ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Chapter Thirty-Three

June 1, 1913

"Jack...this can't be happening again," Rose said.

"I know. But it is!"

"Jack, if our marriage was really meant to be, we wouldn't be having another argument!"

"Then maybe it isn't meant to be!"

Rose started to cry.

Right after Jack said that, he regretted it.

"Rose, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

"If you didn't mean it, then why did you say it?"

"I--I don't know."

"Jack...I can't go on like this anymore. I'm at the same place that I was a year ago at the back of Titanic. Only this time...you're the one wanting me to leave."

Jack looked at her, shocked.

"What?" he asked.

She looked down.

"Jack...I don't know what to say. I just can't stay."

She got up to leave.

"No, Rose. If anyone's leaving, it'll be me."

"No, Jack...I can't stay here."

"Neither can I. Not without you," he said.

"I...I have to leave, Jack."

"What about our children? Huh?"

"I don't know," she said, still crying.

He tried to comfort her, but she pushed him away.

"Jack, you told me you'd never scream at me or hurt me again."

"I know...I'm sorry."

"Jack...just leave me alone. I'm going to sleep."

"No, Rose...we need to talk. I'll take the kids to Mom and Dad's house. I'll be right back."

She didn't answer.

He left.

Rose went to the closet and pulled her suitcase out.

She started packing.

When she finished packing, she walked to the front door and walked outside.

When she walked out, Jack was walking up the porch steps.

She tried to walk past him without a word, but he grabbed her wrist.

"Rose...please, just come back inside and we can talk about this."

"No, Jack. You've completely changed! When we were on Titanic you were the most amazing person I'd ever met! Now you just...you remind me of Cal!"

Jack just looked at her.

"W-what?" he asked.

"You heard me! Do I need to say it louder?" she screamed.

"Rose, let's go inside," he said, trying to remain calm.

"You can't tell me what to do!"

"Rose...will you please come inside?" he asked, irritably.

"All right! Fine!"

They walked inside.

"Rose, don't leave. We've been through this before."

"Yes, we have, and we're back again. I know that every couple has disagreements, but I can't take it! Cal wasn't the one that blew my fire out, Jack. It was you!"

"No, I did not! You did that on your own!"

"Jack...I want to leave. Just let me go."

"Why did I even waste my time marrying you?" he snapped.

"What?"

"Oh God," he murmured.

The next thing he knew and felt was her hand slapping him across the face.

"That's it! I'm leaving once and for all. Good-bye, Jack."

He got up and ran after her.

"Never let go!" he told her, before she climbed the last step on the porch.

She paused.

She was now overtaken by a flood of tears.

The next thing she saw was darkness...

*****

Rose opened her eyes.

"Rose? Are you okay?" she heard Jack ask.

"What am I doing here? I want to leave!" she said.

She tried to get off of her bed, but immediately lay back down.

"Jack...I'm leaving once I'm better. I'm taking my children with me."

"No...you can't, Rose."

"So, Jack...why did you bother marrying me?"

"Rose, I'm sorry. Please forgive me." He started to cry.

He'd been crying for three hours now, ever since she fainted.

"I can't forgive you this time, Jack. I can't."

There was an awkward silence.

"Please...try," he said.

She didn't say anything.

She just got off the bed and walked downstairs, into the living room.

Jack followed her.

"Jack, I'll call you when I have found my destination. I'll come back and get the kids."

"Rose! Please! I love you! Don't go!"

The next thing he heard was the door slamming.

Chapter Thirty-Four
Stories