Bulletproof

Chapter 9

She was leaving tomorrow. Also, her ring was somewhere in the sea with Timothy, somebody who had truly loved Joseph. Theodosia didn't have any posessions to take with her, but still she roamed around Philip's room.

Theodosia kneeled down and look under the cot for stray objects, she reached under and pulled out a crumbled parchment. She smoothed it out, it read:

Dear Theodosia,
What to say to you?
You are the melody I always needed but never knew.
Too long had I played the role of a dead man, walking through life, unfeeling.
Now that you are here, all I do is feel. You have awakened me and I can't go back to sleep.
I know that soon you'll be gone, my dearest, Theodosia, but I will still feel for you, only you. 

Then there was another one on a separate parchment:

My name is Philip. I'm just a poet.

I can't give you much, 

But will you accept my love?

"That one's terrible." Theodosia jumped.

"Philip you scared me!" he didn't smile, or laugh, he just looked at her sadly. He walked over to her "That was earlier on, I thought I could have a future with you." Philip frowned "Then I realized how stupid that was," he said. Theodosia stood up

"It's not stupid, it's. . ." she faltered- 

it's impossible.

Philip smiled "Let's go Theo, I already talked to the man who's taking us." he stood up and held out his hand. She took it and they walked out of the house.

As soon as they were out of the house Philip let go. Theodosia touched her palm, it felt cold, even though the day was hot. A they reached the docks Philip smiled a little "It's going to be okay," he said, then they stepped onto the boat.

Theodosia held on to Philip tightly "Wow, what's wrong?" she held on tighter

"Well, I'm sorry, but the last time I was on a boat everyone died," she squeezed his hand and he nodded as he pulled her closer, he kissed the top of her head "I've got you Theo."

The trip went on. She stayed in Philips arms and thought about all she was going back to, all she was leaving behind "Philip," she said halfway through, he looked over at her

"Yeah?" he mumbled

"How did you die? I mean-"

"No, I know what you mean," he sighed "It was around the time I had graduated from college," he looked ahead sadly and she lay her head on his shoulder, to which he smiled. "George had. . .  he had just made a speech about my dad. Originally I had gone to challenge him to a duel, it had been very private, we negotiated a peace, but then he told me had killed someone.," Theodosia gasped, George who was possibly the nicest  guy she had met in a long time had killed someone, as in. . . for real? Philip frowned "Do you want me too keep going?" Theodosia nodded. So he kept going.

"He wanted to disappear, so I agreed to help him. We planed it out so that everybody would believe one of us had died," Philip stroked her hair, as if he were not telling her about how his life ended. "I was supposed to make it look like I had killed him. You see, George knew this surgeon, that was our plan, but. . . at the last moment I screwed up." Theodosia propped herself up

"How so?" Philip smiled faintly

"I think it was something my dad said, I  didn't want any blood on my hands, even if it wasn't real. So, George accidentally shot me," Philip  lifted his shirt "Did you ever notice this scar?. . . George used to say I was bulletproof." he pointed at a little circle on his stomach. Tentatively she reached out and touched her fingers to it, Philip breathed in sharply and she took her hand away  quickly "I'm sorry!" she apologized hastily. 

"Cold." Philip said then grabbed her hand and held it in his.

"Okay," she shifted to look at him "My turn." Philip beamed

"Okay." She wanted to kiss him, he was just too good to her, but she held herself back "The only time  I ever saw my dad cry was when my mom died," Philip listened intently and squeezed her hand "I wanted to marry a guy like my dad, strong, smart, who would make things okay when they weren't. Joseph is nothing like that." she finished. Philip was about to speak

"I'm sorr-"

Then the captain yelled that they had arrived.

Philip walked Theodosia to the dock. "I'm sure going to miss you." Theodosia began to cry "Oh. . . God. . . Theo, don't cry." he reached for her face and brushed away the tears, a gesture Theodosia had grown accustomed to. She held his hand, she just couldn't let go. 

"Bye Theodosia," he said then began walking away.

. . .

"WAIT!" Theodosia yelled running after him. Philip turned

"Wha-?" She kissed him, and as she pulled away

 "I love you." she said.