40 Days

Paris was quieter than she expected.The sky was overcast, and the air wrapped the city in a light cold breeze, as if it were silently embracing sorrow with graceful elegance.

Kıvılcım stepped out of the car, her bag in hand, her eyes scanning the grand building before her.

An elegant hotel, exuding the scent of history—but to her, it was nothing more than a temporary refuge... a small escape from a life burdened with loss.

She stood for a moment, gathering her breath, pretending to be strong.

Beside her, Alev spoke with a tired smile:

“Paris, kivo… please, let’s start over. Even if just a little.”

Kıvılcım replied with a faint smile, then entered the hotel in silence.

On the other side of the lobby, Ömer sat on a dark leather couch.

His eyes wandered across the corners of the room—not looking for anything in particular, just contemplating farewell… in a silence no one could understand.

He no longer resembled the strong man he once was, but a man worn down by illness, his eyes dimmed by time.

One month, the doctor had said. Or maybe a bit more.

But he had decided not to wait for the end in tears, but to live what remained as if it were a lifetime.

Can, his friend, approached him and whispered:

“Here is where the peace begins, Ömer… no place for sadness within these walls. Deal, brother?”

Ömer gave a faint smile and simply replied:

“You’re right, brother… it’s time to enjoy my life a little.”

And in a single moment, Kıvılcım’s eyes met his.

Just one glance, fleeting—but it wasn’t ordinary.

It felt as though time had paused for a second, as if something stirred in both hearts without their consent.

Then the glance drifted away, and each returned to their heavy reality.

Kıvılcım headed to the elevator in silence, her heart growing heavier with every floor it rose.

The room was quiet, spacious, adorned with soft ivory-colored furniture.

She opened her bag, arranging her clothes in the closet with meticulous care, as if trying to organize the chaos in her heart with every piece she hung.

Then she sat at the edge of the bed, looking at the clock.

Three thirty in the afternoon.

In just half an hour, filming would begin.

From four to nine p.m., every day, for forty days.

A new routine, a temporary life… and something inside her hoped that this change would bring some healing.

She stood up calmly and began getting ready.

She picked an elegant dark navy dress and applied light makeup—just enough to show her outer calm and hide her inner exhaustion.

She didn’t look too long at herself in the mirror, as if afraid to see a woman she no longer fully recognized.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

She opened it to find Alev standing there with a spontaneous smile, raising her brows in surprise:

“Wow! I haven’t seen you this beautiful in ages, Kıvılcım!”

Kıvılcım laughed softly and said:

“Just work, nothing more.”

But Alev stepped closer and gently patted her shoulder:

“No… this is your time—to be you again.”

Kıvılcım fell silent for a moment, then took a deep breath, glanced at the clock again, and walked toward the door.

“Let’s begin, then…”

---

Ömer entered his room quietly, closed the door behind him, and went straight to the desk in the corner.

He took a bottle of alcohol from the drawer, opened it with a soft sound, and poured a small glass.

Lifting the glass to his lips, he took a long sip. When he set it down, he took a deep breath.

He sat on his chair, looked at the paper in front of him, and picked up a pen.

He began to write—slow, deliberate letters, as if each word weighed a thousand sorrows.

The letter was for his brother Abdullah, but it was more than just words.

It was a silent farewell, a plea for forgiveness.

He was confessing in his heart all that he had never been able to say over the past years.

And he spoke of his illness too.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then took another breath before continuing to write.

---

At the Filming Location:

Kıvılcım arrived at the filming location with Alev by her side. The bright lights and whirring cameras created a mix of excitement and tension.

She gave a weary smile but maintained her composure—she was used to the spotlight.

Alev, as always, stood by her gently, lifting her spirits and making sure everything was in order.

"Are you ready?" Alev asked, watching Kıvılcım prepare to step in front of the cameras.

Kıvılcım gave a faint smile and replied,

"Ready enough."

But inside, her heart was full of questions—why had she chosen this path? Was it an escape? Or an attempt to overcome her pain?

The crew began the preparations. Cameras in place, lights shining bright.

It was time to begin.

Finally, Kıvılcım stepped onto the set where the show would be filmed.

The lights hit her face, and her first words on air were:

"Welcome, dear viewers..."

As the filming continued, she could feel Alev's eyes on her, supporting her from a distance, as if she could read the thoughts running through Kıvılcım’s mind.

---

At the Hotel:

Can had tried calling Ömer, but there was no answer. Worried, he decided to check on him in his room.

He approached the door and knocked gently at first, then louder:

"Ömer? Are you alright?"

No reply.

The silence behind the door made his worry grow—he knew Ömer hadn’t been doing well lately.

He took a step back, then banged on the door forcefully:

"Ömer! Open up!"

Still, no sound.

Without hesitation, Can ran and kicked the door open with all his strength. It burst open violently.

He rushed inside, eyes wide with fear.

He looked around… then saw Ömer sitting at the desk, lifting his head in surprise, having just finished folding a paper and placing it in a drawer.

"What the hell are you doing?! You scared me!" Can shouted, breathless.

Ömer looked at him calmly,

"I was just writing..." he said in a low tone.

Can hurried over to him, glancing at the paper, then at the empty glass beside him.

"I thought something happened to you… Don’t ever do this to me again."

Ömer didn’t answer. He just looked at his friend and gave a faint, sorrowful smile.

"I’m sorry, brother... Calm down. I’m fine, nothing happened."

Can sat at the edge of the desk, still worried. He asked quietly:

"What were you writing, Ömer?"

Ömer hesitated for a few seconds, then said in a low but clear voice:

"I was writing a letter… to my brother Abdullah."

Can frowned. "A letter? Why?"

Ömer looked at him, eyes filled with pain, and added:

"In case something happens to me… I want you to give it to him. Not now, only… if there comes a day when I’m no longer here."

A heavy silence fell between them.

Can tried to hide his trembling, but he couldn’t. He finally said:

"Don’t talk like that. You’re okay… right?"

Ömer didn’t reply. He just looked away and gave a sad smile:

"I’m just preparing myself, Can. Don’t worry… I won’t leave without saying goodbye."

Can felt his chest tighten but didn’t want to pressure him further.

He reached out, placing a hand on Ömer’s shoulder.

"Whatever it is… come on, brother. Let’s go out for a bit, clear your head."

A few minutes later, the two walked out of the hotel, side by side, into the glowing streets of Paris.

...

Four hours later:

The first day of filming had ended, and the clock struck 9 p.m.

Kıvılcım walked out of the set exhausted, but the weariness on her face was deeper than ever before.

Alev was waiting for her by the door, smiling faintly as she said:

“It’s been a long day, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, a very long one,” Kıvılcım replied, trying to appear indifferent.

But inside, she felt the weight of the days that hadn’t even started yet. The filming was exhausting, but it was also a way to escape the thoughts that never left her.

They headed together to the room.

As she took off her costume, her mind kept replaying every moment of the day.

Despite everything, the filming had been a success, and she had completed her work perfectly.

She sat on the edge of the bed, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes for a moment.

Alev entered the room behind her, took off her coat, then looked at her sister with a playful tone:

“How about we go down to the restaurant? Grab a light bite and change the atmosphere a little?”

Kıvılcım slowly opened her eyes, unbuttoning her shirt as she replied:

“No, I don’t feel like going out. I’ll just order something to the room… I just want to rest.”

Alev stepped toward her and sat beside her, giving her a warm smile:

“You lazy thing, you haven’t eaten all day. A bit of food, a light chat, maybe a piece of dessert… they’ll make you feel better.”

Kıvılcım sighed, then looked at her with a resigned expression:

“Alev… I really don’t have the energy.”

But Alev didn’t give up. She stood up and gently pulled her hand:

“Come on, it’ll only be an hour. Let’s just sit a little. It’s Paris—we don’t get this every day, and I don’t want our first day to pass without a moment we actually live.”

Kıvılcım stayed silent for a moment, then smiled faintly and said:

“Okay… just for an hour.”

Alev laughed joyfully:

“That’s what I wanted to hear! Now go change, I’ll be waiting outside.”

Kıvılcım stood up slowly, heading toward the wardrobe, a faint smile still on her face—like something inside her had just begun to soften again.

---

A few minutes later, Kıvılcım and Alev left the room, heading to the restaurant in the hotel lobby, while the soft lights cast a quiet warmth across the long hallways.

At that moment, the hotel’s revolving doors turned slowly, and in walked Ömer and Can, the latter laughing loudly while carrying large shopping bags.

Ömer, visibly tired, dragged his steps as he joked:

“You said we’d take a short walk… you didn’t say we’d spend four hours in a mall picking clothes!”

Can laughed even harder and patted Ömer’s shoulder:

“I was just trying to rescue your fashion sense, man. Your clothes were depressing! All gray and black… like you live in a constant drama film.”

Ömer responded with a half-tired, half-defeated smile:

“I’m a simple man. I don’t need all that.”

Can shook his head as he opened the elevator:

“You do, actually. You need a refresh—your clothes, your style, even the way you look at people. Trust me, the small changes make a big difference.”

Ömer looked at him silently for a moment, then said softly:

“I’m not against change, Can… I just hope I have enough time to live it.”

A short silence fell before Can patted him on the back:

“Let’s not think about that now. Tonight… we start fresh.”

They entered the elevator, carrying with them the fatigue of the day—and a small laugh tucked in the corner of their souls.

When they reached their floor, Ömer gave Can a quiet smile in front of his room:

“I’ll change and head down to get something to eat.”

Then he stepped into his room.

The room was quiet, the dim light casting soft shadows on the walls. He placed the bags on the bed and began changing clothes.

He chose a simple white shirt and navy-blue trousers from the new purchases and glanced at himself in the mirror. He looked different, more refined.

He sighed, picked up his phone and slipped it into his pocket, then headed toward the elevator.

He descended quietly to the restaurant, his steps confident yet slow.

When he entered the restaurant, Kıvılcım and Alev were already seated at a table near the window.

Omar walked quietly toward an empty table directly across from the one where Kıvılcım and Alev were sitting. He sat down calmly, ordered a drink, and leaned back in his chair, gazing around the place.

But his eyes soon landed on a woman sitting in the opposite corner... She was talking to what seemed like her sister, dressed elegantly, her hair neatly arranged, and her movements filled with grace and confidence.

Omar furrowed his brows slightly. "This woman... I know her..." he muttered to himself. Her features weren’t unfamiliar, but he couldn’t recall where he had seen her before.

At that moment, Kıvılcım lifted her gaze and their eyes met directly. She stared at him intently, her sharp eyes silently questioning: Why is he staring?

Omar quickly turned his face away, feeling as though he had been caught in the act. He smiled faintly to himself and whispered: "Clearly, she's not the type who enjoys being stared at..."

Meanwhile, Kıvılcım, after a brief silence, turned to Alev and whispered: "The man sitting there... he doesn’t take his eyes off us."

Alev quickly turned around, then laughed: "Honestly, he's very handsome... seems like he's interested in you. Don't let him slip away, sister!"

Kıvılcım sighed in annoyance, raised an eyebrow with a stern look, and said in a low but sharp tone: "Alev! Stop with these silly jokes… we’re not here for relationships, we’re here for work."

Alev laughed more, enjoying teasing her as usual, and said: "Alright, alright, I’ll be quiet..."

But Kıvılcım didn’t respond, only giving her a sharp look.

As for Omar, every now and then, his eyes would drift toward her, feeling that something about her was strangely familiar, yet puzzling.

Each time their eyes met, Kıvılcım would deflect his gaze with a stern, cold look, as if telling him: Stop staring.

Omar smiled faintly and turned his face away again, muttering to himself: "Clearly, she’s a strong character... or stubborn."

But deep inside, his desire to figure out who this woman was grew.

A few minutes later, Jan came down, scanning the restaurant with his eyes until he spotted Omar sitting alone at his table, staring absentmindedly at his drink.

He walked over, joking: "Oh, you didn’t wait for me? Starting without me!"

Omar raised his gaze to him and gave a faint smile: "I haven’t started anything… just sitting."

Jan sat down, noticing how Omar’s eyes kept wandering to the table across from them, where Kıvılcım and Alev were sitting.

Jan followed his gaze, then said lightly: "Ah… now I get it. Your new crush?"

Omar looked at him coldly and said: "Don’t be an idiot."

Jan laughed and said: "Me an idiot? You’re the one sitting there staring at her like you know her from somewhere."

Omar responded after a moment of silence: "Actually... that’s what I think. I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before."

Jan smiled mischievously: "She’s beautiful... elegant... and clearly, she doesn’t like being stared at much."

Omar shook his head, sipping his drink: "She’s very strange… but there’s something in her eyes... familiar."

Jan glanced again at the table across from them and stared at Kıvılcım for a moment. Suddenly, his eyes widened slightly as he murmured:

"Oh my God... now I remember."

Omar looked at him in confusion: "What?"

Jan nodded his head toward Kıvılcım and said in a low voice: "This woman... she’s a TV presenter in Turkey, Kıvılcım Arslan, do you remember her?"

Omar furrowed his brows, trying to recall the name.

Jan continued excitedly: "Yes, yes! She had a famous cultural series aired on a national channel... My mom used to watch it all the time! How did I not connect the name with the face from the start?"

Omar looked at her again, this time with a different perspective, as though the missing piece of the puzzle was starting to fall into place.

"Kıvılcım..." he whispered softly, then said: "Now I understand why she seemed familiar."

Kıvılcım noticed that the two men hadn’t stopped looking at them, especially Ömer, who was trying to act natural while stealing glances every now and then. She bit her lip in annoyance, then turned to Alev and whispered angrily:

“Can’t you see? They’ve been staring at us for minutes. How rude!”

Alev looked at them again, then burst out laughing lightly and said teasingly:

“My sister, sometimes you forget that you're famous. Of course, they’ll recognize you, especially if they’re Turkish... You’re Kıvılcım Arslan! The most famous cultural program host, it’s natural for them to stare.”

Kıvılcım sighed deeply and shook her head:

“I thought I’d get some peace here, away from all eyes... I guess that’s impossible.”

Alev laughed again and said jokingly:

“Then just take it easy, smile a little, please... Just ignore them.”

Kıvılcım couldn’t stop a small smile from sneaking onto her face, but quickly hid it as she took a sip of wine in front of her.

Kıvılcım and Alev left the restaurant at almost the same time Ömer and Can got up from their table.

Kıvılcım raised an eyebrow in surprise and whispered while looking at them:

“What’s this? They’re leaving at the same time? Are they following us? Or are they just weird?”

Alev laughed quietly and said:

“Maybe they want an autograph?”

Kıvılcım replied in annoyance, turning her gaze away:

“Mock as much as you want... But this situation is really strange.”

At the entrance to the hallway leading to the rooms, Kıvılcım suddenly stopped in front of the elevator and said firmly:

“No, I’m not taking the elevator, I’ll use the stairs.”

Alev gasped lightly:

“Seriously? In this hotel? Five floors?”

Kıvılcım responded with determination:

“I’d rather walk than be in the same closed space with them!”

Alev laughed and gave in, and they both climbed the stairs together.

Meanwhile, Ömer and Can entered the elevator and exchanged looks, before Can pressed the button to the fifth floor.

When everyone reached the same floor, their gazes met again in the long hallway.

Kıvılcım paused for a moment, staring in surprise and whispering:

“It can’t be... Same floor?!”

Alev responded with a muffled laugh:

“If they enter the rooms across from us now... I’m going to burst out laughing!”

And indeed, Ömer and Can moved toward the room directly across from Kıvılcım and Alev’s suite, swiped their cards, and entered...

Kıvılcım put her hand on her forehead and said quietly:

“Impossible... This is a curse, right?”

Alev couldn’t stop laughing as she opened the door to her room, turned to Kıvılcım, and said:

“Oh my God, they’re literally our neighbors! Your luck is amazing as always.”

Kıvılcım shot her a look of annoyance, and Alev raised her hands defensively:

“Alright, alright, good night!”

Alev entered her room and closed the door, while Kıvılcım sighed deeply and made her way to her own room, searching for her key card in her bag.

Suddenly, before reaching the door, a strange man blocked her path, wearing a hat and holding a bottle in his hand, smelling strongly of alcohol.

He approached her in a suspicious way and whispered in an uncomfortable tone:

“You... you’re very beautiful, why are you in such a hurry? Let’s get to know each other a little.”

Kıvılcım quickly stepped back and said firmly:

“Stay away from me immediately!”

But he reached out toward her, trying to touch her arm, so she stepped back, shouting:

“Keep your hands off! Heeeelp!!”

At that moment, the door to Ömer’s room slammed open, and he rushed out after hearing her scream.

He saw the scene clearly, rushed without hesitation, grabbed the man by the arm firmly, and shouted:

“Didn’t you understand?!!”

Then he threw a powerful punch to the man’s face, knocking him to the ground.

Kıvılcım stood stunned, trying to process what had just happened, while the man groaned on the floor.

Ömer turned toward her with concern and asked:

“Are you alright? Did he touch you?”

Ömer stepped closer to Kıvılcım to make sure she was okay, gently taking her arm with concern:

“Are you okay?”

But Kıvılcım, still shaken by the shock and fear, misunderstood the situation.

She looked at his hand on her arm, then at his face, and suddenly slapped him hard while screaming:

“You too?! What’s wrong with you?! Leave me alone!”

Ömer froze, stunned by her reaction. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t understand what had happened or why she slapped him, but he didn’t get angry.

He looked at her for a moment with eyes full of surprise and calm, then suddenly turned around and saw the man trying to crawl away toward the elevator.

Without hesitation, he lunged at him from behind, grabbed him firmly, and threw him to the ground again.

At that moment, Alev rushed out of her room, startled by the sound of shouting and fighting, and ran toward Kıvılcım:

“Kıvılcım!! Are you okay? What happened?!”

The hotel security guards quickly gathered, grabbing the man and pulling him away, while Ömer still kept a hold on him to ensure he didn’t escape.

Ömer spoke sharply to one of the guards:

“Make sure this man never comes near here again, understood?”

The hotel manager arrived immediately, looking nervous and fearful that he had caused trouble with a famous person, and said anxiously:

“Mr. Ömer, I deeply apologize for what happened. I assure you we’ll take immediate action, and this won’t happen again.”

Kıvılcım and Alev exchanged looks, shocked by the way everyone treated Ömer, as if he were a well-known or influential figure.

But what shocked them even more was what Ömer said next, looking at the manager:

“Don’t apologize to me, apologize to this lady. Miss Kıvılcım Arslan. A respected program host.”

He then turned to the manager with a serious tone:

“I suggest you increase security on this floor, especially since there are respectable ladies like them here.”

He then turned toward Kıvılcım, giving her a slight smile despite the slap he had just received, and calmly walked back to his room without saying another word.

Kıvılcım stood frozen in place, staring at his back as he walked away, while Alev whispered to her in surprise:

“Who is this man?!”

As Kıvılcım tried to process what had just happened, the hotel manager quickly approached her, bowed slightly, and apologized:

“Miss Kıvılcım, I deeply apologize for what happened. We are truly sorry, and I assure you we will take the necessary actions immediately.”

Kıvılcım, still angry, didn’t respond right away. She was still shocked by the incident and the intervention of that man, who she still didn’t understand who he was.

She lifted her eyes toward the manager and asked, with a mix of surprise and curiosity:

“And who is this man? Why is everyone treating him this way?”

The manager smiled awkwardly, as though he had expected this question, and said respectfully:

“This is Mr. Ömer Ünal, the owner of the hotel.”

Kıvılcım’s eyes widened in sudden shock, while Alev gasped lightly and whispered:

“Oh my God...!”

But Kıvılcım didn’t say anything. She just looked toward the hallway where Ömer had disappeared, something inside her had changed...

She had slapped him, humiliated him, and he was, in fact, her savior... and the owner of the place.

She looked at Alev, who could hardly hide her astonishment and smile, and said:

“Don’t comment, please…”

But Alev burst out laughing and grabbed her arm:

“I told you, your luck is amazing...”

.

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I hope you enjoyed the beginning of the story 🤗