Hide and Seek

2 hours...

Zahara scoffed, shaking her head. "No, he wouldn't do that to me. What makes you think he would do that? He wouldn't do that."

"I don't know whether to admire your blind trust in him, or to feel sorry for you." Teagan sighed. "Ezra was just as human as any of us, and the incident on Gillsland proved that he had his own secrets. Yes, he loved you, but loving you did not stop him from keeping secrets or possibly drugging you."

"I hear you Teagan. Now can we read the journal?"

"Okay."

EZRA'S JOURNAL

'Zahara gave me a journal for my birthday. We've only just met and she's already giving me gifts. At this rate, how can I not like her?
I'm not really sure how I'm supposed to write in a journal. I've never kept one. But because Zahara gave it to me, I just have to write in it. She said to write whatever comes to my mind. She said not to think too much, but to write as if I'm speaking to someone. Speaking without thinking. That's a bit of a problem, because I think a lot before I speak to anyone. Anyway, I'll try. Maybe one day I can turn it into a memoir, or a novel if my life gets interesting.'

'Instead of writing a date on my journal like a normal person, I've decided to call them Entries. A Collection of Ezra's Entries. Or just 'Ezra's Entries'. That would make this Entry number two, The Decision on Entries. Okay I suck at this journaling thing.'

Ezra's Entries #3: The Situation
Would you look at that, my life actually is pretty interesting. I had a talk with dad today. He is so adamant on making me his heir. He wants me to inherit everything. I don't want that. I just want to live an ordinary life. I have to find a way out of this situation. The sooner the better so that I can start my new life with Zahara.

Ezra's Entries #4: The Quest
The best way to get out of this is to find dad a new heir. Hopefully one of my siblings. The search has begun. Why is my life so hard? Wait, Zahara said I shouldn't say that. She likes to say, 'God gives the toughest battles to His toughest soldiers. So, if you say that, you're either questioning your abilities as a soldier or His ability as the Giver of Abilities.' Isn't she just smart. Anyway, let the quest begin.

Ezra's Entries #5: Homie
Zahara is so cute. She giggles whenever I call her Homie. I don't know why she likes it so much.

Ezra's Entries #6: Seth
Seth has so much anger in him. He holds grudges and horrible intentions to make my life miserable. He wants to hurt dad by bullying me. I'll give him what he wants, but he is out of the race.

Ezra's Entries #7: Eli
Eli is something else. He has eyes bigger than his stomach. He enjoys pleasurable things way too much and that is causing him to grab more than he can hold on to. He favours having too much over having too little but that is causing him to mistreat his wife. I absolutely cannot stand him. Eli's out.

Ezra's Entries #8: Kaiya
Kaiya I cannot understand. She shows remorse, but continues with her lies. I can see the guilt in her eyes, it's hidden very well, but it's there. She would rather bare with it than confess her crimes. She'd rather let it consume her than let it go. Whatever. She's selfish and she's out.

Ezra's Entries #9: Zahara
Zahara is the sweetest. She's so concerned about my wellbeing it feels so good. She reminds me of mom. Always cooking for me and taking good care of me. I can't wait to tell mom about her. I'm sure that, unlike dad, she's going to love her as much as I do. Wait, love? Is this what loving someone feels like? It must be. I love her.

Ezra's Entries #10: Dilean
I don't know what to do about Dilean. I'm stunned. He is so focused on his emotional pleasure. And he is dependent on other people for it to be fulfilled. First it was dad, then me at some point, now... He has found the right person to satisfy it because she is equally emotionally damaged. I'll just let them try to fix each other, but I don't think Dilean is right for this heir thing.

Ezra's Entries #11: Inez
She longs for what others have. She isn't satisfied with what she has. It's like she can't see herself and that's what got her into trouble in my opinion. She's been that way since we were young. From the time I started to reason, I could tell that Inez would prefer playing with other people's toys, wearing other people's clothes, getting her hair or makeup done the same way as someone else, even if it did not suit her. We can't have someone who can't decide for herself take dad's place.

Ezra's Entries #12: Zahara
She makes me forget how crappy my life is. What would I do without her? She makes all the confusion go away. I'm so grateful to have her in my life. I love her so much it makes me want to cry sometimes. What is she doing to me?

Ezra's Entries #13
Someone's been following me, and it's not just Inez. I'm sure if it now. Whoever got Inez into jail was trying to distract me. But who was it? And why?

Ezra's Entries #14: Myra
Okay, Myra is just plain lazy. She wants to achieve the most without any effort. She's unwilling to work simply because she is lazy. I can't let her ruin dad's company. Never.

Ezra's Entries #15
I can't seem to find the right person? Who can I trust? This is so frustrating I feel like I'm going to lose my mind. Has there ever been anyone as unfortunate as I am? Are we really of the same seed? Or do we not share even our father?

Ezra's Entries #16
I'm guilty for letting this go this far. I should have reported my siblings when I found out. I didn't want to be seen as the last born snitch I was stereotyped to being. I let my pride get in the way. I was overconfident in my ability to handle the situations. Now, I'm stuck. I should have told dad. I should have asked for help.

Ezra's Entries #17: Zahara
Unlike other couples, Zahara and I rarely kiss on the lips. But when we do, we seem to take our time and draw close to each other effortlessly. Breath to breath, lips to lips. My hands around her waist, hers around my neck. We break apart to catch our breaths and smile, then we're back at it. I can't even begin to explain the feelings she ignites within me, but in the most innocent way. She makes me want to tell her everything. To express my deepest thoughts. To spread my emotions before her and let her examine them.
Anyway, I told her everything today. Everything.

Ezra's Entries #18
I finally found the person who has been following me. I'm meeting her tonight.

Ezra's Entries #19
It's been a while since I've written anything. I made Zahara so mad. I don't think she'll ever talk to me again. I think it's over between us. I don't know what to do. I can't live without her.

Ezra's Entries #20
People scare me. They really do.