Everywhere I Go

The sound of dental suction devices and drills filled the cold brisk building.

POP!

“I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to crack your tooth. I didn’t mea-.”

Dr. Jude’s hand shook like a paint mixer.

He reached back his hand as a single drop of crimson red blood dripped down his blue latex gloves.

“Dr.Jude, are you feeling alright?” asks a hygienist.

Frantic screams and gasps exited the room and filled the rest of the dental office.

Ezra Jude snapped off his gloves and headed straight toward the door. As he exited the building he rushed into traffic and dropped the gloves.

“Pay attention, jerk!” a passerby shouted out as his car tires shrieked due to the sudden stop to prevent hitting Ezra.

Ezra gets into his black 2018 Tesla Model S and sobs uncontrollably. Tears continued to roll from his glossy eyes and soak through his face mask; his hands clenched with anger and pain. They make contact with his steering wheel.

As he continues to sob his car door flies open.

“This is the 4th episode this month Ez. Get in the passenger seat.”

“I’m so sorry Sean. I just can’t, I can’t get it together.”

Ezra slides over to the passenger seat without exiting the car.

His brother, Sean, starts the car and reverses, leaving his own car in the parking lot of the hectic downtown LA parking lot.

Ezra wakes up in a daze on his sofa in his living room.

He spots a fresh mug of hot tea and gets a hint of turkey and gravy in the aroma of the room.

“Did it happen again?” he asks Sean.

Sean sighs, “Yes. You gotta get some help bro. We can't keep doing this. I CAN’T keep doing this! It’s taking a toll on me too. Secondhand. You broke a patient's tooth today Ezra! The office staff had to call me to pick you up. This isn’t working.”

“Well, I saw her again! First the market last week, now at the office today for an interview. She’s acting like she doesn’t even know me. I know it was a while back but sheesh- I still regret it.”

“Ezra eases back into the conversation “I have the money to cover anything you need. Expenses, food, wine and di-”

“Just stop Ezra. Stop! It's not about money. Can you understand that not everything is about money? WE don't all use money to cope with our pain and our, *coughs and mumbles* losses.”

Silence fills the room like a helium inflated balloon.

“I’m just going to go. Dinners on the stove and camomile is on the table. I got a long walk ahead of me.”

Sean gets up and grabs his coat and car keys. He starts his walk back to his car.

Ezra continues to sit on his sofa. He doesn’t reach for the tea.

Suddenly he mumbles “Why is she following me? Does she not know who I am?”

Staring at the clock as the long hand rotates a quarter past a full circle.

Ezra grabs his coat, two mixed matched shoes, and his car keys and he’s out to the structure getting in his car.

As he rumbles in his pockets for his car keys two little boys run up to him “Daddy! Daddy!”

“Oh hey boys!” Ezra says, startled.

“Hey hon. Where are you on your way to?” His wife says as she stands on her tiptoes and kisses him on his chin. Her blond hair whisks against his cheek.

“I uh, was just on my way to get, uh-“

“Hey dad!” Henry interrupts, “Can you teach me that new magic trick? I need to perfect my skills at the talent show tomorrow.

“Yes, of course son."

As he reaches for the groceries a car pulls up and parks in the space next to them.

The brunette woman from the office steps out of the car.

"Hey girl!" she says to Ren.

"Oh hey! Ezra, this is our new neighbor Angelique. We met this morning and she happens to have a similar background in artistry as I. Isn't that great."

Ezra slightly nods and looks down at his feet.

Ren continues, "Yeah. We made some dinner plans for tonight. That's what I wanted to tell you once we got inside but we kind of never made it in. " she chuckles.

"Okay. Uhm, well, let's head up so I can carry the things in and then head on to the convenience store."

Angelique smiles and winks at Ezra. "Bye boys" she waves to the kids as her heels click clack across the parking structure concrete.

The boys smiled and the family took the elevator nearby. You can hear Henry’s Rubik cube toy twist and clack as they walk.

As soon as the front door flung open Henry jotted off to his bedroom to grab his magic show supplies.

The rest of the family walked over to the kitchen where they unpacked the groceries.

“She seems nice right?”

“Huh?”

“The neighbor. Doesn’t she seem nice. She’s even going to the gym with me next week for a Pilates class.”

“Gym partner already? Kind of soon don’t you think. You don’t even know this woman.”

“Wow Ezra! What’s the problem? She’s new in town and did you see that body she has? It’s so, so, hot.” Ren says with a joking grin as she places a carton of milk into the fridge.

“Okay that’s enough. I’m heading out for a stroll to the convenience store.”

When he gets out of the loft Ezra calls Sean.

It goes to voicemail.

“Hey Sean. She’s here again. In my building. Living next door. She’s literally my neighbor now. First the market, my job, and now this. Look I know I messed up but just give me a call back. I feel like I’m going crazy.

As he takes his phone off of his ear and hangs up Ezra bumps into a young lady.

“Oh no! My apologies.” She says.

“No, it's really my fault. Are you okay?”

The woman starts to pull her hood back and assist Ezra with picking up her knocked over items.

“Oh it's you again, neighbor.” She says.

Ezra then slowly raised up from his crouched stance, stunned.

It’s her again.

“Are you following me?”

“Following you? Sir, I was here before you so if you want to get technical-”

“No, no, no, no. You are everywhere I go. What is your deal? Is it because of that incident over a decade ago?”

“Incident? Sir, I have never met you in my life outside of today in the parking structure. Are you okay? Maybe you need help.”

Angelique snatches a can of peas out of Ezra's hand and gets moving.

Ezra stands there astounded and breathing heavily. It’s so cold smoke is blowing out through his breath.

His cell phone rings.

“Hello.”

“Dad, please hurry back. We have to leave for the magic show in less than an hour!”

“Okay Henry, I am on my way back. Give me 5 minutes.”

The brisk breeze encouraged Ezra to hurriedly head home.

When he opened the door Henry was already standing there waiting with his black top hat and stuffed bunny animal in hand.

After going over the lesson over 14 times, Henry was comfortable trying it on his own.

“You nailed it!” Ezra shouted as he put out his hand for a high five.

The rest of the family clapped.

“Okay fellas, let's get ready to head out. We don't want to be late.” Ren said.

When the family arrives at the talent show everyone starts to disburse, conversing with their peers.

As Ren is talking to a fellow PTA mom and Noah is chatting about the newest video games with his best friend Eden, Ezra heads over to the snack table for a small cup of fruit punch and a stale brownie.

“PTA dad!” a man shouts while holding up both of his hands to embrace Ezra.

“Oh stop Ben.” Ezra says smiling. “You know I’m just the husband attached to the helpful wife.”

They both chuckle.

“Well I ran into you just in time.” Ben continues. “I want to introduce you to our newest music teacher. Her official start date is Monday but I asked her to join us for extracurriculars so she could introduce herself to the Roosevelt feel. There she is over there.”

Ben waves over the teacher.

Of course, it's her again. Ezra thinks.

When the teacher approaches Ben introduces her.

“Ezra this is-"

Ezra then interrupts “Angelique…”

She responds with an awkward chuckle “Oh no sir. I must have a familiar face and you have me confused with someone else. I am Emily Quin.”

“Oh, well nice to meet you there Emily.”

Ben adds in. “Ezra, Emily graduated top of her class. She attended the greatest university as far as the music department goes. A very great teacher for Noah indeed.”

“Well that is amazing. If you don't mind, I need to excuse myself and find a nice front row seat with the family. I’d hate for Henry to not think we are supportive.

It was, uh, nice to meet you Ms. Quin.”

“It’s Mrs. And it was nice to meet you as well.” Emily says as she shakes Ezra's hand.

As Ezra gets near his wife he notices Sean standing next to her.

He lets out a sigh of relief.

“Hey brother. You know I couldn't miss the little man's magic show.” Sean exclaims while leaning in for a hug.

Ezra nervously grins. “Sean, can you take a quick walk with me please?”

As Ezra and Sean walk over a few feet to talk, Ren yells out “Don’t take too long! It’s almost time.”

They give her a thumbs up.

“So what’s up Ez? Why are you shaking? Please don’t tell me you're about to do this right here right now.”

“She's here! Principal Ben James just introduced me to her. And she denied it was her! At the loft today she introduced herself as Angelique. Now she's calling herself Emily.”

“She was at the loft today? Ez, are you sure?”

“I'm positive! Did you not get my voicemail? She's our new damn neighbor! Look, there she is over there!” Ezra points.

“I don't see her. Uhm, Ezra are you good bro?”

Ezra is pacing and sweating.

“Hurry over guys, they are about to start in 5,4,3-” Ren shouts. The lights were turned off.

Ezra and Sean have a seat.

Emily sits four seats away but Ezra doesn’t want to interrupt the show and point her out to Sean.

When the show ends Ezras excitement in finally being able to show Sean that the woman in the room takes over, but when he looks to his left she's gone. As he scans the room he doesn't see her anywhere.

“She's gone! She's freakin gone! She left!”

“Who?” Ren asks in a questioning tone.

Sean steps in and puts his arms on Ezra's shoulder “Can you walk me to my car?” Sean said suggestively. “Goodnight boys. Henry, you did fantastic! Are we still on for tomorrow?”

“Yes we are! 5 pm sharp. Thanks uncle Sean.”

As the men walked away Noah's 6-year-old voice filled the slight silence in the room. “Is Daddy okay?”

“He’s fine baby. Let's go grab a brownie.”

When they get outside Sean interrupts Ezras mumbling rant.

“What is wrong with you? Do you want to be found out?”

Ezra continues his inaudible mumbling rant. Pacing the sidewalk.

“Get in the damn car Ezra. We are taking you to get help. Have you been taking your medication? Seems like you're seeing things. I believed she may have been at your job but at the loft and then Henry and Noah's school? Impossible. Let's go.”

Sean shoves Ezra into his passenger seat and they head to the local emergency room.

When they arrive Sean holds onto Ezra’s forearm and guides him to the help desk.

“May I help you?” They are greeted in the lobby.

“Yes. Uhm, my brother here is having some type of psychosis or breakdown. He seems to be seeing things; people. Well a particular person. I even had to pick him up from work today during another episode this morning. As you can see he is now mumbling words that I can’t even understand. He has a wife and two boys and I just want to get him back on track. Can you guide us to the next direction?”

“Certainly.” the clerk responds. “Just take this sticker and have a seat in the lobby until the nurse calls you. Due to his age you will not be able to go to the back with him but you are more than welcome to wait for him to complete treatment.”

“Understood. Thanks.” Sean says.

Ezra continues to mumble as they have a seat and wait.

35 minutes later a voice rings out.

“Ezra Jude. Is Ezra Jude here?” a nurse asks.

“Over here.” Sean says.

When the nurse gets closer Ezra starts to scream and shout. He practically jumps out of his seat.

“It’s her! Hannah, or Angelique, or Emily, whatever her name is right now. She's following me.

“Hello sir, I am Natalie. I will be taking care of you tonight.”

Natalie softly grabs Ezra by the wrist to console him but he snatches it back.

“Don’t touch me! Do not touch me!”

Sean takes the chance to chime in. “Hello Natalie. My brother has an old friend named Hannah and lately he's been seeing her everywhere. In fact, that's why we are here to see you. I don't know her in particular but I guess you possibly look like her. What can we do as far as treatment?”

“Well unfortunately I can not disclose that yet but if you allow us to take him to the back we can give him something to calm him right away and take it from there.” She says.

“Thank you so much.” Sean says as he places his hand over his lower face and grases his chin with concern.

Two men come out and grab Ezra by each forearm and assist him to the back. Ezra wrestled back and forth.

Sean gets teary eyed.

Natalie follows them to the back.

When they get to the back Ezra is restrained by the two men before they leave.

Nurse Natalie starts to fill a syringe.

“Alright Ezra. It's time for some soothing medication. It’ll only be a pinch.”

“No!” Ezra yells. “You will not give me anything. You’re a psycho. First I see you in the market, then you come in for a goddamn job interview. That's strange enough. But then you move into my building and become gym partners with my wife and start teaching at my kid’s school? You are one strange lady. You were strange then and you're really strange now.”

Natalie slaps him.

“What was that?” Ezra asks aggressively. “I need a new nurse.” he shouts.

“You see Ezra.” Natalie leans in, adjusting the syringe to go into Ezra's neck. “I remember you from 14 years ago, but I'm not who you think you are, lying, conniving piece of dog crap.” She whispers. “I am Natalie. And I heard about you the night before my sister died. Hannah came back to our hotel, as we were all taking our annual sisters vacation and she told me she met a guy. She was gushing over you. You were supposed to meet up with her for dinner the next night so she took a taxi.”

A silent tear flows down the nurse's face.

“On the ride back from being stood up, that taxi was in an accident, killing 1 of our sisters; our miracle bunch of quads. Do you know how hard it was for our mother to carry us and you took one of us away.”

Ezra sits quiet and stunned. He’s no longer fighting the restraints as he processes this news.

Natalie continues “The three of us have had years to plot on how to get back at you for ruining our perfect family and moving to your town and getting acquainted in your immediate circle was actually easier than we thought it would be. It hasn’t even been a week.”

She forces the needle into his neck, slowly releasing the liquid in the syringe.

Ezra starts to kick so hard that the chair he is restrained to starts to jump and scrape the cold hospital floors. He shouts and hollers.

The two male nurses that retrained him come back in.

“Hey we heard a lot of commotion. Is everything okay here?”

Just then Ezras upper body flops forward and he loses all consciousness.

Natalie looks over at Ezra and then adjusts her eyes back on her male colleagues. “Everything is perfect here. Don’t worry about me. I always have everything taken care of.”

She throws the syringe in a red hazardous bin and removes her gloves and places them in the trash.

As she walks out of the patient room door and over to the nurses station, Natalie states “I am not feeling too well so I am taking the rest of the night off. He’s definitely not one to go light on. Give him the special treatment okay?”

She winks as she grabs her coat.