~Adam

It's been two weeks since I've seen or heard from Ezra. Throughout the entire time I struggled to not bother him. I've picked my phone up many times to call or text him, but I never go through with it. I've even went on his tumblr and Twitter to see if he's been on them. I was glad to see that he's been liking posts on tumblr. However, I was sad to realize that he could go on social media but not try to contact me. At least I know that he's alive. Ezra deserves some space but I'd be lying to myself if I said I wasn't worried.
The sound of the front door unlocking catches my attention. I get up as my dad walks in.
When he notices me, his eyebrows quirk. "I'm surprised to see you here."
"Why's that?" I say as I greet him, kissing him on the cheek.
"Did you guys already go?"
I look at him questionably. "Go where?"
He looks at me. "To Catherine's grave."
"OH MY BOB."
"Don't tell me you forgot." His eyes widen.
"DAD, CAN I BORROW YOUR CAR?"
He hands his keys to me, shaking his head. I run out of the house and get into the car.
I can't believe I forgot. I pull my phone out of my pocket and call Ezra. After the third ring I groan. I call him again.
By the time I get to his house the third call is sending me to voicemail. I rush out of the car and into his house. For the first in eons, the door is locked. I pound on the door until it opens.
"What do you want?"
I push pass him, going into the house.
"WHERE'S EZRA?"
"He left a while ago."
Fuck.
I spin around and run back out of the house.
"What's going on?" He follows me out.
"CALL YOUR BROTHER."
I get into the car and back out of the driveway. The cemetery is about ten minutes away.
I make it there in seven minutes. Opening the car door, I jump out. I really need to find him. I use my memory to remember where Catherine was buried. I run to where I think it is. My steps falter as I see a figure.
     His long hair flows in the wind as he's kneeled on the grass. I slowly walk towards him, not wanting to startle him. The sounds of his nose sniffing meet my ears as I get closer.
He doesn't notice me until drop down beside him.
"Happy birthday, Catherine." I whisper. "I'm so sorry."
Ezra starts to cry harder as I speak. I put my arm around his shoulders and he leans into me, shaking. His face, wet with tears, displays all the emotions he's been drowned in. All the pain, confusion, and shame have taken over his face.
      His sobs diminish and his breathing slowly becomes slower. I kiss his forehead underneath me as I stroke his hair. We don't say anything for a long time. In an honoring silence, we stay on the grass. In a nice, comforting silence, I hold my best friend in my arms as we honor his mother. In a deserving silence, I'm finally there for my best friend.
     Time flies as Ezra falls asleep. I look at his face, admiring it. His pink lips shine in the sunlight, aided with all the tears coating them. His carved face looks peaceful as he sleeps. Long eyelashes kiss the skin of his upper cheeks, beautiful.
Startling me, Ezra's body starts to shake. My eyes grow wide, trying to figure out what they're seeing. His darkening lips cough as foam starts to flow out of his mouth.
God, no. "EZRA!"
His body violently shakes and the foam goes everywhere. I reach for my phone and diall 911.
"Hello, 911. State your emergency."
"My friend is foaming at the mouth. He's not responding to me!" I sob in between my words. "Please hurry! We're at the Haven Heights Cemetery, the north west section."
"Okay, sir. I've sent an ambulnce to your location."
I drop the phone on ground and focus on Ezra.
"Ezra please, please wake up!" I shake him, hoping that his will open. But as I do this, his sleeves roll up, exposing his arms. Heartbroken, I curse internally as denial envelopes me in a hard, cruel hug. My hand and goes down to his arm and slowly slide his sleeve up. His brusing arm greets me with its purple and punctured skin. I look at each point of entry, where a needle inhabited it, invading.
"No. Ezra, don't do this to me." My tears fall on Ezra's face, his soft and graying face. The foam no longer escapes his mouth, and his body becomes still, and so does time.
     This is the last time I'm going to see my best friend. Broken, and crying so hard, he could couldn't even speak to me. Feeling excluded from the world and even his self. Drowning in the pain, drowning in the shame, and suffocated by me. The last time I see my best friend is when he's lying, cold and gray, in my arms but in his pain.
     And once again, I can't do anything to help him.
     "No!" I shout, angry. I look up to the sky, crying out in pain. "How could you do this?"
The sound of sirens blaring blocks out my cries. I rock back and forth, taking Ezra, my best friend, with me. "Please, don't leave me." I whisper into his hair.
"I love you, Ezra."
I love you so damn much.