As I stared into the deep indigo of the night sky, the events played over and over in my mind. I was so lost in thought that morning arrived without my notice, the sun already beginning its slow ascent. With no phone, I had no way of knowing the exact time, but I guessed it was around six. I had to get up and get ready for school. What a miserable fucking life this was.
If I ended up in prison, I knew I'd even miss this wretched existence.
A knock came at the door. I pulled the sheet over myself and pretended to be asleep. After several more knocks, my mother's voice called through, "Son, are you still sleeping? You'll be late!"
My best bet was to play sick. Since I'd never lied about such things before, maybe she'd believe me. My mother approached my bed, tilting her head slightly, the lines around her eyes looking tired yet patient. "Get up — I made eggs. Eat them before they get cold," she said.
In a low voice, my shoulders slumping slightly, I said, "Mom... I don't feel well. Could I skip school today?"
My mother placed her hand on my forehead, waited silently for a few seconds, then nodded slightly. "You don't have a fever, but rest today. You can go to school tomorrow."
"Okay," I said. A silent thank God escaped me. There was no way I could've gone to school in this state.
Exhaustion, hunger, and stress... I felt like I'd aged a decade in one night. My mother would leave for work soon. Then I'd need to bag those clothes and dump them in a trash bin a few streets away. In the evening, I planned to scout around that vacant lot to see if the police had noticed anything. But first, I needed rest — a single misstep could ruin everything.
I pushed the window open. A rush of cool air flooded the room, making my hair flutter slightly. I closed my eyes, forcing myself to rest even as memories flashed behind my eyelids.
When my eyes closed, I found myself in a forest. Bushes swayed gently as hundreds of red eyes stared at me through the mist. Distant screams made me shudder; a tremor ran through my shoulders. I had to run. I started running, but it felt like gravity had intensified, each step becoming heavier. The red eyes drew closer. "A dream!" I realized. Yes, this was a dream. I pinched myself and felt no pain. A faint smile touched my lips as I thought, "This should be fun. Come on then — bring it on!"
I jolted awake and was back in the real world. Looking out the window, the sun stood directly overhead, and leaves rustled softly in the garden breeze. My mother had already left for work. I immediately bagged the clothes. When I opened the door, a wave of heat struck my face. Squinting, I muttered to myself, "Mersin is literally Turkey's gateway to hell."
I took the bag, wandered a bit, tossed it into the nearest trash bin, and walked away. Now all I had to do was wait for the evening. That vacant lot remained my objective, and the slightest mistake could change everything.
© Arif_Ergünöz, 2025. All rights reserved.