The Everlasting Rose

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Chapter 3- The Heart of The Ocean
The ship took off in a matter of minutes all seemed grand and spectacular. Nobody would’ve guess that the fine ship would be rusting miles below the sea in a matter of months.
Crowds cheered as the ship left dock. Steerage folk were let up to the 1st class dock only to say their goodbyes. Millions of paupers lifted their children onto their shoulders and skyrocketed their hats in the air.
Everyone was happy and celebrating. All accept Mariah’s mother. She yawned and casually walked into the suite my companions and I would share.
“There are too many peasants on deck.” She complained as she fanned herself and walked into the door leading to the suite.
Lee watched the leaving a couple more minutes and followed after Dian.
Mariah growled at the snootiness in both. She couldn’t understand why they hated the steerage so greatly. Mariah dreamed she could be one. Their families seemed so close. Steerage children’s mothers breastfed them. Mariah had had a nurse to care for her.
Suddenly Mariah heard a familiar voice from behind her. Her eyes peaked with the same entrancement as before. She could feel the low gruff voice echo in her ear. She quickly turned around only to find what she had suspected Ray, the pauper, and his friend.
Mariah stood and gawked for a couple of minutes. Ray and his friend, which she figured to be named Kai because Ray had called him that about three times, waved rambunctiously at the excited crowd. Suddenly Mariah felt herself begin to walk toward them. She wondered dreamily if her feet had been possessed.
“Excuse me.” Mariah stated, in a profound voice to the two boys.
Ray suddenly whirled around and smiled at the unsuspected visitor. Kai merely frowned and trudged away.
“I just wanted to tell you that I apologize for my mother’s rude behavior.” Mariah began, not making eye contact with the stranger before her. “She shouldn’t have done that to you.”
Ray smiled and tilted up Mariah’s chin. “All’s well.” He stated, almost in laugh. “And who may I ask young ladies name may be?” He asked, trying to sound classy.
Mariah giggled and stated in her mother’s tone. “Why sir, my name is Mariah Louise Vandacruit.”
“Ah.” Ray stated, as he glanced over at the guard, whom was telling the steerage to head back to their bunks. “Another time Miss Vandacruit or at least I hope it’s miss.”
Mariah nodded, as Ray left her on deck. Mariah felt the blood rush to her cheeks. Is that what all steerage men are like, she wondered?

“My life was enclosed and distant. Everyone pulled a visor over their face. And everyone was fake.”

“Must we hang these finger paintings in our room?” Lee moaned as he sat in a large luxurious chair and picked up the newspaper. “Art is pointless you know.”
Mariah turned around a look of disgust was placed over her normal cheery self. “Art is what separates us from the primates.” She snootily stated, as she put her hands on her hips to stare at the painting before her.
It was gloomy and depressing. Dark strokes of black and navy scraped across the canvas. And in the midst of all the color, was an elderly man. He was pale and sick looking with a beard of snowy white and eyes of blue. On his lap sat a guitar that he looked to be playing.
“What do you think of Picasso’s work?” She asked Lee, curiously. “Do you think it looks vague?”
Lee glanced briefly at it and turned away. He didn’t appreciate anything Mariah found interesting. “It’s fine.”
Mariah rolled her eyes and asked more persistently. “Yes, but what does it make you feel like?”
Lee’s face distorted as he snarled. “It makes me feel sick.”
Mariah squinted at it and whirled around to stare at Lee. “What’s sickening about it? I think it looks dismal.”
“Yes, Yes.” Lee agreed from inside the paper. “Dismal of course.”
Mariah growled and stormed angrily out of the room. Lee desperately followed.
“Wait, Mariah darling.” He pleaded, as he grabbed onto her sleeve. “I have something for you.”
Mariah twitched, as Lee pulled her into the next room of their suite. Mariah angrily thought as she was pulled “He didn’t even apologize.”
Lee quickly sat Mariah on his bed and walked brisk fully over to his dresser.
The room looked to be that of which was in a palace. Soft pillows scattered the room, and covered the floor. The fragrance of the divine perfume diffused throughout the room quickly.
“Here.” Lee offered from the palm of his hand. “I bought it for you.”
Mariah felt the cold of metal wrap daintily around her neck. She touched it enchantingly, as Lee, from behind, closed the latch.
“It’s beautiful.” Mariah stated, as she stared at herself in the mirror across the bed.
The necklace glowed a piercing blue that cut through the air as any diamond would. It shined unyieldingly with the little light in the room.
“It’s called the Heart of the Ocean.” Lee informed, as Mariah stared in awe. “It was owned by King Louis.”
Mariah, still entranced by the necklace heard Lee whisper in her ear. “You’re my heart of the ocean, Mariah.”
Mariah thought unbelievingly “Very clever. He has to copy off of a name of something to be romantic.”
Mariah’s eyes widened as Lee gently spilled a kiss upon her cheek. Mariah smiled a forged smile. But as soon as she walked from the room, her face distorted into a vulgar expression.
“He kissed me.” Mariah spat, as she ran into her own room. “He kissed me.”
She quickly grabbed a sponge from her room’s sink and began desperately scrubbing the germs from her face.
How could her mother have put her in this position? Marrying a man that she didn’t share feelings for. How could somebody torture her this way, and just for a couple of thousands, maybe millions?
“C’mon darling. You’re going to be late for supper.” Mariah heard a voice say from outside her door. She couldn’t tell whether it was Lee or her mother. They both had the same superior tone. The same that Mariah was beginning to develop. The same that paupers wished to have, but Mariah didn’t care for that same tone.
“Wait.” Mariah stated, as she rummaged through her jewelry box for a hairpin.
“Mariah, please hurry.”
“Yes.” Mariah shouted, as she pulled her hair up in the single pin and ran from the room.
“Finally.” Her mother moaned. “Don’t ever keep the old woman waiting sweetie.”
“Yes mother.” Mariah agreed. “You are an old woman.” She muttered secretly to herself. She couldn’t resist.
“Hunny, are you wearing that?” Her mother asked, as a disgusted look detached to her face.
Mariah looked at the gown she was wearing. It was an emerald green color with lace attached to the sleeves. It wasn’t too tight, as most ladies liked them. It was long and gently touched the floor.
“Yes.” Mariah answered, uneasily. Was this dress ugly?
“Uh, fine.” Her mother snarled. “We’re late anyway; it’s not like you could change. But tomorrow wear something presentable.”
Mariah flushed and quickly pulled a hat from the closet and placed it on her head. She felt like a pigeon in a pack of flamingos. Why was she so opinionated and different? She wanted to fit in, or did she? Why had she liked Ray so much? What was it about him that manipulated her?

I remember the parties. The waiters and waitresses dressed in matching uniforms. I remember the elegant gowns and the grommet food. But it all seemed so dismal and too planned. It seemed cold, even with the heat on full blast. The music seemed uninteresting and the more I thought about this the more I thought I was a pigeon.

“Oh, I love this soup.” Dian laughed heartily, as she took another sip of the potato broth.
“Oh, well still prefer the original cake.” Mrs. Mackey joked and then burst into laughter.
The rest of the table smiled with disapproval.
Mrs. Mackey was a bubbly woman with a large seat. She dressed herself in tight clothes as other women did, and showed the weight of her eating. Her hair was bright red and she usually wore it in a bun-like fashion.

My mother called her “new money.” She disliked her and didn’t understand why Mrs. Mackey’s uncle had given her his whole fortune.
“She doesn’t know how to use it.” Dian used to say. “She gives it to the poor, and who wants to do that?”

Mariah stared her accompanists around the table. Everyone started to spin. The room became blurry and Mariah started to feel a fire burning in the pit of her stomach. She quickly lurched over and landed into her soup. She could hear shouts and her mother screaming for a sergeant. But just as she felt Lee lift her from the table, she lost consciousness.

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