Aslaz Short Stories - Yabani

• Sensizlik - Chapter 12

Chapter 12:

Alaz stood in the completely silent living room, staring at the walls around him in a confused state as he felt extremely weird from the inside. Everything was so silent that he could hear the clock ticking with each passing second, which felt frightening. It was as if his conscience was telling him to do something, fix something as soon as possible... but unfortunately, he did not know what.

All he knew was that something was very unusual. Something wasn't right.

He frowned as sweat beads formed on his forehead, slowly slithering down causing him to shudder. For no apparent reason, his quickening heartbeat felt like a sign of closely looming trouble. It increased his concern to the point he felt anxiety taking over him. What was happening?

He took a step toward the room but instantly froze at the faint sound that reached his ear. Soft sobs echoed from a distant place, sending unsettling chills down his spine. In the next moment, realizing what it was, he practically spun and rushed to the balcony in haste.

"Kızım?!" He called out, sliding the door in a hurry as he entered. He frantically looked everywhere while repeating the name, "İşıl bebeğim where are you?" raising his voice a bit, he desperately looked around.

"Baba?" There was a weak whisper that ended his search. He turned around and found a small figure at the very corner of the balcony.

His five-year-old daughter, in her baby pink jumpsuit, sat on the concrete floor with her knees pulled up to her chest and arms wrapped around them. She raised her head and looked at him, cheeks puffed and eyes full of tears, as her loose curly hair fell over her shoulder.

"İşıl, what are you doing here, meleğim?" Worry cast over him as he paced quickly toward her and knelt down, sitting at her level.

"Baba..." the small voice cried with hiccups, looking at him with fear of something he couldn't point out. His distress increased as sweat beads appeared again on his forehead.

"I'm so... so scared." She spoke, looking around before holding the hand her father had forwarded toward her.

"Come here!" He immediately pulled her to him and picked her up in his arms. As he stood up, caressing her hair, she hugged him tightly with her tiny arms around his neck, "why are you scared, kızım? Look, you're fine, everything is fine." He continued to stroke her back as he spoke softly, assuring her.

"Hayır... nothing is fine." She shook her head rapidly, pulling her father closer as she sobbed louder.

"Shh, tamam İşıl, look at me." He gently insisted and tried to make her sit on the swing so he could look at her but she refused to leave him, tightening her arms around him.

"Don't leave me, don't put me down, baba!" She panicked, protesting with all her strength.

"Tamam, relax... I'm here, I'm with you." He paused, loosening the hug slightly as he wiped away her heavy tears. Even though he could feel his heart dropping second by second, he tried to keep his voice steady so he could assure his child, "So many tears? Are you planning to flood the house?"

"Nooo..." She pouted her quivering lips and denied fast shaking her head, making her baba smile at her.

"Then what is wrong, tell me? I'm here, we'll fix it right away."

"You're here..." blinking her eyes as if trying to understand his words, she repeated, "buradasın."

"Of course aşkım, buradayım." Continuing to brush away her tears, he placed a kiss on her forehead. He still couldn't shrug off the uneasiness that was surrounding him. His chest felt heavy, making him feel that he had a ton of weight on him, suppressing his airway.