The following day to that crazy frenzy in the hammam with both Adnan siblings, for which I felt like a total slut, was 12th of July, a date I won't be able to forget so easily as it had marked an after and before in my life. For a couple weeks, there had been an ongoing war among the countries of the former Balkan League of which I didn't understand the motive but that was no surprise, I never understood why all these little countries went into war when they could all be safe and peaceful if they became one with Russia, but anyways, the Ottoman Empire had stepped in and, as I walked down the stairs towards the dining room to have breakfast that morning, I heard Ayşe sobbing and a male voice I didn't recognise it to be of any of the house's staff. There was Sadiq talking to a man who looked like a General or a Colonel in the living room, with Ayşe sobbing, sitting in one of the sofas.

"The troops had started to mobilize in Çatalca and an attack to Edirne is planned for the next couple of days"

The man said, sipping in the tea that Heracles had served him. Sadiq hadn't even touched his and I could see his hands shaking a little, a fact that he tried to hide from the other man and, more especially, from his sister. When I came into the room, everyone became silent as Sadiq turned around to face me.

"Vanya"

I felt like bursting into tears. I didn't want to lose Sadiq and I knew he was being forced to go to that stupid war. Why did there have to be wars? That is something I would never understand. War only makes things worse for everyone. Without caring what they were going to think, I ran to Sadiq and hugged him, crying in his shoulder shamelessly.

"Sadiq, I don't want you to go. I don't want you to leave me. What is going to happen to me?"

I continued crying and crying until I felt like falling asleep. I could feel Sadiq's strong arms sneaking around my middle and hugging me tightly to his chest. I heard Ayşe also sobbing in the background and Heracles wasn't making a sound, I didn't know what he was feeling, I had no way of knowing, and, at that moment, I didn't care. Suddenly, the man cleared his throat and got up from the sofa. He told us that Sadiq was expected at the barracks the following morning to depart to Çatalca and then to the warfront in Bulgaria. Both Ayşe and I had sobbed harder when we heard how soon did Sadiq had to go. When the man finally left, Sadiq hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear.

"I'll have to go, there's no other way"

I wiped my tears wit the back of my hand as I continued to sob on his shoulder. He pulled back from the tight embrace and looked at me in the eyes with a serious expression on his face, even though I could tell that he was terrified because he had to go back and experience the horrors of war once again.

"You have to be strong, my love. I promise nothing will happen to me"

"Oh, Sadiq"

Ayşe said, with tears in her eyes as she approached her brother and hugged him. I stepped back to give the two siblings some privacy and retired to my room to cry.

That night, dinner was spent in complete silence, quiet sobs from me or Ayşe audible from time to time and it was finally bedtime, Sadiq asked me, with glassy eyes that practically glowed in the darkness of my room, to sleep with him. I accepted without further ado and we cuddled together. That night, there was no passion, just love, or what I thought was love. I was still inexperience when it came to love back then. Sadiq would kiss my cheek or whisper sweet nothings to me ear and I would hold him tighter to me, as if that was going to prevent him from leaving us. At that moment, I had stopped thinking and worrying about Ayşe's behaviour towards me, the only thing that mattered, was Sadiq.

When the early morning came, I was sweating from the heat and had to take a bath along with Sadiq, who had decided to join me, as it was still dark and we had half an hour before he had to leave for the barracks. We were sitting in opposite sides of the tub, looking at each other with fondness in our eyes, I could feel a tear sliding down my cheek as Sadiq approached me and kissed me passionately, cupping the back of my neck softly and running his fingers through my hair.

"I want to make love to you one last time"

Sadiq said to my ear as he began to kiss my neck, making me utter a few moans. I grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him back to look at him in the eyes, with a pained expression on my face.

"Don't say that. You will make love to me every day when you return"

Sadiq smiled at me and kissed me in the lips before circling my hidden entrance with the tip of his finger. I hummed with delight as he introduced his finger inside and, when the pain had subsided, I let him introduce a second one. He began fingering me with extreme care, kissing my neck fondly. He pulled his fingers out and pushed in his hard member. It was painful at first, as always, but the water acted like a lubricant. We weren't just doing it like we had several times; we were making love, actual love.

"I love you, Vanya"

Sadiq said breathlessly as he pounded in and out of me slowly, a pleasured expression on his handsome face. I caressed his cheek with my hand, looking up at him and enjoying the feeling of his stubble against my slender fingers.

"I love you too, Sadiq"

I wasn't about to question my feelings for Sadiq. He released inside of me a couple seconds later and I followed shortly after, my release mixing with the water and forcing us to get out of the large tub. He dried ourselves with towels, exchanging soft kisses and sweet words until the time finally came. I helped him get dressed in his military uniform, which, in other circumstances I would have admired, because it made him look so handsome. We went downstairs, where Heracles and Ayşe were waiting.

"Oh, brother"

Ayşe hugged her brother tightly and he hugged her back. He pulled back and kissed her cheek. She wiped her tears with a handkerchief, tilting her head to the side so he could not see her cry. Sadiq's eyes watered and mine did too. Heracles cleared his throat, he looked uncomfortable as he approached his master.

"The best of luck, Sadiq bey"

Sadiq hugged Heracles, who looked surprised but hugged him back. When they pulled away, he turned around to face me.

"Take care of my sister when I'm not here, Vanya. You and she are the most precious things I have in this world"

I sniffed and nodded, hugging Sadiq again until it was time for him to leave. He told me he loved me with all his heart and then he crossed the large double doors of the entrance. Ayşe approached me, still sobbing, and hugged me. I put my arm around her reluctantly and a little uncomfortable.

I was debating myself if I would ever see him again, and I didn't know what to think.