Mrs. Thornton had worriedly watched Rose leave. She liked her and she had liked Andy. Rose and her husband had been her neighbours for only about three and a half months now, but she had instantly come to like Rose. Her own children were long since gone, living in various parts of the country.
They had their own life.
She looked at the letter in her hands.
'Give it to the first person, who's trying to see me.'
She shook her head, wondering if this also counted for her husband.
Just what was this all about? It was strange, more than bizarre.
It was frightening.
Rose whole attitude had been weird.
What a stupid thing to write a letter.
Whatever she had to say, couldn't she just do it?
Why did she have to write a letter?
Maybe she should just open it and read for herself?
But she had promised that she wouldn't and she was someone, who kept his word.
Mrs. Calvert surely was a great woman. Mrs. Thornton only wondered if Mr. Calvert was the right man for her. They didn't seem to have much in common.
But what do I know?
Henry Calvert surely was always correctly treating his wife, but she still found him a little bit too reserved.
Just why didn't she give this letter to anyone herself?
Rose hadn't exactly been the most cheerful person Mrs. Thornton had ever met, but since her son's death, there had been some odd and moreover creepy about her.
Yes, that was it. Rose had in fact been scaring her, when handing her over this strange letter.
It didn't look like if anyone would want to see her soon.
Mrs. Thornton felt the chilly wind blew around her and realized that it would be better, if she went inside. After all she didn't need to get a cold.
She was just about to go inside the house, when she saw someone coming up to the Calvert's house.
Jack had been almost running here, having suddenly got an odd unpleasant feeling as if something bad was about to happen. But of course that was stupid.
Nothing was going to happen, he would just see Rose, they would talk, maybe about old times and then he would return to Gisela and she to Henry, like it should be and everything would be alright.
He made his way up to her house and was about to knock on the door, when he heard a voice behind him.
"Are you trying to see Mr. Calvert?"
Jack turned around facing the person behind him.
Mrs. Thornton was standing there Rose's letter clutched in her hands.
"No actually I wanted to see Ro…I mean Mrs. Calvert," he answered her.
"Finally," she got out startling Jack.
"Finally what?" he asked perplexed.
Mrs. Thornton moved up to him.
"I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself. I'm Mrs. Thornton," she held out her hand for him to shake.
"My name is Jack Dawson," he told her shaking her hand.
"Please to meet you Mr. Dawson. Well I'm her neighbour and this here is for you Mr. Dawson from Mrs. Calvert," she said handing him the letter.
Jack just stared at it perplexed for a moment.
"For me? Are you sure? But…?" Jack stammered.
Why on earth would Rose suddenly write a letter to him?
She knew that she could always come to him and talk to him; she really didn't need to write him a letter.
"Why yes Mr. Dawson. Mrs. Calvert gave it to me and told me to give it to the first person, who's trying to see her. And well that happens to be you Mr. Dawson."
"Oh…well then thanks…"
"No problem Mr. Dawson. I'll be going then," she told him turning around to leave as Jack opened up the letter to read it.
He didn't know why, but the feeling in his stomach got even queasier.
His eyes grew wide in shock, when the words flash up before his eyes.
It was only a short letter, more a note, a few sentences, but of so much value.
To whoever may read this first…
I've decided that since there's nothing more left for me in this world that I just have to go to a new one.
To a new one…
Jack's stared at them in complete shock. That couldn't be.
"Mr. Dawson? Is everything alright with you?"
"What?" Jack looked at her snapping out of his daydream.
"I asked you if everything is alright. You look pale as a ghost," she got out concernedly.
"Yes…I mean no…I mean…when did Rose give to this letter?" he choked out.
Mrs. Thornton had noticed that he had called Mrs. Calvert Rose, but decided to ignore it. This Mr. Dawson seemed to be more than just a friend to her.
"About an hour ago I think, but I'm not sure."
"So an hour…did she tell you where she would be going?"
Jack realized that this was a stupid question to ask.
After all why would anyone wanting to commit suicide tell anybody where he would do it?
"No," she told him but Jack had already known the answer.
"Thanks anyway," he managed to get out.
"I've to go."
He didn't even bother to read the rest of the note.
Just where could she have gone?
Now Jack knew that his feeling hadn't been misleading him.
His Rose was in danger and he needed to save her.
There had to be a clue to where she went.
Running around trying to think of something Jack decided to read finish reading the letter.
Maybe that would give him a clue to her whereabouts.
The one I loved I couldn't have and now I'm going back to where we first met…
Jack realized that she was refering to him, but what did she mean with the second part.
They had met, when she had wanted to commit suicide by jumping of the ship.
Suddenly it dawned on Jack and he knew exactly where he needed to look for her.
He knew Rose's soft and yet melodramatic spot.
Jack ran as fast as his feet took him hoping that it wasn't too late already.
…
Rose meanwhile had taken her time to come up here. She had even been to the cemetery and the church before, to light a candle for her son and for all those perished during the night of the sinking. And she had prayed for all of them.
Then she had just as slowly made her way up here. There was no need to hurry now. She had already made up her mind.
No one would stop her now.
Rose was standing on the Brooklyn Bridge. She had already climbed up on the side, but someone she couldn't bring herself to loosen her grip on the balustrade.
'Don't do it.'
Rose remembered Jack's voice.
This time he wouldn't come to save her. What she would do now was surely the best for everyone…at least she would be with her son again and everything would be fine.
Jack finally reached the bridge as well and ran up as fast as he could, searching for her. At last he could make out her figure. Her red hair couldn't be mistaken.
Rose was standing on the other side of the bridge already and Jack realized that she was unaware of him being there and that moreover every voice would just startle her to the point that she might lose her grip.
He couldn't let that happen. Jack quickly made his way up to her trying not to disturb her.
Rose was shedding silent tears, but she didn't take the time anymore to wipe them away, soon everything would be over.
Just when Rose was about to release her hands on the balustrade, she felt someone's arms tighten around her.
How dare someone would interrupt her plans!
"Let me go," she screamed and tried to squirm free of the person's grip, but it only got tighter. "You've no right to…"
"Rose it's me. Calm down," Jack told her.
Jack?
Why was he suddenly here?
How could he have known that…?
"Jack…I don't want to do this…I…I'm sorry…"
"I know Rose. I know. Come on I'll help you over again," Jack whispered in her ear.
Rose was shaking heavily now. It was clear that she wasn't her full self now.
Carefully Jack managed to turn her around and afterwards practically scooped her over on his side.
"It's alright Rose, everything is alright," he whispered to her holding her close.
Rose had led her head on his shoulder crying heavily now.
"Oh my god Jack…I really…I didn't want to…I…" she stammered on and on, the realization suddenly having hit her about what she had wanted to do.
If Jack hadn't been there, she would be dead now.
"You've saved me again. You've…" she got out her voice not more than an incoherent mumble.
Jack meanwhile was stroking her hair trying to calm her down.
"Shh…Rose…"
"If you hadn't come…"
"It's alright…"
"I love you Jack. I know I shouldn't tell you that, because you're married and, but…I…" she didn't get any further as Jack interrupted her.
He lifted her chin up by placing a finger under it. Jack looked her deeply in her eyes.
"I know that your children…"
Jack was just smiling at her now getting a perplexed look from her in return.
He began to wipe her tears away with his sleeve.
"You know my dear I should be the one to feel sorry for not telling you before," he then told her startling her even more.
"For not telling me what Jack?" Rose was completely confused now.
Instead of answering her right away Jack just kept staring at her, moving his right hand to touch her cheek.
"That I love you Rose."
Rose at first thought that she hadn't heard right.
Had he really just said that…?
"What did you just say?" her voice was barely more than a whisper now as she was fearing that she had misunderstood.
"I said that I love Rose," he told her once more.
"Jack, I…" she began, but Jack stopped her by placing a finger on her lips.
"Hey my love, don't cry now anymore," he smiled at her instead.
Rose immediately smiled back at him.
And before she could say anything else she felt Jack's arms tightened around her and with one hand he drew her closer to kiss her.
When it ended Rose felt him lovingly staring down at her.
"Everything alright with you?" he asked her.
"Yes, more than alright…"
"Good, because you know I wouldn't want my love to be unhappy," Jack whispered to her while embracing her.
Rose snuggled closer up to him leaning her head on his shoulder.
Jack meanwhile placed little kisses on her head.
Neither one of them was able to think of the consequences for now; at the moment they were just too happy with each other's company.
