🌿✨
Akel woke up to a lovely, sunny morning.
Watching the sky from the window, she reviewed the events of the past evening one by one; a smile surfaced on her face as she sipped her coffee and murmured, "Another story has ended."
She felt lighter, the chaos was over, and she had finally moved away from turmoil to find peace.
Now, ahead of her was a life to be built from scratch, and wounds she had covered up, layer by layer.
She quickly buried these thoughts in the deepest corner of her mind. "I am ready for my new life and my first job interview," she said.
Taking an invisible strength with her, she stepped onto the street, brimming with hope and barely managed excitement.
She didn't know it then, but this step would rebuild her, along with her life.
On the bus, she looked out the window; hundreds of questions in her mind, a tiny hope in her heart.
She took a deep breath in front of the interview building, trying to see herself from the outside:
"A young woman knocking on the first door for a new life in a new city…"
When she entered, there was a large desk, and behind it, a smiling man and a woman.
Her voice trembled slightly as she introduced herself, but she tried to inject power into her words towards the end of her sentences.
No one noticed the inner storm she was navigating.
Mr. Barış turned to Ms. Gül and asked:
— We had a staff shortage in the production department, didn't we?
Gül nodded:
— Yes, sir.
Barış:
— Alright then, show her the work, let her have a look; she can come and start tomorrow. He said, then turned his attention back to his phone.
The production floor was a noisy, dusty, and bustling place.
It was an environment Akel would consider unsettling. She wondered, "Should I?" inwardly.
But she quickly gathered herself: "I have to do this…" she said, and accepted the job.
After learning the details and the workflow, she pushed the building's heavy door and stepped outside; the wind hitting her face made her shiver.
She paused for a few seconds and took a deep breath.
That cold, indifferent voice from inside was still ringing in her ears:
"Alright, start."
It wasn't a huge job, maybe… In fact, no one had really listened to her.
But a door had opened, nevertheless.
🌿✨
She slowly placed her feet on the sidewalk and looked around.
A new city, unfamiliar faces, unknown streets… Everything intimidated her slightly.
She gripped her bag strap tightly, as if it were the only thing holding her up if she fell.
"What if I can't do it?" she asked herself.
Just as the sentence left her lips, a warmth passed through her:
"But what if I can?"
As she walked on the pavement, even her footsteps sounded different to her.
It was as if a slight whisper of victory was hidden within these silent steps.
She couldn't feel strong yet; but a small corner of her was whispering that she had succeeded.
Perhaps for the first time, she had unlatched a door with her own hands.
Fear and excitement walked with her, side by side.
One part of her was still being tugged by the dark phrases of the past:
"You need me…"
But this time, there was another voice walking in front of that dark sentence:
"This step, however small, is mine."
At that moment, she smiled.
The wind blew her hair, and she quickened her pace slightly.
She might not have fully believed it yet…
But hope had mingled with her steps, regardless.
Lost in these thoughts, she had already arrived home.
The first thing she noticed when she opened the door and stepped inside was the silence.
This silence sometimes frightened her; but tonight, it was strangely peaceful.
She gently put her bag down and hung her coat on the rack.
She headed to the kitchen for dinner, hastily preparing something.
She paused for a moment, watching the steam rise from the pot.
There was also her little daughter in the terrifying life she left behind;
"How was she now? Had she eaten? Did she miss her mother? What state was she in..."
These thoughts killed her appetite entirely.
She wanted to lie down and sleep; she was in bed in no time.
She was startled by the alarm clock, immediately jumped out of bed, got ready, and set off.
She entered the workplace with tentative steps.
Descending to the production floor, the first thing she noticed was an intense noise and the sharp, dusty smell hanging in the air.
Large machines were running, and people were hurrying back and forth.
Akel paused for a moment, unsure where to start.
A middle-aged woman with a stern face but a soft-sounding voice approached her:
— You must be new? she asked.
— Yes… Akel, she replied with slight hesitation.
The woman nodded towards the front:
— I'm Şükran. Start over there, it's easy work. You'll get used to it.
Akel looked around, noticing that no one was staring at her for long.
This was a world where everyone was focused solely on their own tasks.
This both felt good and brought a little sadness; no one was interested, but no one was questioning, either.
🌿✨
In the first hours, her hands sweated; she struggled to understand which material went where.
At one point, a young man—whose name she learned was Erdal—came up laughing:
— Don't worry, the machines don't bite! he joked.
Akel responded with a faint smile:
— I hope not… she whispered.
As the day progressed, she immersed herself in the rhythm of the work.
She tried to move as fast as everyone else; she lowered her head in shame when she was slow.
But no one spoke harshly; sometimes, short, patient glances were enough for her to understand what she needed to do.
At lunch break, she sat in a corner of the canteen and ate her meal, silently listening to the conversations around her.
She heard people talking about their lives, their everyday worries;
she still felt like a stranger, but she realized she wasn't completely invisible anymore.
It was starting to get dark when she climbed the stairs slowly after work.
Her shoulders ached, her palms were slightly red; the fatigue of the first day had permeated her entire body.
When she stepped outside, the evening wind hitting her face dispersed some of the dust and rush she had accumulated throughout the day.
Walking on the street, she looked at the people passing by; some were laughing, some were walking silently.
She too, was lost in this crowd, like an invisible but existing part.
She got on the bus, sat by the window, and watched the outside.
The city lights glittered through the dirty glass.
The roar of the machines she had heard all day was still echoing in her head.
"I'm so tired," she thought.
"But at least I tried…"
When she arrived home and opened the door, a coolness enveloped her; the silence was there again.
But this time, it was a little more bearable.
She put down her bag, took off her clothes; when she looked in the mirror, she saw a face that was unfamiliar but slightly more courageous.
She prepared something in the kitchen; she didn't put much effort into it, her arms were still aching.
She ate slowly, her gaze drifting.
At one point, she thought of her little daughter:
"If I can be well, maybe one day I can be reunited with her…" she whispered inwardly.
Her eyes closed automatically when she lay down in bed.
The answer to the question she had asked herself countless times throughout the day was a little clearer this time:
"It will be difficult, but I will succeed…"
As she drifted to sleep, there were still fears in her heart;
but amongst them, a thin thread of hope was breathing.
🌿✨
Days chased each other; Akel began to shake off the feeling of strangeness she had in the first days.
The noise, the dust, the constantly rushing people… They seemed less harsh to her now.
Her hands were still red, her arms still ached;
but at least she had learned which material went where and which tasks she did with whom.
During breaks, Şükran started to sit next to her;
— How's it going? she would ask, with a weary affection on her face.
— Not bad, Akel replied with a slight smile.
Şükran nodded:
— You'll slowly get used to it. The first few weeks are always hard.
Erdal continued to joke; one day, seeing the box Akel was carrying, he said:
— Look at you, your muscle power turned out to be better than ours!
Akel couldn't stop herself for the first time and let out a short laugh.
That laughter was good for both her and the people around her.
She no longer sat silently in a corner during break times; she spoke a few words, expressing herself in short sentences.
Listening to people talking among themselves about their worries, their children, and what they were cooking for dinner, she thought,
"I guess I'm a part of this world too…"
One day after work, she stood at the door; there was light sweat on her face, but her breathing was easier this time.
She didn't feel as much a stranger to herself as she had in those first days.
"Maybe this place isn't bad… Maybe I'm not that alone either…" she thought.
On her way home in the evening, she looked at her own tired face reflected in the bus window; she noticed the light in her eyes.
She might not have fully believed it yet…
But this city, this dusty workplace, and those unfamiliar people were now also a part of her life.
🌿✨
That day, the production floor was busier and more tense than usual.
The machines worked non-stop, the workers rushed; even Şükran was quieter than normal.
An order had to be finished on time; everyone was frantic.
Just then, Erdal tripped while carrying a box; the box slipped from his hand and fell to the side.
The metal parts inside scattered on the floor with a crash; there was a moment of silence.
Mr. Barış had come down from upstairs; his face flushed as soon as he saw what happened:
— What have you done! We're barely keeping up! he shouted.
Erdal bowed his head, only managing to say, — I apologize…
Akel would normally stay silent, pulling herself back.
But at that moment, seeing Erdal's hands trembling with fear, something stirred inside her.
She spoke without being able to control her voice:
— That box was too heavy, it was hard to carry alone… We'll all clean it up, and we'll still make it on time.
Mr. Barış looked at her for a brief moment; his eyes surprised but angry.
Then he frowned:
— Fine! Then clean it up, hurry! he said and quickly walked away.
Akel's heart was pounding; her hands were sweating.
But the people around her looked at her differently for the first time;
Şükran smiled out of the corner of her eye, Erdal whispered, — Thank you.
A warmth passed through Akel at that moment:
"I can change things too…"
For the first time, she had raised her voice despite her fear.
And she realized that her voice was actually stronger than she thought.
Weeks rolled by; Akel slowly shed the shy, timid demeanor of the first days.
Now, when she looked in the mirror in the mornings, her gaze was clearer; her shoulders were a little straighter.
At work, during breaks, she would share worries with Şükran, and laugh heartily at Erdal's jokes.
She even found herself instructing a new, struggling employee the other day; she was surprised at herself.
"Did I just explain that?" she thought; but then she couldn't help but smile.
One evening after work, she sat with Şükran and Erdal at a small nearby tea house.
Watching the steam in the glass, she felt truly "alive" for the first time in a long while.
🌿✨
Şükran turned to her at one point:
— You're actually very strong, you know? she said.
Akel avoided eye contact; her cheeks flushed.
— I don't know… maybe, she managed to say.
But in a corner of her heart, she wanted to believe that statement for the first time.
Still, when she returned home in the evening, her old fears sometimes paid a visit within the silence;
but this time, she didn't get lost in their shadow.
"I am no longer just a woman who is afraid," she thought.
"I am a woman trying to survive and learning again."
The city might still have been unfamiliar; but she was now a part of this city too.
And perhaps most importantly, she was starting to believe that she deserved this.
One day after work, the weather was hotter than usual; Akel walked slowly, taking a side street she didn't usually pass through.
The street was quiet, but an old shop on the corner caught her attention:
"Second Hand Books & Coffee"
She went inside; the smell of old books mixed with a faint aroma of coffee.
As she browsed the shelves, examining the cover of a book, a young woman approached her:
— I love that book too, she said with a smile.
Akel was a little hesitant at first, but there was a genuine warmth in the woman's smile.
— I haven't read it, she said. But the cover really caught my interest.
The woman introduced herself:
— I'm Elif. And this is my little world.
She turned out to be the owner of the shop.
— Come, sit down, let me offer you a coffee, Elif said.
Akel hesitated initially; but then she found herself sitting at a tiny table, drinking a cup of coffee amidst old books.
As they talked, she learned that Elif also had a completely different story.
Elif explained that she held writing workshops for people, and sometimes organized small groups for women to tell their stories.
Akel's heart beat fast for a moment; for the first time in her life:
"I have a story to tell too…" she thought.
Elif:
— Come join us one day, either to listen or to share… Our door is open, she said.
On her way home that evening, Akel felt slightly surprised but inwardly excited.
She was tired, life still seemed hard; but this little shop and meeting Elif seemed to have opened the door to another world.
She whispered silently to herself:
"Maybe my story will help someone else one day…"
🌿✨
Akel was still surprised when she thought about the first day she entered Elif's shop;
"How did I end up on that street, how did I decide to go inside…" she wondered.
Perhaps life sometimes gives small rewards to one's courage.
As the weeks passed, she started stopping by occasionally after work.
Most of the time, she didn't talk much, just quietly sat there, inhaling the smell of old books.
But Elif's smile seemed to touch the most broken parts of her heart.
One day, Elif handed her a small notebook:
— Maybe you can pour your heart out… Write for yourself, she said.
Akel took the notebook; she was reluctant to write anything at first, unsure how to phrase the words.
But that notebook was always on her nightstand; one night, she wrote down her fears, her longing for her daughter, and the small courage she felt for the first time.
As the days went on, Elif became not just a friend, but a mirror in which Akel remembered herself.
Looking at her, she began to think:
"Maybe I am a good person… Maybe I am worth telling a story about…"
Even this thought was like a small light in her life; it wasn't very bright, perhaps, but it was enough to help her find her way in the dark.
Months passed… Akel was no longer the same woman.
When she looked in the mirror in the mornings, her gaze was brighter, her steps more determined.
There were still times when she felt fragile; but now, this fragility didn't overshadow her strength.
Her relationship with Elif deepened into a profound friendship; they opened their hearts more to each other in the evenings where they drank coffee, were silent for long periods, and sometimes laughed heartily.
One day, Elif took Akel to an old circle of friends; there, she met a man named Ali.
Ali looked quiet, a little withdrawn at first glance; but his words were thoughtful, and his gaze was warm.
In the beginning, they only exchanged greetings, forming short sentences.
As the weeks passed, their conversations deepened; the books Ali talked about added a whole new colour to Akel's life.
Akel was able to smile without hiding or feeling ashamed for the first time when talking to someone.
Elif noticed this closeness; one evening, she winked at Akel:
— He looks good next to you, she said.
Akel's cheeks flushed; but the warmth she felt inside was something she hadn't experienced in a long time.
Time flowed like this; seasons changed, and the smell of the wind in the streets changed.
🌿✨
April 17th came, Elif's birthday.
In the evening, they gathered around an old table at the back of Elif's small bookstore.
There was laughter, silent glances, and new hopes in the candlelight.
That night, Akel remembered the day Elif first gave her the notebook;
that small step where she learned to believe in herself…
She was a braver, stronger woman now.
And she had friends by her side, someone who helped her believe in herself, and the story she still carried in her heart.
That night, Akel whispered softly inside:
"I'm still here… And for the first time, I feel like myself."
A few days after Elif's birthday, Ali messaged Akel one afternoon:
— Shall we take a walk after work?
Akel couldn't prevent her heart from racing at first; but then, with a sincere smile:
— Okay, she replied.
The city was slowly turning into evening; the cobblestones still carried the day's warmth.
They walked side by side; first short sentences, then silence…
But this silence wasn't uncomfortable; instead, it enveloped both of them.
Ali suddenly stopped speaking; then, looking down at the ground, he spoke:
— When I talk to you… I feel like myself.
Akel felt a lump in her throat; old fears, old wounds flared up in her heart for a moment.
But there was such a calmness, such an honesty in Ali's voice; Akel took a step through those fears.
— Me too, she said. I'm not afraid when I'm with you…
Maybe I'm still hurt, maybe I'm still wounded… but I'm not afraid.
Time passed; seasons changed, and Akel's heart changed too.
Now, Ali was not just a coincidence in her life, but a man who walked beside her, who truly saw her.
Neither of them said big words, perhaps; but everyone knew they were a "we".
🌿✨
One afternoon, Akel stopped by Elif's shop; she had an old photo of her daughter in her hand.
She held it with her fingertips, looking at it for a long time.
Elif was at the other end of the shop; Ali quietly sat next to Akel.
Akel couldn't speak for a while; her eyes welled up as she looked at the photo:
— I miss her so much… Whenever I feel strong, she comes to my mind.
Not being able to reach her… It's still like a wound inside me.
Ali didn't say anything.
He simply placed his hand over Akel's, slowly squeezing her fingers.
At that moment, he did something no words could: he silently shared Akel's burden.
Akel closed her eyes, took a deep breath; she felt the warmth next to her.
"I'm not alone anymore…" she thought.
"I have someone who believes in me. Someone who holds my hand while carrying my wounds…"
That evening, Elif watched them from afar and smiled.
Because she knew: Akel was holding onto not only life but also love again.
They walked a few steps more in silence; the soft light of the street lamps fell over them like a gentle shadow.
Ali hesitantly reached for Akel's hand; Akel's fingers seemed to withdraw at first,
then slowly nestled into his palm.
Neither of them spoke.
At that moment, they didn't need words anyway.
Akel realized that for the first time, she was walking beside someone without feeling incomplete.
And she whispered softly inside:
"Maybe I am worthy of being loved…"
🌿✨
That evening, the rain was tapping lightly on the windows; the city was silent, the streetlights hazy.
Akel was making tea in the kitchen; Ali was sitting on the sofa, leaning his head back.
When Akel came and sat beside him, Ali silently stretched out his arm; Akel rested her head on his shoulder.
They didn't speak for a while; there was only the sound of the rain and the steam from the teacup.
Ali stroked the ends of her hair; his fingers rested on Akel's shoulder.
This touch didn't alleviate all of Akel's fears, perhaps, but it softened the silence of that moment.
Akel closed her eyes, whispering softly:
"I don't feel incomplete when I'm with you…"
Ali just bowed his head and gently touched her forehead:
"Because you are already whole, you just needed to believe it."
That sentence left a warmth within Akel; after a long time, she felt whole, sufficient, and loved.
🌿✨
A few minutes later, Akel took a deep breath; still resting her head on Ali's shoulder, she spoke, her voice slightly trembling:
"I need to see her… maybe talk, touch… I have to do something. I don't want to wait in fear anymore."
Ali listened silently; his gaze was soft but determined:
"We'll do whatever is necessary. Lawyer, petition… If needed, you'll step into the shadow of your old life again; but this time, you won't be alone."
Akel paused for a moment; her breath hitched, her heart was racing.
"What if it doesn't work? What if she gets hurt?" she thought.
But then she held Ali's hand; feeling that warmth, real courage rose within her for the first time through her fears.
"Okay," she said. "I'll try this time… I'll remind her that I am her mother."
Ali nodded; his gaze met the depths of Akel's eyes.
"You won't just remind her… You'll show her."
That night, Akel wasn't afraid to make a plan for the first time.
Because she knew: Now, she had someone by her side who multiplied not only love but also courage.
🌿✨
A few days later, they were in a lawyer's office with Ali.
The lawyer listened carefully, took notes, and examined the old documents.
"It won't be easy," he said, "But we can take a step for the child's best interest."
Akel's heart was pounding; her hands were sweating.
Ali, however, was next to her, calmly holding her hand; that touch eased Akel's breathing slightly.
The lawyer:
"We will prepare a petition; your ex-husband has the right to object, but don't worry," he said.
Ali:
"We are prepared for everything," he replied; his voice filled Akel with strength.
Leaving the office, Akel whispered in a slightly trembling voice:
"After years… I'm finally doing something."
Ali smiled:
"You're not just doing something… You're fighting."
At that moment, Akel felt a slight pride amidst her fears.
This time, instead of running, she was looking for a way forward.
🌿✨
The legal process would be long, and Akel was impatient to see her daughter.
Just then, Ali had a suggestion: to see her daughter silently, even from a distance.
This idea excited Akel, and she wanted to do it immediately.
A few weeks later, they were standing at the edge of a park with Ali.
Akel's heart was beating wildly in her chest; she struggled to breathe.
In the distance, a small girl was swinging on the swings; her hair was tied up, her cheeks were rosy.
Tears silently streamed from Akel's eyes as she watched; her fingers trembled.
"That's… my daughter…"
Ali stood silently beside her, saying nothing.
He just gently touched Akel's shoulder; that touch was stronger than any word.
Akel watched her daughter; minutes felt like hours.
She saw her daughter's smile, her hair flying in the wind on the swing…
And she made a silent, powerful vow internally:
"One day… I will touch you again."
🌿✨
That afternoon, they were sitting at the small table at the back of Elif's bookstore.
The smell of old books on the shelves, a gentle breeze from the window… A thin steam rose from the teacups.
Elif looked at her silently:
"You… have changed a lot, Akel," she said. "Your eyes are brighter now. There's a different light inside you."
Akel was silent at first; words got caught in her throat.
Then she took a deep breath, fixing her gaze on the cup as she spoke:
"Ali… didn't just bring love into my life, Elif. He also brought me back my self-belief. You know, sometimes I still have fears… But when he's by my side, those fears shrink."
Elif smiled silently, nodding her head.
Akel continued:
"When I took the first step to see my daughter, my hands were shaking. But he held my hand without saying a single word. Sometimes, a person can change your world just by touching you…"
She paused for a moment; her eyes welled up, but she didn't cry this time.
"For the first time after a long time… I felt worthy. When Ali is by my side, even the broken pieces of the past hurt less."
Elif's voice was soft and calm:
"You were always worthy, Akel. But sometimes, a person needs someone next to them to remind them, so they can believe in themselves."
Akel nodded; a thin smile appeared on her face.
"Yes… And I think I found that person."
As the pale light of the sunset filtered into the shop through the window, Akel whispered, truly believing it for the first time:
"I'm not afraid to be myself anymore."
🌿✨
As the first light of the morning was still filtering through the grey curtains, the alarm clock pulled Akel out of her sleep.
When she opened her eyes, she tried to remember where she was for a moment; then she felt Ali's breath close to her ear.
She smiled faintly; she took a deep breath without lifting her head:
"A new day…"
She hastily made coffee in the kitchen; she glanced at her agenda:
Reports due at work, new machine training on the production floor, a meeting with the lawyer at noon, a short get-together with Ali in the evening…
And the heaviest burden she carried in the deepest part of her heart: Her daughter.
As she looked out the bus window, thoughts tangled in her mind:
"What if it doesn't work… what if my old life finds me again… But what if it does… what if I can touch her…"
When she arrived at work, the noise on the production floor was louder than usual, and the phones were ringing non-stop.
She was giving instructions to the employees while checking incoming emails; her head was spinning, but she couldn't stop.
"Be strong, Akel… one more day will pass."
A quick meeting with the lawyer at noon:
"Your ex-husband's objection petition has arrived," the lawyer said. "But the process is ongoing. Don't worry."
Akel's heart tightened; her hands trembled.
"I'm not afraid…" she repeated inwardly; but the little girl inside her was still timid.
Sitting wearily at her desk in the late afternoon, a message popped up on her phone screen from Ali:
"Remember… you are not alone."
Her eyes filled with tears; a tired smile appeared on her lips.
She put her head in her hands for a moment; her thoughts, fears, and hopes were a complete mess…
But even at that moment, there was a strength stubbornly beating in a deep part of her heart:
"Keep going, Akel… don't give up."
🌿✨
Walking to the lawyer's office after work, Akel's heart was racing again; her hands were sweating.
Her fears were still talking; but this time, she had the courage Ali had given her by her side.
The lawyer placed the file on his desk; looking over his glasses, he spoke in a gentle voice:
"I have good news, Ms. Akel," he said. "Your ex-husband's objection has been denied; the court found your application serious. Your request for visitation has been accepted; you will officially be able to see your daughter soon."
Akel felt a lump in her throat; she couldn't breathe for a moment.
Her eyes filled up, her lips trembled; but she didn't cry this time.
She only asked softly, in a faint voice:
"Is that real?"
The lawyer smiled:
"It's real. Not everything is over yet; but the first door has been unlatched. You now have an official right."
Leaving the lawyer, Akel's heart felt like it was going to burst; she was breathless.
"I have to tell Ali… He needs to be the first to hear it…"
She rushed home; quickly turned the key, and opened the door excitedly.
"Ali! Good news…" she called out, but suddenly stopped at the living room door.
Ali and Elif were sitting side by side on the sofa.
Elif's eyes were slightly red; Ali's hand was resting on Elif's shoulder.
At that moment, silence filled the entire room.
The joy in Akel's heart suddenly crashed to the floor; her breath caught.
Her bag slipped from her fingers and fell, a faint sound echoing.
She didn't say anything for a moment; an old wound reopened in her heart:
"Again?… Will I be alone again?"
🌿✨
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months.
Akel woke up early in the morning; she quickly got ready without talking to anyone, took her usual bus, and went to work.
As soon as she stepped into work, time sped up; she lost track of the day amidst the machine noise, the smell of paper, reports, and endless meetings.
After work, sometimes even breathing felt difficult from exhaustion; but it was this very tiredness that comforted her the most.
Because the more tired she was, the less she thought…
About Ali, Elif, her past… And most of all, her daughter…
When she returned home in the evening, she quickly prepared her dinner; most of the time, she left without even eating half of it.
In her bedroom, there was a notebook on the side:
A notebook full of sentences that started with her daughter's name, short notes like;
"I thought of you today…" "I have so much to tell you one day…"
That notebook was her biggest secret and her most silent friend.
Sometimes she woke up in the middle of the night, went to the kitchen, opened and closed the cupboard door; her breath was caught, her heart was racing.
Then she looked in the mirror and whispered to herself:
"Keep going… Stay strong…"
At work, she was a completely different person; tougher, more careful, speaking less but working more…
Over time, she caught the attention of the management;
"Akel is very hardworking, reliable," they said.
Some evenings, she took on extra shifts; just to avoid going home early.
Months passed; the pain related to Ali turned into a dull void.
Still, sometimes suddenly, walking under a street lamp, a sharp ache of loneliness would grip her.
At that moment, she would turn her head so that no one would see her eyes well up.
But every morning, as she got ready with those tired hands and left the door, there was always a single sentence in her mind:
"One day… I will return stronger for my daughter."
And that sentence was enough to get Akel out of bed every morning.
🌿✨
That morning also started no differently from the others.
She woke up early, took a quick glance at herself in the mirror, packed her bag, and silently left the house.
As she walked through the cold corridors of the factory, her mind was already immersed in reports, order lists, and the delivery deadline.
When she sat down at her desk, she saw a flashing notification on her phone:
"New document from your lawyer"
She stared at it for a few seconds; her heart suddenly started racing.
Her hands slightly trembling, she opened the phone and began reading the email:
"The court has found your request for supervised visitation with your child appropriate. The date and time of the visit have been set. Please call as soon as possible for more information."
Her breath caught as her eyes scanned the lines.
Fear and hope mixed in her heart; her palms sweated.
"Is this… real?… Will I really be able to see her?"
A colleague from the next desk asked her something; but Akel didn't even hear.
She felt a knot in her throat and a sudden warmth in her eyes.
"No… don't cry now…" she whispered to herself; she sniffled and took a deep breath.
She put her hands on her knees and sat there for a while, closing her eyes.
She heard the small, timid voice inside her:
"Maybe this time… it will really happen…"
She called her lawyer and learned the details; she took a short leave at noon to pick up the documents.
Her heart was still pounding wildly; but this time, it was less fear and more the excitement of taking a real step for the first time.
She still felt shaky when she returned to her desk; but a single sentence echoed in her mind:
"I'm going to see my daughter… I'm really going to see her."
🌿✨
She got up early in the morning; she had barely slept all night.
Even the dark circles under her eyes couldn't suppress this excitement when she looked in the mirror.
With trembling hands, she tied her hair up, put on a simple dress; she checked her bag repeatedly: ID, court papers, tissues…
Her heart was pounding as if it would burst from her chest on the way to the visitation room.
"What if she doesn't recognize me… what if she doesn't look at me…" she thought; a lump formed in her throat.
The attendant opened the door to the small waiting room:
"Are you ready?" he asked.
Akel swallowed; her eyes filled with tears, she nodded.
Time stopped for a moment when she entered the room.
Across the room, a small girl with long, thin hair resting on her shoulders was standing there; she was looking around with shy eyes.
Those eyes… the eyes that carried the part of Akel that resembled her the most…
Akel's lips trembled; her legs felt like jelly.
"Hello…" she said in a faint voice.
The girl lifted her head slightly, their eyes met; for a moment, the world fell silent.
Akel was afraid; perhaps that the girl would give her a cold reception, or turn her back on her…
But the small girl took a hesitant step; then another step…
Akel also approached with trembling steps.
And suddenly, the girl opened her thin arms and softly hugged Akel.
Akel inhaled her scent; the burden of years streamed from her eyes like a flood.
Only a whisper escaped her lips:
"My dear daughter…"
The girl silently nodded; she breathed into Akel's chest.
At that moment, all the fears, regrets, shortcomings… everything fell silent.
Only their heartbeats remained.
🌿✨
When the visitation time was over, Akel's heart ached again as they separated;
but this time, that ache also carried hope.
She took a deep breath as she walked out; she looked up at the sky.
Her eyes were still wet; but there was a thin smile on her lips.
"Everything is not over… It's just beginning now."
And for the first time, Akel didn't feel incomplete; she felt whole.
After years of loneliness, fear, and brokenness…
Now, she was bravely stepping onto the most difficult, but most real journey of her life.
🌿✨
That evening on her way home, she looked at her own face reflected in the bus window.
There were still salty traces on the sides of her eyes; but her gaze was brighter than it had ever been.
"I'm still here…" she whispered to herself. "And this time, I'm here for myself."
Silence greeted her again when she entered the house.
This silence used to frighten her; now, it was like a companion.
She took off her coat and hung it on the rack; she took a deep breath.
She went to the kitchen, poured a glass of water; her palm was still trembling slightly.
But this trembling no longer came from weakness; it came from the weight of her emotions.
She looked in the mirror; she slowly smiled.
"You've changed, Akel…" she whispered. "And this is your story…"
🌿✨
When she lay down in bed that night, she closed her eyes; the scent of her daughter was still in her nose.
In her heart, both fear and hope… but most of all, a silent strength.
"One day… I will hug her more," she thought. "One day… I will tell her about myself."
A tear rolled down her cheek; it was cold when it touched the pillow.
But this time, that tear was shed not out of helplessness, but out of acceptance.
"No matter what happens now… I won't go back," she whispered to herself. "Because I also exist for myself now."
🌿✨
That night, she dreamt of her daughter; they were walking hand-in-hand in a sunny park.
The little girl looked up and smiled; Akel smiled back at her.
And for the first time, she felt a light in the place of the wound in her heart.
She was still tired when she woke up in the morning; but there was a silent victory in her heart.
One path might have ended, perhaps; but the real journey was just beginning.
"This time, I will walk, taking my wounds with me," she said. "And with every step, I will embrace myself a little more…"
And that day, Akel said "welcome" to the woman she saw in the mirror for the first time.
💫✨ THE END