Chapter 8 – The Normal Week
The first two days were almost pleasant.
Nobody mentioned Emre.
Nobody mentioned Matteo.
Murat avoided her.
Her mother cooked Sara’s favourite rice dish.
Her father gave her passport back.
On Wednesday, they ate dinner together.
Sara began wondering whether she had exaggerated everything.
That thought frightened her.
But it also comforted her.
On Thursday, her aunt visited.
She hugged Sara.
“No more fighting.”
Sara smiled.
“Hopefully.”
Her aunt looked at her carefully.
“You know your parents only want peace.”
“I know.”
“They are not your enemies.”
“I know.”
“You don’t want your father walking through the community with his head down.”
Sara’s smile disappeared.
Her aunt immediately said:
“I am not telling you who to marry.”
“Then don’t.”
“I only mean there are ways to do things.”
“What ways?”
“Respectful ways.”
“Is choosing my own boyfriend disrespectful?”
Her aunt sighed.
“You always make everything so direct.”
Sara almost laughed.
“What should I make it?”
The old language had returned.
Not the marriage proposal.
Something harder to fight.
Respect.
Family.
Sacrifice.
Patience.
Reputation.
Nobody explicitly said:
You do not own your life.
They didn’t need to.
