Hayrettin is a storybook centered on the silent yet profound inner world of a young man with intellectual disability, who is introverted and lonely. It traces the marks of social exclusion and emotional invisibility. Born in a village and raised on the margins of society, the protagonist is neither fully loved nor entirely rejected; he builds his existence within his own silence.

The book consists of nine chapters. Each chapter represents a stop on Hayrettin’s inner journey. The early chapters portray his daily life in the village, his relationships with family, and the disconnected ties he struggles to form with society. In these parts, social loneliness becomes visible through childhood memories, holidays, school years, and the incomplete relationships the people around him have with him.

Around the middle of the book, with the arrival of an uncle from Germany, a “different possibility” emerges for the first time in Hayrettin’s life. He goes to Germany with his uncle. However, this departure is not a rescue but the beginning of a new form of loneliness. In this new world where he does not know the language, does not understand the rules, and where no one recognizes him, Hayrettin becomes invisible. His silence deepens, and even the inner dialogue he maintained through his notebook gradually ceases.

In the final chapters, Hayrettin’s silence turns into a decision, and he slowly withdraws from life. The phrase “ben gitttim” (“I have gone”) becomes the only trace he leaves behind. In the conclusion, the story returns to the village: although Hayrettin’s name is no longer known, the shadow of the stone where he used to sit remains.

Hayrettin avoids building a dramatic narrative. It creates an atmosphere through silence, muteness, and being overlooked. This text tells the story not of great events but of small diminishments and untold emotions.

Gökhan Tosun

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