Written by Jill
Gooch
Based on some situations originated by James Cameron.
Rose often wondered what heaven
was like.
She attended church when she was
supposed to. She said her prayers. She sang the hymns. She had read the Bible.
Yet, in spite of these things, she did not have much of a picture of heaven in
her imagination. All she expected were clouds, angels, and brilliant sunshine
pouring over the place.
Was heaven like ancient Rome,
only with beautiful buildings built out of turrets of clouds instead of stone?
Was it like the cottage near the lake she had adored vacationing at as a little
girl, with lavender and flowers clustering near the walk and birds singing in
the willow trees? Or was it simply like earth, save that only happiness could
be experienced?
Was there a different heaven for
different sorts of people? Did people who loved the arts go to a heaven where
there were marvelous paintings and sculptures everywhere? Did people who loved
another more than anything else retire to heaven in a little house with that
loved one and expect nothing more for all of eternity?
The evening before Titanic met
its fate, Rose found herself no longer wondering. Years from then, when she was
alone in a peaceful place, she would call back the memory of that wonderful
moment and smile.
*****
"Okay...open your
eyes," he whispered into her billowing red hair.
As she did what she was instructed,
she felt herself gasp at the beauty she beheld.
A cascade of oranges, pinks,
yellows, and blues stole her mind from everything but that slice of heaven and
Jack’s touch. The clouds were milky white patches that stretched out over the
endless ocean, dancing among colors that could have only come from the
paintbrushes of angels. She had never seen anything so gorgeous in her whole
life, and so she took it all in with every opening of her eye, every breath she
took, and every tingle the chilled rush of air sent over her skin.
As Jack held her close and held
out her arms, she truly did feel like she had been granted the gift of flight,
and that the two were gliding peacefully over the deep blue water with nothing
but their hopes and dreams keeping them up. She could no longer feel the ship
beneath her feet. All she felt was the ethereal beauty and the warmth of Jack.
"Jack, I’m flying," she
told him with great joy.
He smiled in return and held her
closer.
Yes. This had to be heaven.
The End.