Who: Daryn and Ezra What: Taking a chance Part 2 When: Wednesday, September 18, 2019 Where: The beach, the diner, and beyond Rating: Low Status: Complete
Daryn nodded once. “They monitor everything though. Communication to the mainland is basically blocked. But at least we can communicate with each other.” She looked out the window with a faint smirk. His words were an understatement. “I brought it upon myself. I didn’t follow the rules, I fought when I should have obeyed. I fought for others who couldn’t… or wouldn’t fight for me. I learned my lesson.”
“Mmm. I’m thankful we can communicate with each other.” He was thankful that there were those who found the importance of not being glued to a phone screen all day. “From what I’ve heard, perhaps things are not as beneficial to us as it should.” He spoke softly. Understatement of course.
Daryn looked back to Ezra, searching his face curiously. She started to speak but then stopped herself and looked to the waitress who was approaching their table. She let him order first, and then when it was her turn she requested coffee and toast. She wasn’t sure she could manage much more and she didn’t want to waste good food.
Ezra ordered a couple of waffles and a glass of milk. He liked sweet things not and again. Perhaps later he’d eat something healthier. Giving the waitress his thanks, she wrote their order down and left. “I hope I didn’t upset you.” He offered.
She watched the waitress go before looking to him once again. “Why would you think that? You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“I’m not the best at conversation.” He shrugged. It was true his mind. Ezra had begun to blame himself for some things. It was unhealthy, but he was trying to keep himself focused on Zoe’s efforts to make him a new prosthesis and the curiosity over his new acquaintance Caspian.
Daryn laughed lightly and shook her head. It was a brief moment, but true. She dropped the smile once the waitress returned with their drinks. Smoothing a loose dark hair behind her ear, she spoke again once they were alone. “You’re better at it than you give yourself credit for. I’m not good at it either though. You’ve put up with me more than most do these days. I miss the times when things were… easier.”
Ezra blinked at Daryn’s laughter, smiling at her moment of seeming happiness. It was amazing to see her mood lift, even if it was only briefly. “I miss when things were easier as well, but not the same things.” He sighed as he moved his glass of milk in front of him. “I think I used to be quite bad at it when I was younger.”
She was a different person when she was happy, but finding that part of her again was a struggle. She hoped it would get easier, if she could find a reason to be happy again. Finding her mug of coffee, she began to add sugar carefully, not wanting to overdo it. Then she stirred in enough cream to make it just a hint lighter. “Why do you say that?”
The prime reason things were not easier for Ezra was the fact of his amnesia. Yes, he was beginning to remember more. But there were still missing pieces - memories, emotions. But he would stick to what was hard for him when he was twelve. It was easier to explain and hold on to. “Which? When I was younger? That was due to English not being my first language and a bit of a culture shock moving from France to America.”
“What were you like? When you were younger?” She question came out before she thought about it, then backtracked. “I’m sorry. That’s very personal, you don’t have to answer that.” Trying to think of something else to say, she just stared into her coffee, continuing to stir it now without the use of her hands, but unintentionally with her telekinesis.
Her questions started Ezra a little. “I...yeah. I prefer not to say.” He replied. In truth, his memories were still spotty and it frustrated and frightened him. The veteran wanted to remember, but he couldn’t. “But the last six years of my life have been good. I was a photographer.” He offered with a half-grin, then he noticed Daryn’s coffee being stirred without the use of her hands.
She glanced up briefly, surprised that he still answered in a way. The spoon continued to stir slowly but she paid no attention to it, focused instead on him. “That sounds nice. I used to want to be an artist or a musician, but I guess I was too afraid of the risk. My sister owns an art gallery. Or… well, she did when I saw her last. What did you like to photograph?”
Turning his attention back to Daryn herself, Ezra nodded. “Sounds lovely. I like landscapes, skyscapes mostly. But I am good at portraits and events. Those actually pay.” He shrugged. It was true. He had done weddings, receptions, engagements, senior portraits.
It made more sense now why he appreciated the scenery. She smiled faintly. “Do you have a camera here? I’m sure there is a lot to capture here. Maybe you could display your work in the arts center. If you wanted to.”
“Yes, I brought one. Thankfully the men that came to my loft were kind enough to let me pack before bringing me here. Mmm, perhaps.” Ezra smiled. “It would be nice to get back to that.” But what lingered in his mind was the possible danger since that poor young woman’s body being found near the barracks.
Daryn nodded a little and watched him curiously before looking out the window. “I used to play violin. And paint. It started as therapy after my accident. I grew to love it. I brought my violin with me here. But I lost it when I was taken away. I heard it was saved, but the bow was broken. I guess i just wasn’t meant to play here.”
“Oh? That seems lovely.” Ezra spoke and smiled a little only to frown at the idea of Daryn giving up on the violin because of the broken bow. “Maybe someone could repair the bow? I may know someone who is good at making things.”
“I don’t have it.” She’d played Finn’s violin once, but that was months ago now. She sometimes missed it, but she missed a lot. She finally removed the spoon from her coffee and set it aside where it remained still. Lifting her mug, she took a careful sip. “I used to be a doctor. In the Emergency Room in Seattle, at Northwest. I’d just finished my residency before they sent me here.”
“Oh, okay,” Ezra frowned. He gently ran his fingers around his glass, preferring to wait to drink the milk with his meal. “Really? That is wonderful. I was in Seattle for the last six years aside from the routine trips to Tacoma for checkups.” Then he wondered to himself why Daryn hadn’t mentioned being a doctor before. Perhaps it was too personal.
Daryn smiled halfway and nodded. “It was difficult work, long hours… you see a lot of pain and loss. But I loved it, being able to help in the darkest times.” She frowned at herself, she wasn’t sure she’d ever said that out loud or admitted it to herself even. Maybe that’s what she thought she was doing in the Faction, helping in the darkest times. But that was over now too.
She took another sip of her coffee and stared out the window thoughtfully.
“Maybe...you will be able to be a doctor again.” He nodded slowly. Ezra was unsure if it was a good thing that he said those words. “I’m sorry,” he breathed.
Daryn looked down again but shook her head. “It’s okay. I did work here for a while, in the Facility’s hospital. But, not anymore. They say I’m not well enough to work. And I’d never want to make a mistake and hurt someone. So… I just stay in my apartment now.” She smirked halfheartedly and looked up to him. “I guess all those medical school bills going unpaid isn’t such a bad thing.”
Ezra frowned as he listened to her. “Well, yes, not having to pay those is good. I never went to University. I was in the Army. And that’s how I lost my leg.” He spoke, keeping silent about brain injury. He didn’t want to give everything away.
She watched him before speaking softly. “Thank you for your service. I’m sorry for the sacrifices you had to make to keep us safe. Only to end up here.” Her words were genuine, she didn’t think it was fair of the government to send its veterans here. They deserved better treatment.
Ezra breathed in and let out slowly before nodding. “You’re quite welcome. For a better world and country. Well, yes. Apparently the government found what I could do was dangerous or I was sick.” He shrugged. He knew he’d fight to protect those like him, those with abilities.
Daryn looked over, sensing the waitress was bringing their order before the woman even emerged from the kitchen with the plates. Once they were served, Daryn was quiet until he’d had a chance to eat some of his food. She spent the time carefully putting jam on her toast instead of actually eating it. She finally spoke up, her voice quieter so no one could overhear. “You don’t seem sick to me. If you were, I’d feel it. Like I felt the loss of your leg before you said anything about it. And just because you are powerful doesn’t make you dangerous. They’re just afraid of us. Afraid of what we can do, so they assume we’d do the worst. Even if it isn’t in our nature. That’s why people here are dying. Fear and jealousy; jealous of our power. Those are the only reasons.”
Ezra thanked the waitress as she set their plates on the table. Anyone in the service industry needed to be commended. He proceeded to drizzling maple syrup on his waffles, cutting and eating a bite. Then he paused as Daryn spoke, the quietness of her voice quite interesting. “Then I think we must do something to combat their fear, their jealousy, their actions.” Ezra frowned and ate another bite before sipping his milk. Then he looked over at Daryn again. “ ‘Feel’ it? How does that work? Is it something you always do?”
She arched a brow at his response, but focused on the questions instead. “It's just like my other abilities. They’re… automatic. I can’t turn them off. I can control it, try to ignore it I guess. Sometimes it gets away from me, but I try my best to be respectful. Just because I can hear the thoughts of everyone on this island, it doesn’t mean I should tell anyone what I hear. I keep a lot of secrets, without anyone even realizing it. On top of my own. I can feel when someone is sick, or hurt…” She glanced around again, keeping her voice down. “I can heal people. Or make them worse. That ability isn’t… registered.” She motioned to her ID card, which only listed her telepathy and telekinesis. “If they knew… well, they’d change my classification. Among other things.”
He breathed in deeply. It was amazing to him - the residents’ abilities. Ezra was often careful with his, not quite knowing just how powerful he was. Many times his emotions produced small and harmless events. But there was always the potential for harm or damage. “That is amazing,” he whispered. “But forgive me for being initially fearful of your abilities.”
Daryn shook her head a little and finally took a small, cautious bite of her toast. She chewed slowly, until there was barely anything left, then swallowed with a wince. The process of just eating one bite was difficult and tedious, so after a second bite she pushed the food aside to concentrate on the coffee instead. It was a few moments before she was able to speak, her voice raspy. “I understand. It’s hard for people to understand, and to trust me. It’s nearly impossible to get close to anyone because of it. Even once people get to know me… its difficult to have any sort of relationship with someone who knows your every thought.” It left her feeling terribly lonely, but she could see the logic in it.
Ezra didn’t stare as he watched Daryn take that little bite. He looked down at his glass of milk as he took another sip. He hoped she could eat. “Too bad there is not someone that can dampen your ability. Perhaps that could help you.”
She considered the suggestion but then just shrugged. “Maybe. It might just be nice to have someone who accepts it. Who accepts me, despite of it.” She looked out the window again as she sipped her coffee and allowed him to eat uninterrupted.
“I agree.” Ezra began and stopped as Daryn looked out the window again. He let the moment fade for a little while as he ate a few more bites and sipped his milk a few more times. Then a thought came to him and he gazed at her. “I’ve found the same to be true when it comes to being an amputee. I am not trying to diminish what you have gone through, are going through.” Ezra was exposing a bit of vulnerability. He was afraid to be open about it. He hadn’t let anyone outside of medical staff see or touch what was left of his right leg.
She looked back to him and offered a small, but warmer smile. “I don’t think you’re diminishing a thing. We’ve both had very different experiences, but they changed us, and the way people respond to us. It’s nice to talk with someone who understands that. Sometimes it just feels like I’m so… disconnected, like I’m watching life go by but I’m not a part of it anymore. People see me, but I’m not who I used to be and they don’t know what to do with that. Do you ever feel that way?”
Ezra nodded softly, thankful he hadn’t been rude to her. Then he blinked at her description of being disconnected and not knowing what to do with not feeling who they used to be. “Yes, I have felt like that. A good bit lately.”
She felt a bit more at ease at his confirmation. She thought for a moment before speaking again quietly. “How do you handle it?”
Setting down his fork, Ezra breathed before replying. “I’m still learning how to handle it. Mostly having someone reassure me and counter my feelings when I voice them.” He shrugged. It was still a struggle even with Kyrie’s support and assurances.
She nodded in understanding. “I’m glad that you have your family here to support you. This place in itself is a lot to adjust to, its difficult to bear with everything else. I know you don’t know me, and may not have decided to trust me, but I can be a good listener. If you ever need to talk.” She sipped her coffee again, glad for the warm liquid to try to melt the block of ice forming in her stomach.
“It’s still difficult in some ways. They do not know how it feels exactly.” Ezra nodded, frowning a little. “Thank you, Daryn. I appreciate it.” He reached for his glass and sipped it. He feared being vulnerable. He wanted to keep his family, his friends safe.
“You’re welcome.” She left it at that and went quiet. He’d seemed so happy to order his breakfast food, so she sat back and out of the way so that he could truly enjoy it. A hand moved to try her toast again, but she thought better of it and left it alone. Instead, she focused on her coffee and when the cup was drained, she gladly accepted a refill as offered by the waitress.
He went on eating his meal and soon finished his glass of milk. It was an indulgence to have so much sugar. But Ezra had promised himself to find small moments of enjoyment. Once he was finished, he looked over at her. “Sometimes coffee can be soothing.”
She nodded in agreement, glancing briefly to her abandoned food. “Yes. Forgive me for not eating with you, I’ve had difficulty with food lately. How was your meal?”
“It is okay. I hope it gets easier soon,” he nodded. Ezra knew first hand the troubles with eating. Recovery was hard on him with some of the medications. “It was good,” he spoke and paused as a memory came to the surface. Ezra and Kyrie’s mother had been very strict with food intake when either of them were pressed into modeling or pageants. It made him pale a little, remembering sensations of feeling so hungry and upset.
“Me too.” It had been months now that she hadn’t been able to eat more than a few bites at a time, and it showed in her pale, thin form. But her self imposed isolation made it easy to hide. She knew it was a serious problem, but she hadn’t yet found the motivation to truly address it. And that nagging little government voice inside told her maybe she deserved to starve for her indiscretions.
Noticing his change in color, she arched a brow in concern. “Are you alright?”
Not realizing his jaw had tensed up, Ezra breathed and blinked as he realized Daryn had asked him a question. “Yes, I’m okay.” He swallowed a breath and sighed. In truth, he felt sick.
She knew that he wasn’t telling the truth, but she wanted to help, not put him more on edge. “Maybe we should go outside so you can have some fresh air?” Not waiting for a response, she requested the check from the waitress and paid so that he could go out without delay.
He looked over at her as he tried to process the memory and sensations. Then he nodded as he slipped out of the booth. Once Daryn paid, Ezra took the broomstick and stepped out of the diner. There he took a breath and frowned as he gently placed a hand at his abdomen.
Once she was sure the waitress was paid and tipped, she ventured out in search of Ezra. Finding him, she lightly placed a hand on his shoulder and offered a bottled water she’d purchased before leaving the diner. She spoke softly, with empathy. “Take a few slow deep breaths. Let’s go sit down over there on the bench. Take your time.” She guided him gently, moving at his pace, the physician in her taking action to help him feel better.
Leaning on the broomstick, Ezra bowed his head as he breathed. Then he lightly moved as he felt Daryn’s hand on his shoulder. He turned his head and took the bottled water. “Thank you,” the veteran rasped as he opened the bottle. Taking a drink, he nodded. He moved over to the proposed bench, moving slowly but soon arrived at it and sat down. Laying the broomstick down, Ezra took another sip of water, hating to have remembered something horrible.
Daryn sat beside him in silent support, trying to do whatever she could to help. For now, it felt like the best thing to do was just allow him the time and space to breathe and recover on his own. If he was having a serious medical emergency, she would have sensed it. But this felt more familiar, like something she’d experienced too many times herself. She watched him quietly, ready to offer anything he requested.
The nausea began to subside a little. But it was replaced by sadness and anger. Ezra clenched his left hand into a fist as it sat on his left knee. How could his mother do such a thing to Kyrie, to him? He didn’t remember how soon he had refused to be his mother’s pageant king, her little model boy. But he did remember that he left Kyrie with their mother when he left on deployment. Ezra shook his head to himself and drank more water as his knuckles went white for a few seconds and he relaxed the hand. Kyrie was safe here, so far away from their mother in distance and time. “Sorry,” he whispered and looked over at Daryn.
Daryn offered a small smile and shook her head. “No need to apologize. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Walk with me to Kyrie’s?” Ezra replied, not wanting to burden Daryn with any sob stories or the like. He wanted to rest, be close to his sister.
“Of course. Whenever you are ready.” She wouldn’t pry, mentally or otherwise. It was clear that something had affected him deeply and she hoped she wasn’t to blame for doing or saying something to trigger him.
Ezra could been triggered earlier, but wasn’t going to blame Daryn if what she said sparked the memory’s return. It wasn’t her fault. He sat there for a few more minutes, drinking the rest of the water. Then he soon retrieved the broomstick and stood up. He tossed the bottle into the nearest recycle bin and centered himself before looking over at Daryn again.
Staying silent, she stood when he did, and began a slow walk toward their destination. She knew where Kyrie’s home was, the woman had sheltered her there a few months ago. But she kept the pace slow so as not to rush him. She glanced to Ezra thoughtfully, but said nothing about what crossed her mind.
He began walking with her, simply holding the broomstick and not leaning on it. It was good to have someone to walk with, especially towards Kyrie’s or the government-assigned apartment. “Thank you, Daryn,” he whispered. “I hope I haven’t made you feel worse.”
She nodded with a little smile. “It’s my pleasure. I should be thanking you. For giving me a second chance, and putting up with me for this long. You’ve made me feel… accepted, and like a person again. It’s been a long time since I felt that way for more than just a few fleeting moments.” She was a little sad that their time together was coming to an end, but it was more important that he get to a safe place where he could rest.
Ezra smiled back in return. “A sliver of normalcy.” He nodded. “Maybe we can sit and talk some more sometime,” he offered as he walked. Not dwelling on the empty areas of his past that made his heart ache was a good activity. But for now, he needed to sleep. Turning off his mind often helped. But other times his sleep was much more chaotic than the times he was awake.
“I would like that.” Just the idea of it lifted her spirits considerably. Even if nothing became of it, the offer was more than she could have hoped for. Although a part of her hoped it wasn’t just an empty offer. She looked ahead as they walked, glad that they had crossed paths.
He nodded and continued to walk, looking out if any guards were nearby. Who knew if they had increased or switched up their patrols. Talking to someone did him some good as well. He wanted to trust another person and from what Daryn had said - she needed someone to talk to and perhaps he could learn more about the history of the residents on the island too.
As they neared the residence, she slowed until stopping at the door. “I hope you feel better soon. If you need anything, just let me know. I am happy to help.”
Ezra stopped and turned around to look at Daryn. “Thank you. You too. I will. And here,” he replied and offered the broomstick. “To fend off any creeps?”
Daryn hesitated before accepting the offer of the broomstick, taking it carefully. Her immediate thought was that she didn’t need it, but she corrected herself, knowing that every little bit of defense could help. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Ezra nodded. “Thank you for your kindness.” It was true. Though he tried not to let his vulnerabilities show or be mindful of possible PTSD episodes, it was good to have someone who reacted kindly if they witnessed either.