HOPE
Chapter Six
Dear Jack
April 24, 1912
The past few days had been an emotional blur.
Rose had been thinking of what was to come in the future, and also of what had
happened in the past. She wasn’t able to make sense of it all just quite yet.
Molly went out to take care of their
traveling plans. While she was out, she bought Rose a small gift, as she called
it. She handed Rose a box. Inside the box was a journal with a note attached to
it. The note read:
Rose,
All is not lost, and all is not found.
Love has rules that are yet to be understood. Rest assured that you are not
alone.
Molly
Somehow those words touched her more deeply
than any others could have. She started to silently cry, and Molly said,
"Oh, honey, I didn’t mean to..."
"No. It’s not that," Rose
interrupted. "It’s just...thank you, Molly." Yet again she was a
complete emotional wreck.
"Come here, darlin’." She opened
her arms. Rose walked towards her, crying. Molly embraced her like a small
child.
"Oh, Molly. I miss him so much. I took
the love we had for granted. If I had known that...that...this was going to
happen, I would have told him that..."
"He knows, Rose."
"I know he does. Somehow it just would
have made a difference if I was able to tell him."
"Well, that’s where this journal comes
in." She picked up the box that Rose had carelessly thrown on the bed.
"This may sound silly, but just hear me out. I think you should write to
him."
"What?"
"I think you should write to him,"
she repeated. "I think it may do you some good to tell him what you’re
thinking."
She just nodded as she wiped away her tears.
Later that night, Rose did write to her
beloved, Jack.
Dear Jack,
It’s been only ten days, and yet it feels
like a lifetime. I miss you with a pain like no other I have ever felt. The
tears just come flowing when I realize that I will never have another moment
with you again. I know your presence is near. I’ve hear you at night talking to
me, reassuring me that things will be all right. But, Jack, I don’t know if I
can take care of the baby by myself. I know Molly will help me, but you deserve
to be here to watch our child grow. When I think of the future without you, I
don’t see how I can go on. I know you made me promise, but it’s so hard, Jack.
So very hard.
I haven’t told Molly about the baby yet.
She’s been very understanding, more than I could have expected. I’m just
waiting for the right time to tell her, after I’ve had time to collect my
thoughts.
As I write to you now, I imagine your
touch, your smile, your lips...Jack, you know you were the first man that I
ever loved. You were my first and only. Forever. I’ll never let go of that
love...never. I’ll make it count, I promise.
I love you,
Rose
After writing to Jack, after letting all of
her tears flow, she did feel better. She was quite surprised at the fact. Rose
put her pen and journal into the nightstand drawer. She gathered the blankets
around her body. The window was open, but she didn’t want to close it. The
fresh, cool air helped to clear her thoughts. Rose momentarily stared at the
stars, silently naming a star just for Jack and herself. Anytime she looked at
the night sky now, she would see that one star, and know that all was not lost,
and all was not found.
The Next Morning
Again Rose had awakened before Molly. She
decided to take advantage of that fact. She went into the bathroom and turned
on the water. Mmm…so warm. Rose took off her nightgown and slid into the
bathtub. It felt good against her shivering body. She ducked her head under
water to wet her hair.
She must have fallen asleep shortly
thereafter, because the next thing she heard was a voice call to her.
"Rose?" But it wasn’t Molly’s voice
like she had originally thought. Her body tensed, and she hesitated to answer,
for she knew whose voice it was. "Rose?"
Oh, God. No. Not now. Just please go away, was what she wanted to say. Sooner or later, she
would have to face it, though. So she replied, "I’ll be out in a second.
Just let me get something on." Rose got out of the tub and wrapped a large
towel around herself. She opened the door to face...