Chapter 140 —The Blue Scarf

Narrator:

The car pulled up in front of the house with a slight crunch on the gravel. Aylin got out first. Her shoulders were tense, her hands clasped together, her stomach churning. She took a deep breath before opening the back door. As soon as she did, her brother Eros got out first, glancing quickly at the front of the house, assessing the place as if looking for key points that only he understood. He said nothing, but his eyes scanned everything carefully. Then her grandmother got out, moving slowly, without help, with the same attitude she had always had: look first, speak later.

Aylin hugged them both. She wrapped her arms tightly around her brother's neck; he didn't resist, but he didn't return the gesture effusively either. He just stood there, holding her wordlessly. She kissed the woman on the cheek, more gently, more consciously. She sensed in her a steadfastness that had not worn away with the years.

“They're here,” she whispered, and she steppe