The Dream

Six Years Later

I opened my eyes, dazed. A glare from a bright lightly made me blink and turn my head away. I looked around but could see nothing. Where was I? Where was the smoke? The heat from the flames? The smell of burning flesh? I looked down at myself. I didn't feel any pain. My skin was no longer red and burning. In fact, it was healthy looking and bright. I touched my hair, which was soft and loose, not knotted on top of my head like it usually was. Something was different about me. I felt good, wonderful even.

I looked up.

Just moments ago I was in the factory with all of the other girls. I wasn't sure what happened, but the next thing I knew, flames were crawling up the walls and smoke was blurring our vision. I was trying to find a way out, when it seemed everything stopped.

I swallowed.

I was back on Titanic, in the third class general room. It looked the same, but it felt different. Everything was bright and clean and inviting. The wood was new and dark and I could still smell the faint aroma of cedar. The paint was white and the lights were dimmed slightly. People filled the general room and my eyes brimmed with tears and I recognized them.

"Emily!"

Two small figures broke off from the large group and made their way towards me. I smiled, overjoyed as I recognized the red hair and dark freckles. I knelt down and they ran towards me, wrapping their little arms around me in a tight embrace. I hugged them back then pulled away to get a good look at them.

Declan and Imogen grinned at me, their round faces lighting up. Arlene stepped up behind her children, putting a hand on each of their shoulders. She smiled down at me gently. I stood up and hugged her as well. Arlene took her children and they stepped back into the crowd. There were many faces I recognized, people I had seen in passing on Titanic. The parted as I walked towards the center of the room.

I spotted Cora with her parents. She looked at me and waved, smiling as she was held in her fathers arms. Next to them were the Dahl's who both nodded their heads towards me. In front of them, was Helga, looking as beautiful as ever.

I held back cries of happiness as I ran to Helga, taking her in my arms. She laughed lightly and kissed me on the cheek. I stood back to look at her. She was bright and shinning.

"Velkommen tilbake min kjære venn," she said softly and I understood every word.

Welcome back, my dear friend.

She looked lovingly to the person she stood next to. It was Fabrizio, who was grinning at me broadly. They stood hand in hand, Fabrizio only untangling his fingers from Helga's long enough to envelop me in yet another hug. He looked handsome. His dark curls hung playfully in his eyes and he stood tall. It was the Fabrizio I remembered so well.

Past him, almost in the middle of the room was Jack. He turned to look at me, his eyes full of mischief. He looked the same, his blonde hair was pushed out of his face and a coy smile played on his lips, but he seemed different; older, wiser, but just as playful. I went to him and he held me in his arms, cradling me against his chest. I curled into him, missing the familiar, warm embrace.

Six years had passed; six long, lonely years since I had lost everything and everyone that fateful night aboard Titanic.

Jack finally pulled back, holding me at arms length, studying me. He grinned.

"You look beautiful Emily," he spoke softly.

"I missed you Jack," I replied, barley above a whisper.

Jack leaned forwards and kissed my forehead tenderly, "Not anymore," was all he said before he stepped back.

Everyone else in the general room parted to reveal the dancing platform that we had all used so long ago, and on that risen platform, was a man who I had come to miss more than anyone. It was the man who had been there to comfort me; my rock and my friend. The short tempered Irishman who was also kind and loving.

It was Tommy Ryan.

He stood with his hands in his pockets, smiling down at me lovingly. His hazel eyes were bright, and his head of blonde curls created a sort of halo in the light. His features were gentle and kind. There was no wound in him, no blood oozing from a hole in his chest. I had never seen anyone so handsome. Tommy walked to the edge of the platform and held out his hand to me. My gaze flickered between his fingers and his eyes before I took his hand firmly in mine. Tommy grinned and helped me up, drawing me close to him.

I looked up at him. It all seemed like a dream to me. I reached up and touched Tommy's face, half expecting him to disappear in front of me. Instead, he remained solid, and I felt the warmth of his skin beneath my finger tips and the roughness of his stubble. My hands traveled down his face, to his shoulder, coming to rest of his chest. I could feel his heart beat, strong and fast.

I swallowed. It was not a dream. Tommy was here with me, standing close and holding me tight.

"It's you," I breathed.

He nodded, "Aye Emily," he said replied in a whisper, his Irish accent thick and rich like I remembered.

I looked up at him, "Please, Tommy, don't ever leave me."

Tommy leaned down to me, bringing his hands up to cup my face gently. He ran his thumb over my cheek, watching me intently, "I won't," he murmured.

Tommy then leaned down, closing the distance between us and kissing me softly. It all felt so right. There was no hesitation this time when I kissed him back, wrapping my arms around his neck. I felt safe, like nothing would ever harm me again, and for the fist time in a while, I was happy. This, here in Tommy's embrace, was where I needed to be. It was where I belonged.