Stay with me

Chapter 9 Loneliness

He wandered around Istanbul, squeezing out of the SUV everything that the iron monster was capable of. But all to no avail.

Exhausted and broken Omer returned home. He sat on the floor in the living room and began to bombard her voicemail with messages. He sent dozens of them.

He asked her: why? He apologized if he unwittingly offended her. He swore in his love for her. Begged her to return. He said that he could not live without her ... breathe without her. That she is the meaning of his life.

But all the messages flew into the void ...He went upstairs and entered the bedroom. Without undressing, lay down on the bed and buried his face in Defne's pillow. It smelled of her ... smelled of love and happiness ... smelled of life. Omer clenched his fists and groaned.

***

Defne entered a small but clean office. At the table, facing the door, sat a young, handsome man in a decent suit and tie. He looked about twenty-five years old, no more. He raised his head to the knock of a closed door and smiled at the girl who had entered.

"Good afternoon," Defne said. "Can I see the lawyer?"

The guy's smoothly shaven cheeks turned pink, he got up from the table and extended his hand to Defne.

"The lawyer is me." Kerem Yilmaz.

Surprised Defne mechanically shook his outstretched hand and innocently blurted out:

- So young and already a lawyer.

The blush of the guy became even thicker, but the behavior remained calm and confident.

"It happens," he pointed to a chair on the other side of the table.

- Have a seat. What's your name and what brings you to me?

Defne clutched her fingers at the handbag strap. Knuckles turned white. She was scared, terrified to say out loud what her mind had decided. As if after this there will come a point of no return and something very important, necessary, will disappear forever.

She looked at the young lawyer. He seemed so balanced and a little naive as if his heart never knew torment and suffering. Never been broken by love.

His bright blue eyes looked at Defne with genuine interest. He saw her inner hesitation and waited patiently while she gathered her thoughts.

- My name is Defne Topal ... Iplikci. "I want to file for a divorce," she blurted out.

The lawyer's eyebrows went up to his forehead and his eyes flicked to the girl's left finger.

- You are married? He exclaimed in amazement, and immediately stopped himself. Eyebrows returned to their place. - Sorry. Tell me more about your marriage and the reasons you want to get a divorce.

Defne frowned.

- Is it necessary?

"Otherwise, I cannot fully help you."

"You are probably right," Defne agreed and briefly described the situation: she made an unforgivable mistake, and her husband left her on the wedding day.

The lawyer listened carefully and asked:

"Are you sure that there is no chance for reconciliation?"

Defne looked down at the floor. The sunset beam penetrating the window through the horizontal blinds crawled along the shabby but washed to shine, beige tiles. It was funny, mischievous, and warm. It hastened to enjoy the summer evening and did not bother that it would soon go out, and in its place darkness would come. After all, it knew - tomorrow, as soon as the sun rises above the horizon, it will appear again and will warm the whole world with its cheerful, golden light. Defne smiled sadly. Ah, if Omer's love was as constant as the sun. If her soul believed that after night the dawn would come and all quarrels and partings would disappear with the darkness ...