Can's alarm clock rang early. He got up, got ready and ate breakfast. Sanem was sleeping soundly and didn't want to wake her. But before going to the agency he stopped by to greet her.
"Sanem?" he called her in a low voice as he bent down towards her. She was sleeping on her stomach, hugging her pillow tightly. She was uniquely tender. Can could not resist. He went around the bed, picked up the camera he had on his bedside table and photographed her. He returned to face her and lowered himself onto her legs to get a good look at her, then snapped. He stroked her hair gently. He placed the note he had written for her on the bedside table and with a kiss on her forehead he said goodbye and went out, before the smile that appeared on her face made him stay in. Sanem slept blissfully. This time she was inside a very real dream. So real that this time she was not a spectator herself, but a protagonist.
"Honey, approximately how many more years will they jump? Because they've been jumping since they were born!" exclaimed Can as they headed toward the children."Can, they are a wonder! They play, that's it," replied Sanem."It makes our lives easier this trampoline!" commented Can as they reached the garden beyond the pool. It was very different from now. There was a trampoline for their three children to jump on.A large tarp spread out on the lawn that served as a play area and dozens of toys scattered around. All this, under the shade of a large garden umbrella. There beside the hedge was also their giant, beloved hammock. Behind them sprouted at a distance, a small greenhouse. It was Sanem's plant house, and a little further back, the vegetable garden could be glimpsed. In the pool still floated donuts from a previous swim.Can and Sanem arrived at the play area."Little ones?" called Sanem to them as they reached the umbrella outside, under which they had spread a classic picnic blanket, in red and white checks."Come on you too." said Sanem to Deniz seeing him hesitating."Come on, come on, the snack is ready!" exclaimed Can making room among the mountains of toys piled on the blanket."Come on, I made your favorite sandwiches!" added Sanem. "In fact...actually your father made them, but whatever..." he admitted with a hint in his voice."Come on, otherwise I'll devour them all," Can told them."Nooo!" they exclaimed, rushing over.A little voice, Ates', answered, "All right, we're coming mom."They got off the trampoline and joined them."Very good." he said as he saw them coming. "So first you will eat these delicious sandwiches," Sanem instructed them, trying to entice their hunger by sniffing the tray on which they were placed."Then you will drink the very good lemonade made by your mother. Do you do anything but run and jump all day, do you not feel hunger and thirst?" continued Can. As many had predicted at their birth, if they took everything from their parents, their energy would skyrocket, and it did.Deniz was the first to take his sandwich. Then it was Yildiz's turn.And finally Ates."This time woe betide you if you take away the cheese!" he said seriously, pointing his finger at her. At that moment a glimmer of Mevkibe's authoritarian attitude appeared on her face.Ates hated the cheese in the sandwich just like her father."All right." she replied not at all pleased, running off after her brothers."Love calm down! What's the harm in getting rid of the cheese? What's the big deal! It's small." tried to justify his daughter, Can, hugging his wife sitting beside her."But she always takes it off and never eats it! At their age cheese is good for their bones!" protested Sanem."It seems to me that their bones, like their whole bodies, are more than fine. Look at them, they are as healthy as fish!" commented Can."Can!" resumed Sanem."I was thinking -- to make them tired sooner -- have you ever thought of adding chamomile tea to lemonade? Maybe that would help. What do you think?""Can!" she repeated.He burst out laughing."Ah, if you don't stop I'll correct your lemonade, and then we'll see," she threatened him.Can was actually laughing not only at her, but mostly at his daughter Ates. The pepperiest of the three, running off with her sandwich, thought she was going unnoticed, passing her siblings to go greet Haydut, who had popped up from the garden, and taking advantage of the dog's perpetual hunger, turned her back on her parents, and quickly slid the cheese off the sandwich, tossing it through the air like a Frisbee. A second later the cheese had already disappeared in the dog's jaws.At this Can had burst out laughing. She had seen how Ates with a shady attitude had slowly peered in their direction, to make sure she was not seen, but when she saw her father's gaze aimed at her, she jerked and instinctively brought her index finger in front of her mouth, mimicking not saying anything to her mother.Can smiled winking at her, covering his daughter. He too in her place would probably have done the same thing."What's so funny, huh?" asked sanem hitting him on the marble shoulder."Nothing...you know I like to tease you, right?" he reminded her."Um, sure. Little ones? Once you eat, go straight to bed. Direct, huh! Take care." instructed them Sanem."In my opinion, you let them sleep too much. And then I'm the one who pays the price. Look! In fact, I don't think I need your chamomile tea. " Can said, lowering his head ready to yawn.Sanem smiled at his whining tone. When he did that he sounded just like a child."I'll get some sleep, too, then! I'll take a nap on your legs. Come on tell me one of your beautiful fairy tales." asked Can with his lips inches from hers holding her close to him."But what fairy tale now! We have to put them to sleep first, not us." retorted Sanem in surprise as the children played ball in front of them."Come on, they'll definitely have a few more hours before they give in, so we might as well take a nap now. I want to fall asleep listening to your voice. Huh?" tried to persuade Can by getting into position."Come on...For a while, to this poor tired husband of yours, how about it?" she commented. In the fraction of a second he had gone from being a small child seeking attention to talking like an old man of a certain age.Sanem was a little taken aback by his attitude. "All right, come on now." She relented.He picked up a book he had there beside him and opened it."Shall I start?" she asked once Can rested his head on her legs.He confirmed with a nod of his head.Sanem was holding the book of the Gabby and the Cat, but once he opened it he made up a fairy tale on the spot.Can closed his eyes and remained listening."Albatross pups, they spend their first year of life completely in isolation, learning to spread their wings well... but despite being huge and mighty birds, they have a small weakness." he explained."Hmm, and which one?" asked Can with his eyes closed."Imagine that! If they hit their heads somewhere, then they will suddenly forget everything and everyone and believe they are children of bears!" exclaimed Sanem, closing the book.Can, at that sentence counterattacked with a tickle and his wife began to wriggle around screaming his name."You are really terrible! You made it up on the spot! Look at you!" he exclaimed."Can, stop or I'll tickle you too!" she shouted threatening him.Deniz, seeing his mother in distress, protective by nature like his father, threw himself on his chest to distract him. The sisters followed closely behind him."Come on, let's see who can beat the monster!" challenged them Dad Can."Let Mom go!" exclaimed Ates as she threw herself at him."What about the monster who stayed under you three? Huh?" asked Can overwhelmed by the children."Is he there?" asked the children ready to play the bad monster as always.Can quickly scared them away by intoning the cry of an aggressive animal.The little ones jumped up and started running all over the garden."Oh my God what a scare! Help! Run!" exclaimed Sanem getting up together with her husband to chase after them. "Arghhh!" intoned Can."We'll get you all!" exclaimed Sanem as he ran after the children who were circling the trampoline."Ah! Dad!" exclaimed Ates worriedly indicating to her brother to be careful since he had the monster on his heels.Eventually Can managed to trap Deniz and Yildiz in his arms of steel. He threw himself onto the front lawn with them kicking like mad to escape his grasp.Meanwhile, Sanem instead once caught Ates added her husband."You are now our prisoners!" he exclaimed laughing as he looked at Ates in his wife's arms. "Now a great punishment awaits you. Kisses and tickling to no end!" exclaimed Sanem."Eh, yes...ready? 1-2-3...go!" exclaimed Can casting a glance at his wife, setting off on the attack. At that moment, the sound of that lighthearted laughter led Sanem to think how lucky she was. She had her husband by her side, whom she loved more than herself, her children and their small family surrounded by greenery. She could not ask more from life. Without realizing it she smiled slyly and Can reflexively did the same.
But as beautiful and real as it was, even dreams come to an end sooner or later. In fact, at the exact moment Sanem's hand reached out to caress Can, the dream was interrupted and everything went black, like the final credits of a film. Sanem woke up. The room was still dark.
"What time is it?" She asked herself.
Slowly she stretched. She stretched her arms out towards Can's side to feel if he was still there. Nothing. The bed was flat. Empty. Can was not there. Then she remembered.
"Can was going to the agency today. But what time is it?" she wondered again.
She switched on the bedside light. She looked at the phone. "9.30?!" she exclaimed incredulously. "Damn!" It was obvious Can wasn't there. She was already at work at that time! She had planned that day down to the last detail the night before and like this, it was off to a bad start.She was about to catapult herself into the bathroom when she saw a note from Can.
To my only love...
Good morning, my life. You were sleeping so blissfully that I didn't wake you up to have breakfast together. We'll catch up tomorrow. I'm going to the agency. Get some rest. When you wake up, call me?
See you tonight.
I love you.
Your husband, Can.
P. S: If you need anything, call! Don't make me worry.
"Ah, how cute! How can you not love him!" she exclaimed aloud with tear-filled eyes.
"Good!" she thought to herself. "I'm also super emotional today. Fantastic." Said to herself sarcastically. She quickly wiped away those tears before they flooded her cheeks and pulled up her nose. She dialled Can's number and waited. He answered on the first ring.
"Sanem?" he immediately answered in a worried tone.
"Were you waiting for the phone to ring or am I wrong?" She asked him.
"Mh, I was waiting for you to call. You read the note, didn't you?" he asked her.
"Yes, and as you can hear, I woke up," she answered him, smiling.
"Now?" he asked her.
"Nooo!" She lied. "About half an hour ago, I already had a shower and breakfast. Now, I'm about to get to work, that's why I'm calling you now."
"Ah, good. Did you sleep well? How are you feeling?" he asked thoughtfully.
"I slept very well. I collapsed last night. I feel rested. Now I am ready to work." she replied.
"What are you doing?" she asked him.
"I am in the office checking some files for Mrs Remide." he replied.
"Ah, OK. I'll let you work then." said his wife.
"Alright, make sure for anything you call." he recommended again.
Sanem rolled his eyes. "Don't worry. I will." she answered him.
"Talk to you at lunch?" he asked.
"Sure." she replied.
"I'll call you." said Can.
"Alright. Can?" she stopped him.
"Tell me, my love." he replied.
"Do you know? It was weird waking up without you by my side. I missed you when I woke up." she admitted.
"I miss you too, I feel so lonely in this office!" replied Can to her.
"I can't wait to hug you again tonight!" she told her.
"Me too! Know that I will fill you with kisses!" he warned her.
"Ah, you scoundrel! I love you, romantic scoundrel!" she replied light as a cloud.
"I love you too, my one and only love!" he immediately replied back.
"Bye." Sanem greeted him.
"Bye." he replied, smiling.
Sanem hung up and rushed straight into the shower. He ate breakfast and sat down with her computer at the table outside. She lit incense to create the right atmosphere and began the correction of her book.
The morning passed in the blink of an eye.
She only realised it was lunchtime because Bulut came by to bring her some freshly picked vegetables. She was on her way to the market.
"Sanem!" Bulut called her from afar.
"Bulut! Hello, good morning," she greeted as she saw him coming.
"Good morning, I brought you a crate of freshly picked tomatoes. The ones you like so much." he told her once he reached her. He placed the crates on the table.
"Mh, thank you. Now I'll make a nice salad for lunch." she replied, licking her lips at the idea.
"I thought so." He replied smiling. 'I know you by now. You can't resist fresh tomatoes!"
"I bet Can sent you to check me out, did he?" she asked her directly.
"Nooo, you're wrong, I just came by for this." He pointed to the basket. "And... wait. I'll bring you some fruit now." he added.
"Ah, as well. And what does nature offer today?" she asked him jokingly.
"A nice watermelon, the last of the season. Some freshly picked peaches and wild strawberries." was Bulut's reply.
"Mh, bring them to me now. I'm so hungry!" Said Sanem immediately biting into a freshly picked tomato. "Mh, that's good!"
"Here you go!" said Bulut bringing the other fruit baskets as well.
"Mh, you didn't answer my question though. Don't think you're getting off so easily." she told him with her mouth full.
"Can, told you to check me, didn't he?" she repeated.
"Not really..." he replied uncertainly.
"Bulut... Yesterday afternoon I saw you two confabulating like two children." looked at him seriously Sanem.
"All right! He told me to take a look at you to make sure you are OK. Happy?" he spat out.
"I knew it. I don't miss anything." She said, continuing to chew the rest of the tomato.
"I bet you're reporting to him now, aren't you?" she added.
"Um... actually, yes. He asked me this morning." replied Bulut truthfully.
"Then tell my dear hubby that I'M OK! I don't know how to say it anymore," she replied exhausted.
"But Sanem he is just worried about you. With the sugar drop..." began Bulut.
"Ah! So he told you! Bravo!" interrupted Sanem.
"Yes, he told me, but don't worry, I won't tell anyone." Bulut reassured her.
"Uff! Bulut! Everyone asking me how I am! I can't take it anymore. Can, my sister, my mother, Deniz, now you! All we need is for the whole agency to know, so we're OK!" she said irritated.
"Ah, don't be tragic Sanem. We love you. But I understand you. Don't worry, I'll make sure no one else knows. Alright? Just don't get worked up." Bulut tried to calm her down.
"There, you treat me like a sick person too! Let Can know I'm alright! So when he calls me I'll make it clear to him properly!" she warned him decisively, taking a handful of tomatoes and then walking away.
"Sanem don't be angry with him!" Bulut shouted after her.
She stopped, turned around, and with a face black with anger answered him: "Bulut please. Let me breathe!!!"
"OK, I'm going to the market. I have done my duty. I will not interrupt you again. I promise. See you." replied Bulut quickly walking away. He knew well that when Sanem got angry, a storm was brewing.
"Bulut, I'm not angry with you! Sorry!" she told her a second later, regretful.
"Don't worry about it. It's a NO day. I understand that." he answered her.
"Thank you. For everything." said Sanem, pointing to what he had brought her.
Bulut got into the car, but before leaving he called Can.
"Hello?" he answered immediately.
"Can..." said Bulut.
"Bulut, tell me." he replied from the other end.
"Sanem realised I was keeping an eye on her." she warned him.
"I thought so! She's smart. It doesn't matter anyway. How is she?" he asked her.
"I'd say she's fine. She answered me in rhymes when she understood my game, so I'd say she's the usual Sanem with a ready word. And I'd say she has an appetite too! I brought her tomatoes and she devoured two within three seconds. I'd say whatever she had, she's doing great." Bulut replied sincerely.
"Great Bulut, thanks." Can replied.
"You're welcome mate. I'm going to the market now." she warned him.
"OK." he replied.
"Ah, Can?" asked Bulut.
"Yes?" asked Can.
"Sanem was not very happy when she found out that you were keeping an eye on her. She said she felt she was being treated like a sick person. She repeated over and over that she is fine and needs to breathe. I, for your own safety, would tell you to leave her alone for a while. Otherwise who will hear her!" Bulut warned him.
"Is she very angry?" asked Can.
"Well, she said she would tell you two little words when you phone her. I'm warning you!" said Bulut.
"OK, Bulut. Thanks for the warning and the help. I'll take care of it." he replied promptly.
"Alright, but Can? Don't be on her too much." he recommended himself.
"It's OK Bulut, I just want to apologise." he reassured him.
"OK, I'll go. Bye." Bulut greeted him.
"Bye. See you soon." replied Can.
Can dialled Sanem's number and waited. He hoped she was not too offended with him not to answer.
She answered after several rings.
"Hello..." The voice was cold and detached.
"Sanem? Love? "Can called her happily.
"Tell me." she replied without emotion.
"Um... what are you doing?" asked Can in distress.
"Ah! But how! Didn't your spy report anything to you? Ah! What a pity! If he doesn't do his job well I really think you should fire him!" replied Sanem sarcastically in a fit of rage as she cut tomatoes for the salad.
Can heard the sound of something banging from the receiver.
"Have you eaten? What is that noise?" he asked her.
"That is the sound of a person cutting tomatoes to make a salad." said Sanem, repeatedly beating the blade hard on the cutting board to make herself heard. Nothing was left of the poor tomato. Just a mince.
"Sanem, love, I..." he began.
"I "what Can?" she blocked him angrily.
"I don't know how to tell you anymore that I'M OK! OK? I'M OK!!! I understand that you are worried. I understand everything and I thank you. It's a nice gesture, but I don't tolerate being treated like a sick person and a child! Alright? You know very well!" replied Sanem who could barely contain her excessive anger.
"I'm sorry, alright? I overreacted, I admit it." replied Can. "Bulut says you have an appetite. I'm glad."
"Me too. Have you eaten?" she asked her still angry.
"Yes, I just got back from lunch with Emre and Leyla. We have a meeting now." he filled her in.
"Do you want me to update you on the company's progress?" he asked her politely, trying to change the subject.
"No! Not now. Later. Now if you allow I would like to eat. But maybe you already know that. Maybe you even set up cameras to spy on me!" she accused him, barely holding back her ire.
Sanem started waving to the kitchen. "I'm waving at you right now. Can you see me?"
"Sanem, come on, don't exaggerate. I was wrong, I said sorry. What else can I do?" he asked her apologetically.
"Treat me like a normal person, maybe! I am human too. And humans can have a simple sugar crash. But it passes and that's it." she replied ranting.
"OK, fine. You're right. I have to go now. What are you going to do now?" he asked her again.
Sanem took a deep breath, then controlling herself she replied. "I'll eat my salad and go blow off some steam. Alright? Please don't call back again. Let me breathe. I have work to do."
"Alright. Love. I'll see you tonight. I'll be back early. Ok?" he told her.
"Alright. Bye." she cut it short. He hung up.
"Bye." he replied apologetically to a now empty handset.
Sanem had hung up. She was in the grip of an irrepressible rage.
She finished slicing the tomatoes or what was left of them. With her head elsewhere, all of a sudden, from too much eagerness, the knife slipped from her hand and she cut herself.
"Ouch!" she exclaimed.
It was a tiny little cut, but an abominable amount of blood began to come out. Sanem became frightened. Seeing all that blood suddenly curbed her appetite. She felt nauseous. She couldn't look at that small wound. She had soiled the whole kitchen floor. Her blood was mixing with what was left of those tomatoes. It looked like a battlefield. He approached the kitchen sink with her eyes closed, keeping her open hand stretched out in front of her, as far away as possible. She opened the tap and ran her finger under the water jet.
'I must disinfect it,' she thought. She opened her eyes and at the sight of blood continuing its course to the sink drain, the nausea became more intense. Suddenly she felt a gag. She put her healthy hand to her mouth and ran to the service bathroom, the one closest to the kitchen. In that moment she was grateful to be alone. If Can had seen her in that condition, he would surely have proved he was right to worry.
Once past, she lifted her face and looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were wide and her face pale.
He washed and dried her face. Then she found the first-aid box and took out the disinfectant, some cotton and a plaster.
With one eye open and one closed he disinfected and bandaged himself. When he had finished, he returned to the kitchen. She had to tidy up. By now the hunger had passed. She looked at the disgusted salad, cleaned the kitchen floor of everything that was there and placed the salad she had already prepared in the bowl in the refrigerator. She made sure that everything was in order. There was no trace of blood left.
"Good!" She said to himself. Can was not to be seen. So she decided to go for a nice walk. Being in the fresh air would do her good and bring back her appetite again.
It was a beautiful, sunny day. She would also get some vitamin D.
She left the estate and followed the tree-lined road in the direction of the pier. He could also get there from inside the estate, but she decided to lengthen the journey to walk a bit more and enjoy the greenery. Made a quick stop at the creamery to see if everything was OK. She would have liked to stay longer, but considering the current condition of her stomach, mixing perfumes was not the best idea. She continued her walk towards her destination. Once she reached the end of the jetty, she sat on the edge with her feet touching the cool water. It was a relief. She closed her eyes and pointed them to the sky. There, with the sun warming her pale face from the last few days, and the sound of the waves crashing on the pontoon pilings, Sanem relaxed. Only the voice of the seagulls kept her company. She breathed in the salty air at the top of her lungs and exhaled. The more time passed, the more she felt her mind clear of the stress of the past weeks. He did not realise the passage of time. In that moment, with a clearer mind, she realised that she had been too hard on Can. She had behaved really badly. She had absolutely overreacted. Thinking back on her words, her heart clenched with regret for treating him that way.
"Why did I treat him like that?" she asked herself.
"Why all that anger? And why did I pour it out on him, then."
"No, I have to call Can." she said aloud. "I must apologise." Sh tapped her pockets in search of the phone. Empty. They were empty. "Damn!" she said to herself. She had forgotten it in the kitchen. In her haste to get out into the fresh air, she had left it there. "If Can calls me, I'm finished!" she exclaimed.
She got up quickly from the jetty and ran off towards home. Suddenly she stopped and thought: "He won't call me! I told him not to call me any more!" So she resumed walking at a slow pace, pondering.
"What time will it be? What if I try to call him now and he's already on his way home? What if he's still in a meeting instead?"
Then she thought perhaps the best thing would be to prepare a nice surprise for him when he returned and apologise in person. She quickened her steps and returned to the property. She reached the loft kitchen and checked her phone. No calls or messages. For a moment she was disappointed, but she had wanted it after all. She looked at the time. It was 5 p.m. Can would be back in a few hours, if not sooner. She decided to go pick some flowers in the garden. This time she would organise a romantic evening. And she already had everything in mind. She remembered her dream from that morning, and decided to have dinner under the stars in that same spot in the garden of her dream, on top of a nice blanket full of pillows. The finishing touch would be candles and flowers scattered everywhere. That would be just the setting, but her real gift would be the dream. Can liked listening to Sanem's stories. And that night the story would be very special.
Once this was decided, she wrote the dream on a parchment, in the form of a fairy tale. She signed it, sprinkled some of her perfume on it and rolled it up with a string. Then she took more than one blanket from the sofa in the living room and carried them to the 'set' of her setting. The garden beyond the pool. Once on location, she mentally calculated the exact spot and threw the blankets on the ground. She would arrange them later. She wanted to gather everything she needed first. So, decided to go and pick some flowers from her personal garden and took the opportunity to give all the plants a good watering. She chose the ones she thought were most beautiful and made a nice bunch, looked to see if there were any other wild flowers around to complement the bouquet she held in her right hand. She started looking. She knew where to find the most beautiful flowers, but now was not the time to get lost in the clearing. So she contented herself with the garden around there. All she needed was to find something light, perhaps white, to complete the composition. She walked slowly towards the exit of the garden, reached the spot where she had abandoned the blankets and there, realised that there was a daisy at her feet. She lowered herself, bending down on her knees to pick it up and brought it to her nose to smell if it smelt. The violent trail of perfume that came to her dazed her. She had not expected it to smell so good! Its smell was so intense that it made her dizzy and nauseous. She immediately pushed it away from her nostrils, but had no time to react. Suddenly her legs grew weak. Trembling. Slowly she tried to get up, but suddenly her head began to spin too intensely.
She rocked back and forth trying to balance on her legs. "Can..." she managed to call out, but her voice did not come out as loud as she would have liked. It was just a whisper. She was not in time to bring her free hand to her temple that, without realising it, she fell backwards onto the lawn. The flowers she had picked scattered around her. Then darkness.
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Hello reader :)
Thank you! You have completed the 31st chapter.
If you liked it let me know with a comment.
Until the next one!