Journey of Awakening

Epilogue

Present Day

We packed up the last of her things, the Autumn breeze was beginning to pick up. The journal was safely hidden away in my bag. I had read and reread the journal the entire summer. Drinking in the words of my great great great grandmother. Reading her words, and feeling her struggles. I looked up at the house, a new found respect for Lily, who had purchased the home a century ago with Will. I was the descendent of a Titanic survivor. 

“Are you ready to go,” my dad asked. I looked up at the house. Feeling as if this was the last time I would see the home. The windows shut, and the swing on the porch swinging softly. 

“Yeah,” I replied, getting in the car. As we drove away I could have sworn I saw a woman. She was dressed in a simple blue dress. She held up her hand and waved. And as she did, she began to disappear. 

“Dad,can we stop at the cemetery,” I asked. Dad looked at me, but he nodded. Grandmama Ella and Lily were buried there. I wanted to say goodbye, I wanted to say goodbye to someone who had become a hero I never knew. 

“You found it didn’t you,” my dad asked. I looked at him. He smiled and continued to drive in silence. 

“Lily’s journal, you found it,” he added. I felt my mouth drop in shock.

“You knew about that,” I asked almost shocked. This entire time he knew about the journal.

“Yes sweetie, I knew about the journal. Lily’s daughter Rebecca was named after her servant. And your middle name Molly comes from the Unsinkable Molly Brown,” he said smiling. 

“Oh,” was all I could say. He must have read the journal a long time ago, but he never let on. We finally reached the cemetery.

“I’ll wait here,” he said drumming his hand on the steering wheel. I got out and walked into the cemetery. After a few minutes I was able to find her grave. I looked at the small tombstone. It reading:

Lillian Mary Howard

1896-1912

Beloved mother, and wife

“Thank you for fighting, I will chesire what you did. And I will keep your words safe. I will never forget what you did,” I said touching her grave. On the wind I could smell the hint of lavender in the air. I smiled and walked away. I got back into the car and we drove away. 

I changed that summer. It had taught me that love and life were worth fighting for. I would always look at this summer as a life changing moment. Knowing that Lily would look down on me. And that she would watch over her children and her children’s children. That her story would always be told.