After all these years

Chapter twenty- eight

"Hello?" Ezra asked walking through the door.

He slowly closed the door and put the groceries down that he was holding.

Everything was quiet, too quiet.

"Maddie? Aria?"

"Daddy!" Maddie said pouncing into her father's arms as he let out a relieved sigh.

"Where's mommy?"

"She hasn't come out all day." She pointed to the bathroom with a frown.

He slowly put her on the floor walking over to the bathroom.

A cold shiver went up his spine as he put his hand to the doorknob.

He turned the doorknob to find Aria clenching
her knees to her chest with tears in her eyes.

He slowly scooped her up in his arms.

She clenched onto his chest mumbling she's sorry.

He was confused, that was until he saw the inside of her forearm.

The two sat in silence until Maddie interrupted them.

"Daddy?"

He forgot she was there playing with her Barbies this whole time.

"Yes honey?"

"I'm hungry." Maddie said looking down at her feet.

"Awe okay. How would you like to spend the day with one of your aunties?" Ezra whispered.

"I don't know..." Maddie stumbled.

Her face brightened. "Can it be auntie Hanna?"

"Of course let me just call her." He said
unaware of what Aria told Hanna just days before.

"Do you want a snack?" Ezra asked her hanging up with hanna.

"No thank you. I'll wait for auntie hanna. Is mommy going to get better?"

Ezra was taken a back a bit, though now it's obvious Aria is sick. She does need to go see someone. If she wants to or not.

"I don't know baby. I don't know." He whispered that more to himself then to her.

Aria hadn't moved an inch when Hanna arrived. Her head was still on Ezra's lap. The blanket just thrown over her. The same painful dead look she had on her face when he found her.

It absolutely broke Hanna's heart to see her friend like this. Nobody else knew besides her and ezra.

Once Hanna saw Aria her eyes began to water.
"What happened."

"I don't know." He whispered looking down at Aria.

"Call me if you need anything." Hanna said grabbing Maddie's hand.

"Bye I love you daddy!"

"Love you."

"Honey we need to talk."

No answer.

"Aria."

No answer.

"I'm here for you."

No answer.

Soft sobs began to fill the room.

"Baby girl." Ezra said softly wiping Aria's eyes.

"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry."

"What triggered this?" Ezra said afraid of her answer.