Crashing Into You

You're Amazing

After her important lunch meeting with Mr. Adnan, Hale chose to finish the rest of the day working from home. The meeting was still lingering in her mind. By the time she sat down at her desk, she felt mentally and emotionally drained. Yet the hope and excitement simmering inside her kept her going.

After hours of staring at her computer screen, her eyes had begun to burn. The glow of the monitor stung her vision, while the constant stream of thoughts running through her head only made the exhaustion worse. Eventually, she closed her laptop and glanced at the clock. It was already evening.

“I don't have the energy to cook,” she muttered to herself. Not that there was anything particularly appetizing in her kitchen anyway. She wanted to go out and enjoy a good meal. Hale was the kind of woman who genuinely enjoyed her own company. She never felt the need to always be surrounded by people.

Sometimes a quiet dinner alone brought her more peace than a crowded table ever could. The weather had turned chilly. A short but heavy rain earlier in the day had left the streets wet, preparing the city for a cool, damp evening. Hale slipped on her long coat and pulled the collar of her thin turtleneck higher around her neck.

She tied her hair back, applied a touch of makeup, gave herself one last glance in the mirror, and headed out. She had always shared a special connection with the city. At night, it wrapped around her like a warm bowl of soup. Tonight was no different. She already knew exactly where she wanted to go.

A restaurant she loved. Comfortable. Peaceful. Familiar. As soon as she settled into her seat, she promised herself a quiet evening. She looked around, took a deep breath, and let herself relax. When her meal arrived, it felt as though her soul was fed before her stomach.

Later, on her way home, she stopped by a pastry shop and picked out a small cake. She wanted the evening to leave a sweet taste behind. Unfortunately, the drive home didn't go quite as planned. The traffic wasn't moving. At first, she assumed it was just the usual congestion. Then she checked the map.

There had been an accident ahead. Leaning back in her seat, disappointment quickly gave way to exhaustion. Her eyes drifted toward the rearview mirror. Headlights stretched endlessly through the darkness. The city was alive. But the silence settling inside her chest felt heavier than ever.

Wanting something sweet, she reached for the pastry box on the passenger seat. She pulled out an éclair. The exact moment she took a bite, her phone screen lit up.

Cihangir. She let out a startled squeak. At the same time, the bite nearly went down the wrong way. Coughing immediately, she grabbed her phone. Not because of the éclair. Because of the shock. “Hello? Cihangir?” Her voice came out weak and slightly hoarse.

“Hey.” His voice was exactly the same. Deep. Steady. Calm. Hale cleared her throat a few times before finally answering with a smile. “Hey.” “Did I call at a bad time?” Cihangir asked gently. “If you're busy, I can let you go.” “No!” Hale answered far too quickly. Then she laughed.

“I just choked a little. I'm fine. Really. How are you?” “Good.” There was a brief pause. “I just saw your messages. Sorry. How many days has it been now?” “It’s okay,” Hale replied softly. “I assumed it was work-related.” “Yeah,” he admitted. Just then, a wave of impatient car horns erupted around her.

Hale jumped slightly. The city seemed determined to remind her where she was. “Sorry,” she said. “I’m stuck in traffic. Can you repeat that?” “Are you free tomorrow morning?” Hale thought for a few seconds.She had an early meeting. But she could make time. “I have work, but I’m not too busy. I can probably make time.”

“Good.” Something warm slipped into Cihangir’s voice. “I'm glad.” A smile appeared on Hale’s face. “So am I.” At that exact moment, the car in front of her failed to move despite the green light. Hale slapped the horn. “Oh, come on! Move already!”

A laugh echoed through the phone. “Traffic?” This time his voice sounded noticeably lighter. “Unfortunately,” Hale replied, laughing despite herself. “Nobody's moving. I've been here for two hours and haven't even gone a kilometer.” “If you want, I can let you go. I don't want to distract you.”

“No.” The answer came instantly. Then she softened her tone. “I mean... you're not distracting me.” What she didn't say was that hearing his voice had already made her entire day better. For a few minutes, it felt like he was right beside her. The rain. The darkness. The traffic.

None of it mattered anymore. His voice brightened everything. They talked for a little while longer before finally ending the call. The rest of the drive passed with a smile she couldn't seem to get rid of. The next morning, Cihangir began his day the way he always did. Early. Disciplined. Predictable.

His breakfast was simple, yet carefully arranged. The eggs were cooked exactly the way he liked. The olives sat beside finely chopped greens. The coffee was prepared perfectly. To him, breakfast wasn't merely a necessity. It was a form of discipline. As he sat down at the table, his eyes kept drifting toward the clock.

Outwardly, it looked like any other morning. But somewhere near the edge of his heart, he knew it wasn't. Maybe for once, he wouldn't be eating breakfast alone. Across the city, Hale's morning was considerably less organized. When the alarm rang, she'd already been awake for several minutes. Getting out of bed was always the difficult part. But today felt important.

Today was the company's monthly meeting. And after everything she'd accomplished this year, she genuinely believed she had earned a promotion. Even before leaving bed, the possibility filled her with excitement. She spent more time than usual in front of the mirror. She wanted to look elegant.

Professional. Strong. While gently styling her hair into soft waves, she smiled at her reflection. “Today is my day.” But work wasn't the only thing making her heart race. She was having breakfast with Cihangir. For the first time.

The realization alone made her laugh at herself. Her heart shouldn't be beating this fast before breakfast. And yet it was. She slipped on a cream-colored coat, grabbed her bag, checked herself one final time, and sent him a message.

Hale:

I'm ready. You?

His reply arrived almost instantly.

Cihangir:

Downstairs.

It was astonishing how much emotion one simple message could contain. Moments later, she stepped outside. And there he was. Waiting. The collar of his black jacket slightly raised against the morning chill. One hand in his pocket. Phone in the other. As she walked toward him, she tried unsuccessfully to calm her heartbeat.

There was something about him that made her feel safe. And nervous. At the same time. “Good morning,” Hale sang softly. Cihangir turned toward her. His gaze was warm. Comforting. Yet somehow still reserved. “Good morning.” As he greeted her, his hand settled lightly against her waist. Just for a second.

The tiny gesture was enough to flood her chest with warmth. Without removing his hand, he reached toward the bags she was carrying. “Give those to me.” “Thank you.” Her smile carried genuine gratitude. As he took them, he asked casually, “Want to take one car?” “That would be nice, but I have several meetings today. I'll need mine.” “Hm.”

A moment later she added, “But I'd still like to go with you. We can take my car.” Cihangir nodded. Together, they headed toward it. The way he opened the door for her. The way their eyes met briefly in the mirror afterward. Every detail felt small. And meaningful.

The drive passed easily. At first they talked about ordinary things. The weather. Traffic. Nothing important. Yet somehow every sentence brought them a little closer. Hale could feel him glancing at her occasionally. She pretended not to notice.

Meanwhile, Cihangir realized he had found something in her smile and voice that he hadn't felt in a very long time. Warmth. When they arrived at the restaurant, Hale looked around. The place was elegant without being pretentious. Sunlight streamed softly through the windows, spilling across the tables. “This place is beautiful.”

For some reason, Cihangir accepted the comment as a compliment. “I'm glad you like it.” Breakfast turned out to be far more enjoyable than either of them had expected. Between the soft music and the peaceful atmosphere, conversation flowed effortlessly. It felt as though they were consuming words as eagerly as food. Hale laughed more than usual.

And Cihangir quietly committed every laugh to memory. With each passing minute, the invisible thread connecting them grew stronger. Then Hale's phone vibrated inside her purse. She glanced apologetically toward Cihangir before reaching for it. The moment she saw the caller ID, her posture changed completely. The relaxed warmth disappeared.

Professional focus took its place. “Good morning.” “Of course, thank you.” “You'll have the documents by tomorrow at the latest.” “Have a good day.” The call ended. And immediately her eyes lit up. She clapped her hands once like an excited child. The joy spilling from her was impossible to contain. Across the table, Cihangir watched in amused curiosity.

“That sounds like good news.” Hale turned toward him. Her eyes were shining. “I think I just landed the biggest client of the year.” The confidence in her voice sounded almost triumphant. Like someone who already knew she'd won. A genuine smile spread across Cihangir’s face. Her happiness was contagious. “That's incredible.”

And he meant every word. “Congratulations.” “Thank you.” Hale leaned back in her chair and allowed herself a moment to enjoy the feeling. Then she glanced at her empty tea glass. “Should we get more tea?” She grinned. “Victory tea tastes better when it's fresh.” Cihangir laughed and signaled the waiter.

The version of Hale sitting across from him this morning fascinated him. Confident. Happy. Alive. “I didn't realize you cared this much about your work.” Hale straightened slightly as the waiter replaced their glasses. She wasn't trying to sound impressive. She was simply being honest. “I don't usually say things like ‘my job is my passion.’” Then she smiled. “But yeah... this year I got a little stubborn.”

“Stubborn?” One of Cihangir’s brows lifted. “Last year, I was the only person who didn't get promoted.” Her smile faded slightly. “They blamed performance.” A quiet fire appeared behind her eyes. “Even though I gave more than enough.” She paused. “That was the day I decided something.” “What?” “If they refuse to give me what I've earned…”

She held his gaze without flinching. “I'll go get it myself.” Cihangir watched silently. She wasn't dramatic. She wasn't loud. But every word carried weight. Determination shone in her eyes. Life hadn't broken her. It had sharpened her. “Normally I'm not a particularly ambitious person,” Hale continued with a small shrug.

“But if I've worked hard for something and don't get what I deserve…” Her voice remained calm. Steady. “I don't sit around waiting.” A small smile touched her lips. “If they won't give it to me, I'll take it.” For a moment, Cihangir simply stared at her. He wasn't looking at a successful businesswoman anymore.

He was looking at a woman who stood firmly on her own feet. Someone who fought for herself. Someone who refused to depend on anyone else. Someone who knew how to fall. And how to get back up. Only one thought remained in his mind. And before he could stop himself, it escaped. “You're amazing.”

The unexpected sincerity of the compliment brought Hale to a complete stop. Her eyes widened slightly. Then she smiled. There was something shy about it. Something graceful. Yet her confidence still glowed beneath it. She lowered her head ever so slightly. A silent thank you. A small moment. But one neither of them would forget.