They were on their way back to the Reed estate. The sudden cancellation of the trip, did left Ezra wondering.

But she didn't ask it.

She needed rest anyways. Even slightest of worries, leave her with a throbbing headache by the end of the day.

She saw the change in the atmosphere. The enthusiasm and excitement with which they all came on this trip.

Seemed to be lost somewhere.

Turning around, she looked at everyone. To see them oddly silent. Lost in thoughts.

Her eyes locks with those grey eyes which were keenly staring at her.

And she turns around her back on him.

What's his problem? Why was he acting so weirdly?

She finds him almost everywhere. Taking hidden or rather as one would say bold glances at her.

Strange.

The flight lands and they reach back. Rushing in ,she was so excited to see her mother again.

She has lost her phone in that accident yesterday.

And she lost her contact with her mom and Declan.

I guess it will be a surprise to her mom as she didn't tell her, she was coming back today.

"Momma! I am back!"

She exclaims entering Aunt May's room. To find no one there. Her brows furrow ,as she turns around to find Mrs Reed standing behind her.

"Mrs Reed! How have you been!"

Ezra says to only see Mrs Reed sadly smiling at her. Pulling her for a hug.
Looking at the bandage on her forehead.

"How are you my daughter? It must have hurt so bad."

"Not that much Mrs Reed. Sometimes I think I have Superman genes!"

Mrs Reed smiles again. Kissing her forehead.

"Anyways Mrs Reed. Where is mom? Has she gone to the market?"

Her smile drops as she pulls Ezra along.

"Come with me my child."

Making her sit on the sofa, Ezra looks around to find everyone there.

And she suddenly felt anxious.

It was definitely something. Everyone was hiding something from her.

"What's it?"

Ezra asks, to only see Mr and Mrs Reed look at each other and nod. Sighing, Mrs Reed finally begins, not knowing how to say this.

"Ezra my child. Last night your mother..."

"May...she suddenly collapsed. We all got worried and hurried her to the hospital..."

"To know it was too late."

It felt like the world stopped for Ezra. As she steps towards Mrs Reed.

"Too late? Too late for what Mrs Reed. Mom was just fine! I talked to her yesterday morning? It must be because of weakness.....or she may have not eaten"

"She doesn't like eating food without me. I am telling you. It must be because of it."

"Come. Show me where she is. I am sure she will be fine after seeing me and eating food with me. Trust me"

Mrs Reed couldn't help it. A cry leaves her lips as she staggers back to be only supported by Mr Reed.

Ben comes towards Ezra. Holding her shoulders. Looking softly at her.

"Cupcake. Calm down! Relax...you need to understand."

"Understand what Ben? You guys are acting really weird. Just tell me where mom is? I will ask her myself."

She was going to turn around and search ,when Ben held her arm. Stopping her. Literally telling her directly what no one was willing to.

"Aunt May is no more Ezra!.Yesterday...she took her last breath."

Ezra stills. Her footsteps stop and her back stiffens.

Turning around she moves her head in a no, looking at Ben in disbelief.

"No! You are lying! She can't! We talked yesterday...she told me how mu..ch she loved me....you are lying!"

Pulling her hand out of Ben's grip she literally starts screaming, searching everywhere.

"Momma! Momma! Where are you?"

"You got me momma. I admit defeat. Now come out please.."

"Momma!!"

Tears of frustration were falling down her eyes as she searched around everywhere frantically. And everyone just cried at this evil play of fate.

Not knowing what to do, to confront the girl.

Unless Aaron has had enough. He couldn't see her go crazy like this.

He had to do something.

Holding Ezra's arm, he starts dragging her out.

"Aaron! Wait! Where are you taking me! I have to find momma! Can't you see?"

He doesn't bother replying. Till she starts scratching his arms. Thrashing to be let go.

Everyone comes forward to stop him.

When his words made everyone to stop right there.

"I am taking you to her. Come."

She doesn't protest after it. Letting him take her along. Making her sit in his car, he didn't wait for anyone. To start the ignition and drive towards the hospital.
.
.
.
"Wh...y are we here?"

Ezra says following behind Aaron. Looking around at the people in the hospital.

Her teary eyes, desperate to see her mother.

"Aaron! "

She asks him to stop. But he doesn't. Untill, he stops outside a door. To look behind at her.

His cold eyes looking soft and concerned.

"Come"

He urges her and her teary eyes stop at the figure laying on the bed. Making her entire body to freeze.

Her whole body shudders and she doesn't wait a second, to push the door and run inside.

"Momma!!!!!"

She screams seeing the person.And a desperate cry leaves her lips.

Her real mother left her to die, May can't leave her as well.

Maybe not by blood, but other than that this women was her everything.

Her family, her life, her reason to smile.

And today she lost her everything.

There were Reed's, there were friends, there were others in saying but deep in her heart she knew.

She was alone now.

"Ezra?"

She hears Aaron calling her , but she had no strength in her. Her body seemed to go numb as the throbbing in her head worsens.

She staggers back, not able to look any longer. To only find her world rotating at its axis and her legs loosing their strength.

"Momma?"

Was her last cry as she falls back, welcoming darkness. To be only held by Aaron.

"Ezraaaa!"

She hears the Reeds scream behind. But her eyes were only focussed on Aaron's steel grey orbs, that held her.

Concerned and worried for her.

The first tear slides down her eyes and she closes them.

Finding darkness to be much better than the reality.

                .....

          A month later

Mr and Mrs Reed were sitting on the table. Having breakfast. When Mrs Reed calls onto the help.

"Yes Madam"

"Has Ezra eaten something?"

The maid moves her head in a no. Bowing.

"I am afraid she hasn't madam. The girl refuses the eat despite our constant pleas."

Mrs Reed sighs. Looking at Mr Reed. To only dismiss .

"Prepare a plate. I will take it myself."

"You..you will madam?"

The maid asks in shock. To only have Mrs Reed to furrow her brows.

"Yes? Any problem? "

"No! Not at all madam! I will prepare it!"

Looking back at Mr Reed. She almost cries in helplessness.

"I don't know Drake! How am I going to bring her out of this shell she is building around her? She doesn't come out of her room, she doesn't talk to anyone."

"I am really concerned about the child."

Drake looks at his wife. Holding her hand to give her an encouraging nod.

"I still remember that day when you found her and brought here here Rose."

"You named her Ezra because you thought her to be a gift by heavens to us."

"I know she was really attached to May. But she is no less attached to you Rose. Only you can fill the void in her heart."

A sad smile covers Rose's features as she retreats her hand.

"The girl doesn't even call me by my name Drake. She always calls me Mrs Reed. No matter how much I try, I can never take May's place."

Drake holds back her hands, making her look back at him.

"You don't have to take anyone's place Rose. Just show her and make her realise how much you love her."

"That's all she in need of"

Rose nods, to see the maid offer her Ezra's plate in a tray. And she gets up, taking in a deep breath.

To go towards her room in the maids quarters.

She asked her to shift to a room in the estate, but she refuses to. Staying in May and her room.

Knocking Rose enters, to see the girl deep asleep on the bed.

Covered in quilt.

Smiling, Rose keeps the tray on the table. To sit beside her on the bed.

Her fingers moving forward on their own to place a flick behind her ear, and she sees the trail of dried tears in her cheeks.

The girl has again cried herself to sleep.

Caressing her face with her knuckles, Mrs Rose clears her tears. To kiss her forehead.

"Ezra my daughter?"

She says, to suddenly have Ezra to hold her hand tightly. A smile coming on her lips.

"Momma, is that you?"

Her eyes flicker open. To look at Mrs Rose and the smile vanishes from her face. Sitting up instantly , her hand drops from Rose's wrist.

"Mrs Reed? I am sorry! I thought....it was mom"

Rose felt a prick in her heart. As she looked down at her hand which was held by Ezra few seconds ago.

To only hide it, dismissing it behind a gentle smile.

"I heard you aren't eating your food Ezra? Are you fine?"

"Yes...I am good. I just didn't felt like eating anything."

Rose nods, not forcing her. To just sit there in awkward silence.

Not knowing what to say.

Until Ezra breaks it, with a question that broke Mrs Reed more.

"Why does no one wants me Mrs Rose? I remember momma telling me it was you who found me."

"Some say it was near a bin"

"Where was it? Was there no one around me Mrs Rose? Not even a note?"

Rose didn't know what to say. As she holds Ezra's hand to place a gentle kiss on her knuckles.

"You Ezra are the most precious thing I have ever found. The most special person for us Reeds. So don't you ever doubt yourself, okay?"

Ezra barely nods, looking down.

"I know Mrs Reed. You all love me so much...but I don't belong with you...."

"I am not a Reed . I am just a girl whose mother left her to di-"

"Shh not a word my child! Not a word! Come here!"

Pulling Ezra in a hug. Rose gives Ezra the embrace she was yearning for. Letting her, let go of all her pains.

"You are my family Ezra. Don't you dare say that again."

Holding her face in her palms, Rose kisses her forehead.

"And from now on. You will live with me, with us. Okay?"

She moves her head in a no.

"No Mrs Reed...I can't.."

"No saying no now. May took a promise from me before she left us. And I am going to fulfill it."

Ezra stills , looking at Rose.

"Mom did?"

Nodding Rose lies. Knowing this was the only way to bring this child out of her pains.

"Yes. I promised her to love you and stay with you forever. I promised her that I won't let you cry after her. "

"And I also promised her that I will find you the most loving and loyal husband who will love you for who you are."

Ezra goes silent. Knowing this was what May would have wanted. She wanted her to settle with Declan.

"Declan...mom wanted me to settle with him."

She says and Rose nods, removing her comforter. And asking her to come along.

"Declan. Great. Now come on, get up. You are shifting to the room beside me."

"I can't let you sit here and sulk all day."

Ezra nods, coming out of the bed. To only look back at the room.

"Come Ezra?"

Mrs Reed urges and Ezra nods.

"Yes Mr-"

"Ah hun. I will not be listening to you any longer. If you don't adress me properly Ezra. So what's it?"

"Yes Rose"

"Well that's like a good girl! Come my child"

Placing her hand on her shoulder. Rose takes Ezra inside the mansion.

Marking the beginning of a new life, which was going to change everything.

"So how is this boy Declan like?"

Rose asks and Ezra lowers her eyes.

"He....seems nice."

"Great. So should I call him family tomorrow? For a cup of tea perhaps?"

Ezra barely nods. And Rose smiles.

Ready to bring a smile on the girl's eyes, who meant more than a daughter to her.