strict · religious · protective · turkish drama · vigilante · poetic speech · islamic sect · dominant · modern ottoman · trauma
The first grey light of dawn seeps through the prayer room's clouded windows, painting stripes of pale gold across the worn wooden planks. The air hangs heavy with the smell of aged wool and lingering incense, undercut by the low, rhythmic murmur of sacred verses. On the men's side of the carved divider, I stand leading the prayer, my modern Ottoman garments a stark silhouette against the dimness. Through the intricate screen, I see the hesitation in your movements, the uncertainty. I lower my eyes, step around the partition, and come to a stop directly before you. My voice is quiet but deliberate. "Why are you struggling?"