If she hadn't believed in miracles before this night then she would for the rest of her life.
''Yes.''
He clutched her extended hand. Trudy gasped, having never felt cold quite as much as his hands were in that moment. She felt it run straight through her own body as though she had been plunged into freezing cold-water herself.
''You're here?'' She cried. This was not real, surely? For, she had prayed and looked for what felt like everywhere for this man. To thank him, and to take him to Rose.
''Yes.'' He croaked.
''But how?''
He cleared his throat, quietly. ''I looked, everywhere. I didn't stop until I went down with the ship.'' He struggled with his words, his eyes closed. ''I found a piece of debris and kept my body out of the water. I thought I would die there.''
He seemed to struggle to speak, as though it hurt just to open his mouth. His voice was croaky. He was tired. He was shaking. Everything about him seemed to be so heavy and hard to move and yet through it all, Trudy sensed a quiet determination about him which radiated just beneath his body.
''They found you?''
''Yes. One boat came back. They wrapped me in blankets and took me to the ships infirmary. I had never slept like I had. They tell me I have a case of hyperthermia. Warmth is the only cure but all I feel is the damned pain!'' He told her, angrily. ''I never found Rose.''
He coughed, grasping his stomach and chest as he bent his knees. It took over his entire, thin body. It was the same type of cough she remembered her grandfather having as a child; the one which had ultimately killed him. Jack's body was shaking beyond his own control like an alcoholic without his next drink in his hand.
''She's here.'' Trudy told him quietly and as soon as the words left her mouth, his head raised and his now sparkling eyes met hers.
''Rose?''
Trudy nodded. ''Yes.''
He seemed to come alive as though colour had been applied to this bleak, black and white world.
''Rose is on the ship?'' He confirmed, as though perhaps he had misheard what she had said.
Trudy nodded again. This time she wore a weak smile on her face and she heard his breathing quicken to the point where she knew that something inside of him had been ignited once more. He was alive.
''She left her family. She doesn't want them knowing of her survival.''
Jack's mouth opened to speak but instead he too found himself wearing a weak smile for the first time since the sinking. His mouth was dry, his lips parted as he seemed to pant and gag for air. The news had taken everything from him and it meant everything and so much more.
''I will take you to her.'' Trudy held out her arm, an indication for him to walk.
His mouth formed into an 'o' and then, she saw the shining of his eyes. ''Thank you so much.''
As the rain had drizzled that afternoon, Rose had welcomed its freshness upon her face. In previous days, her skin had felt tight but now she was feeling that dark cloud of mist clearing slightly. Perhaps that was a sign of something. She just didn't know what but she had to cling onto something.
Her tears had dried. At least for now. She needed to rest just for a little while but for the time being, she was happy stood alone at the rail oblivious to everything except her own thoughts. She absorbed herself into the world which had belonged to her and Jack. The world with only the two of them. As the cold wind swept her hair from her face, she closed her eyes and pictured his hand there as he swept the tendrils from her face. Then he would kiss her and not just on her lips. Every bit of her face was touched, kissed and loved. His arms would wrap around her tightly; her waist, her hips and then grasp at her but not in a harsh way. A sweet sigh followed.
With tired eyes and a heavy body, Trudy led Jack passed the state room which she had been given upon her arrival on the ship. The good people had given up everything for the survivors and it was something that none of them would be able to repay for the rest of their lives.
Rose had slept on Trudy's bed on numerous occasions. The exhaustion of searching for Jack would be almost too much for her friend at times but she would never sleep for long, she would eat and then return to searching every corridor leaving no stone unturned but she knew that Rose would not be there. She slept amongst those in the hallways, wrapped in blankets.
Staterooms were occupied almost double, women cradled their children in hallways and the decks had been almost empty. Carpathia passenger's generosity had touched Trudy implicitly. Beds had been made up on the tables in dining rooms, the smoking rooms were full of laid down blankets and yet the meals had remained the same and served as normal. The absolute tragedy lingered in every corridor and in every room aboard.
The occasional sob echoed in the long corridor. It haunted her, the loss still not fully sinking in. She tiptoed down the second class corridor, her borrowed coat hugged against her body. Her face was pale, she had barely slept and her hair was sat limply around her shoulders. One thing cradled in her mind, the one thing which ensured her no rest.
Jack followed closely behind, careful as to where he was treading. The whole ship was silent except for the faint rumble of the engines which seemed to secretly console everyone aboard. They reached a set of stairs and Jack carefully followed Trudy down them, carefully keeping control of his trembling knees.
Once they reached the steerage area, she touched her own chest. Women, children and small babies gathered in masses, cradling as they slept. She spotted one or two men slumped against a wall, she choked back a sob.
She turned to see a long corridor of passengers. She carefully trod, checking every single face. Jack stopped, recognizing some as memories of dancing in steerage flashed back at him. Those people leaving Europe in hopes of a better life, carrying their entire belongings with them - all of which was now gone.
Trudy locked eyes with a man, alone, he sobbed into his own hands. She felt her own tears come, she could offer nothing to him no comfort nor words of healing. Gathering her own emotions took so much, she wished to lie with them but she had no right to. Oh, how she wished she had a fortune to give each of these people just a small donation; a coat or even words of comfort. She searched the lost souls quietly, most asleep and after four corridors filled with such tragedy, she could barely swallow the lump in her throat.
All she wanted was to sit and cry with them. Her sobs were silent to not wake them. She turned to Jack to see that he, too was struggling.
''We'll find her.'' Trudy whispered. And on those words, Jack focused.
In the darkened corner, someone struggled, a blanket cocooned around a body. Trudy stepped ever so quietly towards it. Her breathing stopped as though one breath could awaken them. The ships engine could be heard and she felt the motion gently rocking the sleeping bodies. Feeling the engine was now a saviour to her and something which she had strived to feel, taking comfort in knowing the low grumble was there. A hand reached out and upwards and then slowly back to their ravelled chest. It startled her, she stood almost looking over the person. She knelt so quietly, leaning forward to touch the hand and then her face came into view half shadowed.
A red head of hair covered a sleeping face, her parted lips quivered.
Trudy turned to Jack, who fell to her side, trying to not disturb her or those around them. Rose breathed so quietly, a trembling hand gently pushed back the hair covering her face. Jack covered his mouth to mask his sob, hot tears uncontrollably falling.
She was here.
He had searched so much for her, until his energy had almost completely run out.
He laid himself beside her, curling into the tiniest ball. He clasped her hand, it was freezing. He gently breathed on it, sobbing silently. He rested her head on his own arm, finding comfort in her hand. Her parted lips closed and she licked them before stirring. His heart fell, he hadn't wished to disturb her. He felt his hand grip hers tighter, his body adjusted beneath the layered blankets.
Her eyes fluttered open, so slowly, blinking and narrowing before she spoke hoarsely.
''Jack?''
He breathed out quickly, nodding in the dark.
''Yes, I'm here.''
He swore he could make out a smile but his own tears clouded his vision. She, too knew he was weak. He shuffled before lifting his left arm ever so shakily gripping the blankets. He was welcoming her into his embrace.
She said nothing as she shuffled towards him. Her right arm beneath her head, resting against his chest and her left arm draping over his side. He cocooned them inside the blanket.
''Thank you.'' He whispered into her hair. He faintly kissed her forehead, burying his nose into her hair and soon by the sound of his breathing she knew he was asleep. His eyes met with Trudy's, she could just make out their sparkle of tears in the dim light. He nodded, just once.
Trudy felt her legs shake beneath her and she thought that they would buckle. She couldn't stop the overwhelming emotion which overcame her and within seconds, silent tears rushed down her face but for the first time in days, the corners of her lips turned upwards beyond her own control. She watched them for just a moment and she knew that she was in the presence of love. The two were supposed to find one another. Out of such a tragedy, had come such a joy that it felt almost alien to feel a tiny spark of happiness in that second but she knew, that in all of this, people would be reunited, somewhere and someplace.
Closing her eyes, she said a silent prayer as thanks before leaving the lovers in the corridor, embracing, asleep. Together.
