Chapter 14

Early morning following the Carpathia's arrival in New York, Rose and Delia were up early and out of the shelter at St. Vincent's Hospital they had stayed in for the night by 6 AM. Rose, who hadn't really slept much of the night anyway, woke Delia promptly at 5:30 after she was sure her friend at least had a decent night's sleep. There was too much that needed to be done today and she couldn't wait another minute.

The two girls drifted sleepily out of the shelter and into the streets in quest of a newspaper. Already the newspaper stands were crowded with people anxious to learn more about the disaster, especially the first-hand accounts told by survivors. The crowd chatted excitedly with one another with shared bits of information. Some read passages aloud to small groups assembled about them while others preferred to read them in solace. Many of them cried aloud while silent tears trickled down the faces of others. Rose tried to shut it all out. She didn't need to be informed. In fact, she could have given them all a first-hand account of her own which would be more accurate than anything they were reading in the paper, but Rose didn't want to talk about Titanic. She had no intentions of identifying herself as a survivor to anyone. The only people who knew were Delia and her sisters, who graciously did not press her for any information, and those helping out at the shelter but Rose had already decided they would not be staying there another night. It was too risky. If she intended to remain anonymous, she could not do so by staying there. The paper confirmed her theory for there, on the front page, was a picture of her under the title:

Philadelphia Mourns Loss of Future Mrs. C. Hockley

Great. She pushed her way through the crowd surrounding the stand and quickly threw a nickel down and grabbed her own copy

"We need to get out of here," Rose said with urgency.

Delia glanced at Rose and became immediately alarmed. She could see the shift in Rose's mood once they were among the crowd and the impact that their conversations had on her. Not only emotionally, but physically as well. Her hands were shaking violently and she seemed to grow very pale at a frightening speed, her forehead became beaded with sweat and her breathing was rapid and labored. She looked as if she were going to faint. Delia grabbed her around the waist and coaxed Rose to put an arm around her shoulder. Delia all but carried her to a nearby bench for Rose seemed to lose all strength in her legs. She supported her carefully as she lowered her onto the bench in sitting position Delia sat beside her and cupped her chin in her hand, tilting her head up to face hers.

"Rose? Darlin'? Are you okay?"

Rose could only manage a nod and a reassuring hand on Delia's knee. She was still shaking violently but her breathing was becoming more regular and the color slowly returning to her face.

"It's okay Rose. We'll get you out of here in just a little bit. Just relax for a while."

Rose remembered the paper and it's purpose. She had been clutching it so tightly in her hand her knuckles had turned white and when she pried it from her grip, her fingers ached from the release of the pressure. When she again glimpsed at the front page, tears began streaming down her face. She handed the paper over to Delia.

"I need you to do me a favor," Rose said, struggling to regain her composure. "I need you to read through the paper and find out if there are reports of any other ships finding survivors. Also, look for a list of surviving passengers."

"Alright," Delia responded and glanced down at the front page, gasping at the sight of seeing her new friend's picture. "Oh, Rose! It's you!"

Rose only nodded. She wasn't interested in what the article had to say. She was interested only in something, any little detail, which might lead her to Jack. Delia did not press any further. She was already embarrassed that she had drawn attention to it but she also couldn't fight the urge to read it. Although they had spent the majority of the last few days side by side, Rose spoke little of herself and her past. It was understandable of course under the circumstances, but Delia was still curious about the life that Rose had decided to leave behind. Now, there was her story, on the front page of The New York Times. Her glimpse into Rose's past would have to wait though, for the time being.

Delia found a few articles of interest, but none of which proved helpful . There were several accounts of other ships. Some which received the distress call but were simply too far away to help, others which had arrived shortly after the Carpathia departed with those picked up from the lifeboats, all declaring no bodies found or rescued. The list of surviving passengers was of no help either for Jack's name was not there.

"Maybe they just overlooked it. His name isn't on the list of those lost either," Delia chimed in, hopefully.

"His name wouldn't be on that list regardless. Jack won his fare in a game of poker," Rose said, smiling for the first time in days. She couldn't help but smile when she thought of Jack, even with the thought of his potential demise looming about her. Jack was the first person to make her smile, genuinely, since her father had passed away.

"Is that right?" Delia inquired, amused. Rose nodded smiling broadly and the two girls giggled. Rose seemed a hundred percent better. Delia wondered if it was merely the rest or if the mere mention of Jack had lifted her spirits and somehow made everything better. If it were the latter, Delia also wondered what effect coming to terms with Jack's death would have on her. Though she didn't dare say, Delia knew it was the only possibility.

As if reading her mind, Rose blurted out, "I know he's gone Delia. I don't want you to think I'm crazy. I know. I just need to prove it to myself. He seemed so convincing. He promised he would make it. I know now why he did, I suppose I did then too but something made me believe him."

"He loved you Rose. It was that you believed in."

"Yes," Rose nodded with fresh tears streaming steadily down her face. That was exactly it. She had never felt so loved before. For the short time they were together, Rose had experienced everything she imagined true love to be. It was a fairy tale romance without the happily-ever-after. Jack, her knight in shining armor, had rescued her from her prison (her future marriage to Cal) fighting off wicked stepmothers (mother), and fierce fire-breathing dragons (Cal and Lovejoy) in the process. He sacrificed his own reputation to protect her dignity and in the end he died for her, for her survival was more important to him than his own. As charming as it all was, Rose wasn't so sure she wanted to be saved. The only thing that kept her going was that it was Jack's last wish for her to go on and she fully intended to honor his wishes. She could only pray for the strength to do so.

Rose suddenly jumped to her feet with a renewed spirit. "We have to go to the White Star offices. They should be opening shortly. I just have to check there. I can't go on if I don't."

Delia hopped up and faithfully followed behind her friend as she led the way to the pier where the White Star office was located. There was still a huge crowd assembled about the office though not nearly as dense as it had been the night before. They had to stand in line for sometime before they were able to see one of the clerks. Rose didn't think she could stand it a minute longer, watching person after person step up to the window to inquire about a loved one, only to be sent away with the terrible news that they had not survived. Rose was fully prepared to be among them. She was not prepared for what happened during her turn at the window.

"Good morning. I am looking for my husband, Jack Dawson. I haven't seen his name..."

"Did you say Jack Dawson?', the clerk interrupted.

"Yes. He..."

"Say no more. There's a telegram here for you miss. The only instructions we received were to give it to anyone who asked for a Jack Dawson."

Rose couldn't believe what she was hearing. Jack is alive! Jack is alive! She grabbed the envelope hastily from the clerk, forgetting to thank him for his assistance. She tore the envelope open and read the message over and over again, crying tears of happiness, thanking god for saving them.

Rose

Made it to NY safely. Meet me on Friday 8 PM 222 14th St. Long Story.

Jack