Hands Of Time | Ezria

Chapter Twenty One

Aria's POV

"So, you haven't spoken to dad in over a month?" I said to Ella, who was sat in front of me, sipping her tea.

We were a very informal family, so mom and dad had always insisted to call them Byron and Ella.

She shook her head, and placed her cup back on the China saucer.

"He's made no effort," she carried on.
"That's not the point - if he's making no effort, you should at least try,"

"Aria, we are divorced,"
"Yeah, with two kids! You can't simply imagine never talking to him again, especially since you've got two kids!" I part- screamed.

Our little argument got interrupted by my phone vibrating. I left it at first, until it went to voicemail. Then it rung again, and I saw who the caller was.

Rosewood Hospital. Shit.

"Fuck," I said, quiet enough for me to believe it was a whisper, but loud enough for my mom to hear. She tutted at my language.

I answered almost immediately.

"Miss. Montgomery?" The operator said. I nodded, then realized she couldn't see me.

"Yes. What's wrong? What's going on?!" I started to panic. The last time Rosewood Hospital called me was when Ezra was admitted there. I knew I should have left him while I visited my mom. I was so stupid. It was my fault.

Maybe it wasn't him? I thought. But why else would they call me? I started to shake.

"Ezra Fitz has just been admitted, after being found collapsed in his apartment. We advise for you to come as soon as possible,"

"Of course!" I ended the call and grabbed my bag off the staircase pole.

"Aria?" Ella called after me. I shook her away with my hand and headed towards the front door.

"Aria Montgomery!" She shouts.

"Mom, go away! I need to go to the hospital, and don't you dare follow me!" I scream.

"Hospital?!"

I nod. "It's Ezra,"

-

I unlocked my car with my keys and climb in. I insert my car keys, cutting my thumb as I do so, as I jammed it in with full force and speed.

"Shit, ow," I sigh.

My car revved up and I slammed my foot on the gas. Rosewood hospital was about ten minutes away, but at my speed, I reckon I could get there in five.

I hit traffic. Long traffic.

"What?! Shit no no no no not today!" I scream, my face streaky and wet from tears. I slammed my fists on the wheel until my hands turned tomato red.

And to top it off, it started to rain, and the traffic was getting slower by the second. I checked the time. 2:46pm.

"Fuck it," I huffed, and opened the car door. My hair was drenched the moment I set foot outside. It was freezing cold, but I didn't care. I needed to get to Ezra.

I ran through the traffic, leaving it there. I figured it would probably be towed or something, but it's fine. I'll collect it tomorrow.

I hugged myself with my arms, which had no help in warming me up. The rain poured down heavier and heavier, and I was getting more and more soaked.

It took about five minutes of sprinting to the hospital until I finally reached it.

I walked into the waiting room and straight the the reception. The receptionist gave me a funny look before telling me which room Ezra was in.

I nodded and thanked her, and ran to room 224.

And there he was. Laying there, attached to endless life machines, his lifeless body being kept alive by beeping machines.

I sat in the cold, plastic covered seat next to his hospital bed. I looked behind me and all around before taking his hand in mine. His was freezing cold, and tears streamed down my tiny cheeks.

Ezra's POV

I walked through Rosewood Hospitals corridors, confused as ever. I didn't have a nose cannula in, but I seemed to be breathing fine? There wasn't an oxygen tank connected to me either. I walked down the endless corridors, nobody making eye contact with me.

And then I saw her.

She was in room 224. She was clinging onto a hand.

"Aria!" I cried, but she didn't turn. She kept crying, clinging to a hand. I couldn't see who it was, so I took a step forward into the room.

And then I froze. It was me. I was laying on a hospital bed, almost lifeless. I wasn't waking up.

My lips went dry and my face drained of color.

"Aria?" I whispered, but she didn't look away from my body.

"Ezra, I know you can't hear me right now, but I'm begging you. Please, please wake up. I don't know what I would do without you. I'd be gone. I'd be nothing," she cried, sobbing into my hand.

Her drenched hair dropped in front of her face, and she whimpered as I made no movement.

"Aria, can you hear me?!" I shout, behind her, but she didn't flinch.

I walk towards her, and go into caress her tears face. But it was impossible. My hand went straight through her.

Was I dead?

Tears stream down my face. She couldn't see me. She couldn't hear me. Only my body, which was clinging to life.

I wrap my arms around her, knowing she would never know I was holding onto her, but I could feel her. That was what mattered most to me.

We cried together, her two hands still in my one hand.

"Please help me with this," I shout to the ceiling. How do I tell her I was here? How do I let her know that I'm sat right beside her.

"Ezra, I love you more than anything and anyone on this planet. Without you, I'd be empty," she cries.

"I planned our wedding. I planned what our first child would look like. Your beautiful ocean eyes. I'm longing to see them one more time. Your dazzling eyes and smile. Please," she quivers.

I start to cry even harder, as I cling onto her harder. She jumps.

I let go immediately. "Aria?"

But she couldn't hear me. It was almost as if I was just a shadow. That's what I was. A shadow.

She shakes her head and squeezes my hand harder. I lay my ghostly hands upon hers, and look at her. Her eyes fixed onto my body.