The Aspiring Journalist Chapter 12

The next day, Ezra met again with Sydney, but this time at Cafe Bella, an Italian restaurant in Rosewood. He didn't invite Aria, out of respect for Sydney. If they were going to be talking about the war, he didn't want Aria around. Even the day before, Aria believed he was brave after the war, he knew it wasn't entirely true.

Ezra and Sydney made their orders and talked.

Sydney faced Ezra and said, "Thank you again for helping me calm down after what happened yesterday. Do things like that, ever happen to you? You know certain sounds reminding of you, of the war."

Ezra decided to be truthful and said, "Yes, every once in awhile, I do get freaked out. But I'm ok for the most part. I figure I'm not over there anymore and in time I will be ok."

Sydney looked a bit said and said, "I don't think I'm doing as well .

"It's understandable. You were through a horrible thing over there, in addition to being in the war. I know this might that make you feel better, but just be glad that you are back here away from that place and you can start a new life with your boyfriend."

"I hope I can." Sydney said wiping a tear off her face.

The two talked about other things related to the war. At times, while talking to Sydney, memories of the graphic war flashed in Ezra's mind.

After they finished eating, they walked around town, before Sydney left.

As she put her bags into her car, Sydney said, "Thank you for listening to me and being there for me. It was good to see you. I hope you continue to do well."

Ezra said, "I hope you get better soon. Give me a call, if you need anything.

The two hugged before Sydney drove off.


A few days later, Ezra had the stitches removed from his hand. Aria invited him to stay over at her place, since Emily was going out of town again.

He and Aria did the usual stuff like working on academia related things, cooking dinner together and watching TV or movies.

On his second night of staying over, Aria was telling him about a journalism survey she was doing. She had to get research on war coverage.

Aria asked, "Ezra, I was thinking of going over to the veterans' hospital in Philly and doing some interviews with some of the patients who got back from Iraq. I was wondering, if you would like to come."

Ezra was starting to feel tense and said, "No. About you do something else for your survey and research."

The short brunette responded, "Ok. Like what?"

"About you write up a survey and than mass email to veteran organizations. It will be easier for you, no traveling. You would get the data you need." Ezra said.

"That does sound a bit easy."

Ezra smiled as he heard that. Again, he was able to steer Aria away from finding about his mental struggles with his experiences in the war.


Two weeks passed after spending a few days at Aria and Emily's. Ezra was at Hollis finishing up a lecture, in one of his classes. Students in the class were telling him about their upcoming research projects. He felt uneasy when a few students mentioned that they were doing research on war journalism. Unbeknownst to Ezra, Lucas noticed the uneasiness he had, when war was brought up.

After the class ended, Lucas approached Ezra and said, "Are you doing ok, Ezra?"

"I am, why do you ask Lucas?"

"I have noticed that you seem a bit uneasy or tense, when people mention war journalism. I don't know what it is like to be in a war zone, but I'm sure it wasn't easy." Lucas said.

"I'm fine, Lucas. Don't question me again, unless it has to do with your duties as my TA."

Lucas responded, "Alright. I'm sorry about prying".

Ezra later met up with Aria. She had been conducting her survey research and sometimes Ezra pretended to look over her work. She continued to buy into the idea of Ezra being fine.


It was a Friday night, when Ezra invited Aria over to his place for dinner, which was Chinese takeout.

They were eating and listening to an AM radio station. The station started off by reporting on domestic politics, business news, and then there was a report about the war in Iraq and the report included the sounds of war, like gunfire.

Ezra started to shake as heard the sounds from the report. The report ended after a few minutes. But, emotions and memories flooded Ezra's mind. He thought about the gunfire he witnessed over there, the explosions, people dying, and then he remembered about the bomb that was thrown at the Humvee, which was the incident that caused him to lose his leg.

Aria had been noticing the shaking and she asked, "Ezra, are you ok?"

Ezra continued shaking and remembering the past. He wasn't listening to Aria's voice questioning him if he was ok. Aria put her hand on his shoulder and said, "Ezra, talk to me?"

He felt it and freaked out. He started screaming and crying.

Aria said, "Ezra, please tell me what's wrong?"

He kept seeing images of war and then he saw Aria. She touched him again in hopes of it calming him down and he then pushed her back hard. She and her wheelchair both fell to the ground.

Ezra finally snapped out of the traumatic trance like state he was in. He was shocked as he saw Aria there on the ground. He didn't know what to do. He watched as Aria pulled up her chair and then from the ground she managed to get herself back into the chair.

Ezra said, "I'm so sorry Aria."

Aria said, "It's ok, don't worry. Just tell me what is going on."

He started to panic more after he heard that question.

"Get out of here Aria. Go home."

"Please, Ezra tell me what's wrong?" Is it about the war?" She asked.

"Get out Aria". He screamed again.

"I want to help you, please Ezra. We can talk things out."

Ezra got close to her and screamed, "Leave right now."

She was frightened by his screaming. She started to cry and she wheeled herself out.


Twenty minutes later, Aria wheeled into her house. She was still crying about what happened. Emily saw her and said, "Aria, what's wrong?"

Aria stayed crying and not ready to talk Emily. Emily bent down and hugged her friend. Several minutes later, Aria regained her composure.

Emily asked, "Did you have a fight with Ezra?"

The short brunette shook her head no and said, "He freaked out. We were listening to the radio and there was a report about war. I think it set him off. He started shaking and crying and I kept asking him, if something was wrong. It was like he was in a trance and when he snapped out of it, he pushed me and my chair down."

Emily got a bit angry and said, "Did he hurt you in any other way?"

"No. I don't think he meant to push me Em. He wasn't himself." Aria cried.

Emily held Aria and said, "Something has to be wrong with him. Aria, I don't want you to back over there for awhile."

"He needs help and he needs me."

"Aria, honey. If he is having mental problems, it's not safe for you to be around him. Were you able to get back into your chair?"

The short brunette nodded.

"I don't know what to do Emily." Aria said.

"We will figure something out. But don't go back there, yet Aria."

The next morning, Aria called her father to go over and check on Ezra.

Later that morning, Byron arrived at Emily and Aria's.

Aria immediately asked, "Did you see him?"

Byron said, "He didn't answer the door. Have you tried calling him?"

"I have. He isn't picking up and he isn't responding to my texts." Aria said.

Byron hugged his daughter.


Ezra was in his car. He was driving a bit fast as he passed the sign that read, "Leaving Rosewood".