LOVE THAT NEVER FADES
Chapter Three
A Caring Friend
Rose was leaning over the
railing, looking at the freezing water splashing up where the Carpathia made
its way through the ocean. She was still cold from last night, but she didn’t
mind the cool breeze. She just hugged the coat tighter around her as she
watched the sunset. Rose didn’t know what time it was, and she really didn’t
care. All she knew was that it was evening and the day was Tuesday, the
sixteenth of April. Rose sighed as she stood up straight and rubbed her hands
together in an attempt to warm them against the freezing weather.
Rose felt something hard on her
left ring finger. She looked down and saw that Cal’s engagement ring was still
on her finger. Giving a small chuckle, Rose took it off and looked at it. This
ring had ruined her entire life. This ring had also saved her life. It was
Cal’s engagement ring. That was why it had ruined her life, but Rose knew if
she hadn’t been engaged to Cal, she wouldn’t have met Jack. And Rose was
thankful that she had met Jack. She looked at the big solitaire diamond, which
shone under the sunset. The silver band was shiny and small. Small enough to
fit her ring finger.
Rose didn’t know whether she
should keep it or dispose of it. She really didn’t want to keep the ring, since
it was Cal’s--her worst enemy. But then, she thought of her life with Jack.
They didn’t have money of any sort, and they were going to live in New York
together, or so she hoped. She knew Annie was allowing them to live in her
apartment with her, but she didn’t want to live there forever unless there was
another apartment available which Jack and herself could rent until they could
find a place of their own. Rose sighed as she looked at the ring.
Maybe I should sell this piece
of junk, Rose said to
herself. She placed the ring in her coat pocket and decided to go back inside.
She lay down on her bed and turned over to look at Jack, who was still
unconscious. Rose just hoped that he would wake up soon so that she could see
his blue eyes again. The wonderful blue eyes which always made Rose weak in the
knees. Rose stared up at the white ceiling as she tried to get herself to
sleep. She was still very tired, but for some reason, she couldn’t sleep.
Sighing, Rose got up and sat on Jack’s bed, holding his hand. She caressed his hand
with her thumbs, staring into his pale face. "Oh, Jack," Rose said.
"Please, wake up soon. I love you, and I need you with me. I don’t know
what I’ll do if I lose you." She kissed his hand gently and just held it.
Rose lay her head on his chest, hearing his steady heartbeat. Rose smiled.
After a few seconds, she slept like that. Her head on his chest, and her hands
holding his.
*****
Rose slowly woke up from her
slumber. She saw Jack’s sleeping face from where she was lying. Rose got up and
sat on her bed. She looked around, and realized that it was morning. Everybody
was sitting up, eating the food that the nurses gave them. Rose sighed as she
sat upright on her bed, a bit tired, but still awake. She looked down at her
trembling hands when Annie came towards her with her breakfast.
"You didn’t eat at all
yesterday, so I figured you’d be hungry," Annie said, giving her a tray of
scrambled eggs and hotcakes. Rose smiled and thanked her, taking the tray. Rose
had almost forgotten that she was hungry. Annie watched as Rose ate her
breakfast slowly. When she finally finished, she took a sip of the orange juice
that Annie had brought with the tray.
"I feel much better
now," Rose said, smiling as she set the glass on the tray.
"That’s good to hear,"
Annie said, taking the tray and going to wash it.
"Annie…" Rose said. She
watched Annie turn around.
"Yes, Rose?" Annie
asked. She saw Rose looking at the man who was unconscious. Annie went towards
her and set the tray on the small table, sitting on Rose’s bed and holding her
hand. "What’s wrong, Rose?"
"I-I’m just afraid,"
Rose said, looking down as a single tear fell down her pale cheek.
"Afraid of what?" Annie
asked.
"Afraid that he will
die," Rose said, staring at Jack’s motionless body. Annie followed her
gaze.
"Rose, he’ll wake up. Don’t
worry. Just give him time," Annie said.
"He was in the water too
long," Rose said, looking up at Annie with tears in her eyes. "I was
lying on a piece of driftwood while he was in the freezing water. If he
dies…I…" Rose covered her face with her hands, crying.
"Oh, Rose…" Annie said.
"He’ll make it, I assure you."
"You must think I’m such a
baby for crying," Rose said, wiping the tears away with her fingers. Annie
shook her head.
"No, Rose," Annie said.
"You’ve been through something very tragic. I wouldn’t know how you felt
when it happened, because I haven’t been through it. But you have. And so has
that young gentleman there." Annie nodded towards Jack.
"I just wish that it hadn’t
happened," Rose said. "I just wish that the captain had listened to
the iceberg warnings. I…" Rose started crying.
"Shh," Annie said, hugging
Rose close. "Don’t think about it now. Relax, okay? Get some sleep. You
still look pale." Rose nodded and lay down, falling fast asleep yet again.
*****
Rose woke up, finally feeling
refreshed and relaxed. She stretched, sitting upright and yawning. She looked
around and saw that everybody was sitting in an upright position, except those
who were unconscious--like Jack. Rose saw Annie walking around with fresh
blankets. She went over to Jack and checked his forehead. A smile appeared on
her lips.
"His temperature is almost
back to normal. He should be awake by tomorrow," Annie told Rose. Rose had
a smile on her face.
"I certainly hope so,"
Rose said, her eyes shining. Annie got up and went towards her.
"How are you feeling?"
Annie asked.
"I’m fine," Rose said.
"I finally feel relaxed. I’m not so tired anymore."
"It’s about time. You slept
for the rest of the day yesterday," Annie said.
"Really?" Rose asked,
surprised. "What day is it?"
"The seventeenth,"
Annie said. "Tomorrow evening we should be docking in New York."
"It’s about time," Rose
said. "I’m sick and tired of being stuck on ships. It’s starting to give
me nightmares."
"I know. With what you’ve
been through, I wouldn’t even want to go on ships anymore," Annie said.
"I’ll go out on deck for a
bit," Rose said, getting out of bed. "I’m actually sick and tired of
being stuck in bed for the whole day."
"Go on," Annie said.
"You need some fresh air." Rose smiled, left the infirmary, and went
out on deck.