The Return
Cengiz DağcıThe Return is a poignant exploration of the psychological depth of exile and the relentless yearning for one's roots. The story follows a man who lives a ghost-like existence in a foreign land, watching the world from the sidelines. He finds a fragile connection to humanity only by observing children playing on the sidewalks, a sight that triggers vivid, nostalgic memories of his distant homeland, Crimea. For him, a truly warm and meaningful life exists only beneath the Crimean sky, in the soil where his ancestors are buried.
The narrative reaches a critical turning point on a cold New Year's Eve. While those around him celebrate with joy, the protagonist stands hungry and isolated on the stone steps of the Soviet Embassy. It is here that he receives the life-altering news: in just two days, he will be allowed to return to his birthplace. Through this moving novella, Cengiz Dağcı masterfully captures the internal struggle of a displaced soul and the overwhelming emotional gravity of homecoming.
