The streets were empty, no one sight. It might have seemed as if the city was abandoned altogether if there were no awaiting mothers looking out from the balconies and windows, waiting for their beloved sons and husbands to come home.
There was a particular woman that stood out from the other few. She lived in the newly polished dusty-rose colored house which looked like it was new-built. The parts of the room that were seen from windows were also well dusted.
It was difficult to tell her apart at first sight from others besides the well-tended house. But if you looked more closely into her eyes for a few seconds you could see a glint of hope inside that despairful and tense expression. Perhaps that was why she was eager to keep her house as clean as possible. To show her family that she waited patiently for them to unite together at their home.
The mother was facing towards the blossomed plants that were hanged on her balcony’s railings, her thoughts were interrupted by a pebble creating a clanging noise after hitting one of the metal vases. The person that threw the small stone was a young blonde girl that lived on the house across the street. She signaling the older woman to come over with her right hand. The mother got up from her rocking chair and went inside her house to be outside 10 minutes later.
Before she was about to raise her hand towards the main door of the baby blue house to knock, the door slid open by the worried looking girl behind it. The woman couldn’t see the face of her clearly from across the street. But now she was affected by the expression of the girl also. She was planning to ask what happened after getting inside but before she could even mutter something out, a blue-eyed woman, which was the big sister of the little girl, expressed ‘’Ah Fadime, you are here finally! Don’t mind the attitude of my sister, she is always like this at these hours. Might be the setting sun that’s reminding her of our dad. ‘’ . She was carrying a plate of sigara boregi that smelled delightful which made the mother realize she didn’t put anything in her mouth since the morning. ‘’It’s been almost 4 years since the… war started. ‘’, the big sister sighed, ‘’She is not like other kids unfortunately and is aware of what is going on. ‘’
Before more words could come out of her mouth, a knock that could barely be heard came from the front door. The big sister left the plate of sigara boregi on the dining table and hurried towards the door. It was almost as if her world fell apart when she was the face of a particular postman in grey clothing. Both the little girl and Fadime knew what the postman was here to inform them about. Even though he didn’t say anything, everything could still be understood from the man’s agonized expression.
The little girl broke into tears and crashed onto Fadime to hug her with all her might, all the strength she had left. It was a horrifying scene to witness. Fadime wanted comfort the younger sister, but what could she say? Fadime could still function somehow without her husband and 18-year-old son. But these two girls only had their father. Had. Now they are both left in the hands of each other.
