"We all live with shadows… Sometimes within ourselves, sometimes in the world.
A lost childhood, justice waiting in silence, and a young man with a heart full of mercy…
This is where our story begins — in the quiet streets of Ankara. Every loss leaves behind a shadow. And sometimes, those shadows hide closer than we think."
A New Day Begins…
Civan ignored the alarm blaring at 7:30 a.m. and slowly opened his eyes. The cool Ankara morning, with a thin layer of mist, seeped through the window. As he rubbed his eyes, his gaze fell on an old soccer ball in the corner of his room. Memories of playing with his father flashed for a moment, but he quickly shook them off.
"Today's going to be different… somehow," he muttered to himself.
From the kitchen, his mother's voice called out:.
"Civan! Come have breakfast, you'll be late!"
He dressed quickly and sat at the breakfast table. His younger sister, Defne, was grinning as she filled her plate.
"So, bro, what's the plan today? Classes? Or just hanging around campus?"
"We'll see. First, let me survive my morning lectures," Civan said with a smile.
Their mother set down a cup of coffee.
"Don't forget, Civan — you have that lab presentation today. Be prepared."
Civan nodded, a bit nervous inside. Lab classes were usually boring, but with friends, they could turn out fun.
On his way to campus, he ran into his friends Emre and Selin.
"Where were you this morning?" Emre asked.
"The alarm went off, but I did a ten-minute meditation," Civan replied with a sly grin.
Selin rolled her eyes.
"Meditation? You? Really?"
"Hey, it works!" Civan laughed.
As they rushed through the crowded campus, a student's bag hit Civan's leg and nearly made him stumble.
"Watch it, man!" Civan snapped, but the student quickly apologized.
"It's fine, don't worry," he said with a shrug.
Before class, the three of them sat in a corner.
"Did you see the match last night?" Emre asked.
"Yeah! They canceled that goal, man. I nearly lost it — was about to flip the table!" Civan said, throwing his hands up.
Selin laughed.
"You always get mad, and then you forget about it the next day.
During the lecture, Civan tried to focus on his notes, but his mind wandered to Defne and his mother. His father's absence was like a shadow always following him. Sometimes he forgot, but one small memory or sound could bring it all back.
After class, they headed to the campus café. Between coffee, tea, and laughter, a few hours slipped away. Yet Civan still felt that quiet emptiness inside, though he hid it well behind his smile.
By the time he returned to his room that evening, the campus had fallen silent. Civan looked at his reflection in the window, the Ankara night glowing with city lights.
"Is this what life is? Neither too much nor too little… but somehow, it goes on," he whispered.
Then it happened.
At first, it sounded like the faint whistle of wind. But soon, Civan realized the sound was coming from inside the room. His eyes widened as he scanned the corners, finding nothing. His heartbeat quickened.
"Maybe I'm just tired… or imagining things," he murmured.
And then, the pen on his desk began to tremble and move ever so slightl
Civan jumped back, holding his breath. His eyes locked on the pen, his mind racing. A single thought echoed inside him:
"Maybe nothing in my life will ever be the same again…"
As the trembling stopped, he felt a wave of fear… and an even stronger wave of curiosity. That ordinary day of a university student had ended — and an unknown adventure had already begun.