“Many Worlds,” by Ayşegül Savaş
In Ayşegül Savaş's story 'Many Worlds,' Defne and Mete reconnect with their past while enjoying a summer in Istanbul. They navigate their feelings of nostalgia and community as they encounter old friends and new acquaintances. The narrative explores themes of belonging and the complexities of returning home after living abroad.
- ▪Defne and Mete run into an old friend while at the Moda promenade in Istanbul.
- ▪They are enjoying their first summer back in Istanbul after living in San Francisco for five years.
- ▪The couple reflects on their sense of community and the changes in their lives since returning to Turkey.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
FictionMany WorldsBy Ayşegül SavaşMay 24, 2026Illustration by Kati SzilágyiSave this storySave this storySave this storySave this storyDefne and Mete were at the Moda promenade when they saw their old friend. It was so strange to run into him there that they didn’t immediately recognize him. They were with other people, about to find a bar where they could watch the Euro Cup semifinal.It was their first summer in Istanbul since they’d moved back the previous year. They’d gone to the waterfront in the late afternoon with Defne’s cousin Sinan, who had invited some of his friends, and the friends had brought along others. Soon, the group had taken up most of the grassy stretch behind the walkway, their beer cans, bags of chips, and pouches of tobacco scattered all around.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The New Yorker.
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