18th April, 1912
Chippewa Falls
6pm
Rose sighed to herself as she disembarked the train. The old, donated dress she disembarked the Carpathia with still on, whilst Cal's coat was wrapped around her. She wanted nothing more than to throw it away, but decided she would need it to keep herself warm until she could purchase herself a new one- something she wouldn't struggle with, given the amount of money she had found in Cal's coat pocket.
She took a deep breathe and headed out of the station, relieved to see a sign for an inn almost immediately.
—
"Hello, dear" an elderly lady smiled from behind the counter. "Hello" Rose smiled back, though she didn't feel like it. "Do you have any rooms available please?" She asked. "Yes, how long would you like to stay?" The lady replied. "Erm… 3 weeks to begin with please" Rose asked hopefully. "We can do that" the lady nodded. "It's a dollar a week, is that OK?" "That's great, thank you" Rose replied with a small smile as she paid. "Can I take your name, please?" The lady asked. "Rose" she replied, hoping her first name would be enough. "Nice to meet you Rose, I'm Hetty" the lady replied. "Nice to meet you" Rose smiled before thanking her as she took the key. "Your room is up the stairs and to your right. Breakfast is served in between 7 and 9am. Dinner in between 5 and 7pm" "Thank you… do you know of anywhere I can purchase some clothes and necessities please? I didn't bring anything with me you see…" Rose said uncomfortably. "There's a shop just up the street that's open until 10, but they don't sell clothes, just a small selection of pyjamas and slippers, and the clothes store in town shut at 5 unfortunately" "thank you" Rose smiled gently and headed upstairs. She quickly checked out her room before heading down for dinner before the dining room shut for the evening. Once she had eaten, she made her way to the store, where she picked up a pair of pyjamas, hairbrush and a toothbrush, she decided she would buy everything else she would need and some clothes tomorrow, but she'd had a long journey and now that she had all she would need for the next 12 hours, she was hoping she would get some well needed rest.
—
19th April, 1912
8.45am
Rose woke to the sun coming through the thin curtains. She had slept for almost 11 hours, but somehow still didn't feel rested. She was surprised she had slept through without waking up, given she was in a strange place, but it still didn't feel like she'd slept well.
She groaned to herself, knowing she had missed breakfast but dragged herself out of bed nonetheless, deciding she would grab some when she went out to the shops.
—
After getting ready, Rose left the inn, walking slowly up to the store she had visited the night before and headed to buy some more stuff she needed, before going to the clothes store near by to buy herself some more pyjamas, along with a few outfits and a new pair of shoes… and a new coat of course.
After finishing her shopping, she headed to a near by cafe where she ordered a coffee and some toast. She made sure to sit at a corner table, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone, not wanting to explain who she was or why she was visiting such a tight knit community despite not knowing anyone there. She wasn't ready nor prepared to have a conversation about Jack or the sinking yet.
Once she had eaten she took the walk back to the inn slow, in no rush to get back to the lonely, empty room she was staying in. She would stop for a moment everytime she passed something or somewhere she could imagine Jack playing on or near as a boy; the park, beside the pond, the town square… she could somehow see Jack enjoying his childhood everywhere she looked.
"I miss you…" she whispered to herself as she began to walk again.
—
Rose arrived back at the inn at around 12pm and headed up to her room. She took off Cal's old coat and began to fold it up, ready to throw it in the bin, but was shocked as the The Heart of the Ocean fell from one of the pockets- a pocket Rose hadn't yet put her hands in. "Oh my god…" she gasped, staring down at the necklace. She quickly picked it up and shoved it in to the pocket of her new coat before throwing Cal's in the bin, she knew she could never put that hideous necklace in the bin, not where anyone could find it. She decided to keep hold of it until she came up with a plan of where to dispose of it…
I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter. I'm quite far ahead with writing them so I'll post a new one tomorrow :) x