Our Absolution
by Turquoise Dreamer
Prologue
Rose lay sprawled out on the floating piece of debris. She didn't know how long she had been there; minutes, hours, days? Time was all the same to her. The only thing that seemed real was the hand that she was holding. It was an artist's hand: rough and callused from work, but its touch was soft and gentle.
The pain wasn't so bad anymore, for numbness had taken over. The dull throbbing of her heartbeat resounding throughout her body was the only thing reminding her that she was still alive. She wanted to close her eyes, dear God; she wanted to close her eyes. But Rose knew that if she gave into the urge, she might not be able to open them again. And he had asked her to promise that she'd live through this, and with her simple response she had given her life away.
The screaming had ceased and she idly wondered why. She was comforted by the thought that Jack was next to her. And she also had the stars for company; and they were beautiful, silent and many. As Rose watched them her vision became clouded as she remembered…
"Hold onto the railing. Keep your eyes closed; don't peek," Jack said, and Rose could feel his warm breath on her cheek.
"I'm not," Rose assured him as she grabbed onto the railing, the cold metal feeling good against her warm palms.
"Step up onto the railing," Jack told her, and balanced by his hands that were against her waist, she easily gained her footing. He then helped her lift herself up and she could feel the wind against her flushed face. "Hold on," he said as she felt him step onto the railing behind her. She hesitantly removed her tight grip on the railing and he once again told her to hold on. She took a nervous breath. "Keep your eyes closed," he reminded her playfully, causing her to giggle with anticipation. His voice then turned serious and he asked, "Do you trust me?".
She paused slightly before saying with all certainty, "I trust you". He then took her wrists and brought her arms outward, like wings. Feeling slightly hesitant being in such a vulnerable position, and yet trusting him beyond imagination, she forgot everything except the present.
"All right," he said in a whisper, letting go of her wrists, and bringing his hands to her waist, "Open your eyes." And as her eyelids fluttered open, she gasped. What she saw before her was truly awe-inspiring.
"I'm flying," Rose heard herself saying, "Jack!".
The wind blew against their faces as they watched the sunset of blues and purples and pinks reflect into the beautiful ocean. Rose felt the gentle pressure of Jack's hands on her waist being removed, and then the welcoming feeling of his hands touching hers. Their fingers entwined and then she moved her dainty hands across his, caressing the hands that were so much larger than her own. She relished in the feeling of his skin on hers, and she couldn't help but want this moment to last forever. Jack then began to sing, his voice not particularly melodic, but beautiful all the same…
"Come Josephine in my flying machine
Going up she goes
Up she goes"
Then something strange happened, something was disrupting the peace. They were screaming. But not in the agonizing voices like before, they were asking something from her. And then there was a light shining. And she was confused. Very confused. She painfully lifted her head slightly, and then she realized that Jack had been right. A boat had come back for them. This was their absolution…
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