Scene 4: The Escape

ROSE

The days following the confrontation with Rose’s father are filled with tension, fear, and a quiet kind of dread. The world that Rose had known for the past eighteen years feels like it’s crumbling at her feet. Her father’s words still echo in her mind, replaying in cruel cycles: "You’re no longer my daughter." Each time she thinks of them, a sharp ache tightens around her heart, like a vice she can’t escape.

Mahir, on the other hand, is trying to hold it all together for her—offering her the stability she so desperately needs. But even he can’t deny the reality of the situation. They can’t stay here. Not now. Not with everything at stake. The weight of their families’ disapproval, the judgment of the entire town, and the constant fear of being caught, it’s too much. So, they’ve made a decision.

They’ve decided to leave.

---

The night is cool, the wind tugging at their coats as they meet in the same alley where everything started, where they first found solace in one another's arms. But tonight feels different. The shadows seem darker, the air heavier. They’re not just hiding from their families now—they’re running from them.

Mahir’s face is drawn with tension, his dark eyes shadowed with exhaustion, but there’s also a glimmer of resolve. He’s not just fighting for their love; he’s fighting for a chance to build a life with Rose, away from the restrictions of their past.

Rose:

She stands a few steps away from him, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she watches the dark streets. Her heart is heavy, conflicted. The idea of leaving everything behind feels both freeing and terrifying.

"I still can’t believe this is happening, Mahir. It’s like a nightmare I can’t wake up from."

Her voice is thick with emotion as she turns to face him, her eyes red from the sleepless nights she’s been having. The thought of leaving her father, her friends, and the life she knew is so overwhelming that her chest feels like it might implode. But then, she looks at Mahir—the person who has kept her grounded, who has made her feel more alive than she ever thought possible—and the overwhelming sadness is momentarily replaced by something else: hope.

"But... maybe this is what we need. Maybe we’re meant for something bigger than this town. Bigger than what they want for us."

Mahir:

He steps closer to her, his expression a mix of sadness and fierce determination. He reaches out, brushing her cheek gently, his touch comforting yet full of longing.

"I know, Rose. I know it’s hard. It’s hard for me too."

He looks down for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts. His voice softens as he speaks, his words laden with the weight of everything that’s led them to this point.

"But I can’t sit here, stuck in a town where we’ll never be accepted. Where they’ll never accept us."

He pauses, his jaw tightening as if holding back a wave of emotion, but when he looks at her again, his gaze is steady, full of conviction.

"Whatever happens, I want to be with you. I’ll leave everything behind if it means we can have a future, even if it’s uncertain."

Rose:

Her breath catches as she listens to him, the raw honesty in his voice breaking through the barrier of her fear. She had always known Mahir was willing to sacrifice everything for their love, but hearing him say it aloud makes her heart ache in ways she hadn’t anticipated. She reaches out, taking his hand in hers, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I want that too. But… how do we even begin to leave everything behind? How do we walk away from everything we’ve known and start over?"

Her eyes search his, desperate for some kind of reassurance. Her life has always been carefully structured—her family’s expectations, her friends’ judgments, the constraints of living in a small town. How could she just let go of it all?

Mahir:

He gives her a small, reassuring smile, his thumb gently brushing the back of her hand as he steps closer, his warmth grounding her in a way she hasn’t felt in days.

"It’s not going to be easy. I won’t lie to you about that. But we’ll figure it out together. We have to."

His voice is steady now, and for a moment, Rose feels like they’re the only two people in the world. It’s just them, and the future they’re trying to carve out of the chaos that’s been their lives so far.

"We’ll go to the city, Rose. We’ll find somewhere new to live. We’ll find work. We’ll do whatever it takes to make this work. Together."

He pauses, then adds softly, his gaze never leaving hers,

"I don’t care where we go, as long as it’s with you."

Rose:

Her heart swells at his words, the weight of his promise lifting a little of the burden off her shoulders. He’s right—no matter where they go, they’ll have each other. And that’s something no one can take away from them. But still, doubts creep into her mind.

"And… what about your family? What will they say when they find out you left? Won’t they come looking for you?"

Her voice falters as she thinks of Mahir’s parents—how deeply rooted their traditions are, how their expectations of him run so deep. Would they ever forgive him for leaving everything behind?

Mahir:

He exhales sharply, his eyes clouding with a deep sadness at the thought of his family’s reaction. His parents had always wanted him to marry someone from his own community, someone who would uphold their values and traditions. They would never understand his love for Rose.

"I don’t know what they’ll do, Rose. I don’t know if they’ll ever forgive me. But I can’t live my life for them, for anyone but us. I can’t."

He shakes his head, as if pushing the thought away. His voice grows more resolute.

"Maybe I’ll never see them again. Maybe they’ll hate me for this. But the one thing I know is that I can’t live without you. And that’s the only thing that matters."

Rose:

She looks at him, her heart aching with the weight of his sacrifice. The love she feels for him is overwhelming, and despite the fear and uncertainty, she feels a glimmer of something else—something stronger than doubt. Something that’s slowly beginning to take root in her chest: faith.

"I don’t want to live without you either, Mahir."

Her voice cracks as she speaks the truth that’s been buried deep within her heart, and she steps forward to close the gap between them, her hand reaching up to gently cup his face.

"I’m ready. I’m ready to leave it all behind with you."

He leans into her touch, his forehead resting against hers as they stand there in the quiet alley, the world around them both silent and alive with possibility. There’s a sense of finality in the air, as if they’re both making a choice that will change the course of their lives forever.

Mahir:

His voice is barely a whisper, filled with emotion.

"We’re in this together. No matter what happens."

He kisses her forehead gently, as if sealing the promise between them.

The decision has been made. The path ahead is uncertain, fraught with obstacles they can’t even imagine yet. But for the first time, it feels like they’re choosing something real, something worth fighting for.

---

As they leave the alley, hand in hand, the weight of the world feels both heavy and light at the same time. They don’t know what’s waiting for them, but they’re stepping into the unknown with each other by their side. And for now, that’s enough.

---

I MAHIR

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