" They are right when they say one falls in love only once in life

Because I tried falling again and see where it got me.

Back in your arms tonight."

- Suzangill

........................

" Dad,why are we here?"

Ezra says stepping down from the car. To look around at the place in confusion and Albert doesn't say anything.

He walks inside. Making Ezra to follow.

Her heart thudding with each step she took.

Albert stops in front of a heavy steel door and speaks something to the guard. The guard asks him to sign on a piece of paper. Once done.

He unlocks the door, urging them to follow.

However the scene inside was no where what Ezra had expected. Her heart dropping in her chest.

There were around hundreds of men. Wearing same clothes.

One was sitting on the floor silently. Not even moving. Just staring at a spot on the wall.

Another was playing with a steel spoon and plate. Banging the spoon on the plate every few seconds. Screaming again and again

" Food! Food!! Get me food!"

With no one paying heed to him. Few were sitting together in a circle. Doing something with cards.

Laughing amongst themselves.

" Don't look Ezra. Just follow me."

Albert speaks softly. Holding her arm. On realising she has stopped walking behind him.

She looks up at him. To barely nod. Continuing.

When suddenly a man comes in front of her. Making her heart to thud faster. He had long hair. Brown teeth. And a crazy smile on his face.

" Hahaha see I have new clothes see!"

"See!!"

He speaks literally screaming.. Twirling around like a kid. Flashing that white dress with blue stripes. That everyone else was wearing.

And Ezra just tries to walk past him. Lowering her eyes. When he again blocks her

" Where are you going? See my dress! Isn't it nice! See!

Ezra's grip on Albert's forearm tightens.

" Tell me it's nice! Tell me!!"

His voice changes from carefree and childish to domineering. A dark look covering his eyes. Making Ezra to shudder.

When suddenly the guards rush in with sticks. Hitting him and he screams. His eyes widening in fear.

" Aggh! No! No don't hit me please! Please!"

" Go and sit on your place! Don't move from there."

" Ahh sorry! Sorry! Don't hit me no!"

He crawls back to a corner. Hugging himself. Hiding his face in between his knees.

Shivering and the guards finally leave him.

Ezra continues to stare at the man. Not able to understand. To feel pity for him or be scared.

Albert tugs her wrist.

" Come. Let's go."

She follows him. But her eyes. They stay fixed on the man who was sobbing in a corner now. With no one paying heed.

It seemed to be a normal thing for the people here.

They don't bother. The usual chatter continuing.

But for Ezra? Her heart was beating at inhuman speed. The thought of seeing him here...like these people.

Made dread settle in her.

It can't be possible...it can't be. Right?

After going through countless hallways like this. They finally stop outside a heavy steel door which was different from others. With a small box in it. Steel rods lined the small space.

" 5 minutes. One person at a time."

Was all that the guard said. Opening the door for them and leaving.

Albert turns around to look at Ezra. Nodding at her.

" You go. I will wait here."

And she couldn't help gather all the courage in her to move forward. The chaos in the mental asylum seemed to have been silenced down as the metal door cracks open.

Silence and darkness.

These only things that welcomed her.

Her fearful anxious eyes look around adjusting to the darkness. When her eyes stop at a person's back, sitting in the centre of the room.

And her heart thuds faster.

He was wearing clothes similar to the people outside. Plain white with blue stripes.

His hair long, reaching his shoulders and head lowered. Making it impossible to look at his face.

He was staring at something on the floor

He looked busy doing something. The repeated sound of something scribbling audible.

" A- Aron?"

Ezra literally chokes out. The sound of her heel hitting the cement floor echo around. And with each step she took closer to him. The sound of the scribbling increases.

No response.

He didn't acknowledge her presence.

Controlling the trembling of her legs and thuds of her heart. She stops behind him. To only see clearly what he was doing.

And that's when her eyes stop at the word or rather letters he was scribbling on the floor with a sharp rock in his hand.

R

A

Were the few letters she could make out. As others were hidden under his palms.

And she stares.

The hands...

It was him.

Her Aaron's hands.

How can she not identify these hands that have caressed her. Kissed hers. Held her.

And she felt something rising in her chest. Hope? Pity? Sympathy? Nostalgia?

What was it?

Trying to calm her disastrous beating heart. She looks around at the dimly lit place to only find letters everywhere in the walls around her.

Engraved with the same rock....why...why will a person engrave letters on the wall?

She raises her eyes ,trying to look up at his face. To only find his eyes covered by his long hair.

She tries to call for his attention. When it seemed the man was oblivious to everything around him.

" A...Aron look at me... please?"

She tries again. But fails miserably to only see him scribbling the words more frantically on hearing her voice.

Still staring at the floor.

Almost to the extent of hurting himself. The sharp corner of the rock piercing his own palms. Yet he doesn't stop.

When suddenly his hand comes in between and his finger bleeds. Making blood to coat the small piece of rock and the floor.

" Aaron!!!"

Ezra exclaims. In worry. Rushing forward to hold his hands in her.

Crouching down to his level.

" Oh god! What are you doing?"

She speaks in a voice laced in worry. Assessing his hand to only take out a handkerchief from her bag. Wrapping it around his bloody finger.

" Does it hurt? Are you fine?"

He just stares at the floor. Not even looking up to meet her eyes . To speak lowly in a whisper which she hears quite clearly.

" E...z..raaa"

Her heart beats faster. Tears lining her eyes. Nodding frantically. She raises his hand to kiss his knuckles.

" Yes Aaron. It's me...your Ezra!"

However he gives no response. His eyes still fixed at the same spot on the floor. Moving forward his good hand , he traces the name he wrote on the floor.

And Ezra follows his stare.

To have her heart stop. Those tears finally falling down from her eyes.

When she now clearly sees the letters he wrote on the floor.

E Z R A

Pulling back his bloody hand from her grip. He keeps repeating her name. Tracing it. Smiling seeing it.

" Ezraaa"

Ezra was finding it very difficult to look at him. He..he was not the Aaron she knew. What has happened to him? Where was that rich confident man?

The man who gave her a cold shoulder.. yet when he spoke? He made her knees go weak.

The man who spent her entire life understanding...yet when she finally understood him and his love?

He went away from her. He vanished just like a marage. When she approached him.

Cleaning her tears. She takes a deep breath.Looking back at the letters on the wall

When the realisation hits her. Hard. The letters...the letters surrounding her were not just letters. They were four letters.

Her letters.

E Z R A

Everywhere.

Her thoughts are interrupted when she hears that scribbling sound again. To only see him rubbing the rock on the floor again.

Returning to what he was doing earlier.

The handkerchief that she wrapped around his palm. Was getting red with blood again.

But he didn't cared. Repeating her name again and again.

His eyes fixated on the floor.

" Ezraaa"

" Ezraa"

Her insides were a mess and her tears impossible to control. Not able to see him hurt himself, she grabs his hands.

" Stop Aaron. Please. You are hurting yourself!"

" Ezraa"

" Ezraa"

" I am here Aaron. Look at me. Come on."

Holding his face in her palms. She urges him to look up. And he starts moving his head in a no. Thrashing.

" No...don't touch me......Ezra...Ezraa!"

" It's me! Your Ezra! Just look at me please!"

And that's when through the curtain of those long hair, she meets those cold grey eyes which she saw in her dreams.

The eyes that took her to heaven. The eyes that were the most beautiful yet the most mysterious eyes she had ever seen.

But unlike earlier times. They weren't cold or veiling.

They were vulnerable, afraid and anxious.

He goes still looking at her. His thrashing seizes. And Ezra smiles sadly at him.

" I missed you so much Aaron. I missed you."

He just stares. Not even blinking. His eyes following the trail of tears on her cheeks to look back at her brown orbs.

" All these years...I...I....thought I lost you......I am so happy to see you...so happy!"

" Don't you remember me?"

She asks. Hope shining in her eyes. And Aaron doesn't reply. Not taking his eyes away from him.

Giving her an opportunity to stare at the man he has become.

Rough beard covered his jawline. Dark circles circling his beautiful eyes making them look hollow. His lips dry and dull. With long shoulder length hair.

He looked unkept and lost. Like he hasn't trimmed in ages. And has not seen his own face in the mirror.

Why...why had he made this of himself?

Moving up her trembling fingers. She traces his face. Starting from his forehead to his nose. To finally settle her fingers on his dry lips.

Sobbing while whispering.

" Your Ezra. I am your Ezra. Your stupid girl. "

He takes few seconds to take in her words. Her eyes widening in disbelief. As he stutters.

" M- y Ezra?"

Ezra nods frantically. Kissing his knuckles.

" Yes! Your Ezra Aaron! Aaron's Ezra!"

A smile comes on his lips. Seeing Ezra press his hand to her cheek. And he picks up his other trembling hand. Repeating what she did.

As if remembering their movement.

" My Ez-ra"

His fingers touch her forehead. To trail lower to touch her eyes..her nose and Ezra sobs again. Closing her eyes. Enjoying the feeling of his touch.

Feeling those sparks that she thought were lost.

His fingers stop at her lips. His eyes following.

And Ezra breathes heavily. Feeling those foreign feelings again that she thought must have died with years. Feeling what she hasn't felt in last 10 years with any another man.

Her stomach churns and butterflies erupt.

Her heavy breaths hit his fingers. And he keeps it there.As if enjoying it.

Their eyes looking into each other when suddenly something flashes in his eyes. And he retreats his fingers as if he just got electrocuted.

" No ..no...."

Speaking to himself. He gets up. Staggering back from her. Staring at his hands.

" How...ca-n I?"

" I...I...taint you...I...have tainted you....I...hurt you...."

Ezra's eyes soften. And she tries to hold his hand again. When he moves back from her. Literally screaming.

Fear evident in his eyes. His entire frame trembling.

" I...st-ay away....move bac-k!"

Ezra stills. More tears streaming down his eyes. As she shakes her head in a no.

So much fear...so many feelings...they were already messing with her mind.

She couldn't understand what to do.

How to calm this storm , that was ready to break everything that came in his way.

Staring from himself.

" Shh calm down Aaron. Nothing happened to me. Why do you think like this? You made me happy see?"

" You didn't taint me!"

She says , giving him a fake smile. Trying to fool him with her fake her happiness when even looking at him filled her with so much pain that she couldn't decipher.

" No ..I hurt you....I broke your heart...you...you can't see it...but I feel it...."

" I feel it here too!"

He says hitting his chest with his palms. Looking at her with those chaotic grey orbs.

And she stops another sob. Coating it with another fake smile.

" You didn't break my heart Aaron...you were the one who taught it how to beat..."

" Do you want to listen to it?"

" See it's not broken? Feel it beat for you?"

She asks stepping closer to him with small dreaded steps. He doesn't move back this time. Contemplating her words.

Lost in thoughts.

" No-"

" Shh hear. Feel it. This is your doing."

Holding his wrist. She pulls his palm to place it on her chest. Making his thrashing to seize.

Thud

Thud

Thud

His eyes widen in disbelief. As Ezra's brown eyes scream at him to believe her.

" Did it h-urt when I broke it?"

He asks afraid. Looking into her eyes. And she nods. Sadly smiling.

" It did. But you know what hurts more?"

" W-hat?"

" When you left me. When you didn't trust me. When you thought you could fight your battles alone. When you didn't tell me how bad you were hurt."

" And doubted the power of my selfless love for you."

He breathes heavily. His eyes tearing. As he again moves back.

Pulling his hand from her.

" I war-ned you...I told you to stay away.!"

" I am sick!...no one can help me!"

" I will taint y-ou in my si-ns!!"

" I am bad! I deserve to be hurt....I ...am bad..bad!! "

Next she knows. He starts hitting his hands on the wall. Going all crazy. Screaming on top of his lungs.

" I am bad! I hurt you! I don't deserve to live....!!!"

" I have to die! I have to die!!!"

His knuckles turned all bloody. The wall get's coloured in red. But he doesn't stop.

And Ezra's heart drops. No...she caused this. She has made him this.

Her words triggered him.

She shouldn't have said that.

He was already vulnerable. She completely broke him.

" Aaron! Stop! Please!"

She screams. But he doesn't pay heed to her. Determined to draw more of his blood.

Making panic to settle in.

Hearing the screams. Albert and the guards rush in. Making chaos to follow.

Ezra just stares blankly at what happened next.

Few doctors in white coats rush in. They start screaming orders. Dad is asked to leave. Saying it's not safe.

While Ezra stays rooted. Her eyes fixed at him.

" Kill me! I deserve to die! I have hurt my Ezra! I cheated on her!"

" I broke her! I killed her innocence! I ruined her in nane of protection!"

" Killl meeee!!

He was screaming at the doctor's who tried to touch him. When suddenly he picks up a knife from the tray. Making everyone's eyes to widen.

" I will kill myself....I deserve to die..."

" Forgive me Ezra...I am bad...you loved the wrong man!"

" I am crazy...see I am crazy...your love could never save me..."

" Please Sir. Lower the knife. Let us take care of you. We can help you"

" Help? I don't need any help. I an dead...don't you know? "

Dropping that serious face. He suddenly starts laughing. Rubbing his neck.

" I am dead! My Ezra thinks I died! I fooled her!"

" I made fool of her love! "

"Hahaha! I am a good actor! Aren't I?"

That smile again vanishes from his lips. As he gets serious. Getting lost in thoughts.

" She will find another man..she will be happy with him...she will forget me...."

" Won't she?"

" She wouldn't care if I die right? She said she hates me?"

Moving the knife closer to him. He closes his eyes.

When the doctors nod at each other. Ready with the injection. Waiting for the opportunity to inject it.

And Ezra's heart drops. No..she can't see him hurt. They will hurt him.

" I want to die ..I no longer want to live!"

" I hurt her...I deserve to be hurt!"

" Goodbye. I am going Ezra"

" I won't hurt you anymore."

" Be happy okay."

Lifting up the knife in the air. He was going to root it in his chest.

When Ezra runs towards him. Determined to reach him before the doctor's. Her eyes teary.

" No Aaron! Noooooo!"

The knife comes down and gets rooted but he couldn't feel the pain, as warm body envelopes with his. Taking him by surprise.

Her scent hitting him in full force as two arms wrap around his torso. Her body warmth intermingle with his.

" Ezraaaaa nooooo!"

Albert screams from behind. But it was too late. She was already in his arms, ready to take any harm that came his way.

Even if it was self inflicted and by his own hands.

She will always protect him.

Aaron's hands tremble and the knife drops to clunk on the floor . But the damage has been done as he looks at her blood on his hands. And suddenly a sharp pain hits his head.

" A-aron"

She speaks. Breathing heavily. Her eyes dropping. And Aaron shakes his head in a no.

Tears falling down his eyes.

" Ezra? No...no...Ezraaaa! Look at me! "

Another sharp pain hits his head. And he wanted to hold his head. But he refuses to leave her. His arms wrapping around her.

Looking around frantically he screams at everyone.

" Save her! Pl-ease! Get me the doctor! Hurry!""

Stopping her limp body from falling with a tight grip on her waist. He holds her face in his palms of other hand. Looking at her in fear abd worry.

" I...I....you.....yo-u..why...why did you do it! You Stupid girl! Why!"

He pleads with her, screaming. Holding her tightly.. And a lone tear falls down her eyes as she smiles at him.

" Because I l-ove y-ou Aaron....had and always w-ill"

He sniffs her hair. Afraid to leave her. Kissing her entire face. Looking around.

When that sharp pain in his head returns Making his vision hazy.

" My Ezra....no...you can't leave me...no!!" . Her brown teary eyes close on him. And his heard stops right there. Hugging her. He shakes her. Screaming at her on not finding her responding.

" Ezra!!! Hey!!! Wake up!!! Look at me! Wake up!!"

He pats her cheeks next. Nothing. She had gone unconscious.

Albert and the doctor's rush forward in worry. When he pulls her limp body back to his chest.

Screaming at everyone.

" No! Don't touch her! She is mine! My Ezra!"

" Wake up Ezra! Doll? Wake up! Look at me!"

" Why isn't she answering? "

He asks looking around. When everyone lowers their heads.

" No....Ezra? I won't let anything happen to you! Get up! Come on!"

She doesn't respond. And his anxiety worsens. Kissing her face. He keeps hugging her.

But to no avail.

Albert cries. Desperate to reach Ezra. But Aaron didn't dared anyone.

Cleaning the wet hair on her face. He cleans them. To smile sadly.

" You are asleep right?"

" I will also sleep then."

That ringing in his head gets impossible to bear and dark dots blur his vision again.

Before he knows. Kissing her lips one last time. And caressing her forehead. He smiles. Staring at her.

To pull her to him.

" I love you more my Ezra...love you more"

Were his last words. As the ringing intensifies and his vision darkens , making his limp body to drops on top of her .

With only one name on his lips.

Ezra.