But he didn't leave. For the sake of his friend's respect, he didn't leave.

It was a rather an awkward dinner. They seldom talked and those conversations that occurred were because of Rose who tried to lift off the tension by unfolding to Nur Dylan and hers childhood stories.

When finally, to Nur's relief, the dinner was over, they went in the living room for some tea. When the table was served, Nur sat on the couch and sipped her tea nervously. Soon enough, Rose left. As the tea went by in small and awkward conversations, Dylan, at receiving a phone call, excused himself and left the room too.

It was only Nur and Daniel and she swore her hands shook terribly.

They were quiet, too quiet for Nur's own good until Daniel spoke, 'I know why you are here,' he looked at his phone then switched it off, 'but you won't get what you want.'

'Huh?' Nur was baffled. She did not like his tone and certainly, him.

'Take the money and leave.'

'What do you—'

'You know exactly what I mean. You heard us before and I don't care that you are Dylan's wife. If something—anything happens to him, I will fucking destroy you.'

'Excuse me? Are you threatening me in my house?' Nur never thought of speaking like this but she was unable to help herself.

'I am not threatening you, I am telling you. I know you people and what have you done to us in the name of your fucking religion—

'—you need to stop right there.' Nur interrupted. 'I highly respect you but if you say another word against my religion, I won't be able to be poised anymore.'

'And what can you even do? Go and take that gun out of your seat and shoot me. This is all you know. I am telling you, anything, I mean anything happens to him, I will take the gun and shoot you.' He said calmly and sat back. It was the exact moment that Dylan entered and switching his eyes between his wife and his friend, sat. There was one more short conversation between both of them before he too, left.

'What did he say?' Dylan asked once they saw him off.

'Not much,' Nur battled about it. She didn't want to tell him about the warning that rattled Nur's insides and how, on their second day of wedding, she was threatened to the core—how terrified his friend had made her. Yet there was Dylan's smile, his laugh, his curiosity and she gave in. 'He told me how lucky I am to have you.'

'Did he really say that?' He could not believe it.

'Yes,' she smiled at him, 'he really did.'

***

Nur pulls her coat closer to herself as she stretches her hand out to the wind.

How lovely has the wind been to her.

Always bringing blessings

Just to see her smile

Always there.

She lifts her eyes up to see the branches of the trees empty and dead. This cycle of nature always mystified Nur. Others might ignore it, discard this fact but for Nur, it is magic. Magic to see the dead tree growing green again; the sun hiding away and then, coming out to melt the snow. It seems as if Nature changes the lines of a drawing but time comes back and draws them back again. As if a vessel broke but  there was an aid of time and it was right how it was before. And how neatly does a time heals! Maybe a crack or two is left but everything is new again—better. How beautiful is the time itself but it has been mistreated for long enough.

'Told you to take the car,' Dylan tucks his hand in his pockets as he walks by her on the same pavement they once did before. They had a dinner in a restaurant on Dylan's demand and on Nur's demand, they are walking in pier that is on their home. 'See? You are shivering.'

'I am not,' Nur lies.

'Oh, are you not?' But she does shivers and even jumps and shrikes when Dylan places his cold hands right at the nape of her neck through her hijab.

'Dylan!' She scowls but he only laughs.

'What?'

'What what?'

'What do you mena by what?'

'I mean nothing by what. It is you who said what.'

'Yeah, but then you said what what after when I said what.'

'We are not making any sense,' Nur laughs with Dylan.

'And I thought we'll have super deep conversation.' He tucks her right hand out of her pocket, intertwines his finger with her and stuffs both hands inside his coat's pocket.

'What do you want to talk about?' Nur tries to hide her blush. It feels so good with his hand in hers that she almost can't believe it.

'About your passions, you dreams, your wishes, your favourites.'

Nur could not help but let out a laugh. 'My favourites? Really?'

Dylan looks at her as if it is unbelievable for her to show disbelief. 'Yeah, why not? Tell me about your favourite colour, your favourite outfit, your favourite memory, your favourite song, your favourite childhood friend. Tell me about your favourite story and your movie. Tell me why would you wear always wear that hijab and that shirt of yours. Tell me what fruit did you eat everyday because you got addicted to it. Tell me what is the joke that always makes you laugh and what is the secret you never told. Tell me everything about you, Nur. I want to know.'

Nur does not rise her head. She has no words. There is only a hint of smile and news of upcoming tears at the brim of her eyes. Oh, how long has she waited for this? How much lonely nights she spent to have him. 'But, it is just me, Dylan,' Dylan unconsciously rubs circles at the back her hand in the pocket.

'This is the point,' he says as they halt in front of the sea beneath them. Walking the pier after a meal has always been her favourite hobby. 'This is all I want.'

'Cheesy,' Nur comments.

But Dylan smiles and lifts his head up to the half moon that, among the clouds, behind the fingers of the boughs of the trees, still shines on the water.

Time it is. Nur understands. Wait until the moon is full and the crack of the vessel returns.

————————

I POSTED TWO CHAPTERS?! Yes, I did.

Tell me what do you think about Nur's philosophy about the time? About seasons and change.

What do you think about Daniel's warning? Should Nur have told Dylan? Or whatever she did was right?

How do you think the story is going?