Kill Me Softly

Chapter 7

1 week later~

He sat on the stool of Lola's piano and played with three keys, a small verse Lola once taught him. He stared at the keys as he played, his fingers shaking, as he looked on blankly. Ezra's world had crumpled, and the only light that he had left was gone. He spent the entire week in Lola's room hoping that she will come rushing back any moment to where she belonged. Alec tried to get him to walk around, to eat, or sleep but he just sat there. He rested his head in the crook of his arm leaning on the piano, continuing the soft verse. He heard the door creak open but he didn't bother to look up. He felt the weight of someone sit next to him on the stool, but he kept playing and stared at his hand. A white hand came on top of his own and stopped his playing.

"Ezra, you need to get dressed... the funeral is in an hour," a soft voice said and he looked up to see Eleanor. Her eyes were full of worry, and red from what, he assumed, crying. "Hey, when was the last time you slept," she said as she softly stroked his cheek.

"Sleep," the word made him smile, "I will sleep the day I can hold Lola in my arms again. That is when I will be able to sleep again." He held her hand on his cheek, wanting to keep the warmth their reminding him of Lola's soft hands. He closed his eyes and cried till his breath got stuck in the back of his throat.

"Oh sweetheart," Eleanor said as she pulled him into one of her famous bear hugs. He let her hug him because at this point he was waiting to be pulled out of this darkness by someone. She rubbed his back in a small rhythm calming his sobs. "Listen here, you will make it out of this horrible time I promise you," she said as she stopped rubbing and squeezed him tightly. "And the first step to this is saying goodbye. Alec, Jane and I will be right next to you the entire time." Ezra held her tight, Eleanor was like a sister to him even before Alec and she got married. "Come on now," she said as she pulled away and held both of his hands in hers, "Let's go clean you up, because honestly darling you look as bad as a Kardashian without make up." She gave him a weak smile and he tried to smile as well. She got up and led him out of Lola's room and he turned before he closed the door. He looked at the empty room that will never come back to life and wondered if he will ever be able to.

*

He put the comb down as he finished combing his freshly showered hair and looked at his reflection. His eyes had deep brown bags under them and his face was no longer as full as it used to be. His face was covered with a prickly beard and as he ran his hand through his hair he notice how long his hair had also become. He took the razor and began to shave his short beard, being careful to not get any cuts. As he was about to put the razor down to wash his face he stared at the razor. He knew suicide would only bring more tragedy to everyone around him, but what if this would bring him back to Lola? But then again what if it doesn't? But at this point anything would feel better than this hollowness inside of him.

"No Ezra"

 He heard a bang on the door startling him causing him to drop the razor into the sink.

"Ezra you have ten more minutes," he heard Eleanor say. Ezra turned around looking around frantically, he could have sworn someone whispered in his ear just a second ago. It was just Eleanor, I need to calm down. He splashed some cool water on his face once again, looking up in the mirror taking two more deep breaths before he left the bathroom. Alec and Eleanor were sitting together on his bed, waiting for him to come out. Eleanor untangled herself from under Alec's arm and rushed to his side.

"Hey pretty boy, you look much better," she said as she smiled softly. He just looked at her silently begging her to not make him go. She just narrowed her eyes and shaked her head ever so slightly, and grabbed his hand intertwining it in her own. Alec walked over to his other side standing next to him as they made their way to the funeral.