Fourty One

I wasn't surprised when Elise sent me an invitation.Sara, if you have time, I'd like to talk to you informally. Not as representatives of the foundation or GCI. But as women who happen to be working on the same project.The location is at a small café in Kreuzberg. Too quiet for a meeting, but too public for an open confrontation.I arrived on time.Elise was already seated. Her tea was almost finished. She wore plain black clothing. Minimal makeup, but her aura remained… elegantly intimidating.“Sara,” she greeted me with a neutral smile. “Glad you came.”I sat across from her. “Me too. Better to talk directly than make assumptions.” She nodded. “Exactly.” The waiter came. I only ordered an espresso. Elise refused a refill. “I just wanted you to sit for a moment. Not steal your day.” I looked at her. “You don’t need to steal it. I came here on purpose to listen.”She smiled again. Wider, but sharper.“Let’s get straight to it,” she said. “I know you and Matthias are together.

Last Updated : 2025-06-11

Fourty Two

It hadn’t stopped raining since the afternoon. Berlin was shrouded in fog, and the city felt quieter than usual.I sat on the sofa in my apartment. The lights were dim. An unread book lay open on my lap. I just stared at the same page for thirty minutes.The door opened slowly. Matt came with his wet suit, and his face looked so tired. As soon as his eyes met mine… nothing happende. No hug. Not even a smile.He just stood a few steps away from me. Stared at me then he said, “We need to talk.”I closed the book slowly.“Okay,” I replied.He sat across from me, giving us a distance. “I know you haven’t trusted me lately,” he said.His voice was hoarse and sound so honest.I kept silenr, didn’t want to interrupt.“I know you’ve seen something. I know you’ve started reading our movements… our body language, the little stories Elise throws out as if they don’t matter.”His eyes fixed on me. But I remained silent.“I have to be honest,” he said. “I have to.”“When Elise and I worked togeth

Last Updated : 2025-06-14

Forty Three

Berlin welcomed me with drizzle and orange light from the tram windows. I returned with a small suitcase and a wooden box from Görlitz. The more important thing than all of that was a calmness that no longer demanded explanations from others.I didn't come to ask Matt to change. I didn’t come to mend what was broken. I came to see—clearly—whether this love could survive, not because it had to… but because it still wanted to.***The apartment was quiet when I opened the door. Matt was sitting in the living room. Gray sweater. Messy hair. He didn’t get up. He didn’t panic. He just… stared.I closed the door. Put down the suitcase and walked slowly towards him. “How many days were you there?” he asked. “Three. But it felt… enough to age.” He smiled slightly. But his eyes remained restless. “I didn’t bother you while you were there,” he said. “Not because I didn’t want to. But because I knew… you needed to be alone.” I sat across from him. The distance between us wasn’t as far

Last Updated : 2025-06-17

Forty Four

Rachel came into my office with a slightly hesitant look on her face, but her eyes didn't dare to lie. "There's someone who wants to talk to you directly.""Who?""Her name is Mrs. Lely. She used to be your father's secretary. Back in the early days of his old foundation."I turned quickly. "Why now?"“She said… she kept something hidden for too long. And she said you’re strong enough to know everything now.”By that answer, I told her to arrange the meeting immediately. We arranged to meet at a small restaurant in the Cikini area.A quiet place. A little hidden away.When I arrived, an elderly woman was already sitting there waiting for me. Her hair was white, neatly tied back. She wore a modern cream-colored kebaya. In her hands was a worn folder she clutched like a shield. “Sara,” she said softly as I sat down. “Your voice sounds like your mother’s.” I swallowed hard. “Do you know Arini?” She nodded. “More than just know her. I was the first to know she was placed in a reha

Last Updated : 2025-06-19

Forty Five

PART 45“The delegation from Brussels will arrive this afternoon,” Rachel said at the Monday morning meeting. “They want to review how the Arini Division is being run after the restructuring.”I nodded. “Prepare the documents, show them everything transparently. They need to see that we are being honest.”Rachel hesitated for a moment. “One more thing…”I turned my head.“The head of the delegation is Elise Wagner.”A second of silence, enough to make the entire room hold its breath.I nodded again—his time more slowly.“Alright. We’ll welcome her with the necessary formalities.”But inside my chest, something opened up again.Elise arrived that afternoon, on time as usual. Her hair neatly tied back with a white blazer hug her body. Not too formal, but sufficiently distant. I stood to greet her in the foundation’s lobby. “Elise,” I said. “Sara,” she replied. A faint smile. Cold, but not insulting. Like someone who knew she wasn’t there as a guest, but not as a friend either.W

Last Updated : 2025-06-20

Forty Six

PART 46We landed in Padang with light hearts. Not because everything was finished, but because for the first time, I could call this struggle "ours," not just "mine."Matt held my bag as we walked out of the airport. "Welcome to the real frontline," he whispered. We smiled, both knowing that places like this needed a voice. Not just seminars and lectures. A small village at the foot of the Agam hills was the first location for Sekolah Sunyi. A simple wooden building, flower murals on the walls, and dozens of women of all ages who had come. Their faces showed uncertainty, but also curiosity.I stood in front of them that afternoon, with Matt and the local team. I didn't feel superior standing in front of them. Instead, I felt a deep empathy when I looked at their faces. At the very least, I knew some of the sad stories from the local team who had done their research beforehand. "We are not here to give advice," I said. "We are here to listen. Because your situation is not a weaknes

Last Updated : 2025-09-01