Roses Whither

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------a/n Alrighty, so this is my first try at a fanfiction without OCs, ok? Please be kind, I'm trying to immprove! And the first chapter is short, I know. I have the other ones completed out, I just need to re-spell check, which reminds me: there are probably several mistakes. I blame the fact that I don't pay attention ot these things, so please me if there are big issues with spelling/ grammar.

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Chapter One

"Daylight! See the dew on a sunflower!"

"And a rose that is fading…. roses whither away…"

"Like the sunflower, I ought to turn my face to the dawn."

"I am waiting, for the day…"

Jemima sang beautifully, as she always did. She bent her knees, and sat down on the old broken down the car as Munkustrap started singing.

She was silently sliding down the front window, not wanting to cause a commotion and interrupt him. Everyone seemed mesmerized by his singing, so it probably would've mattered anyways.

Jemima sat down in the group surrounding Old Deuteronomy, quickly blending in with the sea of brown and gold, white, black, orange and silver. She took a deep breath, waiting for Old Deuteronomy to choose who was to go next, to the Heaviside Layer, where a Jellicle could be born again and have a chance to try again.

Deuteronomy looked throughout the group, but then started to stare beyond them. Jemima looked, and saw the old, gray and decrepit glamour cat, Grizabella. She walked, her head held up in pride, with a slight limp. She didn't want to appear weak, and she didn't want anyone's pity. Grizabella wanted them to understand her.

"Midnight… not a sound from the pavement. Has the moon lost her memory? She is smiling alone."

"In the lamp light, the withered leaves collect at my feet, and the wind… begins to moan."

Everyone walked away from her, turning their backs to Grizabella, not wanting to hear what she had to say. They were too stubborn to give her a chance again. Jemima, on the other hand, was not. Somehow, though she could not explain, she could relate to her, and she understood her sorrow.

Jemima moved over, to get a better look at Grizabella. The other kitten's who decided to stay with Old Deuteronomy were blocking her view of the aged cat. She climbed back up onto the car.

"Daylight! I must wait for the sunrise! I must think of a new life, and I mustn't give in… when the dawn comes, tonight will be a memory too… and a new day…will begin…"

Jemima saw Grizabella attempt to walk away, but her knees gave out. She fell over onto the cold ground, and though she tried to get back up, she couldn't. Grizabella finally just gave in, and laid there.

Suddenly, to everyone's surprise, Jemima stood up.

"Sunlight through the trees in summer. Endless masquerading!"

Hearing her voice, Grizabella found strength enough to sing.

"Like a flower, as the dawn in breaking…"

"The memory is fading!"

'Touch me! It's so easy to leave me! All alone with the memory, of my days in the sun! If you touch me, you'll understand what happiness is…"

She looked into the horizon, and saw the sun breaking through into the sky.

"Look."

"A new day, has begun."

Jemima's heart pounded as Grizabella sang so emotionally, she was sure everyone was touched and ashamed that they didn't gave her a chance.

Grizabella looked down. She had tried to do her best to show them she was sorry, and they didn't seem to care. She started walking away.

"No…" Jemima said quietly, but then she saw Victoria go to her. "Good old Victoria… always doing the right thing."

And by morning, Grizabella was up in the Heaviside Layer.