The Seal Stone

rs were loud enough to wake me from my sleep. Someone was arguing, and I was certai

ed on the steps to listen and figure ou

y. Get him out of here," Cesur said. The sharp, disrespectful

posed to go?" my

y had he felt the need to hide something like that from me when

not to send her into the wood

esur's clothes, his hair was neat, and his face was completely unscathed-not a single scratch or bruis

wanted to make sure I hadn't heard what was said. I didn't know how much of the

years, had clearly lied to me. And the other man-the childhoo

wanted to demand an explanation from Cesur as to why we had to leave. I wanted to scream that I wasn't going anywhere. He owed me

ence, verifying that he

urned away from me, walked toward my grandfather, placed his hand

nfident, I might have curs

nto the porch. Without looking back, he

ing my bare feet, I bolted after him down the stony path. I didn't care if

ing him tightly so he wouldn't go. It didn't matter where he had been all these

of relief washed over me. "I don't want to go," I

repeate

wanted to kill him right th

ind you,"

s from his neck and pushed his hands off my wais

wanted him to find me, but one thing was certain: I was leaving.

wiping my cheeks with the back of my

same spot. I sat down on one of the stools beside him. Even though

he was still the most charismatic man I knew. He wasn't the type to bow down to anyone, nor would he let anyone crush me. Seeing him si

hand over his. "Besides, you always wanted me to go

I cut him off. Seeing that he was still t

good opportunity," I said, trying to sound hopeful. "We can stay with my aunt for a bit u

ether," I added happily, clapping my hands to break the gloo

ontagious, and his tension

d to leave at the first light of dawn. I booked our tickets onlin

pped out onto the porch one last time while my grandfather lo

, the angrier I became-mostly at myself for being naive eno