Chapter 17 Years ago, Rose would sometimes make up stories of imaginary characters who fell in love and ran away to distant places. But she knew all too well that those stories were purely fictitious. Things like that never happened anymore, especially to people like her. But her journal let her escape from her harsh and unloving surroundings that filled her now empty life. It gave her comfort every time she opened its cover and inhaled the sweet smell of roses. This journal in particular had been the last thing that her father had given her. It was nearly one of the only connections she had with him now and she treasured it more than anything…well almost more than anything. There would always be Jack. Another silent tear fell down her solemn face as she found the will to write once more. …What am I to do? I feel that the moment I lost Jack, I lost my will to survive. There's nothing left for me here- no one and nothing. The pain is just too much to handle. My strength has been washed away completely. I just want to run- run away until there is no more earth to run on. I want to be free of the pain in which fills my heart completely…I want to be free of life… Rose's head slowly lifted as she looked up at her pathetic and tear-stained face in her vanity mirror. She was still in her evening dress, not even caring to change. Ironically, a slight smile began to play upon her lips as a thought ran through her mind. The smile grew bigger as she lifted herself out of the chair, not even bothering to close her journal. She slipped on her dress shoes once more and continued about her room, picking up certain things and placing them in the center of her bed. After rummaging through her jewelry boxes and hidden treasures, Rose looked down at the small pile she had made. In it were the many diamond necklaces, earrings and pendants that she had managed to acquire throughout her 17 years of life. There was also a large sum of money visible under the stack of jewelry, an amount of money that had taken a lifetime to save and keep hidden from her mother. She carefully wrapped all of these things into a little wooden box, slipping in a note and sealing the box with parchment paper. Picking up her fountain pen once more, she inscribed the familiar address on the top. Mr. Jack Dawson 37 Lincoln Avenue Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Rose sighed heavily as she ran her fingers over his name gently. She would miss him terribly. But for Rose, life was not meant for love- it was meant for hate and suffering. It was a world of things she could not have. She couldn't bear to stay and see them move on without each other- it would just cause more pain. That was why there was only one solution…she would make them suffer just as though they had made her suffer. She would take away her mother's only escape, just as she had taken away hers. They would regret doing this to her…they would regret this for the rest of their lives… Jack loosened his bow tie the rest of the way, draping it around his neck. Unbuttoning the first couple of buttons on his shirt, Jack pulled out his pocket watch. 12:24. He had spent the night drinking away his sorrows at a local pub, not quite ready to face the world yet. For Jack, life as he knew it had ended when he watched her take her place next to Caledon. He didn't know that it was what she wanted, but he knew that she had followed through with it. "Jack…there's a time in everyone's life when they have to say goodbye. This just happens to be our time." "But why Rose? Is it me? Was it something I said…what?" "No Jack…it's not you at all. Please don't think that. I…I'm sorry Jack, I'm extremely sorry. I didn't want it to end up like this, honest I didn't. But sometimes, especially in the world we live in today, these things happen…" No, maybe it wasn't what she wanted. But then, who was he to tell? He was too drunk now to think clearly. "Maybe I'll pass out somewhere and never wake up…" he thought wryly. Placing his due change on the counter next to his empty glass, Jack got up from the bar and slowly made his way towards the door. He didn't want to go home just yet. He didn't want to face the familiar little street that he lived on- the one Rose lived on. Jack stepped out into the fresh, cool air. His pace quickened for some odd reason and his thoughts immediately flew to Rose. How he wished he could turn back time and do it all over again- keep reliving the time he spent with her until it all seemed like reality. But reality was Caledon Hockley. Reality was Rose Hockley. He quickened his steps even more until he was in running at a sprinting pace down the poorly lit street. He just kept running and running…hoping that someday, he'd run into a life with Rose…that it had all been a horrible dream. Jack stopped short when he reached the river, a couple miles down from where he had started. He walked slowly up to the shore where the water gently lapped over the little pebbles scattering the tiny beach. Jack carelessly removed his tux jacket, throwing it over a large rock off to the side. He picked up some of the tiny pebbles and began to completely release his anger as he threw them out over the water, one by one. "Why did this have to happen Rose? Why?" He shouted as he threw the last pebble over the water, watching it ripple the darkened water before him. Suddenly, as if his anger had been replaced with sadness, Jack felt a tear escape his eye. This time, he didn't bother to brush it away. Instead, he felt his knees give out on him as he sank to the ground, his body now racking with sobs. He let out all of his misery with each heart wrenching sob….his uncle's loss, the debt that his uncle had neglected to tell him about, and the most precious thing that he had lost in his life…Rose. Jack lifted his head as he looked out across the moonlit sky. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky, letting each and every one of the stars shine out across the darkness with more beauty than ever before. Maybe all of his problems could never be solved in life. Maybe he'd have to live a life of nothing but loneliness and sadness as he watched Rose go on without him…or maybe not. Maybe he could just end his life here…right now. He could end all of the pain he felt in his heart by simply stopping it. He turned his head to see the bridge only mere feet away from him. Maybe that was his answer…maybe that was his escape. Chapter 18 | Story Index | Post Your Review | Email Author | Home |
