DEAR DIARY
Chapter Eight
May 5, 1912
Dear Diary,
I'm a horrible, horrible person! I don't
deserve to have known Jack and most certainly didn't deserve to have my life
saved! Today, I did the absolute worst thing I could do. I disrespected Jack's
memory. See, Steven picked me up earlier, for we were to picnic on the lake. It
was so pretty there, and we were having such fun, until he kissed me. Oh, how
could I have done such a thing? It hasn't even been a month since Titanic and
already this, with his brother no less! I can't deny that I'm attracted to
Steven, but I believe that's only because he reminds me so much of Jack. My
heart isn't ready enough to become involved with someone else. I know this by
the way the simplest things can make me think of Jack and set the tears into
motion. I'm so confused, diary. I don't know what to do. I need time to think.
Rose Dawson
*****
The next day, as Rose quickly dressed, there
came a knock on the door. Tucking a loose curl behind her ear, Rose opened it
to find Julie standing there. "Good morning. Can I help you?"
Julie stared at her sternly for a minute
before a tear trickled down her face. "Steve told me about...about
Jack," she choked out.
Rose paled somewhat, but opened the door
wider, ushering the other girl into the room. "I'm sorry," she said,
glancing down at the floor.
"Jack and I..." Julie began,
sitting on the edge of the bed. "We were inseparable growing up. The two
of us and Freddie--we were so close, you know? We did everything together.
Rarely would you find one of us without the others. Jack...he just had this
quality, this thing that made everyone around him love him. I just...I just
wanted to know if he'd found what he always wanted. That one true love, the
until the end of time kind. Was it like that for you?"
Smiling softly through her tears, Rose
nodded. "I--I loved him so much, but I never got the chance to tell
him."
"He knew," Julie said confidently.
"I'm sure he knew. He's probably watching over us, laughing that we worry
so much."
Rose laughed lightly at that. "Most
likely."
On an impulse, Julie leaned over and hugged
Rose. "Thank you."
"For what?" Rose asked.
"For coming here and telling us.
Otherwise we would've been waiting forever for him to come home. At least now
there's some sort of closure."
"You're welcome." Rose smiled.
*****
May 6, 1912
Dear Diary,
Even though I gained a friend in Julie
today, I can't stay here. I don't think I can deal with being around someone
who looks and acts so much like Jack right now. So, I'm going to catch the
first westbound train out of here tomorrow. I don't know where I'm headed. It's
too soon to travel to Santa Monica, but I'll make it there someday.
Rose Dawson
*****
Early the next morning, dressed and packed
before anyone was awake, Rose quietly crept out of her room. Stopping outside
Julie's room, she slipped a piece of folded up paper underneath and then
continued on her way to the train station.