My Love, My Life

Go Forth and Speak Up

Phillips P.O.V

It was the next day as I turned over as I saw Theodosia still asleep. She's been sleeping with me lately since she was afraid to be alone. I understood completely, I kissed her forehead as she slept peacefully as I got up streching and pulled the blanket over her and got dressed. I pulled on some red gym shorts and a white t-shirt and stared at the engagement ring as I sighed. Maybe... I should get her father's blessing today. Wait, maybe after graduation? Yeah, I should wait longer. I don't want to have me and Theos' relationship moving to fast. I want it to be just right. She's been through enough, I don't want to pressure her with my problems. I sighed as I ran my fingers through my hair leaving it out as I sighed and looked at Theodosia again. She wants to be an activist. But, I don't wanna lose her. Isn't that job kind of dangerous in a way? Protesting gets crazy very quickly! But... she also said she wants to be like Harriet Tubman. Well. Then she shall go forth and speak up for her people. I sighed as I began to make myself grilled cheese. I smiled breathing in a delicious aroma and continued to make it until I heard a door open. I looked and saw Theodosia come out yawning and rubbing her eyes as she was wearing a long sleeved black shirt and pink shorts. I smiled as she said, " Hello..." I said, " Hey Princess. How'd you sleep? " She stretched said, "It was niiiccceeee..." I laughed as she flopped her head on my shoulder as I said," Y'know it's like... 8 in the morning right?" She nodded. I said, " You can go back to sleep if you want to." She said, " Nahh. I'm just going to watch RENT." I said, " Mmkay." Oh man. I forgot she was like...obsessed with theater. Maybe I should....take her to watch a play or musical. Well, she loves Miranda and Rent. Maybe she can watch those. I just need to find tickets. And money. I sighed again as I finsihed my grilled cheese as I guess I didn't realize I made two. I grabbed two plates and sat next to her handing her one. She said, " Thanks." I sighed flopping down on the couch next to her as she happily began eating it said, "This is good!" I said, " Thanks." She seemed to be awake as I placed my arm around her as she flopped her head in my lap as I stroked her hair. We did sing along until it got to the end and we were crying over Angels death. She said, " Why? Why? Noooo," I laughed as we cleaned our selves up as she disappeared into her room. I turned on the news and began cleanup. I did the dishes, cleaned the counters, put all the food and drinks away, and made the piano area neat and tidy since sheet music was all over the place. There was a compartment in the bench so I opened it up and stored all the sheet music in one stack in there... I saw Theodosia come out and grab her car keys. She was wearing:

This is what she's wearing.

I asked, " Where are you going?" She said, " Um...protesting. I think it's becoming a riot. I don't know but I'm going to find out." I said, " I'll meet you there. " She said, " I'll meet you there actually, " I said, "Okay, good luck." She said, " Thanks." She grabbed her sign and walked up to me and gave me a kiss. I smiled said, " Go on baby. " She smiled said, " Bye." I waved as she disappeared and I sighed cleaning up some more. After a while, I decided to wear a blue shirt and black jeans and some Vans. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and grabbed my sign following Theodosia. I sighed and went downstairs locking the door and ran to Theo as she saw me and stopped. I got in tossing my sign in the back. She sighed and began to drive as we arrived to the protesting as everyone was marching and yelling: We Want Justice. And holding up their signs as Theodosia sighed and stopped as she looked down I asked, " Are you okay sweetie?" She pursed her lip and said, " It just looks so... life-changing. " She grabbed her sign as I said, " True." She handed me mine as we both got up as she began marching flipping her hair behind her, as she joined asked, " Where's everyone heading?" A woman said, " Down pepper street! The cop who shot the black guy didn't get sent to jail." This may have pissed Theo off as she grabbed a brick and threw it toward somewhere as it caught on fire. Other people began looting as Theo held up her sign. I followed as I joined in yelling," We Want Justice! " I followed Theo as she made it to the front as  she climbed on top of a car as she yelled out a whole ton of stuff. I realized that all the protesters were in front of the officers who began to push them all. Theo looked around as tear gas got thrown and lit up with a FOOOMPH! I grabbed her waist picking her up as she groaned. I covered my eyes as she said, " Argh! My eyes!" Luckily I had milk at the dorm as I sat her in the back and set the signs in the passenger seat, as she covered her face. I grabbed her keys putting it in the ignition and sped off. Hopefully I won't get pulled over again....this isn't my car. Even though my eyes stung like they were on fire and my nose as she began crying but I knew it was uncontrollable. I heard my phone ring but ignored it. Theo said, " Answer it," I clicked the green button and heard Mom. She said, " You guys okay?! We We saw everything on tv! It's on the news and everything! You two okay?" I said, " We're safe. Do you want us to head there?" Mom said, " Well, yeah." I turned around as we drove toward our neighborhood. I sure missed it. We pulled up as Theos' father walked out and pulled Theo toward him hugging her tightly as I ran inside and grabbed milk going to the sink and poured it onto my eyes as Theo grabbed my waist hugging me. I cleaned myself up since my eyes and nose were all better I handed her the milk as she poured it on her eyes and nose as William stared at us confused. He asked, " What are you doing? " I said, " Well...tear gas got in our eyes so we're cleaning it our with milk since milk makes our eyes better when tear gas h to otto it. So yeah." William said, " Oh no! I'm telling Momma about that. " He turned and went to Mom. Theo cleaned herself up as everyone was quiet. Theodosia sat in my lap as I rubbed hands up and down her stomach. Mom said, " We saw you guys. " Theo said, " Okay. " Her father said, " I saw you on that car Theodosia. Why were you there in the first place?" Theo said, " Because, I'm angry about black people getting killed by the police. I'm not going to stay quiet, I want justice and I am not going to shut up until I get it. It's not fair.

Besides, I am also mad that the officer did that. I had my hands up what else was I supposed to do? How else is everyone going to hear what we're going through? I'm sick of this! So I'm a protest. " Everyone was quiet as Theo sat up said, " Besides, I got harassed and yelled at as I was at high school. I am not going to sit down doing nothing, marching and doing everything peacefully isn't going to do anything! I'm not just going to throw my hands up and let them shoot me. I'm not going to give up and yeah. Plessy vs Ferguson was there cause we one getting thrown around like a ragdoll. I'm tired of them killing us. Sure, the riots are scary but I'm going too speak up so they can stop. We gotta stick together and I'm....done! It's not fair, everything is not going to change unless we do something! We gotta speak up. We're all we got, we weren't put on this earth to get murdered so Imma stand up and protest sure it's slow but it'll definitely change stuff. I'm going to use my talent and speak up. We want Justice. " as she got up and went upstairs. Everyone looked at me asked, " Has she always been this way?" I said, " She's been this way since graduation. She is done with this shit. She can't just put her hands up and do nothing. She'll stand up and speak out. So yeah, she's been this way for a while. She'll better. She just needs justice. And so do I." As I got up to talk to Theo.