Chapter 21

Kleena

Kleena woke with a start, the early morning light filtering through the window.

She reached out instinctively, her fingers brushing against the cool, empty space beside her. The absence of Erhan’s warmth sent a pang of confusion and hurt through her heart.

Where had he gone?

Why isn’t he here? Did last night mean nothing to him?

She got up and washed before leaving the bungalow. She made her way back to the hut and met Calla, who was just about to leave.

“Have you seen Erhan?”

Calla smiled. “He was back early, taking care of chores. He’s such a good being.”

Kleena nodded absentmindedly, a strange feeling in her gut making her uncomfortable. Determined to find him, she changed clothes quickly and stepped outside, hoping to clear her mind with a walk through the village.

The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden glow over the bustling community.

As she wandered through the village, she couldn’t help but notice the other couples around her, their happiness a stark contrast to the turmoil she felt inside her heart.

Near the well, a young couple laughed as they filled their water jars, their heads bent close together in a shared moment of intimacy.

Kleena’s heart ached at the sight, a reminder of the bond she longed for but that seemed to elude her.

Will we ever have that? Or was it just a fleeting moment?

Further along, an older couple worked side by side in their garden, their movements synchronized in a dance of familiarity and love.

The woman paused to wipe the sweat from her husband’s brow, a tender gesture that spoke volumes of their deep connection.

Kleena felt a pang of longing as she watched them, wishing she could experience that kind of enduring love.

Can Erhan and I ever reach that level of understanding and closeness?

Children played nearby, their laughter echoing through the village square. A pair of parents watched fondly, their hands intertwined as they shared a proud smile.

The sight of such unguarded affection made Kleena’s heart ache even more, highlighting the distance that seemed to have grown between her and Erhan since their night together.

Is it too much to hope for something like this with him? Or am I chasing an impossible dream?

Her thoughts drifted to her past, to the painful memories of her former fiancé’s betrayal. The heartbreak had left her wary of opening up again, yet with Erhan, she had felt something genuine, something worth risking her heart.

As the day unfolded, the answer to her heart’s question became painfully clear. Erhan was deliberately keeping his distance, his interactions with her minimal and evasive.

Every time she tried to approach him, he found a reason to slither away and busy himself with some task that required his immediate attention.

The villagers, oblivious to the tension between them, went about their day, leaving Kleena to wrestle with her growing frustration and confusion.

Why is he doing this? We shared something special last night. What changed?

The ache in her chest intensified as she watched Erhan avoid her. His retreat felt unnecessary and cowardly. She had never asked for promises of commitment, only honesty.

Hellbent on getting to the bottom of his behavior, she sought him out, her resolve hardening with each passing moment.

She found him alone by the well, his posture tense, as if bracing for a confrontation.

“Erhan,” she called out, her voice firm despite the tremor she felt inside.

He turned to face her, his expression unreadable. “Kleena,” he acknowledged curtly.

The coldness in his tone stung, but she pressed on. “We need to talk.”

He sighed, his eyes darting away from hers. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

Frustration flared within her, and she stepped closer, her hands clenched at her sides. “Why are you avoiding me? After what happened last night, I deserve an explanation.”

Erhan’s jaw tightened, his eyes finally meeting hers with a flash of anger. “It was a mistake, Kleena. A moment of weakness that shouldn’t have happened.”

His words were like a slap to her face, the harshness cutting deep. “A mistake?” she repeated, her voice breaking. “Is that all it was to you?”

“Yes,” he said, the word bitter on her soul. “And it can’t happen again.”

Kleena felt the sharp bite of rejection, her heart shattering at his words. “Why are you doing this? Why are you pushing me away?”

Erhan’s eyes blazed with a mix of pain and fury. “Because it’s better this way. You deserve someone who can give you what you need, someone who isn’t… broken .”

Tears welled in her eyes, but she fought them back, her voice trembling with emotion. “You’re not broken, Erhan. You just don’t want to believe you deserve happiness.”

His expression hardened, the walls around his heart fortified against her words. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I know you’re scared,” she murmured, her voice softening. “But I’m here, Erhan. I’m not asking for promises or guarantees. Just don’t shut me out.”

Why can’t he see that I care for him, flaws and all?

Erhan shook his head, the conflict within him tearing him apart. “You don’t understand, Kleena. I can’t .”

“Can’t or won’t?” she demanded, her voice rising. “There’s a difference, Erhan. One means you’re scared, and the other means you don’t care.”

He whirled away from her, his hands clenched into fists. “It doesn’t matter. Either way, it’s not going to work.”

“Why are you so determined to sabotage this?” Kleena cried, stepping in front of him to force him to look at her. “I thought we had something real.”

Erhan’s eyes flashed with anguish. “You don’t get it. My past… it’s not something I can escape from. I’m not the person you think I am.”

Kleena’s heart ached at the pain in his voice. “Then help me understand, Erhan. Let me in. We can face it together.”

“I don’t need your pity,” he snapped, his words laced with bitterness. “I’ve lived my entire life being told I don’t deserve happiness. I won’t drag you into that.”

“I’m not offering pity,” Kleena whispered, her eyes searching his. “I’m offering love. But you have to let me in.”

For a second, it looked like Erhan’s resolve wavered, the vulnerability in her eyes perhaps breaking through his defenses.

But he quickly shook his head and the mask returned. “I’m sorry, Kleena.” His voice cracked. “I can’t give you what you want.”

The finality in his tone shattered her resolve, and she felt the sting of tears blurring her vision. With her heart in her throat, she turned and fled from his presence, the weight of his rejection crushing her spirit. She ran blindly through the village, salty tears blurring the world around her as she sought solace in the depths of the forest.

Her breath came in ragged gasps as she stumbled to a stop, the trees around her a blur of green and brown.

She sank to the ground, her body shaking with sobs as the emotional turmoil of Erhan’s rejection deepened the wound left by her former fiancé.

Why does it always end like this? Why do I keep letting myself hope?

Kleena buried her face in her hands, the ache in her chest growing unbearable. She had believed, if only for a moment, that she and Erhan could find a way to be together.

She had dared to let her heart lead her, let it spin dreams and weave hope that fooled her soul into thinking it could be healed by the touch of another.

Now, that hope seemed like a cruel joke, withering under the harshness of his words.

Am I destined to always be alone? Is something wrong with me?

She was left questioning everything that had transpired between them, the intimacy they had shared now a source of pain and confusion.

Thinking back on the previous night, she couldn’t help but feel betrayed. Every touch, every hushed word, every lingering kiss felt so real, so raw, and so intense.

Their time together didn’t feel like just sex for the sake of it. It felt like they were sealing their connection in the most profound and beautiful way.

She sighed, running a hand through her messy hair.

Maybe she really was a fool who read too much into what happened between them. It clearly meant nothing to him. It had just been a night of pleasure that carried no emotional attachments.

As she sat there, alone in the forest, she wondered if she would ever be able to trust her heart again.