When my phone rings and I see Emre’s name, my heart shrivels into a black hole.
No.
God, please.
My hands start to tremble, and my thumb hovers over the little circle.
There’s only one reason why Emre would call me. Something happened to Gabriel.
A sob builds in my chest.
“Your phone’s ringing,” Nisa says.
“I know.” I take a trembling breath, swipe across the screen, and bring the phone to my ear. “Hello.” My voice quivers.
“Hi, it’s Emre.”
“Uh-huh.” I squeeze my eyes shut.
“I’m with your mother.” My eyes snap wide open. “I need you to calm her down so she’ll come with me.”
“Yes!” I jump up from the chair and start stalking up and down, my heart instantly beating a mile a minute.
I hear movement, then Emre says, “Your daughter is on the line.”
It takes a moment before I hear her sob, “Lara?”
“Mama.” Tears begin to spill over my cheeks, and I don’t care. Sobs strain my voice. “Emre is a friend. You can trust him. He’ll bring you to me. Please go with him.”
My mother lets out a heartbreaking wail, and it makes my own tears come faster, my chest shuddering. “Ma-ma,” I hiccup. “Come to me.”
“Okay,” she squeezes the word out.
Seconds later, Emre’s somber voice comes over the line. “We’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
“Thank… you.”
When the call ends, I start to cry like I’ve never cried before. Nisa grabs me to her, holding me tight and making clucking sounds. “It’s a happy day, Lara.”
I nod, and when my phone rings again, I almost drop it. Through a blur, I can hardly make out Gabriel’s name and swipe as fast as I can.
“Gabriel? Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’ve got Mazur. Did Emre call you?”
“Yes, a…” my throat strains from all the emotion, “a couple of seconds ago.”
“I wish I could be there, but I have to deal with things at the club. I’ll be home in an hour.”
“Okay.”
“Deep breaths, baby.”
I nod, struggling to regain control over my breathing.
“That’s better. You need to be strong tonight. Your mother is going to need your help. You can do that, right?”
“Yes.” I fight harder for control, slowly starting to calm down.
“That’s my girl.”
“Are you really okay?” I ask just to be sure.
“Just a couple of scratches. I’ll see you in an hour.”
“Okay,” I say before taking a deep breath.
“Give the phone to my grandmother.”
Walking to Babaanne, I hand her the device. “It’s Gabriel,” I say unnecessarily.
“Gabriel?” she answers. Absolute relief washes over her features. “Tanrıya şükür.”
I glance at Nisa, who quickly translates, “Thank God.”
Babaanne nods. “You make him suffer for what he did to my son, and then I’ll bathe my black robes in his blood.”
My eyebrows dart up at the hatred in her voice. Not that I can blame her. She lost a child because of Tymon.
“You did well. I’m proud of you, gözümün nuru.”
I smile when I recognize the words. The light of my eye.
When she ends the call, she hands the device back to me, rises to her feet, and slowly walks out of the room.
I look at Nisa again, and it has her saying, “She needs to be alone. She can finally mourn Deniz.”
“Deniz?”
“Gabriel’s father,” she answers. Groaning, she stands up. “Let’s go wait in the entrance hall for your mother.”
As we walk into the open space, the front door opens. For a moment, I freeze as Emre comes in, then my mother appears in the doorway, looking frightened as she glances around.
“Mama!” I cry, flying across the tiles.
“Lara,” she sobs, stumbling forward.
We fall into each other’s arms, then sink to the floor, our tears the only language we can speak after being apart for so long.
Thank you.
ThankyouThankyouThankyou.
Her scent has changed, but her arms still feel the same.
When I’m able to speak, I say, “I missed you so much.”
Mom pulls back, her trembling hands fluttering over my face as her eyes drink in the sight of me. “I lived only for this day. My Lara.”
Pulling back, my eyes greedily rove over her, then heartache fills every inch of me. She’s skinny, the worn clothes hanging off her body, and there are bruises everywhere.
She’s suffered.
“Come,” I whisper, and climbing to my feet, I help her up before wrapping my arm around her lower back. “You’re safe here,” I say, knowing those would’ve been the first words I would’ve wanted to hear.
I take my mom to my old room, Nisa following right behind us. “What can I do?” she asks as I help my mom sit down on the bed.
“Can you go to Gabriel’s room and bring me a pair of leggings and a sweater? Also, there’s a pack of unopened underwear.”
“Evet.”
When Nisa rushes away to get the clothes, I crouch in front of Mom and stare up at her, unable to believe she’s really here.
Her eyes are locked on my face, then she whimpers, “You’ve grown so much.”
“I’m twenty-two.”
“I know.” Her face crumbles. “I’ve missed everything. The photos they showed me weren’t enough.”
She slides off the bed and into my arms, her body trembling something fierce. Crying, she says, “I lived only for you.”
“You’re home,” I murmur, swallowing hard on all the emotions creating a turbulent storm inside my chest. “You’re home, and we’ll never be apart again.”
Nisa comes in with the clothes and sets them down on the bed. She takes one look at my mother, then leaves again, only to return with the first aid kit.
“Can you call Dr. Bayram?” I ask her, wanting to make sure my mother’s not hurt badly.
“Evet.”
When she steps out of the room to make the call, I pull Mom to her feet. “Do you have the strength to change into the clothes?”
She nods but doesn’t let go of me.
“I’ll be right outside the door. Okay?”
I pull back, checking her face.
“Right outside the door?” she asks.
“Yes. Call for me when you’re done.”
She nods again and glances around the room as I step into the hallway, pulling the door shut. “I’m right here,” I say to set her at ease. Thinking it will help, I continue to talk. “I still have the Cinderella book you gave me. And the photo.” My mind races for things to say.
“Tell her we’re good people,” Nisa whispers.
“The people here are really good. They’ve become like family to me.”
Nisa gestures for me to continue.
“Ah… are you okay in there?”
“Yes.” Her voice sounds so vulnerable it’s a blow to my heart.
“There won’t be any more beatings,” My voice breaks, and I take a calming breath. “No more pain.”
“I’m done,” she sobs.
I quickly go back inside, and we hug again.
I’ll hold her until she feels safe.
“We’ll get to know each other again,” I assure her. “You can ask me anything.”
“When did you escape?”
“It’s been two months since Gabriel brought me here.”
She closes her eyes, then asks, “He saved you?”
“Yes.” A smile tugs at my mouth. “Emre is his brother.”
Not wanting her to live in fear any longer, I say, “They’re good men. I love Gabriel, and he loves me. We’re safe here.”
Her eyes search over my face again. “You look healthy.”
My lips curve up. “I am. Nisa’s cooking is delicious. You’ll pick up weight in no time.”
“Are you hungry?” Nisa asks, a hopeful expression on her face.
Mom hesitates before she nods, slightly cowering behind me.
“I’ll prepare food.” With relief, Nisa hurries away.
I pull Mom to me, keeping an arm around her. I have many questions, but I want her to settle in before asking them.
When our eyes meet, I give her a smile which she tentatively returns.
I have my mother back. I can’t believe it.
