Claire & Theo

10.

Theo's thoughts ran wildly in his mind. He could not let Claire live without him because he would break. She was his oxygen and that was the only lifeline option he had. If one more person left, then that would make him the villain because he was not worth fighting for. He needed her even if he became the first to be killed. Just why could it not happen?

Why could he not leave so she would not have to suffer in his presence? He fought for a heart that he will never be able to maintain. If he left, it would be easier for her and yet never for him. So much has happened in the years since he involved his life voluntarily with Claire. He changed but for the worse because he cannot live without the fact that she would not be here by his side. People may say that Theo is in love but no, that is not true.

He is in fear... of himself.

He took a deep breath and looked at Claire's resting face. She was fast asleep, and she had no worries whatsoever to show to him. Whatever bothered her, bothered him as much as it would for her. That was the only empathy he could relate to her, pain. Slowly, he took in every feature of her face which he thought was too beautiful to be true, she was like a Greek goddess perfectly placed next to him. Her head gracefully fell on his shoulder and all Theo could do in that moment was stare at her, feeling blissful.

Then he realized he was holding her hand in his noticing they were still shivering. He knew her enough to know that the only food she had consumed was coffee today and nothing else. She did that sometimes, and Theo hated how it became part of her.

Lost in thought, Theo jumped when he felt a pressure tap on his shoulder. It was Lucas coming back to check on him, "Feeling better?"

"Not better, but simply good." he gave a small smile.

Lucas glanced at sleeping Claire, "When will you let go of those times?"

Theo knew what he what he was referring to, "I will never let go when it is part of my whole existence. Running away would be an option but I want to hang onto that thread of hope waiting for me."

"And yet you have tried that option multiple times." his eyes hardened.

He hesitated, "Lucas, I do not know what to do when those pieces of my past are put together. That is why I run... run farther from my suffocation."

Lucas did not smile but he gave a comforting pat on Theo's shoulder, "Then please hold onto that thread."

He started to walk back to his seat towards the end of the airplane, but Theo stopped him. He turned around and asked, "What?"

"Tell Anastasia to switch places with me and say I appreciate her patience."

"C'mon mate, I was about to enjoy my time with her." he whined. Technically, Lucas was two years younger than Theo, so he acted the part of a younger brother to him.

Theo gave a questioning look, "You do realize... you are not really her preference for a man..."

"Whatever do you mean?" He looked offended.

"She is not into the player type of guys. You will frighten her with your seducing skills."

"Damn it!" he harshly whispered to himself.

"What happened?" Theo asked.

"I might have already frightened her..."

"Excuse me?" Claire awoke.