"M'am please, I'm going to need to calm down, your son can quite literally hear you screaming and crying from the other room." the police officer said in a frustrated tone.
"You don't understand! I need Miran to be with me, I don't want him to be taken away! I am sorry, I did immediately report things when he was transgressing on my child!" Irem pleaded with desperation and tears streaming down her reddened eyes.
At that moment, a blonde woman in the police's uniform came into the room, shutting the door behind her "What seems to be the matter, my dear?" She addressed Irem.
Her male colleague still managed to interrupt before any further talks could take place. "I can't deal with this, she's your job now!" He angrily said before opening and slamming the door shut once more.
"Please proceed," The blonde woman spoke again, ignoring her rude colleague. "Before anything, I want to let you know that you are to be reunited with your child after this interrogation, it's merely temporary - it's just that we thought maybe the child shouldn't be hearing our interrogation about your abusive husband, isn't that what you would want?"
Irem's hands instinctively flew to her chest, relief and gratitude taking over her. Her tears stopped flowing as she gathered herself for a bit.
"Yes, I think that's better." Irem responded.
"I'd like to ask you to explain what happened when you finally decided to report your husband to us, the evidence regarding the physical harm on your body indicate some of your bruises as a few months old and some are more fresh according to the colour. Therefore, we did conclude that your husband's physical abuse was something continuous and occurred very often. Violence isn't something to be excused, no matter the circumstances. Your bruises also indicate that a horrifying amount of force was inflicted upon you. I'm really sorry that happened to you, it's in your and your child's best interests to provide us more information. Miran did talk to us, I think you should too. I need you to know that even if you do not want to press charges, the state will take the matter into their hands anyway because your husband's actions and the harm he caused is illegal."
Irem sighed, knowing this was going to be difficult for her to disclose and, like the policewoman said, it's something that's in their best interest.
"My husband, Eren has been violent towards me, often in times of uncontrollable rage and drunken states. I've excused it a lot, I never drew a line when it comes to me and what I can endure. But he's never hurt my son Miran before tonight. He was clearly angrier than he's ever been before and he saw my son before me that night and I think he just released whatever bent up anger towards the first thing he saw. He slammed Miran into the wall and then I heard him cry. I started to loudly shout and took my son and ran to another room and locked the door. I wanted help to protect Miran because I knew that if I was never able to shield myself from this man then it's not going to be possible for me to protect my son. That's why I called the police. I always thought to myself that he's the man who saved me, the man I fell in love with and that maybe one day things can just go back to the way they were and I'd just forgive him. But, I'm not willing to risk my son being harmed in any way for the mere hope that I have of getting my old relationship with Eren again."
"Thank you for your cooperation, excuse me if I appear occupied, it's my duty to note down and record what you're saying here. I understand this is burdensome for you but I need further information about his behaviour towards you and more details on the type of things he's done to you." The policewoman extended her hands over Irem's, supporting her in telling her story.
"There are things that I remember clearly more than others, some recollections are more blurred in my memory. I clearly recount the first time, I said something that invoked a reaction from him. He flipped our dining table, then he slapped me across the face and called me a 'whore'. That was how it started, I didn't do anything because I was pregnant and thought I could ignore what he did. But he only got worse with time, he did go beyond slapping me. He threw glass at me, he often physically striked at me. He cheated on me by wasting his money on prostitutes, but that never stopped him from thinking he's entitled to sex. He forced himself onto me more times than I could count or want to remember. Sometimes, he'd apologise the next morning and sometimes not. But he always did it again. I can't remember very clearly, but I do remember feeling violated and broken. I really regret that I let Miran be exposed to these incidents. He could hear noises and the screaming. He's a smart boy, he can connect my bodily injuries and bruises to his father's actions." Irem said, she took a pause before saying something else, almost to herself "I don't know what I really wanted, to keep a dysfunctional family together or maybe I wanted Eren despite everything or maybe … I'm not sure."
Overwhelmed by the weight of the situation, Irem's composure crumbled, and tears streamed down her face once more. The knowledge that her husband's actions had scarred not only her but also her innocent son weighed heavily upon her.
The blonde policewoman couldn't help but get out her seat and hug crying Irem, feeling sympathetic towards her. "It's going to be okay, you did the right thing for both you and your son." She reassured her, handing her clean tissues to use.
"Thank you." Irem expressed her gratitude.
"It's very late, I understand you may be tired after the long process of the arrest and questioning. Any distress you feel is also understandable. I want you to know that you will get through this, it will be hard at first but you will be happier with your son. Think about him, you can raise him in a better environment. Should I let him into this room now?"
"Thank you for your help and yes please, I'd like to see him."
The policewoman's face softened into a warm smile as she left the room to bring Miran back. After the intense and lengthy ordeal, Miran was relieved to see his mother waiting for him. He dashed towards her, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace.
"I love you, please never be away from me again."
"I love you too, my son. I wasn't going away, the kind policewoman just needed to ask me some questions." Irem told him as her hands played with his hair to relieve him.
Miran turned to glance at the policewoman, "Is she going to take Dad away?" he asked.
The policewoman crouched down to Miran's level, "Yes -"
"Oh, thank you!" He exclaimed, excitement evident in his tone.
The policewoman and Irem exchanged surprised glances at Miran's unexpected gratitude, they couldn't help but erupt in laughter with their sounds filling the previous tension in the room.