The hallways of the university buzzed with relief, students stepping out of the exam hall in clusters, laughter echoing against the walls. Pages of memories, anxious late-night revisions, and endless coffee-fueled mornings had finally come to an end.
Sara stepped out too, her satchel slung carelessly over her shoulder, her steps light. A glow of satisfaction painted her face. Today wasn't just the end of her exams, it was the beginning of something new. Freedom. Relief. A chance to breathe again. She had finally graduated.
More than anything else, it was a chance to go back to him.
Her thoughts immediately went to Kairo. She hadn't seen him properly for two whole weeks, not after that night. That night, when his wounds had cracked open before her, when he had trusted her enough to share his pain, his rawest wounds. That night, when their lips had met, when their bodies had spoken a language that books could never teach, when he had whispered promises in her ear, about building a home, about building his own little family with her.
That night had changed something in her.
And yet, as much as she wanted to drown in him, she had forced herself to draw boundaries, to respect her own priorities. Exams had come first. Her future mattered. So, she had reduced their conversations to a bare minimum: a few texts, quick glances, short goodnights. Every word sent with longing, but restraint.
Now it was over.
Now, she was free to run into his arms, to feel his warmth, and kiss him endlessly, to let herself love him without the shadows of exams hovering. She had promised him that she would give all the love he craved but was denied.
Excitement bubbled in her chest as she stepped through the campus gates. Her fingers itched to grab her phone, to call him and say, I'm done, baby, come get me. Let's celebrate.
But her steps slowed.
And then, her face fell.
Her eyes sharpened, her chest tightened. The smile that had been on her lips a second ago slipped away, replaced with a wary stillness.
A man stood in front of her. Mid-fifties, his posture tall, his aura suffocating. He was dressed in a perfectly pressed suit, salt-and-pepper hair neatly combed back, a faint cologne of power and indifference clinging to him.
Her heart sank.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice steady but cold.
The man's eyes flickered over her face without emotion. "Today was the last day of your university," he said flatly. "And according to the court order, my responsibility toward you ends here."
Sara blinked at him, disbelief lacing her expression. Then a bitter laugh escaped her lips. "So you came here just to tell that?"
"Yes." His tone was sharp, arrogant, each word carrying the weight of dismissal and disgust.
"All these years, you were a burden on me. I regret giving birth to you. If your mother hadn't quit early, I wouldn't even have to take your responsibility forcefully. But today, thank god it ends. From this moment, there is nothing left between us."
Her chest hardened, anger rising.
He extended his hand, holding out a folded envelope. "This is your last allowance. From next month onward, you'll receive nothing from me. You have graduated now, grown up, and can survive on your own. I don't want to keep any kind of relationship with you."
Sara scoffed, her laughter cracked and bitter. "What kind of father says that to his daughter?"
For the first time, his lips curved into a smirk that sliced deeper than any insult. "I am a good father… to my son. But you? You stopped being my daughter the day you chose your mother over me. Still, I was generous enough to take care of you. Now, that generosity ends. From now on, Sara, you find your own way. Don't try to contact me ever."
He pressed the envelope into her hand and, without waiting for a response, turned on his feet. His polished shoes clicked against the pavement as he walked toward his sleek car, got in, and drove away.
Sara stood there, staring after him until the car vanished from her sight.
Her hand tightened around the envelope. Her chest ached with a hollow ache, but it was her mother's voice that came back to her, soft, fragile, but unforgettable.
"Sara, I'm sorry, baby. I had to leave you so early. But remember, until you find someone who truly loves you, you will be alone in this world. Until then, you will have to bear with your father. Be patient, no matter how cruel and selfish he gets. Don't be impulsive. Survive him until you graduate, until you stand on your own feet. Then, only then, free yourself. Until that day, don't provoke him. If you do, your life will only get harder, baby."
Her throat burned. She closed her eyes and, with trembling fingers, crushed the envelope in her hand. The paper crackled under her grip, the sharp edges cutting her palm, as if reminding her that life had always been unfair to her.
A tear slipped down her cheek, hot and silent. She didn't wait, didn't breathe another second in that space heavy with his absence. She turned and ran. Ran until her chest hurt, until the city blurred, until the ache inside her drowned the noise of everything around her.
Back in her apartment, silence embraced her like a cold companion.
Hours passed. The sky shifted from gold to crimson, and finally to the deep blues of evening.
And then the doorbell rang.
Sara wiped her face, forcing herself to her feet, and opened the door.
"Ma'am, this is for you," a delivery boy said, smiling, holding out a massive bouquet of flowers.
Sara blinked, taken aback. "Who sent this?"
"Some guy… called Kairo."
Her lips twitched, despite herself, into a small, warm smile. This guy… how on earth did he suddenly turn so romantic?
She took the bouquet, the heavy flowers cradled in her arms, and noticed the envelope tucked within. Her heart fluttered.
"Thank you," she smiled, and the delivery boy left.
As she shut the door behind her, her phone buzzed. Nora's name flashed on the screen.
"Yes, Nora?" she answered.
"Babe! How were your exams?" Nora's voice was excited, full of energy.
Sara smiled faintly. "They went well."
"Really? Then let's party tonight! I'm coming over!"
"Okay, come." She disconnected, her heart still fluttering with the bouquet in her hands.
Her eyes returned to the envelope. A nervous excitement filled her chest. She opened it carefully.
The first line made her giggle instantly.
"My dear soda glass…"
She pressed her palm to her face, blushing. "Oh my God, this man…"
"I know you're blushing while reading this letter."
Her cheeks burned brighter. She squirmed, laughing softly to herself.
"I hope your exams went well. Now I'm going to tell you something really important. Since your exams are over, it's time you knew the truth. " She breathed.
"That night we spent together? You feltincredible…." Her smile faltered.
"You know what the best part was? Watching you beg, crying, thinking you'd finally won my heart. God, I'm proud of myself for fooling the great 'Soda Glass', the girl who gave me such a hard time pursuing. I still can't believe you actually fell for my love trap and gave in that day."
Tears blurred Sara's eyes.
Her eyes raced over the words, her fingers trembling.
"Really, Soda Glass? You thought if you asked for my heart, I'd give it to you? Damn, what a fool. You think the great Kairo, who has the best of the best girls in college under him, would ever fall for you?"
Her heart clenched, a physical pain ripping through her chest.
"You know what? you challenged me that day, and I don't like to be challenged. I wanted to win at any cost. And I did. So goodbye. By the way, it was fun while it lasted. And Ohh yeah, you tasted good haa... So now, after all this, if you have any self-respect left, don't ever cross my path again."
Goodbye, Soda Glass."
The words blurred through the flood of tears that filled her eyes. Her body went cold. Her hands trembled so violently that the letter slipped from her grip, falling to the floor.
Her head spun. The walls around her tilted. The air felt heavy, suffocating.
"No…" Her whisper cracked, broken. "No… this isn't… he can't.. after all that...."
Her knees gave way, her body collapsing to the ground with a dull thud.
The bouquet toppled beside her, petals scattering on the floor. The mocking letter lay open, its words carved into her mind, poisoning her heart.
Her world had been built on fragile hope, on promises whispered in the dark. And in one cruel moment, it all shattered.
Her chest heaved. Her tears stained the floor. Her trust, her love, her faith, all lay broken, like the crumpled paper by her side.
Darkness wrapped around her.
And Sara let herself fall.