A Promise Kept
Chapter Two – The Only way out is through
The rain was pouring heavily on Rose's shoulders. She looked up as the Carpathia pulled into the dock. She was back home. Well, almost. She didn't really have a home anymore. She would have to make everywhere a home, like Jack did. The Statue of liberty loomed in the distance; its green colour mixed with the raindrops glistened in the moonlight. It was so far away, yet Rose could see it in detail – almost as if she remembered it, as if she took a photograph in her mind the last time she saw it.
Rose looked down at herself, she was still wearing Cal's coat. He gave it to her on the night of the disaster – she was with Jack, deciding whether or not to get on a lifeboat. When Cal arrived, although the sight of him chilled her bones, she was almost glad to see him. She almost thought he cared. Until he said, "Yes, get on the boat Rose. My God you look a fright." She was still wearing her new beautiful purple and white slip-dress underneath Cal's jacket. She had bought it while she was in Paris, it was her second favourite. It was ruined now. The water had sunk into the delicate chiffon material – as if to remain as a reminder of what had happened to her.
She had never even had the chance to wear her first favourite dress. It was a beautiful pure white dress, with diamonds on it. It had a while material Rose on the left hand side, which held a bunch of the material up. She had had beautiful diamond earrings, necklace and a bracelet to match it. Still, no use crying over material things now. Not now. She knew it was worth nothing – nothing compared to happiness.
She stared at Miss liberty as she came closer. Liberty. The statue represented liberty and justice. It was hard to understand those two concepts so soon after the disaster. How could 1523 people loosing their lives possible give liberty to anyone? How could 1523 people loosing their lives serve justice? How could Jack dying be fair? She didn't know. Maybe, one day she would understand. But not now, it was too soon.
She let the raindrops fall on her face, her cheeks, and her nose – drops trickling down her neck. She was cold and hungry, but she didn't want to move. She didn't want to leave. She was too frightened; she was a woman – where would she get? She'd step off the boat and in a month's time she'd be in an alehouse selling herself to any man who had the money. No. She couldn't do that. It wouldn't be right. That wouldn't be her career choice – if she could have a career, but she'd have to make money to live. If only Jack was there with her. He'd know what to do, he'd know where to go, he'd look after her. But it didn't matter how much she missed him or willed for him to be with her – he was gone and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it. But she loved him – truly she did..
She needed to do something – make a start as she meant to go on. She made a promise to Jack, to survive, no matter what happens and it would be hard, but she would die before breaking that promise. They may not be together in life anymore but they would be together one day, and she wanted him to be proud of her. She could do whatever she wanted now; she was free – thanks to him. She could conquer the world if she so wished. She wasn't a possession; she wasn't a trophy or a prize belonging to Cal. No, she wasn't Cal's anymore. She was Jack's, always and forever in her heart – she would always be Jacks.
"Can I take your name, please, love?" a young English accent spoke out. Rose thought for a moment.
"Dawson." She said "Rose Dawson." Now, history would remember her forever as Jack's.