Stay with me

Chapter 20 - Life goes on

The scream was creepy, desperate. It scared and at the same time sobering up. And came from the side of the exit to the roof. Everyone, as if on command, turned their heads there. A woman screamed. Pain and disgust distorted her face and it lost its age.

- Mother! - Mert rushed to her, but she stopped him with a movement of her hand and went to Talat standing on all fours. Her eyes burned with fierce anger.

"Stand up," she ordered, and he staggered to his feet. The woman looked into his swimming, crazy eyes and asked: - Where do you come such monsters? Where from? You do want women available for your perverted fantasies! Need to tarnish and cripple a worthy life? For what? Why did you stain her? What is her fault? For her purity and beauty?

- Yes! - Kivanc yelled and from rage, his eyes popped out of their sockets. Blood spray flew from his mouth, and the woman staggered back. - Yes! - He jabbed a finger at Omer. - He, so correct and principled, loved her - purely untouchable. And now, when my fingerprints are on her, can he love her?

Behind Omer, Defne sobbed and moaned. His reaction was lightning fast. He rushed from Denise's hands and grabbed Kivanc by the throat with one hand. Fingers tightened strongly. The bastard began to turn blue and gasp for air.

- Your fingerprints ?! - Omer scornfully threw to his face distorted by fear. - They are not and never will be! Not a single speck of dust touches Defne. You can't stain an angel. And you will choke in your mud.

Long beautiful fingers that knew how to be gentle and create beauty, and now squeezed the throat of a bastard, turned white. Kivanc's eyes rolled back and he began to wheeze. Denise jerked to drag Omer, but Defne was ahead of him. She darted to her husband, and with a trembling palm touched his shoulder.

- Beloved...

He unclenched his hands and turned quickly to her. Small, frightened, fragile, with her hair tousled and a tuxedo thrown over the dress, she looked pleadingly and with such piercing despair that Omer could not stand this look. With a groan, he hugged her and pressed her to his chest. Defne closed her eyes and grabbed the lapels of his jacket. She shook her head and, swallowing the words, she spoke frantically:

"Don't ... don't soil your hands ... he's not worth ... our lives ...

Omer breathed short and hoarse. His hands wandered chaotically across Defne's back. He pressed her to him with force, as if he wanted to absorb her, hide, warm ... and those standing around looked at them with a mixture of feelings tearing the soul. In men, eyes burned with anger and nerves pulsing on their cheeks. Mert and his mother stood in a tight hug. Tears flowed from the woman's eyes in an endless stream, and the boy, quite as an adult, stroked her head and spoke quietly in her ear.

Iz and Seda, who came running later, they watched the ugly scene with horror and keen sympathy for Defne.

Talat, holding his throat, lay on the gray concrete. He wheezed and spit upon curses. Sinan came closer and, scornfully kicking him in the side, asked:

- What will we do with this one? Call the police?

Defne started up. She raised her head and looked imploringly at Sinan, then at Tranba, and finally at Omer.

"Don't need the police," she pleaded. - Please!

- Defne?! Omer looked blankly into her face. - What do you mean do not need? Attempting rape is a crime. This bastard should answer for it.

- Omer, this is Turkey! Turkey! In half an hour, the whole press of Istanbul will be here. How so! Such a scandal. But they will not condemn him, but me! My name will be mixed with mud! I will be branded with shame. They will make fun of my relatives! They will say - a sluttish girl! The morning after the wedding she returned home ... seduced men ... grandmother will not survive this ... - Defne covered her face with her hands and burst into tears.