Loving Ezra

Prologue

THE LOUD NOISES became evident from the busy coffee shop every morning on Binghamton Avenue; people of every age, color, and gender hovered up to obtain their regular order. Today was no different.

The door of the coffee shop would din after every enter and exit. Costumers and coffee shop employers were loudly speaking whether being on their phone, at the waiting line, or at their co-workers. All those noises were messing someone's head up.

For the first time, Ezra accompanied his mother to the coffee shop she went to every morning to purchase her coffee and two blueberry muffins. And how did they regretted their decision.

After Ezra's caretaker decided to quit the job when milk was thrown at her; Linda, Ezra's mother, knew the next few days were going to be living hell. Taking care of Ezra for almost her life was getting tiring, and although she wished she could be with him forever, she knew that was impossible. She sometimes wondered if Ezra was ever going to find a woman or man that would love and appreciate him.

"Ezra, love, just wait patiently. Our order will be up soon, and then we will be able to leave. Please calm down, love." Ezra's mother waited for his reaction to her comment.

Ezra was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD, at the age of nine. Linda worried about his son after not communicating or letting anyone, including her, touch him, so she took him to the doctor. After several check-ups, he was diagnosed with a developmental disorder. Having a difficult time interacting with others and repetitive behaviors became difficult to not only Ezra but Linda since she was the only one taking care of her son.

The boy with emerald eyes shifted back and forwards, looking down at his mother pleading to leave the noisy place, yet it seemed she was ignoring his pleadings. Tired of being ignored, Ezra yelled at his mother to gain her attention once and for all.

"Leave, Ma!" the coffee shop became silent. Everyone had heard the boy and turned to look at him. Linda, with a sad smile, apologized and looked back at her son.

"All right, Ezra. It seems like no coffee and muffins today, and probably for the next ones." signed Linda. She was physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted. Linda grabbed Ezra's arm and pushed him to the exit, about to leave the shop, until a deep yet soft voice called her.

"Madam! I can accompany him outside while you wait for your order." a tall and handsome man approached her, the angel she just needed.

"Oh my, thank you. But you see, my son.."

"Don't worry, Ma'am; I have an older sister with autism. I can be with him; I don't mind helping at all. I know it can be difficult for them to be in loud places." the man interrupted.

"Oh well, thank you very much, young man." She turned to see Ezra, "Love, be nice. This young man will be with you while we get your blueberry muffins, all right?"

The man turned to look at the boy who kept looking at the ground, nervous about looking at the person that just talked to his mother. He noticed that the boy was much shorter and younger than him, about 20 years old.

"I'm Damien King. Nice to meet you." the tall man calmly said, not wanting to scare the smaller boy. Still trying to see the face of the boy next to him.

Finally, Ezra looked up. He wanted to know the person with the soft voice that seemed to calm his fears. Surprisingly, since he has never seen anyone in the eyes after meeting them.

Wow, he's beautiful.

Damien raised his eyebrows; he was shocked. He saw the most beautiful human he has ever seen. Possessing the softest forest green eyes and full of tiny freckles painted on his face. Butterflies danced on his stomach, something that he had never felt before with anyone. On the other hand, Ezra felt his cheeks warmed up. The tall man made him feel different, emotions he has never experienced. Ezra felt a different type of anxiety. With rosy cheeks, Ezra shyly went back to staring at the ground.

Damien smiled at Ezra's actions. He looked away knowing that he wasn't going to get the boy's name, even if he wished to. Damien looked back at Ezra, about to say something until a second voice interrupted.

"E-Ezra." a soft voice announced.

Damien was astounded; not only did the boy was the most beautiful thing he has ever seen, but also heard. He moved closer to Ezra, trying to hear more of his voice, yet Ezra kept quiet.

"Ezra, Ezra, Ezra. Such a beautiful name for such a beautiful person." Damien said, delivering him a shy smile from Ezra.

"Thanks," It was so soft that not even a moth could apprehend it. Damien smiled at the name Ezra called him.

"My pleasure, Ezra," Damien answered.

Both smiled brightly; Ezra was so proud of himself for finally having a conversation, and Damien was happy that he had found the person he might be with for the rest of his life.

The coffee shop door banged, alerting Damien that Linda had already got her order and needed him no more to be with Ezra. He looked down sadly at the thought. Ezra quickly went and grabbed his mother by the arm, ready to go. Linda rolled her eyes at her son's action; she looked at Damien and smiled.

"Thank you, Mr.." Linda stopped, asking for the name of the man that had helped her.

"Damien King, and you are?"

"Linda Adams, and my son, Ezra." Damien nodded at her reply.

"Ezra, yeah. He told me just 2 minutes ago," Linda looked at Damien in shock.

There have been a few times where Ezra would introduce himself to someone that wasn't her, about three times in his whole life.

"Oh, wow. Great job, love!" she told Ezra and looked back at the taller man, "Anyways, I have to go and look for a new caretaker for Ezra, have a nice day Mr. King." Linda was about to walk away with her impatient son, but something tapped at her shoulder.

"I-I could help. I could take care of Ezra, if you allowed me, while you find someone. Don't need to be in a rush." Damien only wished to be with Ezra, know more about him, and be close to him. He was not going to lose Ezra that day and never see him again; if that means taking care of him, then so be it.

"Oh, well sure!" Linda replied. She was happy that someone wanted to take care of his son since not many people liked the company of autistic people.

"Here is my phone number; please call me if you need someone to be with Ezra." Damien handed a business card to Linda. She took it and placed it in her purse.

"All right! I will call you, darling, see you later! Take care!" Linda shouted since Ezra was already pulling her to leave the place.

Damien looked at them marching away, especially at the boy who looked back at him with a huge smile.

Thank you so much for reading! Let me know what are your thoughts of it. Please vote and comment, it'll be appreciated.

Until next time...