<div style="text-align: center">《 Ezra 》<br/>
<i>Location: Abendblume, bedroom<br/>
Addressing: Tobias, Wesley</i>​</div><br/><br/><div style="text-align: justify">Ezra ignored Tobias for most of their trek across the yard. They weren’t friends or even really acquaintances. He knew Tobias was Abendblume’s shrink, but that was the extent of it. Beyond visiting Rachel for the occasional sniffle, Ezra didn’t know much about the Strickland family.<br/>
<br/>
He jogged up the stairs and pulled open the thick front door. “I will pack mine and Anise’s things. You can cover yourself and Rachel.” He shared his plans with the man and left him at the foot of the stairs. “We will meet back here and leave together. No reason to worry either of our sisters by returning alone.”<br/>
<br/>
Ezra abandoned Tobias at the foot of the staircase and went to his room on the third floor. He opened the door and felt an immediate punch to the gut. His bedroom was near to perfect, just as he had left it. His bed was still mussed from sleep and other activities, but other than that, it was like things had not changed. Except... this wasn't his room anymore.<br/>
<br/>
It felt like there was a hand with a grip on his heart, squeezing until the organ strained so intensely that it almost dared to burst. He counted in his head, his eyes fluttering close as tears splattered onto his freckled cheeks.<br/>
<br/>
<i>One, two, three… Duffle bag, jacket, shoes… Four, five six…</i><br/>
<br/>
“Ezra.”<br/>
<br/>
His breath caught in his throat and chills splintered down his spine.<br/>
<br/>
Ezra recognized the voice before he opened his eyes. He responded with a half-turn to meet Wesley in the middle. The man gathered him in his arms and squeezed him tight. His shirt smelled like man musk and something akin to floral perfume or shampoo.<br/>
<br/>
The lingering scent of his wife.<br/>
<br/>
“I don’t know what to do.” Wesley whispered into his hair. “I don’t know what to do, Ezra. I’m sorry.”<br/>
<br/>
He let himself reside in the embrace, greedily soaking up the last few seconds he had with Wesley.<br/>
<br/>
“There is nothing you can do, Wes.” Ezra brought his hands up between them and gently pushed, separating their bodies. Their eyes locked, both glossy with tears that have yet to fall.<br/>
<br/>
“I want you to know that I am not mad at you.” He swallowed the lump in his throat, wishing that Wesley had never shown up here so that last glance in the lobby was all he had to remember him by. “I’m not mad. You have your family and I have mine.” Ezra blinked back tears and offered him a regretful smile. “I am trying really hard to be strong right now, Wesley, so you need to leave. Go back to Hannah and the girls. This will all be a really awful dream before you know it.” He pressed a final soft kiss to Wesley's lips, wishing that he had the time to say what he meant, but knowing that none of it would matter.​</div>