name: Meyra Binici age & birthday: 32, January 27th, 1992 sign: Aquarius gender & pronouns: Cis woman, She/Her sexuality: heterosexual place of birth & time in New Bellevoux: Bursa, Turkey and immigrated in 1996, left in 2010 for college, disappeared in August 2018 and only just returned in August 2024 neighborhood: Downtown occupation: Wildlife Photographer and Freelance Photographer faceclaim: Demet Özdemir family: Murat Binici (twin deceased), UTP Binici (brother), UTP Binici (sister), Seniz and Ibrahim Binici (parents, mother deceased)
CHARACTER BIOGRAPHY TWs: car accident, death, suicide attempt
PAST
Meyra doens't remember most of her life in Bursa, Turkey. The newly wed parents welcomed twins Meyra and Murat but decided to immigrate to the United States in 1996 when the twins were only four years old. Turkish was her first language, but since she and her brother were so young, they easily learned English in early education. It wasn't until the family was settled in their new home of New Bellevoux, Louisiana that the family grew with two more children. Meyra was the first born and she felt a responsibility and pressure her younger siblings never felt. Though she was only first by a few minutes it was a fact she used often in any argument with her twin brother, Murat. She was the one who helped with babysitting when she could. Clothes were passed down, hands were held, and she was expected to be the big sister for the others to look up to and try to follow. Her parents weren’t exactly strict, they loved all of their children and wanted them to do what made them happy, but Meyra always felt the pressure her parents put on her to be perfect, more than simply the best she could be. Her and Murat were the oldest and therefore they had expectations placed on them that their younger siblings escaped.
Meyra and Murat were inseparable growing up. They knew each other on a level that they could not relate to anyone else. Being twins they also had what they called a 'twin bond' being able to know what the other was feeling even when separated in two different locations. They shared a secret twin language Meyra can still remember. Growing up they each had their own friend group, but could easily hang out with each others friends and often hung out with friends at the same time. Both played soccer in high school on their respective teams, but made sure to cheer on the other who was playing from the stands. They were each other's best friend and the other half of each other. Whoever grew close to one twin knew the other twin would be a staple in their lives as well.
They had never explicitly said for Meyra to go into medicine, but they dropped hints for most of her life growing up. Her parents steered her towards the sciences and math, while always praising the health field. When it came time to go to college, Meyra had worked harder than ever in her life to get into the pre-med program at Tulane. It was all to get their approval, to do what they wanted from her but it would become something she loathed more than anything. Murat had never been told to take over the family business one day, but hints had been dropped his whole life as well. Meyra was to be a doctor and Murat was to continue the family Turkish restaurant her parents opened when they settled in New Bellevoux. So when Meyra left in the fall, Murat joined her as well at Tulane but studying in the business program.
It was at Tulane that she met Oliver Heywood. While she had known the older boy in passing due to his status as town royalty being the son of the Heywood family, she had never spoken to him before he left for college. He was starting his grad program when she arrived at Tulane to start her undergrad. When they literally ran into each other, the two grabbed a drink after to make up for it and they had an instant connection. Meyra had tried to keep him at arm's length, only agreeing to a date here and there. But by the time she and Murat went home for winter break that first year, Meyra couldn't deny it anymore and started to date Oliver Heywood. After finishing up her undergrad, Meyra passed the MCAT with flying colors and got accepted into medical school at UNC Chapel Hill. She faced what she had thought would be the hardest challenge of her life. Murat had finished his degree and with no need for a Master’s he had returned home to New Bellevoux. For the first time in her life, Meyra had to live totally separate from Murat. She’d been depressed at first, the twins had been inseparable, living in the same dorm halls and even sharing a house with friends later. Murat knew she was struggling, and they tried to see each other once a month, usually Murat flying out to see her. They talked every day and eventually she started to accept it. After she got her doctorate, she could finally return home. Maybe even find a fellowship at a hospital closer to New Bellevoux. Oliver was with her in North Carolina, but both agreed it would be best to go back to Louisiana after she was done with school. But it all changed and the worst happened 6 years ago.
Murat and her mother had come up for a weekend to visit Meyra. Murat still often came, but this time, their mother had wanted to see North Carolina and her eldest daughter. They had a great time, and the trio were heading back to Meyra’s apartment from dinner when disaster struck. A drunk driver struck them head on. The accident killed her mother instantly, Murat barely was responsive as Meyra came to. She tried to move, but her body was trapped, crushed by the car and she couldn’t do anything but watch as her twin brother died before her eyes. All that medical training and she couldn't save him, only watch as the life left his eyes. Soon darkness came over her and she was sure she’d be joining her brother and mother in death. When she came to, she woke up in the hospital and had learned that she was the only survivor. Her position in the back seat had saved her life while the two in the front hadn’t been so lucky. Lucky. Meyra felt anything but. Her mother and twin brother were dead. She had lost the other half of her soul in her twin brother. She was not lucky.
Everything moved in a fog. They had the funeral in New Bellevoux and Meyra was moved from the hospital in North Carolina to one in Louisiana and then to a rehab center in New Bellevoux for six months. She may have lived, but she had suffered broken bones and damage to her body that learning to walk again was just one of the many things she had to learn how to do again. When she finally was released, Meyra returned to medical school a whole semester behind in August 2018. However, it only pissed her off how wrong it was. Life was short and she was pursuing this career only to make her parents proud and to get their approval. Life was short and she was doing what she hated. Life was short and she had failed to save her brother so she was sure to fail her future patients. How could she go back with Oliver and continue like this was normal? Half of her family was dead and she somehow survived. Life would never be the same. Only two weeks later Meyra dropped out of school and ran. She left a note for Oliver telling him she couldn't do it. She went to the bridge where the accident happened, Meyra had stood on the edge and looked down ready to jump and end it all. How could she even have the strength to go on? But she couldn't do it. The thought of Oliver and her father and two remaining siblings receiving the news, of seeing her mangled corpse made her stop. She couldn't do that to them. It'd be better if she just disappeared.
Meyra had always loved photography and moved to Los Angeles to finally pursue that. She took up work as a freelance photographer and even showed her more artistic work in small shows, though nothing came from that more artistic path. Still, it had been fun and for once she was doing what she truly wanted. She worked hard and eventually got a job as a wildlife photographer. For 5 years she was able to travel the globe and see the world. There was so much to see and do in this cruel and unfair world, and she knew Murat would have been proud of her for finally doing what she enjoyed. But the bitter taste still remained, it was only her running away from her past and her own insecurities. She was a coward and had turned her back on her family and her loved ones while she had tried to deal with her grief. It was time she finally returned to try and make amends.
PRESENT
Meyra only just returned to New Bellevoux in August 2024. She wanted to reconnect with her family and loved ones again. It has been 6 years and she feels terrible for how she treated them. She had been scared and angry, haunted by her brother and mother and left them all behind without a word. For many years she blamed herself. If they hadn’t been visiting her, if she had been able to exist better without Murat, if they hadn’t gone to the restaurant she had picked. If she had been able to move and save Murat from bleeding out before the medics came. Meyra still carries the guilt, but she knew running from her family was one guilt she could try to fix. She wants to make amends to all those she left behind and hurt. Right now she picked up being a freelance photographer again in town while not agreeing to any wildlife photoshoots for a few months and has no idea how long she’ll stay. It all depends on her ability to mend the bridges she had burned all those years ago.
