C8 8

It had been exactly ten days since Aunt Rümeysa's funeral. It was hard to get used to his absence. It was my biggest loss after my parents. All I wanted was to never lose again.

I couldn't help but look at the door every time I entered the house. It sounded like she was going to open the door and say Elif is my daughter. But he would not come back and I would never hear his voice again.

Nermin and I stayed together last week, but she left us after saying that she had to go to her own house now. Everyone had their own life, even though I wanted him to stay with us a little longer. That's why I kept quiet. I was afraid of being alone like crazy, that that man would come into my house again, but I had to deal with my loneliness. I should have learned this.

I only took three days off from work. Although Ihsan said that I could use more, I did not accept it. I couldn't do it when being alone at home scared me more and more every day. I never saw that man in the hat again after that day. But I knew you were watching. He just expected me to be alone, I knew that deep inside.

Today was my day off and unfortunately I had to stay home alone after taking Ahmet to school. Even though I started tidying the house and cleaning to distract my mind, it wasn't helping much. Nothing changed the fact that I was alone. With a small voice, my heart starts to pound, I feel like I can't breathe.

Startled by the ringing door, I put the duster in my hand on the table and ran to the door. If he was a pervert, he wouldn't knock on the door, he wouldn't be visible to me when there was a chance to hide himself.

When I looked through the binoculars, there was Kemal brother and a young man I did not know next to him. When I opened the door without waiting any longer, brother Kemal said with a small smile, "Elif, are you available? There is something we need to talk to you about?" said. I was surprised. When we met with brother Kemal and Aunt Rümeysa, I would be the interlocutor. His arrival both surprised and intrigued me. There had to be a reason for him to come, and what was that?

I stepped back to keep them from waiting any longer. "Well, of course. Come on in..." I opened the door all the way and waited for them to pass. They came in with a quick glance at me. When I went to the living room behind them, they were standing and looking around waiting for me. “Sit down please,” I said, pointing to the seats. When they both sat side by side in the triple seat, I sat on the armchair in front of the window.

I was wondering about their purpose. It was obvious that it was related to Rumeysa aunt, but what did it have to do with me? Kemal Abi must have understood the curiosity in my eyes, so he started to speak.

"Where did you say you came from, Elif?" When he said that, I continued to look at them, rubbing my hand on my knees.

"Yes… I mean, I wasn't expecting you." When I looked at the man next to him, he was looking at me with a sullen expression. I was disturbed by the man's gaze and turned my gaze to Kemal brother.

"We are aware of this. We came for Rümeysa Hanım. More precisely, her legacy." With the words of brother Kemal, I began to wonder where this speech was going. What would I have to do with Aunt Rumeysa and her inheritance? Sometimes he became a mother, sometimes a father, but this inheritance issue was a family matter and it didn't interest me at all.

"What does that mean? What does Aunt Rumeysa have to do with me?" After all, I wasn't his relative.

All of a sudden, my brother Kemal said, "Rümeysa Hanım left you her legacy," and I was stunned. I think I misunderstood. But it was clear from the looks of the two men in front of me that I had heard it right. While Kemal brother was looking with compassion, the man next to him was looking angry.

With this situation, I fisted my hands as my eyes opened wide. How could Aunt Rumeysa do this? I didn't like it when I didn't accept even the slightest help from him.

This is heavy for me, I stopped thinking about the deep subject and said, "I don't want it," with my voice cracking. I wanted to turn it down outright. I was glad that he came out with determination despite my tone splitting. That way, they could understand my feelings. I didn't need the money. More precisely, there was, but the money I earned was enough for us. I didn't care that much money. Moreover, it was money that I was not entitled to.

"You can't decide this alone, Ms. Elif." These words came from the man next to Kemal brother. It was the first time he had opened his mouth since he had arrived. And that tone of voice pissed me off. Who was he and was he involved in it?

"Excuse me, but I'm not going to ask you. I don't want money from anyone. Even if this person is my aunt Rümeysa, whom I love very much, I will not accept money that I am not entitled to. So there is no point in talking about it." I didn't like him for money.

"Elif, don't be angry, my daughter. Orkun is doing his job, too. Rümeysa Hanım had arranged everything before she died. There is another person with you, the owner of the inheritance..."

"Brother Kemal, I don't want it. Give my rights to that person. I have no business with money."

"But listen..."

"I don't want to listen or anything. It's been a long time since we lost Aunt Rumeysa, we've been talking about money! I can't do this to her. Please go and keep me out of this business. I don't want any money." It's the first time in a long time that I've been this harsh on someone. But this issue made me sad. Talking about money behind someone's back... It was so ugly and embarrassing!

The man whose name I learned was Orc due to my harsh action towards them, shook his head angrily and exhaled loudly. I didn't hear him mumble something in his mouth. Brother Kemal must have heard because he looked at me. I couldn't understand their gaze. When they stood up, I stood up and followed them.

When they came out the door, Kemal said, "Elif, unfortunately, this will not end like this. So please don't take a nap right away. I don't want it to hurt. Come to my office tomorrow and let's talk again." His look at me was mixed with sadness and pity.

I couldn't understand why you were talking like that. Handing over the card he took out of his pocket, he said, "Elif, I'm sorry but this matter is so complicated. Even if you say I don't want it, it won't be over. I'm sorry to say, you have no choice but to accept it!" he said and left the apartment after the sullen man called Orkun, who was talking on the phone.

What is this now? What do you mean I have no choice but to accept?

I don't want to be angry with Aunt Rumeysa, but how could she do this to me? What was he doing to me now when I had begged him not to help for years? What had he gotten me into and I was in trouble. The pity in brother Kemal's eyes was like he was aware of what I was going to experience and it scared me. It was best not to think about it and wait for what would happen. They didn't have the right to force...

I had finished my unfinished business before they came, and I was in time for Ahmet's departure. Today, at Azra's insistence, we were going to take Ahmet to the cinema.

Azra has been my friend since primary school. We actually had a very opposite structure. Everyone was surprised how we got along. The calmer I was, the more active and dynamic he was. He was studying architecture at a private university. The chapter he read was a dream of both of us. It was to go to the same school and then open an architecture office together. But my dream was ruined. Sometimes life doesn't give us what we want.

That's why I put a lot of pressure on Azra. In order for him to be successful in his classes and to make our dreams come true. I'd be happy with an office that was his, if not mine. In the end, he would make both of our dreams come true.

I took Ahmet from school and came home. Ahmet had become the old Ahmet again. In fact, he was back this time, quieter and quieter. After the funeral, all he did was get up at night and come to me.

I saw it next to me when I woke up one morning, and every morning after that I woke up the same way. I didn't ask him why. I was willing to sleep with him if he found peace with me. As long as you feel good

While I was waiting for him to change, I opened the door, peeking through the hole. Azra went out into the street with all her beauty again. "Elifimmm how I missed you!" then he wrapped his thin arms around my neck.

"We talked to Azra last week." It was two days after the funeral. Thankfully, he took care of Ahmet and allowed me to grieve. “We also talk on the phone every day,” I continued to reproach. Actually, I missed him too. Azra was my everything now.

"Love it, Elif! Appreciate your daughter, you are valuable to me... Otherwise, I would know what to say to you!" After saying that, she giggled, breaking her fake seriousness, and blinked. I smiled and hugged him tightly.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it maliciously."

"I know, darling, I know. No one can truly know your heart but me, baby!" He pushed me aside and took off his shoes. "Where is my handsome prince?" she entered the hall.

Azra loved Ahmet very much. Since he was an only child, he saw Ahmet as his brother and took care of him carefully. Ahmet would give Azra a lot in return for this love.

"The silent prince inside..." I muttered, but he didn't hear. She had already entered Ahmet's room and started tickling him with her famous shouts. Closing the door, I followed him to Ahmet's room and leaned against the door jamb. Ahmet was laughing and there was no one who could make him laugh easily except Azra. At first, I tried a lot, but after I didn't get anything, I gave up.

Thanks to Azra, she would always stop by and help Ahmet laugh a little. He would take his lessons and take him for walks. She was Ahmet's second older sister she .

"Is my pasha Azra going to the movies with her love? Let's get along now, if I see you looking at other girls, I'll pull their hair out..." Azra winked at me, messing with Ahmet's hair. He was as upset as I was about Ahmet's silence.

Ahmet continued to look at Azra with a silent smile. I continued to watch them with a smile on my face. I was going to see this image a lot today. When Azra came to our house, there was no shortage of joy and smiles. And this was taking me away from my troubles, relieving me.

"Come on, let's go out if you're ready," I said, feeling spoiled by the happy atmosphere, and went into my room to get my bag. Our adjacent rooms opened onto the living room. There was my mother's room in the back, but we never opened or used it. For years, the door of the room had been closed, waiting.

"We're ready, aren't we, handsome?" Azra, holding Ahmet's hand, proceeded to the outer door.

“Yes,” said Ahmet, already putting on his shoes and opening the door.

When they came out, I immediately put on my shoes and left the house. I neglected to lock my door tightly. Whoever that pervert was going to try to get into my house by other means. It was like a complete mystery that this nice lock would also deter him. For the moment, all I could do was pray and wish he was away from me.

It was an evening with lots of laughter at the cinema and in the hours after. Azra made us laugh with all her joy and continued to be funny until we came on the road. If I could take a pinch of his joy, everything would seem different, but for me to take it, my perspective on life had to change completely. It was a little difficult for me to change my point of view. The stronger a rotten fruit was, the better I would be.

When we got off the minibus, I stopped by the market and bought some snacks for Ahmet. Continuing to joke with Azra, Ahmet was in a good mood today. Even though I didn't want to express that I lived for him every time, these words were pouring out of my heart involuntarily. May he be fine. Happy Ahmet...

My purpose no longer existed. My only goal is Ahmet...

The summer breeze hit us on the way home. How I love weather like this. I used to go for walks with my mother. On the way back, I would whine and get ice cream. Now I couldn't taste that ice cream I wanted. Everything was sweeter with them, life was more beautiful with them.

When we entered the corner of our street, the dark on the left immediately caught my attention. After that day, I started to pay more attention to the differences around.

When the owner of the blackout that caught my attention saw that I saw him, he quickly turned around and started walking.

Again the same trembling, the same fear took over my body. I begged for support from the arms that I held tightly in fear. "Elif? Are you okay?" Azra understood the change in me, but I didn't know if I was going to tell her that.

"I..." I couldn't speak, what was I going to say? I had not forgotten your threat. What if he does something to Azra too? "Well, I'm dizzy..."

"Your blood pressure has dropped. You ate a little for dinner... Anyway, hold on a little longer," he said, gripping my arm tightly and leading me to the house. I stopped the tears that insisted on flowing from my eyes by biting my lips. Crying now would lead me to more trouble. I couldn't get Azra into this trouble either. I was saying trouble, but even I didn't know what it was.

When I opened the door of the house, Azra said, "I ran away, baby, I'll call you tomorrow, look, eat your food carefully, please." He kept walking closer to me and lowering his voice. He repeated once again my reason for remembering, "I am Elif for Ahmet". He grabbed my face, kissed my cheeks, and disappeared with the same joy.

After looking back, I quickly closed the door and locked it. When I took off my shoes and entered Ahmet's room, I saw that he was getting ready for bed. I immediately opened the bed and waited for him to sleep. I put on her pajamas and cover her as she lay on her bed. "Good night, sister," I said, kissing her hair long.

"Good night," he whispered dryly.

I left the room as I turned off the light. I went into the living room and started to sit by turning on the lights so that Ahmet could sleep.

The silence of the house was getting more and more lonely with each passing minute. It was a very good environment to listen to myself, but I was always listening to myself anyway. I needed the noise, the crowd, not the silence. Most of all, the family... We needed someone to take care of us. Even though I have Ahmet, one day we would both disappear in this silence when we say his silence and my silence.

I jumped in my seat when the doorbell rang. There was only one person who could come at this hour, and that was Nermin sister. When I ran to the door, I opened the door without looking through the hole and leaned against the closed door by being grabbed by my neck. I tried to hold the hands on my lips before I could even raise my voice with the fear I was experiencing.

After a few seconds, the loosened hands did not let go, but did not squeeze me enough to suffocate. Whoever was in front of me, the smell of cigarettes and alcohol that filled my nose at the moment made my stomach upset. The smell of cigarettes and alcohol... For some reason, I immediately thought of that pervert and... This shouldn't have happened! I pressed my trembling body against the door. When I brought my eyes to the face of the man in front of me with the person that came to my mind, I was frozen with the person I saw. But... How?