STARTING ANEW
Chapter One
Jack trudged wearily up the steps of the
hospital. Through the glass doors, he could see Molly speaking to someone at
the reception desk. Molly, his surrogate mother, mentor, confidant and friend.
What would he have done without her these past few days. It was Molly in her
belief of his strength of character and love for Rose, who had initiated the
search for him and now for Rose, that led him up these steps. Even though their
names had not appeared on any of the lists, she had sent one of her New York
business acquaintances looking for him and Rose in the various hospitals and
shelters where the Titanic survivors had been taken. In his desperation and
grief at not finding Rose on the Carpathia, Jack had allowed himself to be
taken to one of these shelters. When Mr. Scott had come looking for him, Jack
had been skeptical, but agreed to come along when Molly's name was mentioned.
After that, Molly had taken charge. She had purchased him new clothes, some new
art supplies and had gotten him settled in an extra room of her suite at the
Waldorf. Then she insisted that Mr. Scott continue the search for Rose.
And so he was here with Molly, in the lobby
of the Roosevelt Hospital. If the woman that supposedly resembled Rose was
indeed her, well, then his life would be complete. If not, then he didn't know
how he could pick up the threads of his life and go on. Certainly he would
never love again.
"Alright, this way, Jack," said
Molly. "Our patient is in room 403."
He followed her into the elevator. Molly told
the elevator operator to take them to four. Neither Molly or Jack made any
attempt at conversation. Each was alone in their thoughts. When they got off at
four, Molly asked a nurse for the direction of the room. Jack, usually
optimistic and a pillar of strength himself, felt weak. He wondered if his
prayers would be answered.
They walked down the short hallway and
stopped outside the doorway numbered 403. The door was open. In the dim light
Jack could make out a figure lying on the bed. The patient's body was facing away
from the door, but he could still make out long red hair spread out against the
pillow. A hand, the hand of a young person hugged the blanket. The length of
the body, matched the height of Rose.
Molly stood in the doorway biting her lips
and saying a silent prayer as Jack entered the room. He walked quietly to the
other side of the bed where he could see a face. Jack took one look and tears
formed in his eyes. It was Rose, barely alive and having trouble breathing, but
there, nevertheless. Slowly he bent over and kissed her forehead.
He took one of her hands in his and
whispered, "Rose, it's gonna be alright now. I'm here Rose. You're gonna
make it."
Molly watched this tender scene and her heart
was filled with thankfulness.
"Jack," she said quietly from the
doorway, "do you still need me?"
He stood his head from side to side.
"No. Thanks, Molly, for helping me. It's
okay now," he told her.
"Well, then, I'll be goin' back to the
hotel. But don't you forget to come back and eat and get some rest. I'll take a
turn watching her."
Jack looked down at Rose and answered,
"Alright, I'll remember."
Jack spent everyday at Rose's bedside,
holding her hand, talking to her, willing her to live. Rose tossed and turned,
was hot and cold. She moaned in her restless sleep. Not one doctor or nurse
seemed hopeful and Jack's desperation grew. To find her and lose her, would be
a worse blow than not finding her at all.
"Rose, you've got to live," urged
Jack. "I'm here waiting for you, Rose. Come on, Rose, live. For me, for
us."
Jack squeezed her hand and kissed her, but
there was no response.
"Rose, please, we have so much ahead of
us. I need you."
Jack tried to get liquids into her. Sometimes
she swallowed them automatically. He brushed he hair. Except to sleep and bathe
and get a little fresh air, Jack was always there. She was never alone, since
Molly kept her promise to come and relieve Jack. The nurses were amazed by his
constant presence and devotion.
Jack watched as Rose twisted from side to
side. Sometimes, it seemed as though she were trying to speak. A nurse came
into the room and asked Jack how he thought she was doing.
He answered, "About the same. Do you
think there is any hope?"
The nurse look thoughtfully at Jack and then
Rose.
Then she replied, "I've seen some bad
cases of pneumonia. And this is one of the worst. Still though, she has her
youth and previous good health going for her. She may make it yet."
Jack hung on her every word. This nurse was
the first person who had given him even a tiny glimmer of hope."
She continued checking Rose over and when she
was done, she said to him, "Let me know if there is any change, one way or
another."
Jack nodded and sat down to continue his
vigil. In his mind, he mulled over the events of the tumultuous past weeks.
There was the accidental meeting with Rose and their subsequent relationship.
That was something that had been beyond his wildest dreams. She was a person of
great love and fearless courage. That she had proved by her successful attempt
to save his life. If only that piece of debris had not separated their hands
and then hit him in the head. He vaguely remembered being dragged into one of
the collapsibles, having no will to live. The only thoughts he could summon up
were those of Rose and what her fate might have been. That was over ten days
ago now. He had to stop dwelling on that.
Jack rubbed his hand across his face. God, he
was exhausted. He didn't know how much longer he could go on, with so little
sleep. But for Rose, he had to. He leaned over and rested his head on her
chest.
"If I could just close my eyes for a
minute," he thought. "I just need to rest for a bit."
He yawned. In an instant he was asleep.