AN OCEAN FULL OF MEMORIES
Chapter One
Rose awoke, confused and scared. Had she
dreamed about boarding the Keldysh to see Jack’s drawing and about retelling
the story of her experience aboard the Titanic? she wondered. But it had all
seemed so clear in her mind, so real. And where was she? She didn’t quite
remember how she had gotten here. In fact, the last thing she could remember
was seeing the ghost of Jack, but that was a dream--or was it? She stretched
her strong arms above her head and got out of bed. Her strength certainly was
with her today; she could feel her body radiating youthfulness. She made her
way across the dark room to where thin lines of sunshine on the floor indicated
the presence of a window. Fumbling, she opened the drapes and was amazed at
what she saw. The room was decorated in an Edwardian-style manner with wood
paneling etched with gold motifs. It was, as her memory served her, exactly
like the one in the house she had lived in with Mother and Cal before the
incident that had changed her life. Was she going crazy? Her heart rate began
to rise, and she was just about to run out of the room on instinct when she
caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Yes, there she was, no doubt, but
she wasn’t one hundred and one years old--she was seventeen again! She peered
down at her once frail hands and found vital, healthy hands, still retaining
the chubby elegance of their youth. Yes, she was seventeen. But how? Rose
wanted some answers--fast.
*****
A small mass of what looked like blankets
heaped up under a small bridge in the park began to move, showing signs of life
beneath the mass. Out of this bundle appeared the head of twenty-year-old Jack
Dawson--longish blonde hair down to jaw length around a face etched with strong
lines and dark brows. He shook his head and sat up, stretching the sleep out of
his muscles. Had the whole Titanic thing been a dream? No, he didn’t think so,
but it had to be. He wearily stood up, brushing dirt from his clothes, and went
to get a drink at the water fountain nearby, nearly stepping on his leather
folder. Seeing that Fabrizio was nowhere to be found, he walked over to the
small stone bridge, picked up his worn cloth bag containing his belongings in
their totality, and set off for a walk down the pier. The walk was long yet
scenic, the air sweet and cool, and sounds could be heard from a crowd at the
dock in the distance. He had a positive feeling about today, even though, as
yet, he had no evidence to say why. Looming above the city was the silhouette
of the great liner, the RMS Titanic. The great mass of metal and woodwork
looked like a floating city more than anything else, and could house as many
people as would be in a small city. He tried to think of other things. He
sighed. His thoughts remained fixed on the dream. In it, how did he board the liner?
He couldn’t quite remember. Reaching down to tie his shoes, he saw something
white tumble out of the loose folds of his shirt. He picked it up and examined
it closely. The object in his hand was nothing more than a small white pearl,
similar to the ones on Rose’s dress. Before he had time to think further,
however, Fabrizio came rushing up to him in excitement, ignoring the confused
look on his face. "Jack!" he cried in his heavy Italian accent.
"Two Swedish men want to play poker with us!"
*****
Rose reached for her robe and went out the
bedroom door, looking at the clock before she went. 6:49 AM. If what she
thought had happened had actually happened, then she could see Jack again, she
could help Tommy and Fabrizio, and she could even stop the Titanic from
sinking. All the laws of physics in her mind convinced her otherwise. Time
travel just didn’t happen. But…she tried not to think of it, and made her way
down to the morning room of her future holiday home. There she found her mother
already up, scolding the maids to pass the time until breakfast. Rose, keeping
her cool, acted as she had not done for eighty-four years and said good morning
to her mother. Eating breakfast, she retained the nonchalant attitude that she
was brought up to show on unceremonious occasions, and then went upstairs to
dress, packing along with her things a pair of binoculars given to her by Cal
for some godforsaken reason a few months ago, then set off with mother and Cal
in their automobile to board the Titanic. Cal, it seemed, was beaming that day,
and wondered clearly at the fact that Rose did not share his enthusiasm. Her
mother played along, making conversation on how strong and reliable the ship
was and how perfect the journey would be. Stepping out of the car, the broad-rimmed
hat that she wore emphasizing her tiny face and the stylish, white and
purple-striped suit highlighting her small figure, she put her arm through
Cal’s and made her way up the walkway and onto the ship of dreams. She wondered
about whether Jack existed, but knew where to find him if he did--the poop
deck. She wanted to help unpack first, as was expected of her, and then put on
a day dress for a short walk to the poop deck before dinner.
*****
It was about ten AM when the poker game
started in a pub overlooking the dock; the Swedish men Sven and Olaf winning
the first few hands, then Jack and Fabrizio leveling it out. Jack remembered
every detail of this game after awhile, and soon he had the advantage because
of it. It was five minutes to twelve, which was the expected time of departure
for the Titanic. Olaf and Sven were looking very concerned, as the Swedish men
had, in desperation at Jack’s winning streak, bet their third class tickets.
The table and the rest of the pub were silent at the time, waiting in
anticipation to find out who the winner would be. Soon, Jack asked for everyone
to reveal their hands--Olaf had two pair, the others nothing. Jack slowly laid
his full house down on the table and cried out, hugging Fabrizio. Just as he
had remembered, he had won the game. Racing to grab their things once the
realization of the time came upon them, they headed out the door, running to
catch the ship before it left port. Dodging horses and people, they ran until
they reached the first of the third class entrances, making it just into the
gangway door and leaping onto the ship. Jack was now certain of only one thing
after his pre-conceived win--he had to find Rose if she existed, and he was
sure she did. He remembered all that had happened to the two of them what felt
like hours ago. He just hoped with all his might that she remembered him. He
and Fabrizio found their room and chose bunks, introducing themselves heartily
to their other two Swedish roommates and then leaving their things to head off
to the poop deck, where he hoped to find Rose.