Sem

Sem is the main character and first person narrator of the novel. He is Sanja's husband, and Harun's father. When Sem is 50 years old, he experiences a heart attack. Never having had trouble with his heart before, Sem has difficulty reconciling with the news. He always believed his heart was the most steadfast and reliable part of his body. After the attack, and his surgery, Sem spends a series of days in the hospital. Throughout his time there, he begins contemplating his mortality. The medical environment makes him feel as if he is losing some vital part of himself. He hopes that upon returning home, he will find comfort and familiarity. However, after his discharge, when he comes back to his apartment, he finds all evidence of his life and self gone. He hopes that this erasure is a symbol of a new beginning, rather than an omen...