After that night, everything felt heavier. Not just risky… but painful. We didn't meet the next day. Not on the terrace. Not anywhere. It wasn't planned, but it happened. Maybe both of us understood that things had gone too far. Maybe we were scared. Or maybe… we didn't know what to do anymore.
I tried to stay normal. I really did. I stayed in my room more, avoided looking outside, avoided even the smallest chances of seeing her. But no matter what I did, my mind kept going back to that moment. Her inside my room. Her voice. Her "I wanted to." And that one word… "yes."
Days started passing slowly. Too slowly. It felt like time itself was dragging just to make everything harder. Sometimes I would hear her voice from outside, talking to her brother or her mom, and my heart would react instantly. I would stop whatever I was doing… just to listen. But I never went out. I never tried to meet her.
Because now… it wasn't just about us.
It was about consequences.
And I knew… one mistake could end everything.
On the third day, something changed.
I was sitting in my room when I heard loud voices from outside. Not normal voices. Not casual talking. It was her mother.
Angry.
Very angry.
I stood up immediately and moved closer to the door, trying to hear clearly.
"Why were you on the terrace that day?" her mother's voice was sharp.
My heart stopped.
This was it.
She found out.
"I… I just went for fresh air…" Ammy's voice came, low and nervous.
"Don't lie to me!" her mother snapped.
Silence.
Heavy silence.
I felt my chest tighten.
"I've been watching you," her mother continued. "You think I don't notice anything? You think I'm blind?"
My hands started shaking.
This was going too far.
"From now on," her mother said, her voice cold, "you will not go to the terrace. Not alone. Not ever."
It felt like someone just hit me.
Hard.
The terrace…
Gone.
Just like that.
I waited for Ammy to say something.
Anything.
But she didn't.
There was no reply.
No argument.
Nothing.
And somehow…
That silence hurt more than anything.
That night, I couldn't sleep.
Not because of fear.
But because of something worse.
Distance.
For the first time since she came into my life… I felt far from her.
Completely.
The next day, I saw her.
After many days.
She was outside, near the gate, standing with her brother. I stepped out slowly, trying to act normal. Our eyes met for a second.
Just one second.
But it felt different.
There was no smile.
No comfort.
Just… distance.
And pain.
She looked away first.
And that hurt.
More than anything else.
I wanted to talk to her.
Ask her if she was okay.
Tell her that everything would be fine.
But I couldn't.
Because now… even standing near her felt dangerous.
Days passed like this.
Silent.
Empty.
Until one evening…
Everything changed again.
It was around sunset. I was on the terrace alone, after making sure no one was around. It felt strange being there without her. Empty.
And then—
I heard footsteps.
I turned around.
And there she was.
Ammy.
Standing there.
Breathing fast.
Looking scared.
But she came.
"I'm not supposed to be here…" she said quickly.
"Then why did you come?" I asked.
She looked straight into my eyes.
"Because I can't stay away."
My heart skipped.
That one line broke everything inside me.
All the distance.
All the fear.
Everything.
I walked closer.
"But your mom—"
"I don't care," she said, interrupting me.
For the first time…
There was anger in her voice.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Anger.
And pain.
"She doesn't understand anything," she continued. "She doesn't know how I feel."
There was silence.
But this silence wasn't calm.
It was intense.
Emotional.
Real.
"Ammy…" I said softly.
But before I could say anything else—
She stepped closer.
And suddenly…
She hugged me.
Tightly.
Without warning.
Without thinking.
I froze.
Completely.
My mind stopped working.
All I could feel… was her.
Her heartbeat.
Her fear.
Her emotions.
Everything.
"I hate this…" she whispered.
"I hate hiding… I hate being scared… I hate staying away from you…"
Her voice broke.
And that moment…
Something inside me broke too.
I slowly placed my hand on her back.
Holding her.
Not caring about anything else.
Not the risk.
Not the consequences.
Nothing.
Because in that moment…
All that mattered…
Was her.
She didn't let go.
Her grip tightened around me as if she was scared that if she loosened it even for a second… I would disappear. I could feel her trembling slightly, her breath uneven, her heartbeat fast against my chest. For a moment, I didn't move. I just stood there, holding her, trying to understand everything she was feeling.
"I hate this…" she whispered again, her voice breaking. "I hate hiding… I hate being scared… I hate staying away from you…"
Her words hit deeper this time. This wasn't just fear anymore. This was pain.
"Ammy…" I said softly, placing my hand gently on her head, trying to calm her down. "We have to be careful…"
"I know," she interrupted, pulling back slightly but not letting go completely. "But how long? How long do we keep hiding like this?"
I didn't have an answer.
Because I was thinking the same thing.
There was silence between us again, but this time it wasn't awkward or calm. It was heavy. Filled with questions we couldn't answer.
She looked at me, her eyes slightly red, but still strong.
"What are we even doing?" she asked.
That question stayed in the air.
Simple… but dangerous.
I looked at her for a few seconds and then said quietly, "I don't know what this is… but I know I don't want it to end."
Her expression softened.
"And if it does?" she asked.
I felt something tighten inside my chest.
"It won't," I said, even though I wasn't completely sure.
She gave a small, sad smile.
"You don't know that…"
Before I could reply, we heard a noise again.
Not footsteps this time.
Voices.
From the stairs.
Both of us froze instantly.
Her face turned pale again.
"Mom…" she whispered.
Panic returned.
Faster than before.
Stronger than before.
"This time we're in the open…" I said under my breath.
There was no water tank nearby.
No place to hide.
No time to think.
The voices were getting closer.
"What do we do?" she asked, her fingers gripping my arm tightly.
I looked around quickly.
And then I saw it—the small corner behind the old wall, partially hidden from the direct view of the stairs.
"Come," I said, pulling her hand and moving quickly towards it.
We stood there, pressed close to the wall, trying to stay out of sight.
Too close again.
Closer than before.
I could feel her breath on my face.
Her fingers still holding onto me.
Neither of us moved.
The voices came closer.
Her mother stepped onto the terrace.
I could see her shadow.
My heart was beating so loud I was sure she would hear it.
"Ammy?" her voice echoed.
No reply.
She took a few steps forward.
If she came a little more…
We were done.
Completely.
I held my breath.
Ammy's grip tightened.
Seconds passed.
Long.
Painful.
Endless.
And then—
"Maybe she's downstairs…" her mother said to someone.
Another voice replied faintly.
"Hmm…"
And slowly…
The footsteps turned.
Moving away.
Back towards the stairs.
We stayed still.
Not trusting it.
Not yet.
Only when the sound completely disappeared…
Did we finally breathe.
At the same time.
She closed her eyes for a second, relief washing over her face.
"This is getting out of control…" she whispered.
I nodded.
Because she was right.
This wasn't just risky anymore.
This was dangerous.
Real danger.
She stepped back slightly, finally creating some distance between us.
But even then… her eyes didn't leave mine.
"We can't keep doing this like before," she said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
She hesitated.
And then said slowly—
"We have to be smarter…"
There was something different in her tone.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Something else.
Something stronger.
"What are you thinking?" I asked.
She looked around once, making sure no one was there.
And then came closer again.
Not as emotional this time.
But more… certain.
"There's a place," she said softly. "Behind the house… near the old storage area. No one goes there."
I frowned slightly.
"That's risky too."
"Everything is risky now," she replied instantly. "At least there… we won't be this scared every second."
She was right.
And I knew it.
"When?" I asked.
She paused.
Then said—
"Tomorrow."
My heart skipped.
"Tomorrow evening."
There was a strange mix of fear and excitement inside me.
A new step.
A bigger risk.
But also…
A stronger connection.
She turned to leave.
But before going…
She stopped.
Looked back at me.
And said softly—
"Don't be late…"
And this time…
She smiled.
A real smile.
Before disappearing down the stairs.
Leaving me alone on the terrace again.
But this time…
Not scared.
Not confused.
Just thinking one thing—
Tomorrow…
everything could change.
Again.