"Sokağın başında sabahlasam da, perdeni kapatıp yatsan da olur" (Even if I wait at the head of the street until morning, it’s okay if you close your curtain and sleep).
The streetlights of Istanbul cast a long, flickering shadow over Kerem as he leaned against the cold stone wall at the corner of the street. It was past midnight, and the city had quieted into a heavy, melancholic hum. From a distant window, the raspy, soul-stirring voice of İbrahim Erkal drifted through the air, carrying the lyrics of (It's Okay Even if You Don't Love Me).
Kerem understood that sometimes, loving someone meant being the person who stayed when everyone else left, even if you stayed in the shadows. He didn't need to hold her hand or hear her say his name. The Fading Melody Ibrahim Erkal Sevmesende Olur
In a world that demanded "return on investment" even in romance, Erkal’s song spoke of a different, older kind of devotion:
Kerem looked up at the third-floor balcony where a single light remained on. He wasn't waiting for a secret meeting or a grand confession. He was just there . From a distant window, the raspy, soul-stirring voice
As he turned to walk away, the final refrain played in his mind: "Sen beni sevmesen de olur" (It’s okay if you don't love me). He didn't feel defeated; he felt full. For in the world of Ibrahim Erkal, the greatest "marifet" (skill or virtue) wasn't being loved—it was the capacity to love without expecting a single thing in return. İbrahim Erkal - Sevmesen de Olur (Official Video)
As the lyrics echoed— "Gülüm senden başka bir şey istemem, uzaktan uzağa baksanda olur" (My rose, I want nothing else from you, it’s enough even if you just look from afar)—Kerem felt the weight of Erkal’s words. Loving her didn’t require her participation. It was a solitary flame he carried, one that didn't need her fuel to burn. A Love Without Demands The Fading Melody In a world that demanded
The song felt like it had been written specifically for his tonight. The Vigil at the Window