She lay still.
Morning.
Sunlight slowly poured through the window onto the bed. A soft warmth spread across the room.
Ela was still drowsy with sleep.
Suddenly, her phone started ringing.
"Mom" — Seeing the name on the screen, Ela sat up with a start.
Beside her, Adriss was already awake, though his eyes were closed. He was still holding her gently.
The phone kept ringing. Ela's heartbeat raced.
Ela whispered:
— "My mom! She doesn't even know I'm here…!"
She reached out for the phone and answered the call.
— "Hello, Mom…"
Her mother's voice came through, worried:
— "Where are you? I called you all night. I was so worried about you!"
Ela's voice trembled:
— "I... I'm okay, Mom. I was out… with some friends…"
Adriss looked at Ela and gave a faint smile, then lowered his face to her shoulder.
Ela felt tears gather in her chest—guilt and a strange ache.
She tried to reassure her mother:
— "I'll be home by noon. Please don't worry."
She ended the call and lay quietly.
Her mind swirled with a thousand questions. What was she doing? What did this relationship mean? How would she ever face her mother again?
Adriss spoke softly:
— "Are you okay?"
Ela didn't reply. She just kept staring at the window.
The quiet morning suddenly felt unbearably heavy.
The room was silent.
Only the curtains moved gently in the breeze.
Ela sat on the edge of the bed, head bowed, eyes wet.
Adriss looked at her, wanting to say something, but her voice came first—
broken, trembling.
Ela:
— "What have you done to me, Adriss? I... I trusted you. In the end, I even gave you my body… How am I supposed to face anyone now?"
Her voice held grief, shame, and fear all at once.
She covered her face with both hands and couldn't stop crying.
Ela:
— "I never wanted this… Was it love? Or just a game?"
Adriss slowly came to sit beside her, reaching out to touch her,
but Ela flinched away.
Ela:
— "No… Just leave me alone."
Adriss froze. His eyes held a flicker of remorse, of hesitation.
He understood he had crossed some line…
Ela's heartbreak, her silent sobs, filled the room.
Scene: Ela sitting on the bed, tears in her eyes.
Ela spoke in a low voice:
— "You know I'm only eighteen… You don't know how broken I am right now."
Adriss looked at her for a moment.
His voice was deep and calm:
— "I know, Ela. That's why I won't do anything wrong. I never crossed your boundaries… and I never will."
Ela looked up at him in surprise.
Adriss stood and quietly brought her a blanket.
— "If you ever feel something for me, let it come on your own terms… and if you don't, that's okay. You are free, Ela."
Ela looked at him for a while.
Inside her, a strange mixture of pain and relief stirred.
---
Later, Ela and Adriss got into the Mercedes.
The morning light fell gently all around, the cool air of early day drifting in.
Ela stared silently ahead. Memories like thorns still pricked her mind.
Adriss quietly started the car.
The soft rumble of the engine carried them slowly down the street.
After a while, Adriss asked in a gentle voice:
— "What did your mom say on the phone?"
Ela kept gazing out the window.
— "She told me to be home by noon. She doesn't know anything…"
Adriss glanced at her.
— "I don't want you to be hurt, Ela. If you want, I can take you home right now."
Ela let out a weary sigh.
— "You wouldn't understand, Adriss… I feel like I'm caught in a storm."
The car moved through the city. Light traffic slowed them down, headlights glowing in the soft morning.
---
Then Ela got out of the car without a word.
Her eyes were tired, her heart restless.
Adriss watched silently—wanting to say something, but he didn't.
Just as she closed the door, he finally spoke:
— "Ela… don't blame yourself, please."
Ela didn't reply. She climbed the stairs, opened the door, and stepped inside her room.
The moment she closed the door behind her, she collapsed.
She lay on the bed and cried—quiet, muffled sobs.
Inside her, fear, guilt, and a faint, confusing love tangled together.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she whispered:
— "Why… Why did I do this? If Mom finds out… How will I ever face her?"
She slowly stood up, went into the bathroom, and splashed water on her face.
In the mirror, she saw her red eyes, her exhausted face—
and yet, somewhere, she found a fragment of strength.
Ela told herself:
— "I won't break. I have to decide now—who is truly with me, and who is against me."
---
Just then, her phone rang again.
Her hands trembling, she picked it up.
The name on the screen glowed: "Rafael."
Ela's eyes widened.
She paused, then answered.
— Ela: (her voice tight, almost breathless)
"Hello?"
— Rafael:
"Are you okay? I've been so worried. Where were you last night?"
Ela stayed silent for a moment, then replied:
— Ela:
"I... I was out. I just needed some time alone."
Rafael could tell something had happened.
His voice turned serious:
— Rafael:
"Were you crying? Eli, tell me the truth… Did Adriss do something to you?"
Ela felt a stab of fear, but her voice grew steady:
— Ela:
"No… I mean… I'm fine. Please, Rafael, don't ask me anything right now."
Rafael exhaled.
— Rafael:
"You know I'm here for you, right? Just say the word, and I'll come."
Ela's voice softened:
— Ela:
"Thank you, Rafael… You've always been like this."
They were both quiet for a while.
On the line, it felt like a hidden current of love pulsed between them.
But within that love, there was so much confusion, so much uncertainty.
---
After she hung up, Ela's mother suddenly walked into the room, her face worried.
— Mom:
"Ela, who were you talking to?"
Ela flinched, but quickly composed herself:
— Ela:
"No one, Mom… just a friend."
— Mom:
"Why does your face look so serious? Did something happen?"
Before Ela could answer, her eyes filled with tears.
Her mother came over and sat beside her.
— Mom:
"What is it, sweetheart? Why are your eyes so red?"
Ela braced herself, bowed her head, and said:
— Ela:
"Mom… I'm not okay. But I'll be fine. Just… give me some time."
Her mother hugged her close, kissed her forehead, and said softly:
— Mom:
"No matter what you do, never forget me… And if your heart feels heavy, tell me. Remember, I'm your mother—I'm always here."
Tears streamed down Ela's face.
In her mind, she thought:
— "Am I doing the right thing? Rafael, Adriss… It feels like my heart is being torn apart."
She stood up, picked up her bag, and looked at herself in the mirror—
eyes red, face weary.
Yet still, she whispered:
— Ela:
"Mom, I'm going out for a while. I'm going to see Rafael."
— Mom (softly):
"All right, sweetheart… Be careful."