In his eagerness to get me home, dad had reserved me on a flight from Tallinn to Istanbul. Whoa, I'm in first class... it means I should brace myself to be grounded and in a world of trouble. That's dad's brand of tough love... nailing me with a velvet hammer, figuratively of course! I have a whole lot of explaining to do as to why I didn't contact him after being boat wrecked and lost. Fair enough, he would've been worried sick... I was wrong in doing that to him.

I take my aisle seat and stretch comfortably... and order a scotch on the rocks. Fellow passengers are starting to take their seats and I see a pair of stunning legs standing next to me. Still ogling her legs, I only hear her ask to be excused so she can take the seat by the window. My gentlemanly instincts kick in and I stand up, even though I didn't have to, and let her pass. She's as tall as me, wearing killer heels, her dirty blonde hair in a pony tail, impeccably dressed almost like a model, Caucasian or Turk I can't tell!

When she settles, now I look at her face and ask her if she'd like to get a drink. Duh! She smiles and says she can get her own. Suddenly something seems very familiar about her face and smile... like I've seen her before...and it's like she's having the same thoughts as me.

"Have we met before?" I ask her... and yet again it sounds like a pickup line. So I clarify "No, not that... you look very familiar! I'm Can Divit from Istanbul... and you are?" She shouts excitedly "CAN... really? I'm Polen... Ashcroft, we used to be neighbors in Istanbul when we were young... do you remember?" Awww shucks, Polen, I do remember her... she was about my age, half-British, used to be tall, lanky and a bookworm, she coached me in Math. I acknowledge that I do remember her and she reaches out to kiss me on both cheeks.

..

Over the next 3 hours, we both get reacquainted with each other. A few years ago her dad had passed away and her mom had moved back to Istanbul from London; her mom lives in the old neighborhood where our parents, Emre & I used to live as a family. She's a Physicist, a nerd and still a bookworm, and shuttles between London and Istanbul. I tell her about my adult life, travels, photography, and what not.

We both talk about growing out of our awkward teenager phases and I compliment her on... umm, growing into things! She reciprocates the compliment and touches my arm with a sense of familiarity.

...

I don't know how... but we wander into the subject of family and relationships. Our parents were friends before mine broke up... and apparently that had an impact on her family as well. Our moms were friends and confidants and they missed each other's company. It appears that the women reconnected a few years later in Europe, I obviously had no idea! Unasked, she tells me that she saw my mom not two weeks ago... and that she is well and always talking about me! "Stop." I tell her firmly... and she realizes she's crossed a line! We are silent for a few minutes and pretend to enjoy our drinks.
..

..

As a way of lightening the mood between us, she pulls me back into a conversation. She asks me if I remember us playing a game of spin the bottle when we were about 15. I guffaw and tell her I remember playing it a few times... but don't remember any bookworms doing it! She says that she remembers a time when we where playing together and it was in fact our turn to kiss each other. But I had a bit too much to drink and had passed out in the kissing booth! No wonder I don't have any memory of it... and I apologize to her. She surprises me with "I had a huge crush on you... wanted to kiss you badly!" I am speechless, I had no idea!

Yet again, unasked, she tells me she's single and but then proceeds to ask about me. I think about Luule's words and own up to the fact I am single... but hold back the fact I'm unsure if I'm available!

"I'll take that drink now... " she says with a smile!

..

My dad is apoplectic with anger and berates me heavily... for what feels like an hour! He did raise me, I'm a product of his love and care... but I think he fears that I'm more like my mom than either of us cares to admit, alas! I capitulate to all his demands and try to pacify him as best and I can... and get up to leave the scene. He yells at me and asks me where I'm going when I had just got back home. I tell him I'm having drinks and dinner with Polen. His raises an eyebrow and his eyes grow large in surprise. He remembers Polen and apparently had met her mom recently at a charity event. Well, what'd you know, both oldies had conspired to set us up on a date! Without words, its very clear to me, he's so glad that we met each other on own... and he thinks she's a perfect match for me!

...

...

Polen and I have a great evening together... and a few more!

..

...

She's nearly perfect... a bit too perfect. She's cool and calm, smart and sophisticated, and more importantly friendly and loyal, one could do worse! She's ready, available, and makes it absolutely clear that she's mine if I want her.

...

We have a great relationship... a long distance one! She's unwilling to move to Istanbul and me to London. She has a great career, one that she had to break a lot of glass ceilings to attain, and so that's her first priority. What can I say of my priorities? I just don't want to be tied up or down! It suits us... neither of us is in a rush or wanting to settle down, we're committed but free, we are there for each other... she's more like a girl friend with benefits!

Being with Polen, takes me off the market and I don't have to incessantly explain myself to wanting suitors or curious family, ditto for her. I'm okay with the space and distance between us... I do live my life unscheduled and with nobody having any expectations of or from me.

Fact is, we both can live without each other!

...

..

Could she be the one? Hmmm..!

Author's Note: I think apathy & indifference ends more relationships than infidelity, jealousy or money troubles! Can's definitely both with Polen. When she realizes she could lose him, she's ready to make some major life changes for him. Reality is, she never had him!