigh exhausted, I'm tired of having this same conversation over and over again. Maybe it's time for me to accept my fate. I must leave, run away from my grandfather and even my husband. Minutes ago I said I had to start making decisions that would make my life safe, maybe this was one of them. To leave my family behind, so I could continue on my way, so I could have a life of my own, so I could be hap
Chapter 28MelekUntil now, I had never thought about getting married again, honestly it would be crazy, after my last experience, I should run out and say no to my cousin's proposal, but... I live in a misogynistic culture where I am nobody if I don't have a man by my side. I could see it just today when they wouldn't let me board that plane. Not to mention that I could be free from my Dedem, no more Grandpa Çakir and his rules or yoke. Because I would have to follow the rules of my husband... Of Esat....."I know right now the last thing you would want is to marry me, I totally understand. But I promise to take care of you and protect you, Melek.""Why would you do that?""Because I've been in love with you for almost all my life, Melek." He watches me with a tortured look and I feel bad for making him suffer. I didn't mean to, before my engagement to Habbab, he never told me his feelings for me, it was when another man came into the picture, that I know he confessed, but I was blin
EsatWe get off in front of the city registry, where my uncle Hazar and his wife are parked at the front door. Neither of them are happy with the decision me and Melek made, for that reason, they are here, to avoid it.“Uncle, why did they come, does Grandpa know?”“Of course he doesn't know.”“Melek?” my aunt runs out into her daughter's arms. Melek gets out of the car and runs into her mother's arms. “Daughter, are you okay?” She kisses the crown of her head and they both cry with happiness at being together.“Yes, mother, I'm fine. Everything is going to be fine from now on.”“Thank you, Esat. For bringing back my little girl,” says my Aunt Senay.“You're welcome, Auntie.”“Father.” My uncle Hazar is next to receive kisses and hugs from his daughter.“My girl, Esat, told me what they are up to. That they want to get married.”“Yes, father, I know it's crazy, but Esat let me know that by doing so, we can annul my marriage to Habbab, and it will all be in the past, it will be a bad m
“Understood.” He says reluctantly, as he twitches his mustache from side to side, a common gesture of bitterness that is usually recurrent on his face.“With this license, I have the legal right to my fiancée. Which means I can send you to prison if you ever hurt her. So be careful what you do.”“Esat, how dare you threaten your grandfather?” my father finally interjects, scared of what reaction Çakir might have, but I no longer care what my Dedem thinks or does.“It's not a threat, it's a warning. And if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take my girlfriend to her room, she deserves to sleep in her own bed.”I take my girl by the shoulders and walk past my entire family, ignoring their protests or words. I knew it would be difficult, that not everyone would agree with my decision, but I could not allow them to intimidate me, to try to push me aside and with respect to the safety of the person I loved.We arrive safe and sound at Melek's old room, the bed is empty, but I will send someone