The door opened slowly...
The father entered first...
He knew Ahmed had returned... he was the one who opened the door for him...
But—
He didn't expect what he would see.
His steps stopped suddenly.
In the corner of the garage...
Under a dim light...
Ahmed was... asleep.
And beside him—
Irina.
Very close to him.
The father froze in his place... his expression changed... shock... then a heavy silence.
As for Haruki...
He didn't speak.
Instead... he slowly took out his phone.
📸
He took a photo.
He took a step forward... then another... his eyes never leaving Ahmed.
He said in a low... but terrifying voice:
— Ahmed...
Ahmed didn't move.
— Ahmed!
Louder this time.
Ahmed moved slightly... opened his eyes slowly...
And as soon as he focused his gaze—
He saw Haruki standing before him.
He froze.
That look... was not ordinary.
He sat up quickly... his heart beginning to beat wildly.
— U-uncle Haruki...
Haruki stepped closer... and said in a sharp tone:
— Get up.
— And explain.
Ahmed looked quickly to his side... Irina was still asleep... peacefully... as if she were far away from all of this.
Ahmed said quickly and in a low voice:
— Lower your voice... she's sleeping...
— I'll explain everything... just let's go outside.
The father's voice came from behind... calm... but heavy:
— I hope you have an explanation...
Ahmed swallowed hard...
— Fine...
He stood up slowly... then said:
— One minute...
He entered the bathroom quickly... closed the door... turned on the water... and washed his face.
He raised his head... looked at himself in the mirror.
His eyes were tired... and his face was pale.
"The peace is over..."
He breathed deeply... then came out.
The three went out into the garden...
The air was cold... the sky was dark... full of stars.
They sat on the grass... but no one was comfortable.
The father said: — Start.
Ahmed took a deep breath... then began.
He told everything... from the beginning...
The kidnapping...
The fear...
The mine...
The darkness...
The long search...
The exhaustion...
Until he found her.
His voice would sometimes weaken... sometimes quicken...
Then he reached the most difficult moment.
He paused for a bit... then said:
— ...And she deceived me.
Haruki's look changed.
— Deceived you?
Ahmed nodded slowly:
— She asked me to close my eyes...
— Then... she put the ring on her hand...
He looked at his hand...
💍💍
He clenched it tightly.
Silence prevailed.
A heavy silence... as if the air had stopped.
Then Haruki said with cold irony:
— How naive of you, Ahmed.
Ahmed lowered his head... and said in a quiet voice:
— What did you want me to do...?
— My past returned suddenly...
— And I...
He stopped. He didn't finish.
The father looked at him for a long time... then said quietly:
— Do you realize... what you've put yourself into?
Ahmed didn't answer. He just... looked at the ground.
The stars were above them... but no one looked up.
And the silence... returned once more.