The building had the same odor it always had: a mixture of fresh baked
bread and the penetrating smell of the salty sea.
The bread was easy to figure out, Mrs. White was a living legend for her delicious home made bread in this part of the city, but the scent of the ocean was incomprehensible.
As soon as she stepped into her apartment the loneliness came back again.
Her heart ached every time she opened her door and no one was there.
Inside she still hoped that one day she would open up the door and Jack would be standing there, that he was alive again.
"When will this stop? I can't take it anymore."
Rose stepped in the bathroom and splashed some water on her face.
She was surprised by her own reflection in the mirror.
Her red hair hang spiritless around her pale cheeks and her eyes were sore and swollen.
This isn't me, she thought. This isn't the woman Jack fell in love with.
I promised him I would go on, but the way I'm going I won't make it another month. But I can't help it.
This feeling won't let go of me.
I can't give in to it, I wouldn't...
I promise Jack, I'll get my life back on track.
Silently she got undressed and slipped between the sheets.
"Goodnight Jack." she whispered as she closed her eyes and drifted in a deep and peaceful dream.
They were together....
A warm ray of golden sunlight lightened the room and made her stir.
It was still very early in the morning but outside the birds competitively sang their song to each other.
A quiet knock on the door interrupted the glorious morning's peace.
"Who is it?" Rose asked as she hastily got out of bed and started to gather her clothes.
"It's Mrs. Armstrong love."
"And Suzie." a familiar voice yelled.
"I'll be right there." Rose answered nervously as she was trying to put on her corset.
With her corset lightly tied and the same dress she wore yesterday she opened the door.
"Sorry for the waiting. Please do come in."
"No, really. We're on our way to the store. I just wanted to check in on you, in case you overslept."
"That is very kind of you Mrs. Armstrong."
"To credit should go to Suzie, she was the one who suggested it."
The little one beamed with pride.
"Thank you Suzie. That was very sweet of you. Just between you and me, I woke up when you knocked. Without you, I would have overslept...."
"I won't tell if you won't."
"Deal?"
"Deal!"
Mrs. Armstrong looked with joy at the tender scene.
"What was it that you wouldn't say?" she asked playfully.
"Can't tell you. It's our little secret." Suzie answered while pointing at Rose who gave her a wink.
"Well Rose," Mrs. Armstrong continued, "if there is anything, anything at all just let me know. Even if you just want to chat a little..."
"Thank you so very much Mrs. Armstrong." as Rose gave the woman a hug.
"And you," talking to Suzie," don't go blabbing our secret. See you later. I really have to get ready for work."
"Okay, bye."
Quickly Rose chased a comb through her hair and made sure she didn't look like the wreck she was yesterday.
She grabbed her coat and left her apartment in a great hurry so she would still make it there in time
As she opened the building door she felt the cold closing in on her and she pulled her coat tightly around her, stepped out and continued her boring way to work...
Outside it was almost unbearably cold and the sun had no power over the freezing wind.
Though it was middle of June, the whole world seemed trapped in bitter winter.
The streets were deserted and so Rose was able to take on a firm step.
Rose had the impression the cold didn't want to let go of her.
The walk was long and unpleasant and yet incredibly soothing.
Rose had left for work with a feeling of exhaustion and fear but they disappeared with every step she took.
The closer she got to work, the busier the streets became.
New York started to wake up.
A soft sigh left her lips as she entered 'The Witters Tea - House'.
In the whole room there was no living soul to be seen and Rose decided to have a look in the kitchen.
The warmth of the stove heated her face as she opened the door.
Somewhere in the corner she spotted John, getting a breakfast ready.
"Hello, John. It's me."
The bread was easy to figure out, Mrs. White was a living legend for her delicious home made bread in this part of the city, but the scent of the ocean was incomprehensible.
As soon as she stepped into her apartment the loneliness came back again.
Her heart ached every time she opened her door and no one was there.
Inside she still hoped that one day she would open up the door and Jack would be standing there, that he was alive again.
"When will this stop? I can't take it anymore."
Rose stepped in the bathroom and splashed some water on her face.
She was surprised by her own reflection in the mirror.
Her red hair hang spiritless around her pale cheeks and her eyes were sore and swollen.
This isn't me, she thought. This isn't the woman Jack fell in love with.
I promised him I would go on, but the way I'm going I won't make it another month. But I can't help it.
This feeling won't let go of me.
I can't give in to it, I wouldn't...
I promise Jack, I'll get my life back on track.
Silently she got undressed and slipped between the sheets.
"Goodnight Jack." she whispered as she closed her eyes and drifted in a deep and peaceful dream.
They were together....
A warm ray of golden sunlight lightened the room and made her stir.
It was still very early in the morning but outside the birds competitively sang their song to each other.
A quiet knock on the door interrupted the glorious morning's peace.
"Who is it?" Rose asked as she hastily got out of bed and started to gather her clothes.
"It's Mrs. Armstrong love."
"And Suzie." a familiar voice yelled.
"I'll be right there." Rose answered nervously as she was trying to put on her corset.
With her corset lightly tied and the same dress she wore yesterday she opened the door.
"Sorry for the waiting. Please do come in."
"No, really. We're on our way to the store. I just wanted to check in on you, in case you overslept."
"That is very kind of you Mrs. Armstrong."
"To credit should go to Suzie, she was the one who suggested it."
The little one beamed with pride.
"Thank you Suzie. That was very sweet of you. Just between you and me, I woke up when you knocked. Without you, I would have overslept...."
"I won't tell if you won't."
"Deal?"
"Deal!"
Mrs. Armstrong looked with joy at the tender scene.
"What was it that you wouldn't say?" she asked playfully.
"Can't tell you. It's our little secret." Suzie answered while pointing at Rose who gave her a wink.
"Well Rose," Mrs. Armstrong continued, "if there is anything, anything at all just let me know. Even if you just want to chat a little..."
"Thank you so very much Mrs. Armstrong." as Rose gave the woman a hug.
"And you," talking to Suzie," don't go blabbing our secret. See you later. I really have to get ready for work."
"Okay, bye."
Quickly Rose chased a comb through her hair and made sure she didn't look like the wreck she was yesterday.
She grabbed her coat and left her apartment in a great hurry so she would still make it there in time
As she opened the building door she felt the cold closing in on her and she pulled her coat tightly around her, stepped out and continued her boring way to work...
Outside it was almost unbearably cold and the sun had no power over the freezing wind.
Though it was middle of June, the whole world seemed trapped in bitter winter.
The streets were deserted and so Rose was able to take on a firm step.
Rose had the impression the cold didn't want to let go of her.
The walk was long and unpleasant and yet incredibly soothing.
Rose had left for work with a feeling of exhaustion and fear but they disappeared with every step she took.
The closer she got to work, the busier the streets became.
New York started to wake up.
A soft sigh left her lips as she entered 'The Witters Tea - House'.
In the whole room there was no living soul to be seen and Rose decided to have a look in the kitchen.
The warmth of the stove heated her face as she opened the door.
Somewhere in the corner she spotted John, getting a breakfast ready.
"Hello, John. It's me."
