The Fallen Short Stories

Ezra's Attempt (Avalon's POV)

*************TRIGGER WARNING*********** 

suicide and its methodology are frequently discussed in this chapter (no attempts on page)

PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION 

I'm glad you exist.

THANKS MK

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I stand up out of my desk listening to Sariah and Tabitha babble on about the lecture we just sat through. I stay quiet, though I personally don't understand what's so difficult to grasp about the subject. I stuff my books into my bag and follow the girls into the hallway, it's my last class for today and I am just thinking about how nice it would be to catch a nap before meeting up with my team for training. Just as soon as I can feel the warm allure of my pillow my phone rings and shocks me out of my head. Riker's name pops onto my screen, I glance at Sariah and nod them on, before I answer. "What's up?" There is heavy breathing on the other end of the phone and there's some shuffling. "Avalon," It's Calvary's voice, and I can immediately tell by the tone in his voice something is wrong. "Are you okay? What's happened?" "I need you to stay calm." "Calvary, what is it." "Ezra is in the hospital." "What the hell for? Is he okay?" "You just need to get here, alright?" "Calvary answer me is he okay?" Silence hangs in the air for a few horrifying seconds before I say, "It's bad, isn't it?" "Yeah, it's really bad." "Oh my God Cal!" My heart is beating in my ears the tears are already stinging my eyes. I don't even remember hanging up the phone I just know that I'm running, and I don't stop. 

Cal is waiting for me in the lobby, his face hardened. My eyes fall to his white t-shirt, well I suppose it had used to be white. It is red with blood, Ezra's blood. I feel my knees starting to go out, but he reaches me and steadies me on my feet. "Why are you covered in blood?" The voice doesn't sound like mine, I am not here I am floating high above. His voice calls me back down. "He cut himself. We couldn't get it to stop." "No." "It was really deep; we don't know how long he was like that." "Is he alive?" "Yea." "Can I see him?" "They won't let us in." "Have you called his sister?" "Yea, she and her husband are on the way." "Where's Riker?" "Upstairs waiting for an update. He is all to pieces, he thinks it's his fault." "Why would he think that?" "Apparently he was home with Ezra all day." "I want to go to them." He nods and leads me into an elevator, I'm shaking so hard, Cal wraps his arm around me. 

Ezra 

Images flash in front of my eyes in quick succession as if I am watching my own life fade away. Playing soccer with the kids at the kitchen. Running a clinic on his weekend off. Picking through a box of chocolate, saving the strawberry creme's for last. That damn book in his hands, finishing it just to begin again. Over and over. Him sitting in the dark, his face illuminated by the single candle on the cake, he'd made for me. Kisses and his breath on my skin. That sleepy expression when he's just woken up. Stubble on his cheeks when he hasn't shaved in a few days. 

Ezra my Ezra

Cal shows me to a small alcove where Riker paces the floor. I go up to him and press my hand to his shoulder. When he turns to face me, his face is red, and eyes swollen. He begins to weep when he sees me. I put my arms around him. "I'm so sorry Kohen." "It's not your fault." "I was there all fucking day." "It's okay." "No, it's not!" He jerks away from me. "I thought he was just studying like usual, but I should have checked on him. He had the door locked." He folds into a chair, sobbing. "Cal broke it down. There was blood. Everywhere. It's all my fault." "No, it's not, he's sick, it's not your fault." Tears streak down my own face as I sit beside him and rub his arm. Cal stands over him, rubbing his hair. "It's not your fault Taki." Riker cries into his hands, so hard he starts to shake. Watching him, anger flares in my chest. Ezra was hurt. Ezra was the one that deserved our tears, and attention but here we were focused on him. I couldn't take it, not now, not without laying my eyes on Ezra and knowing if he was alright.