Ezra's POV
"NO NO EZRA DONT LEAVE ME!" Aria called and I shot up.
She was rolling over in bed and had a scared expression on her face.
"Please Please Please, I'm sorry"
I tried to shake her awake.
"Aria, Aria!" I say and she jolts up.
"You're here" She says wrapping her arms around me.
"Yeah. I'm right here"
"Don't ever leave me" She sniffles into my chest.
"I won't" I promise her.
We stay there for awhile, wrapped in each other's warmth.
"I know you probably don't want to talk about it..." I started "but what happened all those years ago. When you left with no explanation?"
She moves her head from my chest to the pillow, plopping herself into it.
"Can I ask you a question first?" She plays with her fingers and I nod.
"Did you see Jackie at all in these last few years?"
"Jackie Molina?"
"Yes"
"I saw her one time" I say
I was laying in bed, eyes close. I heard a doorbell ring and a pounding on the door. I was sure that was Aria. She was coming back for me. I threw the blanket off my bed and ran down the steps, eager to meet my wife. I was ready to tell her sorry for whatever I did. I was ready to ask her for forgiveness although I didn't know what I had done wrong. I swung the door open fast to find that my wife wasn't on the other side. It was Jackie. The Jackie that had ruined Aria and I's relationship the first time.
"What do you want, Jackie?" I asked, annoyed.
I didn't want to see anyone but my family.
"I came to see you, Z" She stepped into the house uninvited and placed her hand on my arm. "Did you miss me?"
She walked over the couch and sat down, crossing her legs.
"No I actually didn't" I shoot back
"Aw why not Z" She pats the seat next to her.
"Come sit, it's been so long"
I reluctantly sat down next to her.
"How do you know where I live?" I ask
"I have my ways" She puts her arm around me and I push her off.
"Don't"
"Don't what?"
"Don't touch me"
"I came here to get you back Z"
"I don't want to be back with you"
"Oh I see. You can only love one person and that's Aria?"
I don't say anything but by my facial expression she knew it was true.
"Well Aria doesn't love you anymore"
"What do you mean Aria doesn't love me?" I ask, crunching my knuckles together.
"She doesn't love you. I saw her and she's moved on"
I didn't believe her. I felt like there was still some hope for us.
"How did you see Aria?" I questioned.
I sounded so vulnerable and I know she noticed.
"I saw her right after you left. She said that I could have you because she was moving on"
I tried to hold back the tears.
"Get out" I say
"What?" She asks
"I said get out. Now!" I scream and she runs to the door.
"I guess you aren't the person you used to be, Z. See you around"
I slammed the door behind her and leaned against it, using it as my balance beam. I got drunk again, like I did most nights. This time it was to forget Aria although it didn't work.
"She told you that I didn't love you? She told you that I moved on?" She asks
"Yeah she did"
"And you actually believed her?" She questions
"I didn't until that day" I say dragging my words.
I knocked on her door.
"Hey Aria" I called and I heard footsteps.
A little boy answers the door. You could tell he was my child. This was Mason.
"Hey buddy, is your mommy here?" I ask, leaning down to his eye level.
"Mason! What did I tell you about opening the door?"
I see Aria running towards the door.
"But mommy its daddy!" Mason said clapping his hands.
My heart shattered. He knew who I was.
"It's daddy! It's daddy! He looks just like he did in the picture"
Aria had a picture of me in the apartment.
"Yes it its Mas, can you go play with your toys now?" She asks him and he scrambles back inside.
Aria steps outside and closes the door.
"What are you doing here?" She demands.
"I came to see you and the kids" I say
"You can't be here" She tells me, running her hands through her hair.
She looked nervous as if she was worried about something.
"Why not? You said I could come see the kids whenever I wanted"
"That was before the court order. You have no rights"
I burst into tears.
"I can't do this right now" Aria gestured with her hands and opens the door.
"Aria please" I beg
"Please Ezra, just leave me alone" She closes the door behind her.
"Ezra, there's something you don't know" She says
"You can tell me anything" I tell her and she nods.
"Jackie came to see me when you left and threatened to tell the police about Archer if I didn't break up with you" She talked fast.
"She what?!" I shouted.
"So I moved away and I lost contact with you. I'm sorry I left without an explanation but I had to do what was best for the kids. They couldn't grow up without a mother"
"I understand, Ar. We're here now"
