Angels Favorite Dream

He sat motionless in his chair, his eyes locked on the computer screen. Just a month ago, he had started working as a graphic designer at a company representing major brands. Today was his first payday, but instead of the promised 2,000 TL, there was only 1,000 TL in his bank account. Staring at the screen in disbelief, the weight of past failures bore down on him once again. He had walked away empty-handed from previous jobs as well, and seeing the same scenario unfold once more fueled his anger. Once again, his dream of long-term employment was shattered. He fumed at how companies could so easily disregard the hard work of their employees. He would have to start job hunting again, and HR personnel looking at his resume would see him as someone who "couldn’t hold down a job." Lost in thought, he felt a stronger sense of rebellion than ever before stir inside him. "I can’t stay in this city any longer. I don’t want to waste my life on meaningless jobs," he muttered. It was time for him to feel free and make a fresh start. A massive crowd of people commuting to work in the morning and returning home in the evening... Tired faces waiting in line for the bus, young people in cafes who had long given up talking about their dreams... Berk felt like he couldn’t even breathe when he was among these people. The city was a labyrinth; people, like mice, were trapped on the same paths, unable to find a way out. Every morning when he sat in front of that screen, the gray sky beyond the window turned into an inner voice shouting that he was on the wrong path. While being crushed under the pressures of city life, he remembered Butterfly Valley, where he had gone during his summer vacation. Located in southwestern Turkey, surrounded by steep cliffs and meeting the sea, this paradise was like a breath of fresh air for Berk. During that one-week vacation, he had felt the peace of sleeping under a sky full of stars and realized for the first time that it was possible to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the city. After the vacation, he had thought about volunteering in the valley, but the distant relationship with the business owners forced him to return to Istanbul. When he left, his coworkers had suggested Kabak Bay, a spot further down from Butterfly Valley. "Next time, go to Kabak. It’s much more peaceful there," they had told him. Now, even the thought of Kabak Bay created a wave of tranquility inside Berk. That paradise, shaded by olive and pine trees, seemed to be free of the burdens of modern life. The salty scent of the sea, mixed with the gentle breeze, evoked the simplicity of nature. Kabak Bay seemed like an opportunity to rediscover what freedom meant under the stars. Determined to make this dream, which was becoming clearer in his mind, a reality, Berk decided to take action. He had no choice but to try his luck by messaging four camps whose email addresses he had found. As he pressed the send button, a mix of emotions surged within him. Fear and hope intertwined. What if Kabak Bay wasn’t as peaceful as he imagined? What if this whole decision would lead him back to the same sense of entrapment? But he no longer had time to dwell on those questions. This was his only way out. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his trembling fingers as he pressed the button. In that moment, all the turmoil inside him gave way to a slight calmness. The next morning, Berk woke up to what seemed like an ordinary day. As he scrolled through his phone without getting out of bed, he noticed a reply from one of the camps he had messaged, and he sat up in excitement. "So soon?" he wondered. The email was from someone named Meral at Kabak Connection Camping. They were looking for someone to work as a bartender and asked if he was interested in sharing his phone number. Without even having his coffee, he sat down at his computer with great excitement and quickly sent his reply, including his phone number. He eagerly waited for his phone to ring, hoping for an interview that would allow him to resign from his current job. Deep inside, a hope for the free life he had been chasing for so long began to bloom. When his phone vibrated that afternoon, he saw an unfamiliar number on the screen. Trying to control his excitement, he quickly stepped out of the office and answered the call. “Hello, is this Mr. Berk?” said the voice on the other end, warm and friendly. “Yes, this is Berk. Hello,” he said, struggling to hide the excitement in his heart. “This is Meral from Kabak Connection Camping. We received your email, and your qualifications seem quite suitable for us. We're currently looking for a bartender—not a volunteer, but a paid position. Are you still interested?” Berk paused for a moment, trying to absorb the unexpected joy that had arisen within him. He had never thought he could earn money while living the life he dreamed of. “Of course, I’m interested,” he said, his eagerness made his voice waver. “When would you like me to start?” “It would be great if you could be here as soon as possible,” Meral replied. “We’re nearing the end of the season, but it’s still a busy time. How soon can you come?” Not wanting to miss this opportunity, Berk quickly decided. “I can leave tomorrow evening by bus,” he said. Meral’s voice sounded pleased. “Great! Then we’ll expect you here on Sunday afternoon. There are minibus services to the bay once you reach Fethiye. But if you have any trouble with transportation, call me; I’ll send someone to pick you up,” she added. She then briefly described the camp, the living conditions, and the tasks Berk would be responsible for. After hanging up, Berk felt as if he were walking on clouds. The life he had dreamed of was now just a few steps away—a simple, peaceful life by the sea, surrounded by nature. Yet, behind all this excitement lay a major obstacle—his family. Talking to his father about this decision, in particular, would be more difficult than he had expected. The tension from past arguments with his father filled him with unease. Whenever he made a decision that went against his father's wishes, their bond was strained—his father was even willing to stop talking to him if Berk insisted on his own choices. But this time, he was determined to choose his own path once again. Berk waited for the right moment to announce his decision to his family at dinner. Noticing that his parents were in good spirits, he took a deep breath and started to speak. “I have something I need to talk to you about,” he said. His father never liked it when Berk started a conversation like that. Sensing it was something troubling, he frowned. “What is it, Berk? What happened this time?” he asked, his voice concerned and slightly stern. Berk took a deep breath to calm the tension building inside him. “I got a job offer. They want me to work as a bartender at a camp in Kabak Bay, near Fethiye. We had an interview today, and... I accepted the offer.” His father remained silent. “Why did you make such a decision? Didn't you just start working at a new company? Are you leaving that job too?” he asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice. Berk had expected his father’s reaction. He tried to keep his voice calm as he replied. “Yes, I just started. But when I received my first paycheck, I realized they paid me half of what they had promised. Working in Istanbul has become both boring and exhausting for me. I feel trapped here. I can’t even breathe when I get on the bus in the morning. I don't want to spend years stuck in the same routine, with the same people, in the same dead end. I need a change in my life—a simpler way of living. This camp job seems like a way out; a chance to live more simply and meaningfully, surrounded by nature. Maybe this is exactly the change I've needed.” His father raised his eyebrows as he listened to Berk’s explanation. “If everyone quit their job whenever they felt like this, no one would stay in this city, Berk,” he said, shaking his head. “Feeling trapped at your age is normal. But you can’t give up so easily.” Berk stared at the crumbled bread crumbs on the table for a moment. Then, looking directly at his father, he spoke with courage. “This isn’t giving up, Dad. It’s time for me to do something for myself. Maybe I’ll find peace in Kabak, or maybe I won’t find anything at all. But if I don’t try, I’ll be stuck in the same cycle forever.” His father took a deep breath. Although there was a shadow of disappointment in his voice, he spoke in a softer tone this time. “I understand, Berk. You’ve always chosen to follow your own path, and that’s why we’ve had so many disagreements,” he said, and after a brief pause, he added something unexpected. “But this time, I’m not angry with you. Maybe you really need to go. Just know that no matter what happens, I’m behind you.” Berk hadn’t expected such support from his father. He was momentarily at a loss for words, then smiled slightly and said, “Thank you, Dad. It means a lot to me.” His father nodded with a reassuring smile. “May your journey be safe, son,” he said, then added with a hint of seriousness in his voice, “Just be careful and take care of yourself. We’re always behind you. Don’t forget that.” His mother joined the conversation with a worried look. “Son, are you sure about this decision? Maybe if you were a bit more patient here, everything would turn out differently,” she said, her voice trembling with concern. Berk looked into his mother’s eyes and smiled sadly. “Mom, I’m sure. This thought has been on my mind for a long time, but I never found the courage to act on it. What happened at my last job... it was the last straw. I’m not happy in Istanbul. I feel trapped. I have a strong feeling inside me that this change will be good for me.” His mother nodded thoughtfully. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes, but the love and support she felt for her son were more evident. “It’s your life, son. You know best. But please, take care of yourself, okay?” The support he received from his family brought Berk a deep sense of relief. Now, he would start his adventure with their approval and trust. The next morning, Berk went to the office to hand in his resignation to his manager, Mr. Hakan. Telling him that he was leaving a job he had started just a month ago didn’t bother him at all; the excitement of a new beginning overshadowed all his worries. Mr. Hakan lowered his glasses slightly to the tip of his nose as he read the resignation letter and shot a stern look at Berk. “Berk!” he finally burst out. “We invested quite a bit for you to start this position. We activated your insurance and bought new equipment. And now, just a month later, you’re resigning? We’re trying to establish some order here, and you’re leaving us in this situation. Are you aware of that?” He put the paper down on the table and continued, “And why did you decide to leave? What changed in your life?” Berk didn’t want to explain his underpaid salary or his plans to move to Kabak Bay. He thought these topics could lead to an unnecessary argument; he didn’t want to get into a long explanation. “Mr. Hakan,” he began calmly. “I understand that I’m putting you in a difficult position. However, some events in my personal life have made it impossible for me to work efficiently here. That’s why, if you permit, I’d like today to be my last day.” Berk’s explanation didn’t satisfy Mr. Hakan; in fact, it only fueled his anger. “If that’s what you want, there’s no need for you to stay until the end of the day. Pack your things now and leave.” This harsh attitude might have unsettled someone else, but on the contrary, Berk felt a deep sense of relief. As he gathered a few personal belongings from his desk, he was also leaving behind the weight of past failures. He felt once again that resigning was the right step to take. At this point, what mattered most to him was his own journey, not the expectations of others. When he got home, he excitedly started packing his bag. He carefully placed his clothes, personal care items, and a few books he had been wanting to read for a long time, into his bag. His mind buzzed with mixed thoughts as he packed. Would this decision really help him find the freedom and peace he was looking for? Although these questions crossed his mind from time to time, he had a deep belief inside; it was time to do something different. The only way to find what was right for him was to take a risk. Finally, he bought his bus ticket and, in the evening, went to the living room to say goodbye to his family. His mother, with a hint of worry in her eyes, hugged Berk. "Son, are you sure about your decision?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "Will moving away from Istanbul really be the solution?" Berk looked into his mother’s eyes and responded with a sincere smile. "Mom, I need this. I want to be in nature, to be alone for a while. Maybe I can find the balance I lost in Istanbul out there." His father took a deep breath and approached Berk. "I hope everything goes as you wish. Take care of yourself," he said, hugging him tightly. Feeling the support of his family gave Berk unexpected strength. After hugging his father, he slung his bag over his shoulder, left the house, and took his first steps toward the new adventure that awaited him.