A week passed.
On the first week of May 2016, Egemed and Jerelr went to visit the construction site on their land. The land had once been barren—hard, uneven, almost shaped like a small hill. But now, after days of labour, a wide, flat space stretched before them, carved out by workers who moved across it like small figures against a vast horizon.
Egemed stood there with his eyes wide, a quiet happiness swelling inside him.
If it wasn't for Jerelr… if he hadn't loved me, if he hadn't helped me when I was at my lowest, I would never have come this far.
Outside, he only smiled while watching Jerelr give instructions to the workers.
Inside, he whispered a thank you no one would ever hear.
If I had never met him… where would I be now?
Dead, maybe.
Gone by my own hands.
The thought tightened something deep inside his chest.
Then suddenly—
A heavy thud struck the ground beside him.
Jerelr collapsed.
For a second, Egemed froze. The world around him fell silent. Then he rushed forward, falling to his knees beside Jerelr. His eyes were closed—but he was breathing. Egemed's hands shook uncontrollably as he whispered to a nearby worker,
"Please… help."
Workers ran toward them.
"What happened?" they asked.
Egemed couldn't speak. His throat locked with fear.
"Please help me carry him on my back," he finally managed.
"You can continue your work."
They lifted Jerelr onto Egemed's back, and Egemed ran—almost stumbling—toward the hospital.
Once there, he pleaded with the nurses for help, not even hesitating over the fees. The doctor arrived quickly and asked Egemed to wait outside.
He sat in the hallway, the air cold and still around him.
What happened to him? He's never been seriously sick… only small colds. Why so suddenly?
Fear tortured his thoughts.
What if it's severe? What if he doesn't wake up?
Tears blurred his vision before he realized it.
Then the doctor called him.
Evening had fallen by the time Egemed entered the room. Jerelr had been asleep for seven long hours. He lay on the white bed with an IV in his hand. He looked fragile—too fragile.
"Is he your brother?" the doctor asked.
Egemed's voice trembled. "Yes."
The doctor smiled gently.
"There's nothing serious. He fainted because of the heat. His body couldn't take the sun anymore".
" He's been working beyond his limits. He will wake once his energy is restored."
Egemed exhaled in pure relief.
"Thank you, Doctor… thank you so much."
He sat beside Jerelr and whispered, "I hope you're okay… please stay with me longer."
He remembered how Jerelr had worked under the harsh sun for hours without shade. Of course his body would give up…
Then—
A faint voice broke the silence.
"Egemed… Brother… Egemed…"
Egemed leaned close immediately.
"Yes, I'm here."
Jerelr blinked slowly.
"Where… am I? What happened?"
"You're in the hospital," Egemed said softly. "You fainted at the site."
"What—? I fainted?"
"Yes. It's okay now. You used up all your energy. I was worried like hell."
Jerelr looked guilty.
"I'm sorry, brother. I didn't know I pushed myself too far."
"You don't have to apologize," Egemed murmured. "We'll go home tomorrow. I'll stay with you tonight."
Jerelr nodded.
"Let me call my mother."
"No," Egemed stopped him gently. "It's late. She'll worry and rush here. We'll tell her tomorrow. She won't mind—you're always with me anyway."
Jerelr smiled faintly. "You're right."
They spent the night in the small hospital room.
Egemed slept sitting on the chair, his head resting on the edge of Jerelr's little bed.
___
The Next Morning;
They returned to Jerelr's home. His father was drying the laundry outside.
"Erwie! Come here quickly!" he shouted.
Jerelr's mother rushed out. Her eyes widened.
"Jerelr! What happened? Is that medicine?"
"Yes, Mom," Jerelr answered. "Just something for energy. I'm alright."
"He fainted yesterday," Egemed added softly. "But he's fine now."
"Why didn't you call us?"
"We didn't want to trouble you," Egemed explained. "And he woke up around 9 PM. We stayed the night and ordered food."
Jerelr's mother checked him carefully and then looked at Egemed with deep gratitude.
"Thank you for taking care of my son."
"It's nothing, Mother," Egemed smiled. "We're like brothers."
They had breakfast together. Afterwards, Egemed sent Jerelr to rest in his room.
"Stay home today," he said. "Take care of yourself. I'll visit the construction site and come back later."
Jerelr lowered his eyes.
"Brother Ege… yesterday was the first day and I fainted. I'm sorry."
"You don't need to worry. Your health is more important"
"I almost fainted myself when I saw you fall," he teased.
"What if you faint today?" Jerelr asked, a crease of worry forming between his brows.
Egemed smirked.
"No chance. I'm stronger than you."
Jerelr laughed weakly.
"Okay then. Take care."
"I'll visit you after work. And listen—stay home."
Jerelr nodded obediently.
Day Two at the Construction Site:
Egemed didn't utter a single word. He lifted the small wheelbarrow used for carrying soil and picked up a shovel, moving with quiet determination. With each scoop of dirt, he filled the wheelbarrow, matching the rhythm of the workers digging holes for the building's pillars. Sweat ran down his face, his hands roughened by the labor—but he didn't flinch. He worked not to be seen or praised, but simply to share in the effort, to stand alongside those who were building his dream.
The workers were puzzled.
"Sir, why are you working like us? You hired us—you should rest."
Egemed laughed. "I'm not used to standing around."
"You should scold us if we make mistakes," one worker said. "But you're lowering yourself."
"I don't see it that way," Egemed replied. "I'm just helping. Even if you're workers, you're still humans deserving respect."
A kind older worker shook his head. "Young man, go rest. Let us work."
"Oh, Uncle—you're older than me. You should rest," Egemed joked.
Laughter spread among them.
But inside, Egemed thought:
If only they understood… I don't want them to feel embarrassed but...even if I'm paying them, they aren't servants. They're humans—some older than me. Without them, who would build this dream? I will always choose humility.
Before dawn, he stepped out quietly and came back with two plastic bags filled with fruits.Without drawing attention, he quietly passed the fruits to the workers, asking that they be shared.
The workers were touched beyond words.
"Take care, everyone! See you tomorrow!" Egemed called as he left.
That evening, he visited Jerelr, gave him fruits, then went home to help his mother and wait for his father—just like always.
Though his life as an author grew busier, whenever he had time, Egemed made sure to hold on to the small, meaningful routines at home. He helped his mother with cooking and chores, and he always sat outside on the veranda, waiting for his father's return. The moment he saw his father approaching the gate, he would hurry to meet him and take his bag, eager to help after a long day's work. These little acts grounded him, reminding him that no matter how busy his life became, family and care for others remained his first priorities.
The Next Morning—
Egemed woke early and prepared tea for his parents.
"Good morning, Father, Mother."
His mother looked surprised.
"Where are you going in work clothes?"
"I'm going to work," he smiled.
His father frowned. "What work?"
"Construction work."
"What do you mean? Did you hide something from us?"
Egemed laughed softly.
"Father… me and Jerelr are building something. We will tell you what it is when it's finished."
His parents gasped.
"Is it like your father's company?" his mother asked.
"No, Mother. It's different. Not a company, not a publisher. More like… a home."
"A home? For what?" she asked.
"You will see."
Every morning, Egemed and Jerelr rose with the sun, leaving for the construction site and returning only in the late afternoon, their hands roughened, their clothes streaked with dust.
From evening until midnight, they wrote together, sharing thoughts and dreams in the quiet of the room.
Saturdays were their only reprieve, a brief pause in their tireless rhythm.
Sunday evenings found them wandering to the Valley of Breath, letting the stillness of the place restore their spirits.
On market days, they gathered food and clothes for the poor, and once each month, they journeyed into the city to do the same.
Through illness and pain, through laughter and sorrow,
they were always there for one another.
Jerelr trusted Egemed so deeply that he invested his own earnings into the building—never questioning, never demanding an explanation. He simply waited, patient and steady, for the day Egemed would finally reveal what he had been creating.
. . .
"Life becomes beautiful when you have someone you trust without question—
someone who walks with you through every season of your soul"