Chapter 6 – The Shelter
Sara spent twelve nights in a protected women’s shelter.
Her family called constantly.
She blocked Murat.
Then her father.
She could not block her mother.
Leyla sent voice messages.
Some angry.
Some crying.
Some completely ordinary.
Did you take your blue sweater?
Grandmother asked about you.
Your father is not sleeping.
I made lentil soup today.
Then:
Please come home.
Nobody wants to hurt you.
Your brother is ashamed of what happened.
We can forget everything.
Matteo visited once in a public café arranged with support staff.
He looked exhausted.
“You don’t have to choose me,” he said.
Sara looked at him.
“I know.”
“I mean it.”
“I know.”
“Choose yourself.”
She looked away.
“Everyone keeps saying things like that.”
“What should I say?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you want?”
There was that question again.
Sara whispered:
“I want my mother to stop crying.”
Matteo leaned back.
Neither spoke.
That was the problem.
Freedom did not feel like freedom when everyone she loved described it as betrayal.
