For just a few moments, as Evren stares into the colt's miniaturized features, she allows herself to forget the pressing weight of reality. She loses herself in that tiny dark face, and thinks only of how strange it is that her sister is a mother, and she an aunt. Tarek is their family's next generation; he is the future. He will be raised in a world where Orhan is nothing more than a name.
The soft, wondrous smile on her face falls when she meets her sister's dark eyes once more. For a moment, Evren hesitates. The pragmatist in her thinks she should get it over with and just tell Indira right then. But once the news is dropped, she knows this sweet moment will be shattered and nothing will be the same again. Evren has not seen Indira in so long she is not even really sure who her sister is any more, and has no idea how she might react. What if she leaves and takes Tarek with her? Evren will be alone again.
The young mare shifts her weight in the sand and lets out a heavy exhale. Her honey-brown eyes, so like her father's, are darting back and forth, never focusing on one thing for more than a few seconds. "No," she finally lies, and chances a sheepish glance at her sister. "Indira, where have you been all this time? Did Mother take you away with her? We were so worried. We thought... maybe you'd both left us for good."
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