"Going up she goes, up she goes…" Rose quietly sang to herself while she was looking up at the bright stars against the velvet black sky.
Things were quiet now. No one was crying. No one was screaming. Just silence. She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering the past three days. How her life had changed in such a little time.
She remembered boarding the ship with Mother and Cal, feeling as if it was a slave ship. This was to be her life. A life of being married for money, not love. She didn't want any of it. It was all Mother's doing. Father had left debts, and the only thing that was still worth anything was her last name, and not even that would last long. Mother felt that it was Rose's duty to marry rich so that Mother wouldn't have to make it on her own.
Do you want to see me working as a seamstress? Is that what you want? To see all of our fine things sold at auction?
Rose wanted to her roll her eyes at her mother at that moment, but she knew it wouldn't make any difference whatsoever.
And then there was when she felt like the only way out was to jump off the back of the ship. She ran towards the stern of the ship, crying. People turned their heads to see her as she passed, but no one cared.
This is the only way out. I cannot live this life...marrying Cal. I do not love him. I cannot fathom living a life of solitude with that wretched man. The stupid social events and the rudeness of high society…it just isn't fair, isn't fair at all.
She slowly climbed the railing and made her way to the other side of it. With her red curls blowing in the wind, she took one last look at her world before she would make her jump into the icy Atlantic.
This is it.
"Don't do it," a voice said.
She looked at the young man smoking a cigarette in front of her. Little did she know that this young man would forever change her life and this would not be the last time that he would save her.
Fast forward to the dinner that Cal had invited Jack to. This was the first time she knew she felt something different with Jack. Nothing like Cal. It was amazing how he had turned the entire table into being interested in his life. He was an amazing storyteller. However, he had not won over Mother or Cal. They looked at him like he was some horrible insect.
Suddenly, her mind flashed to the time they were in the stateroom. With Rose wearing nothing but her robe, it was the most erotic time of her life. But Jack was professional. A bit nervous...but professional nonetheless.
Lay on the bed...I mean couch...
And in the cargo hold, in the car. Rose was anxious...a bit excited, as well. She knew she loved Jack. It was crazy...but it felt right.
Put your hands on me, Jack.
Suddenly, Rose was being let down in one of the lifeboats. She was looking up at Jack and Cal, standing next to each other. She felt as if she was being ripped away from what she loved most. As she was looking at Jack's smiling face against the emergency flares, she saw Cal smiling at her as well. But it wasn't like Jack's smile. It was evil. She knew at that instant that Cal had been lying to her about the lifeboats. There would be one...just not for Jack.
She knew that she couldn't leave without Jack.
You jump, I jump, right?