Page 160 of Titus

“What?” she answered.

“You know how this ends,” I reminded her.

“That’s not the point, sis,” she said.

Jessica smiled over the rim of her wine glass. “I agree with Amelia.”

I looked between them.

“Then what’s the point?”

“Holly isn’t crying because Gerry died,” Jessica said as Amelia nodded. “She’s crying because he loved her enough to think about what she would need afterward.”

I found myself watching the screen a little differently now. It wasn’t the grand gestures, the romance, or even the thoughtfulness. It was the effort and understanding of what Gerry had gone through to help Holly endure life after his passing.

Jessica pointed toward the television. “That’s always been my favorite part.”

“The letters?” I questioned.

“No,” Jessica shook her head. “The fact that he knew her and what she would need.”

“Exactly,” Amelia nodded. “He understood her.”

The scene continued playing, and I found myself leaning back into the couch. “God, that would be nice.”

Both women looked at me.

“What?” Jessica smiled.

“It’s nothing,” I said, brushing them off, “and stop doing that,” I finished, pointing at the two of them.

“Doing what?” Amelia asked.

“The thing where you know exactly what you’re implying,” I said.

“We’re not implying anything,” Jessica said before Amelia could.

“You’re both implying that Titus is probably like that.”

Neither denied it, and I understood how it looked from the outside, like Prince Charming and I had found each other, and I didn’t have to worry about the part where the evil stepmom was going to find a way to destroy it.

Soon after, Gerry’s next letter arrived, drawing everyone’s attention away from me. This letter was another reminder and another instruction. Another piece of himself left behind for the woman he loved.

“I still think it’s unrealistic,” I said.

Jessica raised an eyebrow. “Which part?”

“All of it.”

Amelia rolled her eyes. “God.”

“Mm hm,” I said, taking another sip of wine.

We continued watching as the movie progressed, and the characters made their way to Ireland. And most importantly, the realization that life could continue even after heartbreak.

I smiled as I watched Holly slowly begin to live again, smiling and trusting once more. That part always got me in this movie because starting over was harder than people realized. Also, letting someone in after being hurt was terrifying.

But in truth, trusting somebody with your heart was one of the bravest things a person could do.