Beyaz

Hello, I am Beyaz…

I think you understand why I am writing this letter to you. Perhaps we never met, never sat on the grass together, perhaps many of you never even got to touch me — but somehow our eyes met.

I am Maskeli’s closest friend. Maskeli and Beyaz — we were never apart; we even came to the campus together. For years we lived here, getting on well with our other friends. We did not come very close to you, but you loved us and we loved you.

In four days it will be a month since Maskeli left me. I had been on my own since he went; I did not know what had happened to him, but I think I know now. One day I too was going to leave these grounds, and now I have shared the same fate as my dearest friend. We sleep side by side now.

For years we stood shoulder to shoulder, we grew up together and grew old together. Now I am beside him. Şanslı is here too; Sezai, Çavuş, Kedikız, Katmer, Efe, Uysal… We are all together. It is nicer here, do not be sad.

Today is 4 October, our day. For the sake of this day I want a promise from you: do not give up fighting for us, all right? That is all I ask, for all the friends I have left behind. I never felt unwanted; I was always happy and at peace in Beytepe — but the fight is not over for our friends there. They are in your care now.

Farewell…

Beyaz of Beytepe