Chapter 2 – The Boy from Parma
Sara was already in love with someone else.
His name was Matteo Rinaldi.
Twenty-two.
He studied mechanical engineering in Parma and worked weekends at his father’s tyre shop.
They had met eight months earlier when Matteo came into the bakery during a university placement nearby.
At first, they only spoke at the counter.
Then outside.
Then over coffee.
Then almost every day.
Matteo was not dramatic.
That was what Sara liked about him.
He did not promise to save her.
He did not tell her she was oppressed.
He did not tell her what her family should believe.
He simply asked:
“What do you want?”
The first time he asked, Sara had not known how to answer.
Nobody in her family used that question very often.
Three days after the marriage conversation, Murat saw a message from Matteo appear on Sara’s phone.
He did not unlock it.
He did not need to.
The message preview read:
Saturday after your shift?
Murat stood in the kitchen holding the phone.
“Who is Matteo?”
Sara reached for it.
He pulled it away.
“Give me my phone.”
“Who is he?”
“My friend.”
“A man?”
“Yes.”
Their mother came in.
“What happened?”
Murat looked at her.
“She’s seeing someone.”
Sara immediately said:
“I am not doing this.”
Her mother stared.
“Who?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters.”
“Why?”
Leyla lowered her voice.
“Because your father is already speaking to Emre’s family.”
“I told him no.”
“You embarrassed him.”
“He embarrassed me.”
Murat laughed.
“You really don’t understand anything.”
Sara turned toward him.
“What don’t I understand?”
“What people will say.”
“Who?”
“Everyone.”
“Name one.”
“Sara.”
“No. Name one person whose opinion decides who I marry.”
Murat’s face hardened.
“You think this is funny.”
“I think it’s my life.”
“No. It’s not only your life.”
That was the first time Sara heard the phrase.
Over the following weeks, she would hear variations of it dozens of times.
Your choices affect all of us.
People know our family.
Your sister is still young.
Your cousins will hear.
Your father’s name matters.
Your mother has to face people.
Your brother has to answer questions.
It is never only you.
At first, Sara argued.
Then she tried explaining.
Then she stopped explaining.
