Yasemin Sandulli’s life spirals out of control after her brother is accused of murder. Following a torrent of events, her father must fight for his life, while her brother fights for his freedom. As Yasemin begins to question her identity and faith, she finds her answer in the most unlikely place.
Centred around the life of Yasemin Sandulli, ‘Harvesting Hope’ offers a delicately weaved tale of life, love and loss with an ensemble of poetry and prose to highlight the racial intolerance that exists within Australia today.
Sunday 30 October 2005 11.31 p.m.
The sound of breaking glass still echoed through her mind as Yasemin knelt on the hardwood floor of her parent’s bedroom, nursing her father’s bleeding head.
‘You’ll be okay, Dad, just hold on,’ Yasemin promised as her mother, Nevra, dialled for an ambulance.
‘Please come quickly. I tell you already, my husband is hurt and bleeding. I do not understand what you say. Please come quickly,’ pleaded Nevra in her thick Turkish accent.
The repugnant chanting and racial slurs pouring through her parent’s shattered window left Yasemin feeling indignant.
Earlier they’d lit a bonfire on the front lawn, like it was their own. The police hadn’t done a thing to stop it. Instead, had turned a blind eye. ‘Our hands are tied unless they break the law,’ they said.
Well, now those animals had broken the law but it was too late for Sadun Sandulli. As if they hadn’t been through enough already, now they had to suffer violent abuse as well.
Her dear father had been through hell and back over the past several days, failing to salvage what was left of their family after being ripped apart at the seams.
‘I’m sorry, Dad, I wish I’d been less selfish, please forgive me,’ Yasemin sobbed, blaming herself for upsetting her father during what was already a difficult time. ‘I promise, I’ll listen to you from now on, Dad. I love you,’ she added, wiping the tears from her eyes, missing the odd one or two that found its way onto her father’s cheek.
As Sadun closed his eyes, Yasemin’s mind wandered back to a dark place. That single, pivotal moment where life as they knew it had changed forever. It didn’t just fall away gently without a notable ripple. To Yasemin, it was more like being catapulted from one world to the next, without warning.