The Devil's Game

In which the devil is enticed. 4:23 p.m. – Istanbul, Turkey Shahzaib The child giggled in his arms. "Baba!" she chirped, small fingers pressing into his cheek. She isn’t your daughter. She’s your brother’s. His smile faltered. "Elif, meleğim... go play outside. Baba will be there soon." He kissed her on the crown of her head and handed her to the maid. Inside, dusk draped the city in copper. Nihan sat at the vanity, brushing her hair. "The maid said you didn’t take your pills," he said, loosening his tie. Nihan met his eyes in the mirror and stood. "I didn’t feel like it." He removed his blazer, poured a glass of water, and handed it to her with the pills. She took them. As he turned, she caught his wrist. "Stay." He hesitated. She pulled him down beside her, tracing his jaw, her leg draping over his lap. "Nihan..." he warned. Her hands unbuttoned his shirt. She kissed his neck. "Stop." She froze. "When will you marry me?" "Don’t ask me that again." She kissed him harder. He pushed her off and stood. "We had an understanding. This isn’t going to happen." She wrapped herself around him from behind. "I am yours. What’s stopping you?" "You were my brother’s wife." He broke free. "I want you to look after Elif. That’s all." "Everything is about her." "She’s your daughter." "And what am I? Just a mistake you can’t look at?" "There is nothing between us." "But what about that night? I didn’t stop you. I never have. I’m all you have." And that was the problem. He let her do whatever she wanted. He didn’t move. He hated it. He craved it. That night was a mistake. But maybe, just maybe, he still loved her. 8:00 a.m. – Ankara, Turkey Dilek "Ekbar Bakir’s stunning recovery after heart attack. Sources suggest his son’s death triggered the decline in health." Dilek crushed the paper. Her chest ached. She sat down, pressing a hand to her temple, sipping lukewarm tea. The breeze played with her hair. "Adeel!" she called. Stay strong. Always for him. She slipped on her watch and applied lipstick with reluctant precision. "Need help?" "N-no! I’m coming!" She caught Adeel mid-escape, hand in the cookie jar. "Adeel!" "Ellie! Dilek’s gone mad! Save me!" The neighbor, Aliyah, opened the door laughing and shut it with Adeel safely inside. Dilek groaned, rang the bell. "Merhaba. Chill," Aliyah said. Inside, Adeel looked guilty. "Ellie said you work too hard." Dilek ruffled his hair. "Is your hand stuck again?" She freed it and handed him a cookie. "I swear you’ll eat a child someday," Aliyah teased. "He won’t take his meds," Dilek muttered. "I feel like I’m missing something." "You’re not. You’ve done more than most mothers." Dilek didn’t smile. "He’ll be okay. After the surgery." "It’s not just that... It’s the money." Aliyah scowled. "That bastard grandfather of yours." "Let’s not." "I saw your bag on the counter." Dilek grabbed it, kissed Adeel, and left. In the cab, her thoughts spiraled. Adeel needed the surgery. At the office, her hair caught in the zipper of her bag. As the elevator doors closed, a shoe stopped them. A man stepped in. Coffee in hand. He stood beside her. Quiet. They stepped out. Their shoulders brushed. He paused to let her pass. She didn’t look back. Inside, her world was already shifting. Her only family was dying. And no one was coming to save them.