3
"Was it real?"
Jack tossed and turned, sleep not coming easily for him no matter how tight he closed his eyes or how comfortable he got. He couldn't get those eyes out of his mind. How they burned into him, making him wonder what they were unearthing in his confused conscience. She was all he could think about…
His thoughts began to fade into black as he fell into himself, falling asleep. Within moments, images began to unfold before him. Moonlight bounced off the Black Pearl's deck, making the scene eerie and curiously beautiful at the same time. But no one was in sight, not a single soul aboard…
Jack walked about the deck, holding on to the rail at his side, looking down at the waves below. A small voice came from the bow, a melody that soothed his soul and made his heart pound furiously.
He followed the song, finding its source looking out over the waters beyond, her back towards him. Blonde hair fell to the middle of her back, lifting with every ocean breeze and her white dress danced as she swayed.
"Elizabeth?" he asked as he came closer to her, catching a scent of lavender in the air.
"Hello Jack." the figure said as she turned to face Jack, revealing herself in the moonlight,
"Lilliana?"
"Yes Jack." she smiled. "It's been quite some time I must admit and you've changed so much."
Jack gazed at Lilliana's blushing face, old memories surfacing in swarms. "What are you doing here, love?"
She smiled, coming closer to him, wrapping her arms about his neck. Jack rested his head on hers and held her against his chest.
"I had to tell you something…something that is no doubt going to set your life into utter confusion." she whispered.
"Sorry, dearie, you are a tad bit late…my life is already in utter confusion." he chuckled.
"Jack, on the outside you have changed, but you are still the same silly pirate I had fallen in love with so long ago."
"Glad to hear it!"
"But I am not here to compliment." she frowned slightly, and then said with a serious voice. "We both knew a time would come when our love would cease to exist."
Jack looked down at her, letting go of Lilliana quickly. "I still love you…I just…"
"Dearest Jack, really…I knew you would never let your heart stay with someone you could not have. I realized long ago that…you had forgotten me."
He stepped back, looking at Lilliana for some hint of what she was thinking. "Why have you come here then?"
She looked up at the sky, smiling as she spoke. "Well, you must figure it out, Jack."
"Figure what out?"
"If you love her…if you love Elizabeth Swann."
Jack laughed. "What makes you think I love her?"
"Admit it Jack, she reminds you of what you used to desire. What you were never able to have years ago with me. And it unsettles you because you thought that you could never have that again."
"I don't know what you are talking about." he said quickly, his heart pounding harder by the minute.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, don't pretend you don't." she exclaimed, staring at Jack's horrified face. "She's different. She'd be willing to leave everything…to give up all comfort for a pirate. That's who she is. Jack, you have a chance…to…have what you secretly long for."
"All I long for is to live my life the way I'm living it and nothing more than that!"
"Look deep inside yourself, Jack…you know that's not true." she laughed. "You love her, and no matter what, you'll have to square with that realization someday."
Jack looked up at the moon and then back at Lilliana, who was walking up to him, her hand outstretched. Jack grinned and took her hand, closing his eyes for a second, sighing. "I've been so…"
He awoke, standing at the bow of the Black Pearl, grasping the air tightly. He looked around, and no one was there.
"What? Was that a dream? Was it real?"