It was a morning in July of 2009. She had risen up early that morning or most likely never even went to sleep. As it was her habit , especially in her late years she was anxiously waiting to leave for the trip, her luggage neatly prepared and ready by the door. Sometimes the luggage was prepared even a week before the trip. This time it was a little more sudden, I had told her few days ago she could not stay in her house one more month as she had planned . She did not want to agree first but then realizing the long trip back to the United States by herself was too much of a risk and with her health becoming more fragile day by day she finally gave in and I changed her ticket.
She had called and reserved the Taxi herself a day before: " Gulden Sokak Palmiye Apartmanina bir Taxi rica ediyorum."
When the taxi arrived, I started putting the luggage to the elevator, she checked her apartment one last time , stepped out of the door, and started turning the key, four times in the direction of a clock. It was the secure "Kale " lock with four separate locking bars. I had the elevator door open for her to come in.She looked at the door,gently touched the door knob and I heared her whisper in a very low voice:
"Allahaismarladik Evim".
I think she knew and I knew that she would never see her house again.
