April 15, 1912
Rose had been pulled out of the freezing waters of the North Atlantic and into a lifeboat. She shivered uncontrollably, unable to speak and unable to cry. Someone had wrapped a blanket around her, but she was unsure of whom. Once she started to warm up and her adrenaline stopped, her eyelids felt heavy. Soon after, she lay down just to rest her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
*****
Suddenly, Rose was back on the Titanic. It was no longer under the waves of the Atlantic, though. It was as if it had never hit the iceberg. The sun was high in the sky and there were no clouds. It was very warm for the middle of April on the North Atlantic. Rose looked down and realized that her dress was dry, as well. She reached up and touched her unruly red curls and they were also dry.
"What in the..."
Maybe it was a dream? Yes, a dream. The ship didn't hit an iceberg. She didn't sink. Jack was still alive.
Jack! Where was he?
She looked around with fear in her eyes. Her breathing started to become erratic.
"That's weird...no one else is here."
As Rose looked around, she realized that she was alone.
"The bow. He'll be there."
Rose started running towards the bow of the ship, hoping and praying that her beloved Jack was there. He would know what to do.
She suddenly saw the familiar wheat-colored hair at the bow; his arms open as if he were flying.
She ran as fast as she could without tripping over her dress.
"Jack! Jack!" she cried with tears in her eyes.
Suddenly, the young man turned around quickly. It was Jack. He had a look of sadness in his eyes.
"Rose!"
He jumped down and ran towards her, as well. They fell into each other's arms. Rose took a shaking breath and held onto Jack as tightly as she could, afraid he would vanish into thin air.
"Oh, Jack! The ship...I thought it went down! And you...you..." Rose couldn't bring herself to say it.
Jack didn't say anything. He just held onto Rose, breathing in the scent of her perfume. She smelled of jasmine.
Rose was quiet for a second. Why wasn't he saying anything?
"Jack...where is everyone?"
Jack knew that eventually he would have to tell Rose the truth. That time was now. He let go of Rose a bit and looked into her eyes. They had sadness in them that chilled Rose even more than the icy waters had.
"Tell me, Jack."
Jack shook his head, trying not to the let the unshed tears fall down his face.
"The ship went down, Rose."
Rose's face twisted in confusion.
"No, Jack. We're on..."
"No," Jack said firmly.
"But what is this?" Rose asked.
"I don't know, Rose. All I know is that I'm gone. You can't stay here long...you're going to have to wake up."
Rose looked down and shook her head. She had tried so hard not to let Jack see her tears. But she couldn't hold them in any longer. She saw the tears drip onto the deck and disappear just as quickly.
She looked back at Jack.
"I'm not leaving without you. Not again! Please don't ask me to!"
"I don't have a choice, Rose. I wish you could stay here with me, but you have to live your life. You have to do what you've always dreamed of. Don't ever hold back."
Rose looked pained.
"How am I supposed to move on when I don't have you? I love you, Jack!"
Jack took Rose into his arms again and her head lay against his chest.
"You're stronger than you think, Rose. You always have been. It isn't good-bye, Rose. I promise you that one day...we'll be together again. Until then, you need to live. For me, Rose. Don't shut out opportunities...or love. Promise me, Rose. Promise me again that you will grow old and have lots of babies. When you die an old woman, warm in your bed...we'll be together again."
Rose had silent tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Jack, you're getting warm."
"I know, Rose. It's getting to be that time..."
"Jack! Please don't leave me!"
The sun seemed to grow brighter and hotter. It started to become too much for Rose's eyes. She shut her eyes and held onto Jack.
"Promise, Rose."
"I promise, Jack."
*****
Suddenly, Rose was back in the lifeboat and realized that there was a ship nearby. She made out the white letters that read Carpathia.
Sadness started to grow into her chest as she realized that Jack was gone again. But this time, he was really gone and she knew he wouldn't be coming back.
She sighed and tried to gather the strength that she would need to get through the next few days and eventually the rest of her life. Her life without Jack.
Familiar warmth filled her as she smiled and remembered her limited time with Jack.
He truly had saved her. And not just from jumping off the back of a ship.
She would keep her promise—as her last thank you to Jack.