No Longer Haunted.
A breeze overcame her body, lifting her hair causing her to shiver. A leaf picked itself from the floor and blew to the bench beside her before it twirled around and around and settled in her lap. She looked at the sky, it was bleak and threatened to rain when she had no shelter, no home to go to. Her fingertips touched the leaf, it was brown and crispy. Lifeless.
Then, a beautiful moment came into her head and a voice to accompany it.
''Do you remember, Rose? How we used to be?''
She closed her eyes...
The Titanic steamed into the sunset in the dusk light, as if it was lit by the embers of a great fire. Shades of purple, yellow and orange were painted across the sky. Jack was there right at the apex of the bow railing, his favourite place to be on the entire ship. The cool evening wind danced across his face, and he closed his eyes allowing the cool air to clear his mind.
''Hello Jack.'' A voice came and he whipped his head around, and she was there. Rose.
''I changed my mind.''
A smile came across his face and his eyes were drinking her in. Her cheeks were red from the chill and her eyes sparkled, her hair flew about her wildly.
''Fabrizio said you might be up-''
''Shh.''
Jack placed his finger to his lips, and shushed her and she glanced to him.
''Give me your hand.''
He held out his hand to her and she took it smiling. The moment her hand slipped into his she felt as though this was all a dream. He came closer to her and for a moment she thought he was going to kiss her.
''Now close your eyes.'' He told her softly, and she hesitantly did so. She didn't know if he was going to kiss her or not, and would have to prepare herself, she could feel her heart beating wildly. He turned her body to face forward, the way the ship was going. He pressed her gently to the rail, standing right behind her.
''Now step up onto the rail. Keep your eyes closed and don't peek.'' He held her two hands and she stepped up onto the rail, trusting Jack completely.
''I'm not.'' Jack stood behind her on the rail and then slowly took her hands and outstretched them on each side. Rose went along with him, trusting him with her own life. Jack lowered his own hands and placed them around her waist, leaving her stretched outwards like wings.
''Alright, open your eyes.'' he whispered into her ear and as she saw the beauty before her she gasped. Nothing was in her field of vision but water. It's like there is no ship under them at all, just the two of them soaring. The Atlantic unrolled toward her, a hammered copper shield under a dusk sky. There is only the wind, and the hiss of the water 50 feet below.
''I'm flying! Jack.'' She gasped, and leaned forward arching her back and Jack put his arms further around her waist to steady her. He placed his chin on her shoulder and softly began to sing a song - their song which they had sang together the night before after the third class party.
''Come Josephine, in my flying machine…'' Rose closed her eyes, feeling herself floating weightless far above the sea. She smiled dreamily, and then leaned back, gently pressing her back against his chest. He pushes forward slightly against her. Slowly he raised his hands, arms outstretched, and they met hers entwining their fingers and moving slowly as they caressed each other through and around each other like the bodies of two lovers. Jack tipped his face forward into her flowing hair letting the scent of her wash over him, until his cheek is against her ear. Rose turned her head slightly until her lips were near his. She lowered her arms, turning further until her lips found his. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and looked into her eyes before closing them and they finally surrendered to each other, to the emotion, to the inevitable. They kissed slowly and tremulously, and then with building passion. Jack and the ship seemed to merge into one force of power and optimism, lifting her, buoying her forward on a magical journey, soaring onward into a night without fear. He never wanted to stop kissing her, the whole event felt like a dream from which neither of them wanted to wake up.
Minutes later, Rose opened her eyes slowly as did Jack and they did nothing but look to the other. They felt the passion and love between them even though it was unspoken. She found just by looking into his gorgeous blue eyes she found she trusted him with her entire life. Stepping backward, Jack stepped down from the rail holding out Rose's hand to help her step down too. No words were needed as they simply held each other's hand. The soft breeze blew her curls around her and her skin was bathed in the soft light of the sunset, her beauty almost took Jack's breathe away. Not been able to resist anymore, he took her face in his artist's hands and softly caressed her cheeks before leaning forward to kiss her once more. He never wanted the night to end. Rose moved her mouth in motion with his and felt her stomach turn with excitement and nerves. If a single kiss with this man made her feel like this, then what would their love-making be like? Jack made her feel like she was the only woman in the world, like she was a fragile bird caged up which needed to be freed and he was slowly freeing her from the confines of her world. He parted from her a moment later and she licked her lips softly feeling his tender lips still on hers. His eyes spoke the words he longed to tell her, how much he wanted her.
She could feel the wind; this time is was warm like an embrace.
''Both of us were dreamers, young love in the sun. You felt like my saviour, the spirit I gave you had only just begun.''
He had saved her in so many ways. The memories haunted her; the wind seemed to only surround her.
Rose stood in Jack's arms. Their breath clouded around them in the freezing air, but they didn't even feel the cold. All they felt was the bubble which they were now in. They didn't want to look away from the other; the other was all that mattered. They had just made love, the sign of their love for each other. It was inevitable.
She touched his lips and his face, taking his beauty in.
''When the ship docks. I'm getting off with you.''
He felt the words sink in, she returned his feelings. ''This is crazy.''
''I know. It doesn't make any sense. That's why I trust it.''
Jack couldn't say anything so he pulled her to him and kissed her fiercely.
''Yes I still remember, every whispered word.'' She spoke to him in a whisper, the leaf clutched in her hand. She squeezed her eyes closed feeling his tender hand caress her face.
The world was a dreadful place to her. Her heart was so empty and the bitter sting of loneliness hit her so hard it knocked the life from her.
''I'll be waiting, I'll live forever for you.''
Tears feel from her closed eyes, she hid out her left hand still clutching the leaf in her right. She needed to feel him, to touch him. He had slipped through her fingers, so suddenly ripped from her.
"I don't know about you, but I intend to write a strongly worded letter to the White Star Line about all this." Jack shivered uncontrollably. He laughed weakly, but it sounded like a gasp of fear. Rose found his eyes in the dim light.
"I love you, Jack."
He took her hand.
"No...Don't say your good-byes, Rose. Don't you give up? Don't do it." Jack knew what was coming. He just couldn't face leaving her alone in the world. But she'd be all right. He knew it.
"I'm so cold." Rose's teeth chattered vigorously as she shivered more with the biting chill.
"You're going to get out of this...you're going to go on and you're going to make lots of babies and watch them grow, and you're going to die an old, old lady, warm in your bed. Not here. Not this night. Do you understand me?"
Rose didn't want to listen. She knew that in her heart he would be gone soon, just as quickly as he had come into her life.
"I can't feel my body."
"Rose, listen to me. Listen. Winning that ticket is the best thing that ever happened to me." Tears appeared in Jack's eyes. He was having trouble getting the breath to speak. "It brought me to you. And I'm thankful, Rose. I'm thankful," he continued.
His voice was trembling with the cold, which was working its way to his heart. But his eyes were unwavering.
"You must do me this honour...promise me you will survive...that you will never give up...no matter what happens...no matter how hopeless...promise me now, Rose, and never let go of that promise."
"I promise."
"Never let go."
"I promise. I will never let go, Jack. I'll never let go." Jack gently kissed Rose's hand as he breathed harder. He was struggling.
Every memory they had created together was saved in her mind, they had defined her in such a short space of time. She could feel him so close but when she opened her eyes she was alone. The world was the same bleak place.
An overwhelming wave overcame her. A crack began to appear in the sky and sunlight began to shine through. She felt a flutter in her hand. She opened her palms, a beautiful green specked butterfly fluttered upwards to eye level. It was a sign for her to fly. Then, it fluttered away into the distance.
A green leaf blew into her lap, this time it was healthy and alive. Spring was here and she would go on.
Rose Dawson left the bench and New York City bound for a new life. She was no longer haunted.
Do you still remember, how we used to be
Feeling together, believing whatever
My love has said to me
Both of us were dreamers
Young love in the sun
Felt like my saviour, my spirit I gave you
We'd only just begun
Hasta mañana, always be mine
Viva forever, I'll be waiting
Everlasting, like the sun
Live forever, for the moment
Ever searching for the one
Yes I still remember, every whispered word
the touch of your skin, giving life from within
like a love song that I'd heard
Slipping through our fingers, like the sands of time
Promises made, every memory saved
has reflections in my mind
Hasta mañana, always be mine
Viva forever, I'll be waiting
Everlasting, like the sun
Live forever, for the moment
Ever searching for the one
Back where I belong now, was it just a dream
Feelings unfold, they will never be sold
And the secret's safe with me
Song; Viva Forever
By The Spice Girls