ODE TO TITANIC
Epilogue

Eighty-Four Years Later

Rose slowly walked back to her stateroom. After telling the story of her romance with Jack Dawson, she had promptly retrieved the Heart of the Ocean from the chest on her nightstand and went back to the railing of the ship. Staring down into the dark water below, she let the necklace go, back down into the dark depths of the water, back to the Titanic. Sighing, she turned and slipped back into her stateroom. Sitting on the bed, she took a small box out of the drawer and opened up to a few old photographs and Christmas cards. She stared at them, remembering her trip to a small town all those years ago and retrieving the pictures and cards from the abandoned house that had once held her beloved Jack before he had fled the town for good. She looked at the photograph and smiled. He was so young. Thirteen years old, and he was with his parents. And the cards, written from Mr. and Mrs. Dawson to Jack. She didn’t know why she had told Lizzy and the others that she didn’t have any photographs of Jack. She couldn’t understand it. They were all she had left of him. That and the memories of the three short days they had together. Sighing, she began to sing.

Rose:
Photographs and memories
Christmas cards you sent to me
All that I have are these
To remember you
Memories that come at night
Take me to another time
Back to a happier day
When I called you mine
But we sure had a good time
When we started way back when
Morning walks and bedroom talks
Oh how I loved you then
Summer skies and lullabies
Nights we couldn't say good-bye
And of all of the things the we knew
Not a dream survived
Photographs and memories
All the love you gave to me
Somehow it just can't be true
That's all I've left of you
But we sure had a good time
When we started way back when
Morning walks and bedroom talks
Oh how I loved you then.

Yes, she had loved Jack back when, and now, at a hundred years of age, she still loved him even more. Not for the first time, she wondered when she’d be ready to join her beloved. She was tired. Oh, she loved life. She enjoyed it. But times like now, when she had a day full of memories and reminders…she would become tired of life. She wanted to rest. To not think of the next day or the day after that. She wanted to be with Jack. Now more than ever before. Her need to see him…it was a dull ache in the middle of her chest, growing stronger by the minute. Taking one last look at the pictures on the nightstand, recounting her long life, Rose slipped under the covers and drifted off into a deep, deep sleep. Exhausted from the busy day and from life in general.

A ghostly form appeared in the room, floating next to Rose’s bed, staring down at her sleeping form. He had watched Rose from afar ever since he had become her guardian, helped her whenever he could. Comforted her whenever it became too much for her. But he wasn’t there for comfort now. He was there to relieve her from her burdens. To lead her home. Where she belonged.

Jack:
Do you remember when we met
That's the day I knew you were my pet
I want to tell you how much I love you
Come with me, my love
To the sea, the sea of love
I want to tell you how much I love you
Come with me, to the sea of love
Do you remember when we met
That's the day I knew you were my pet
I want to tell you how much I love you
Come with me, to the sea of love
Come with me, my love
To the sea, the sea of love
I want to tell you how much I love you.

Touching Rose’s white hair gently, Jack faded away. He had to go back. Another promise had to be kept. He had to wait for a new angel to take her place at his side.

Jack:
Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice in my mind
But it doesn't stop the pain
If I see you next to never
How can we say forever?
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
I took for granted all the times
That I thought would last somehow
I hear the laughter
I taste the tears
But I can't get near you now
Oh can't you see it baby
You've got me going crazy
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I'm with you
I'll take the chance
Oh can't you see it baby
You've got me going crazy
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
Waiting for you.

*****

Rose:
A hundred days had made me older
Since the last time that I saw your pretty face
A thousand lights had made me colder
And I don’t think I can look at this the same
But all the miles had separate
They disappeared now when I’m dreaming of your face
I’m here without you baby
But you’re still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby
But you’re still with me in my dreams
And tonight it’s only you and me
The miles just keep rolling
As the people either way to say hello
I hear this life is overrated
But I hope it gets better as we go
I’m here without you baby
But you’re still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby
But you’re still with me in my dreams
And tonight boy it’s only you and me
Everything I know, and anywhere I go
It gets hard but it won’t take away my love
And when the last one falls, when it’s all said and done
It gets hard but it won’t take away my love
I’m here without you baby
But you’re still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby
But you’re still with me in my dreams.

Jack:
And tonight girl it’s only you and me.

Rose felt herself drifting.

The wreck of the Titanic appeared in front of her, light shining out of the corroded windows. She entered the shiny and new staircase section, being faced with smiling passengers of all classes, officers, and crew members. Approaching the grand stairway, Rose saw a man standing at the bottom, his back to her. Slowly, she ascended the stairs and he turned around. It was Jack, smiling and holding his hand out to her. Smiling back at him, Rose took his hand, ending up in his arms, while people around them started to applaud.

Jack:
I sit and wait
Does an angel contemplate my fate
And do they know
The places where we go
When we're gray and old
‘Cause I've been told
That salvation lets their wings unfold
So when I'm lying in my bed
Thoughts running through my head
And I feel that love is dead
I'm loving angels instead
And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead
When I'm feeling weak
And my pain walks down a one way street
I look above
And I know I'll always be blessed with love
And as the feeling grows
She breathes flesh to my bones
And when love is dead
I'm loving angels instead
And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead
And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead.

The End.

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