Chapter 36
I wasn’t a man of many words. In fact, I liked to believe my actions spoke for me, but today…
I had a lot to say. The desperation was undeniable.
Eda had taken a bullet for me. I never thought anyone could love another person enough to risk their own life.
But she had. And now, here I was, racing with her once again to the makeshift ICU in my house.
“Murat, listen carefully, I need you to do something for me right now,” I said urgently. “I’m heading home with Eda and Can as we speak.”
“Yes, Ayaz. Did something happen to Eda?”
“The rescue operation went wrong and she took a bullet; she’s got a serious injury and needs a doctor we can trust. I need you to find Doctor Tabor and let him know what’s happening.
Tell him it’s an emergency, that Eda’s been shot.
Tell him to get to the mansion as fast as he can to save her life. ”
“Understood,” he replied, grasping the seriousness of the situation. “Stay calm, everything will be all right. I’m hoping for the best.”
“Thank you, Murat. I’m trusting you to handle this while I take care of my family,” I added, grateful. “I’m racing home now—we need to get there as fast as possible because she’s losing a lot of blood. They’re all I have and I can’t lose them. Make sure the doctor is ready for us.”
“I’ll take care of everything. We’ll be ready when you arrive.”
With that, I placed Eda’s unconscious body in the back seat of my car and my son in his car seat up front, then sped off toward the mansion, my heart heavy with the hope that Doctor Tabor could save her life.
Time was critical, and I would do anything to protect my family.
As I raced at full speed, I talked to her—she couldn’t hear me or respond, but I still needed to pour out my heart.
“Eda, please, hang on! I know it hurts, but I need you to stay with me. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.”
[Silence]
“I just wish I’d taken that bullet instead of you. I can’t bear to lose you. You’re everything to me, my love!”
[More Silence]
“I know you’re fighting; you’re strong. You’re the bravest person I’ve ever known. And I promise I’ll be right here with you, no matter what happens.”
[A deafening silence]
“I love you, Eda; more than anything in this world. Please, don’t leave me. I need you.”
[The silence shifted from deafening to desperate]
“I promise everything will be okay. We’ll get through this together. I just need you to hang on. Please, my life… hang on.”
Inside the car, with Eda lying fragile and wounded in the back seat, I drove desperately toward my house, tears in my eyes.
“Eda, please, don’t leave me,” I begged, my voice trembling. “You’re my life.” I sobbed. “Hold on through the pain, my life. I know you’re suffering, but we’ll reach the mansion soon. Doctor Tabor will take care of you and everything will be fine, I promise.”
Tears streamed down my face as the car sped through the streets, every obstacle feeling like an eternity. Eda remained unconscious, her body motionless in the back seat. Can seemed to understand the gravity of the situation and stayed quiet in his car seat beside me.
“You’re strong, Eda,” I stammered, my voice choked. “Fight for us, for me, for our son. Don’t let anything separate us.” I took a deep breath. “Please, come back to me. Our son needs you… I need you.”
The words came out of me like a prayer, as if the power of my voice could bring her back. The car radio whispered a soft song, but all I could hear was the sound of my broken heart as I continued to beg Eda to hang on, because deep down, I knew our love could overcome any obstacle.
As soon as I arrived at the Yavuz mansion, I anxiously checked the clock, hoping the doctor was already there waiting for us.
As they lifted her from the back seat of my car, I hugged my son and closed my eyes for a moment, praying silently that somehow my prayers would be answered and Eda would recover.
“Please, Doctor Tabor, do whatever it takes,” I said urgently. “Save Eda. She’s my reason for living. She’s the love of my life.”
I paced back and forth in the living room, my expression worried, my heart racing.
Why did she do it?
Why did Eda take the bullet for me?
I remembered the moment it all happened with perfect clarity. I felt helpless, not knowing what to do. I blamed myself for not being fast enough to stop her, for not being able to protect her.
She had always been so strong, brave, and selfless.
I sat down in one of the armchairs next to my mother and closed my eyes for a moment. I knew I needed to stay calm, but I couldn’t hold back the tears.
Please, let her be okay, I begged silently.
I no longer knew what I’d do without her.
After what felt like an eternity, the doctor appeared and told me Eda was out of danger. I couldn’t contain myself and hugged him.
“Thank you, thank you so much!” I said with relief. “I owe her everything. Eda saved my life.” I smiled to myself, happy knowing my love was safe.
“There’s just one thing, Ayaz: Eda has slipped into a deep coma from the trauma she suffered. We have no way of predicting when she’ll wake up—or if she ever will.”
My world collapsed for the second time that day.
She’d been in a coma for some time, but I never lost hope. I talked to her every day, begging her not to die. My son and I needed her—needed to feel her touch, hear her voice, see her smile again.
Eda was a warrior—she always had been. Strong, brave, and determined. She loved life and everything it had to offer. I’d never met anyone like her. And now, watching her lie in bed fighting for her life, my admiration for her only grew.
I trusted Doctor Tabor completely. He and his team were the best in the city, and I knew they’d do everything they could to save her. But at the end of the day, all I could do was wait. I even learned to pray.
I’d never been a religious man, but now... well, my prayers were constant. I prayed for Eda to wake up and come back to us. For her to make a full recovery so we could continue our life together.
I didn’t know what the future held, but I was certain I’d do everything in my power to keep Eda and our son safe and happy. And while she fought for her life, I’d be here, by her side, fighting with her.
The boom of the bullet echoing like a distant scream—that sound would haunt me forever. My breathing turned to ragged gasps, my heart pounding in my chest as if trying to escape the anguish that crashed over me every time I remembered the scene. The world around me slowed, becoming a blur.
The image of Eda crumpled on the ground, her white blouse stained red, her eyes staring into nothing—it was a memory that wouldn’t leave me. She’d taken that bullet in my place, protecting me with unwavering courage.
That room had become our private nightmare, filled with medical equipment and monitors blinking without end.
Eda lay in the bed, connected to tubes and wires.
Days dragged on like years in that room.
The woman I loved was in a deep coma, and I stayed by her side every minute.
Her skin was pale and fragile, her face so serene, as if she were only sleeping.
I held her hand tight, as if my life depended on it—because it did.
I talked to her every day, whispering words of hope, happy memories, and vows of eternal love.
I told her about our son, the baby who grew bigger every day, and how much he needed her—just as I did.
I promised we’d do everything to make our family happy, that we’d raise our Can together, that he’d hear stories of her courage and determination.
With each beat of her heart echoing on the monitors, mine filled with hope. I begged her to wake up, to hear me, to know how much I loved her and needed her. Sometimes my words were interrupted by silent tears running down my face, but I never gave up.
The doctors told us the coma was caused by the trauma and that they couldn’t predict when she’d wake up—or if she ever would. But I knew our love was stronger than any medical diagnosis.
Day after day, I sat beside her, sharing our secrets and dreams. Sometimes I sang her favorite songs, whispering the lyrics like a mantra. Hope and pain mingled in my heart, but I never let the darkness take over. Not when our family depended on it.
With each new dawn, I looked at Eda and prayed this would be the day her eyes opened, that her sweet voice would fill the house again.
Until then, I’d keep talking to her, keep begging her not to die, because she was my world, and our son needed her as much as I did.
Love, time, and hope were my weapons, and I was willing to fight with everything I had to bring her back.
“Eda, my love...” My voice trembled. “Look, Can is here. He’s so small, so helpless, and he needs his mother so much. You’re the light of our lives.” I swallowed hard. “Please, don’t leave us.”
Can babbled in my arms as I gently stroked his little head.
“Did you hear that?” I asked, tears in my eyes. “He sat up by himself for the first time yesterday, Eda.” I wept silently. “We need you—your sweet voice, your smile that brightens our days.”
I gently caressed her pale face and kissed her forehead.
“You can’t leave, Eda,” I begged, desperate. “You’re my life, my reason for living. I have so many plans and dreams for the two of us and our son.” I looked at Can. “He’s going to grow up, and he needs the incredible mother he has.”
Can stirred in my arms, as if he understood, as if he were responding and joining his father in that desperate plea.
“I promise, Eda, I’ll be here every step of the way,” I added, my voice firm. “I’ll take care of Can and give him all the love I have, but you need to be here with us too. We need you.” I held her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“I know you can hear my voice, even if you're somewhere deep inside this coma.” I caressed her hair lovingly. “Please, Eda, wake up for us. I love you more than words can express, and I can't imagine life without you.”
I lowered my head, kissing her hand gently, and continued to caress Can, hoping my words would reach her heart and bring her back to us.