From the tale “The Golden Cage”

Open Hand

Murat loves Ebru madly, with his whole heart, but the fear of losing her has turned his love into a cage. Now the two of them are hitting a ball back and forth in a courtyard. This is not a game about winning: hit hard and you score, but Ebru runs short of breath.

• ↕Drag the paddle or slide it with the arrow keys. Meet the ball with the middle of the paddle: it floats gently back to Ebru.
• ∠The paddle's edge means a sharp angle, a fast swing means a smash. It wins points, but Ebru's Breath drops and the rally breaks.
• ♪Every soft return plays the next note of the tune. The longer the rally, the more the Bond fills: sparrows come and the colors bloom.
• HoldThe Space key or the Hold button keeps the ball in your hand. Holding on is easy, but Ebru can't breathe.

Into the courtyard

Round 1 · Winter

The curtains were drawn

Continue

Break

Ebru needs a moment to breathe

The harder the ball flies, the further Ebru drifts away. Open your hand: send the ball gently toward her with the middle of the paddle.

Ebru"Murat, I love you. But I can't breathe anymore."

Try again

The Golden Cage

The door is open

Three weeks later, on a Saturday morning, Ebru came back of her own free will. In her hands was a painting she had made herself: that bird palace in Üsküdar. Then she rested her head on Murat's shoulder.

Love is not a cage. It is a palace of the heart, with its door left open.

Three apples fell from the sky: one for Murat, one for Ebru, who brought her painting home of her own free will, and one for you, who played tonight with an open hand and never held the ball.

Play again

Paused

Catch your breath in the courtyard

The sparrows are waiting in the bird palace. Its door is always open. Come back when you're ready.

Resume