Serenity

The Garden at Night

Garden at Night

Jack's lips formed her name expressively, and Rose opened her mouth for a word she could not produce. She told herself she needed to move to meet him halfway, but her feet remained. Her eyes filled with tears that just wouldn't shed. Everything was suddenly put onto the head of a pin, and it was hard to locate words to use, speak, and even think when everything she had dreamt of was standing before her, like an enigmatic ghost. Their past, filled with love and loss, was now a palpable presence in the garden.

Jack dropped his coat on the floor and ran towards her; his vision was temporarily interrupted. He reached out to her, and she closed her eyes, melting as his arms embraced her. Now she knew this must be accurate; she would never forget his smell. She clung to his shirt, breathing him in and holding onto his body as though her life depended on it. He could have held her for minutes, hours; she wasn't sure. But when she finally gathered the courage to lift her head and open her eyes, his muslin shirt was wet with her consistent tears.

"Jack." Her voice was hoarse, almost shrill. She could tell he was worried, concerned. Jack swallowed and grinned, his smile betrayed by his turbulent eyes. Those blue eyes of theirs had embodied her dreams for months now, haunting her like some bittersweet song. But now, here they were, in front of her again. "Jack." She swallowed and rested her hand on his upper arm, searching his face for some easy answer. "How?"

Jack moved his hand to her hair. It fell, cascading down her back just like he remembered. He couldn't let his emotions get the better of him...not now, in this crucial moment. Rose's eyes bore into him, staring as if she didn't believe that he was real. But they were soft, deep, the same. Her full lips trembled as he tried to find the words.

''Rose,'' all he could do was repeat her name. "Are you all right?"

'' Yes.'' Rose smiled, her voice trembling with relief. ''How-'' She breathed, still unable to find the words. ''How did you come here?''

"I saw your engagement gala announcement in the papers..."

''Oh.'' Rose struggled to breathe again. ''Oh, that...''

''I figured that I would just come here to make sure that you are all right.''

Regaining his thoughts, Jack shook his head, fighting back memories.

''Are--are you all right?''

Jack shrugged.

"All I can remember is trying to find you...and then suddenly I was on a lifeboat...I..." Jack struggled with himself, taking a deep breath. Rose bit her lip, raising a finger to stroke across his chest. It was unwarranted, but a need to be closer to him pulled at her. ''I had a little girl, her family were lost in the water, and she was- she was clinging to the rail towards the very end before the ship went down.''

Trying to hold back any more tears, she raised her chin shakily.

''Oh, God.''

''She was seven and absolutely beautiful,'' Jack smiled through emotion. ''She held me as though I was her only hope, and I cradled her as though she was my only child.''

Rose could only swallow the lump in her throat.

''We were on a lifeboat, and she slept in my arms, but all I could do was look for signs of you,'' Jack confessed, and Rose breathed out her own emotion, trying to overcome just what he would have endured.

''Is the child well?''

Jack nodded, We found her mother and elder brother aboard the Carpathia, but her father and youngest brother were gone.'' His eyes pierced her for a moment. ''I have never seen death like that. I felt as though I had lost my brother all over again. I can see why you wish to protect your sister.''