Ida was walking through the streets, barely aware of the sounds and sights around her. There was a knot inside her, as if something was stuck in her throat, making it hard to breathe. The conversation she was about to have with Batuhan kept looping in her mind. Was she really going to tell him everything? Or would she run away again?
When she reached school, students were bustling through the hallways, laughing and chatting as usual. But within this crowd, Ida felt even more alone. With each step, the tension in her heart grew stronger.
When she entered the classroom and took her seat, Batuhan hadn't arrived yet. Her heart began to race. The thought of facing him was both comforting and terrifying. Even though she felt his support, the idea of sharing the secret she carried filled her with deep anxiety.
Classes had begun, but Ida was distracted. The words on the board blurred, and the teacher's voice sounded like a distant whisper. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the nightmares she had been having. In her dreams, she saw Atilla, Batuhan, and that uncontrollable power she possessed. The energy that came from her hands destroyed everything and hurt everyone.
When she noticed Batuhan entering the classroom, her heart tightened again. They didn't make eye contact, but Batuhan quietly took his usual spot in a corner. No matter how dark her inner turmoil grew, Batuhan's presence somehow gave her strength.
When the bell rang for recess, Batuhan slowly approached Ida. "Hey," he said in a calm tone, without looking at her judgmentally. "How are you feeling?"
Ida hesitated for a moment and lowered her gaze to her notebook. "I'm fine," she lied, but they both knew how empty that response was.
Batuhan noticed she wasn't being honest but didn't push her. "We can talk after school," he said gently. "There's no rush."
Ida just nodded, but the tension inside her continued to build. The rest of the classes passed in a fog. Time slowed down, yet the end of the school day drew nearer with each passing lesson. With every hour, the weight of the conversation she was going to have with Batuhan grew heavier.
When the final bell rang, students quickly filed out of the classroom. Ida, however, packed her bag slowly, feeling Batuhan approaching her. They quietly left the classroom together, the silence between them filling the air, but Batuhan was in no hurry. He was waiting for her to speak.
They walked towards a quiet park, under the shade of the trees. As they walked, Ida finally took a deep breath and turned to Batuhan. "I need to tell you something," she began, her voice trembling. When she lifted her eyes to look at Batuhan, she saw his reassuring gaze. That look eased her fear but also gave her the courage to tell him everything.
"I believe you won't judge me, no matter what," Ida continued, her eyes squinting slightly from the soft breeze in the park. "But… what I'm about to say might scare you."
Batuhan furrowed his brow slightly, listening intently. "I want to understand what's troubling you so much, Ida," he said softly. "You can trust me."
Ida sighed deeply, the weight in her heart slowly translating into words. "There's something in me, Batuhan," she said. "A power… but I can't control it. Sometimes, it feels like everything is spiraling out of control. And… this power can hurt others."
Batuhan appeared surprised, but he wasn't judging her. "What kind of power?" he asked gently.
Ida took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on the ground. Her voice trembled as she said, "Wait, I'll show you." Her hands shook slightly, but she had already made her decision. Under Batuhan's curious gaze, she bent down and carefully picked a fresh flower growing in the park. It was small and delicate, as if it could break at any moment.
Ida held the flower in her palm and gently closed her hands around it for two minutes. Time seemed to stand still for both of them. Batuhan held his breath, watching intently. She wasn't squeezing the flower, just holding it delicately in her hands. But the moment carried a heavy significance; the delicate flower in Ida's hand seemed to teeter between life and death.
After a while, Ida slowly opened her hands. The green leaves of the flower first turned yellow, then brown. Within seconds, the flower had completely withered and nearly turned to dust. Batuhan's eyes widened in amazement, his breath quickened. What he saw was beyond comprehension. The living flower Ida had held was now dead and lifeless.
Ida avoided Batuhan's gaze, her face filled with growing guilt and fear. Her lips quivered as tears began to stream down her cheeks. "You see," she whispered in a hoarse voice, pulling her hands back quickly and looking at her palms. "Everything I touch dies."
Batuhan remained silent, his eyes fixed on Ida's hands. He realized he was witnessing something incredible, but there was no fear in him for Ida. There was only astonishment and perhaps a bit of sadness. Seeing her suffer so much placed a heavy burden on his heart.
Ida continued speaking through her tears. "This… this is why I didn't want to tell you. I thought you'd be scared. Because even I'm scared of myself, Batuhan. Every time I get close to someone, every time I touch someone… I hurt them. I don't know how to stop it." Her voice became increasingly choked with sobs.
Batuhan paused for a moment to digest Ida's words. No matter how frightening what he saw was, his feelings for Ida and his desire to help her were stronger. He couldn't take his eyes off her hands, but within him, there was a deep empathy and sorrow rather than fear.
"Ida," he began, his voice still soft and calm. "I can't imagine how hard this must be, but this isn't your fault. We won't let this power control you. We'll find a way. I promise."
Ida looked at Batuhan through her tears. Knowing that even getting close to him could be dangerous deepened her sense of loneliness. "But… what if I hurt you too?" she whispered. "I can't even get close to you…"
Batuhan didn't take a step back, instead, he stared steadily into Ida's eyes. "You don't have to touch me," he said with a faint smile. "I'm here, and I'll always be by your side. We don't need physical contact. We're both here, and that's enough."
Ida felt somewhat comforted by Batuhan's words. Though tears still streamed down her cheeks, feeling Batuhan's presence reassured her. For the first time, she experienced the relief of sharing her terrible secret and having someone willing to help her without judgment.
"How will I control this, Batuhan?" she asked, lowering her gaze again. "I don't want this power to dominate me. But I don't know how to do it…"
Batuhan took a deep breath before responding. "I don't know," he admitted honestly. "But you're not alone. We'll research, find a way. We'll do whatever it takes. What matters now is that you know you're not alone. No matter what, I'll be with you."
Ida felt some of her worries lighten in the face of Batuhan's determination. For the first time, she realized she didn't have to carry this burden alone. No matter how difficult and scary it was, she had someone who believed in her and supported her without judgment.