27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Francesca by Hozier
April 15, 1912
The cabin door swings open, causing the water that’s quickly rising in the room to splash and wave. The four of us are still here, the noise having startled us just before we could all press our buttons. Charlie stands in the doorway, out of breath with his jacket unbuttoned. He’s removed his bowtie. His hair is slightly out of place, as if his own hand had run through it or he had a perilous journey to reach our cabin.
Is he truly here? This has to be a cruel joke. This is just my grief imagining him to be here. I must have entered the phase of denial and am just seeing what I want to see. The room is quiet, aside from the sounds of water and creaking. Everything is at a standstill. Ben, Sarah, and Eric look toward him in a state of shock. Their matching gaping expressions make me realize it’s actually real. He’s here .
I am at a complete loss for words. All I can manage is a broken cry. “Charlie?”
He strides toward me assertively through the rising water, taking my face in his hands. “Turns out I can’t let you go either.”
“What… what are you saying?” I can hardly put words together. I feel like a blubbering mess. I never expected to see his face again and now that he’s here, I immediately hope he’s changed his mind.
I’m scared to let myself believe in what I hope he means. I can’t go through another goodbye. It was hard enough on deck. I can’t have him watch me leave as the water surrounds him. I don’t want my last sight of him to be in the cold, rising water.
He leans closer against me and wipes a tear from my cheek. “I want this. I want you. ”
I have one hand on his chest, and I wrap the other around his neck. I look deep into his eyes and smile in disbelief.
“I love you.”
Charlie smiles, his eyes glisten with tears in them. He presses his forehead to mine, cupping his hands gently around my jawline. We feel all alone at this moment, the water no longer cold, the dress no longer heavy, the room no longer crowded. I can feel his tears falling onto my face.
“I love you, Alice.”
“You love me?” I can hardly believe it. He loves me. Me . I don’t know why the realization surprises me.
“I do. I knew it the moment I saw you.” He smiles as he traces my cheek with his thumb. “Take me home.”
I pull back slightly. “Are you sure? What if it doesn’t work?”
“If your face is the last thing I see, Alice Murphy, then I’m the luckiest man in any century.” The corners of his mouth twitch upwards, the dazzling optimism in his smile giving me the confidence that maybe, just maybe, luck will be on our side.
He pulls me back into his embrace. I wrap both arms around his back and hold him close. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Ben looking on, smiling, with tears in his eyes.
Ben looks down at his pocket watch and steps toward us, speaking to both Charlie and I. “Al, we’re out of time. It’s not long before the ship splits. We’ve gotta go now!”
“Ben, are you sure?” He knows I’m not asking about how much time we have or how long until the ship fully floods or splits. We exchange a knowing look, and he can tell I’m asking if he’s okay with this turn of events. I don’t even have to say anything, he just knows.
“Ali, I know better than to stop you when your mind's made up about something. Let's go home, shall we?” He looks over at Charlie and smiles. “All of us.”
I nod at him and look back at Charlie. “Are you ready?”
He nods and his eyes, those beautiful eyes, look down at me full of love. I yank the necklace from my neck and wrap my arms back around him with my finger over the button. I stand in his embrace, wondering if this is the last time or the start of a miracle. I close my eyes, breathe him in one more time, and press the button.
Everything fades away and just like days ago, a bright white light consumes the space surrounding me.