Author's Note: This is the final chapter of the story. Thanks once again for the support and reviews from all my readers. You guys are the best!
Epilogue: My Guardian Angel
Ardara
Comber, County Down, Ireland
April 24, 1912
"There is not much that I can really say about my dear friend Thomas. He was a man of great character; a character that I had come to respect in the years that I knew him. When I came to Harland and Wolff those many years ago as a mere apprentice, he took me underneath his wing. He taught me everything there was to know about shipbuilding. He was very patient with me in that first year everything considered. Working so closely with him, I came to admire his talents very much and wished everyday that one day I would be as great of a builder as he. Being with him in those final moments as Titanic fell apart around him, he did not panic, but rather he focused on saving the lives of others. He was a man who always put the needs of others before his own. Today as we bid him a safe journey to his heavenly home, we remember not how he died, but rather we remember how he lived. May you remain in our hearts forever." Archie said completing his eulogy. He said a prayer as he touched Thomas' powder blue casket one last time. As he walked back to his seat, he was met by Elizabeth who was waiting for him with open arms.
"Thank you Archie." Elizabeth said as she enveloped him in a tight embrace. Arm in arm they walked back to their place with the family. The priest finished speaking a prayer as he made the sign of the cross over Thomas' casket. With that the funeral service had concluded. It was now time for the Andrews family to bid one final farewell to Thomas before he was placed in the family mausoleum at Ardara, the Andrews family home. Helen was the first to approach Thomas casket. Pulling the black vale from her face she gazed at her husband's casket. A tear fell from her eyes as she touched the casket, rubbing her hand on its smooth surface. She still could not believe that Thomas was gone. The entire family had a hard time excepting his death. Helen remembered how John broke down and sobbed when he learned that his brother was gone. Everyone reacted to Thomas' death differently. His father did not sleep for days, but rather he would stare out of the window of his study, lost in his thoughts. His mother spent most of her days in the wake of Thomas' death comforting her children. As for Uncle Pierre, he was very distraught to learn not only had he lost Titanic, but he lost his beloved nephew. He sent her a letter saying that he could not bear to attend the funeral. Thomas' death had affected him so much, that he felt it best that he grieve in private. As for her, she was holding up as well as could be expected. In her mind, she wanted to give up. There was no point of living life if she had to do so without Thomas by her side. But her heart told her that she could not give up because Elizabeth needed her. After all it was in her arms that Thomas took leave of this world. Shaking her mind free of those thoughts, she lowered her head and placed a kiss on Thomas' coffin.
"I love you Thomas. No matter where you are, I will always love you." Helen said as she kissed her husband's coffin one last time. After Helen took her leave Thomas' parents came to bid their son goodbye one last time. Together they placed their hands on the coffin and bowed their heads in prayer. Each prayed that God would now give him peace. Mrs. Andrews also pushed back the veil from her face and lowered her lips to the casket, kissing her son goodnight one last time. Thomas' parents were followed by his brothers and sister. John had not been able to stop crying since learning his brother was dead.
"Thomas please forgive me for not being a better brother to you." John said as he touched his brother' casket. Each of them said goodbye to Thomas and walked away holding on to each other for support. They joined their parents and Helen as Elizabeth stepped up to her father's casket. Keeping a safe distance, they watched Elizabeth bid her father farewell.
"Daddy, you have no idea how much I am going to miss you; your smile, the sound of your voice, or the warmth of your arms." Elizabeth said as she rested her head on her father's casket in the same manner she rested her head upon his chest the night he died. She closed her eyes and stood there for what seemed to be an eternity. Then raising her head, she placed a long kiss on the coffin at the spot where she knew her father's head rested.
"I love you so very much daddy. I promise that I will never forget you. There will not be a day that goes by in which I will not think of you and what you meant to me. One day we will be together again, but until that day is upon us, rest in peace." Elizabeth said wiping the tears from her eyes. As she turned and walked towards her family, a soft breeze brushed against her face. Elizabeth could feel her father's presence in the soft and gentle wind. He would always be there to guide her no matter where she went. As she looked back at her father's casket resting on the pedestal in front of the mausoleum, she would forever keep the promised she made to him the night he became her guardian angel.
Epilogue: My Guardian Angel
Ardara
Comber, County Down, Ireland
April 24, 1912
"There is not much that I can really say about my dear friend Thomas. He was a man of great character; a character that I had come to respect in the years that I knew him. When I came to Harland and Wolff those many years ago as a mere apprentice, he took me underneath his wing. He taught me everything there was to know about shipbuilding. He was very patient with me in that first year everything considered. Working so closely with him, I came to admire his talents very much and wished everyday that one day I would be as great of a builder as he. Being with him in those final moments as Titanic fell apart around him, he did not panic, but rather he focused on saving the lives of others. He was a man who always put the needs of others before his own. Today as we bid him a safe journey to his heavenly home, we remember not how he died, but rather we remember how he lived. May you remain in our hearts forever." Archie said completing his eulogy. He said a prayer as he touched Thomas' powder blue casket one last time. As he walked back to his seat, he was met by Elizabeth who was waiting for him with open arms.
"Thank you Archie." Elizabeth said as she enveloped him in a tight embrace. Arm in arm they walked back to their place with the family. The priest finished speaking a prayer as he made the sign of the cross over Thomas' casket. With that the funeral service had concluded. It was now time for the Andrews family to bid one final farewell to Thomas before he was placed in the family mausoleum at Ardara, the Andrews family home. Helen was the first to approach Thomas casket. Pulling the black vale from her face she gazed at her husband's casket. A tear fell from her eyes as she touched the casket, rubbing her hand on its smooth surface. She still could not believe that Thomas was gone. The entire family had a hard time excepting his death. Helen remembered how John broke down and sobbed when he learned that his brother was gone. Everyone reacted to Thomas' death differently. His father did not sleep for days, but rather he would stare out of the window of his study, lost in his thoughts. His mother spent most of her days in the wake of Thomas' death comforting her children. As for Uncle Pierre, he was very distraught to learn not only had he lost Titanic, but he lost his beloved nephew. He sent her a letter saying that he could not bear to attend the funeral. Thomas' death had affected him so much, that he felt it best that he grieve in private. As for her, she was holding up as well as could be expected. In her mind, she wanted to give up. There was no point of living life if she had to do so without Thomas by her side. But her heart told her that she could not give up because Elizabeth needed her. After all it was in her arms that Thomas took leave of this world. Shaking her mind free of those thoughts, she lowered her head and placed a kiss on Thomas' coffin.
"I love you Thomas. No matter where you are, I will always love you." Helen said as she kissed her husband's coffin one last time. After Helen took her leave Thomas' parents came to bid their son goodbye one last time. Together they placed their hands on the coffin and bowed their heads in prayer. Each prayed that God would now give him peace. Mrs. Andrews also pushed back the veil from her face and lowered her lips to the casket, kissing her son goodnight one last time. Thomas' parents were followed by his brothers and sister. John had not been able to stop crying since learning his brother was dead.
"Thomas please forgive me for not being a better brother to you." John said as he touched his brother' casket. Each of them said goodbye to Thomas and walked away holding on to each other for support. They joined their parents and Helen as Elizabeth stepped up to her father's casket. Keeping a safe distance, they watched Elizabeth bid her father farewell.
"Daddy, you have no idea how much I am going to miss you; your smile, the sound of your voice, or the warmth of your arms." Elizabeth said as she rested her head on her father's casket in the same manner she rested her head upon his chest the night he died. She closed her eyes and stood there for what seemed to be an eternity. Then raising her head, she placed a long kiss on the coffin at the spot where she knew her father's head rested.
"I love you so very much daddy. I promise that I will never forget you. There will not be a day that goes by in which I will not think of you and what you meant to me. One day we will be together again, but until that day is upon us, rest in peace." Elizabeth said wiping the tears from her eyes. As she turned and walked towards her family, a soft breeze brushed against her face. Elizabeth could feel her father's presence in the soft and gentle wind. He would always be there to guide her no matter where she went. As she looked back at her father's casket resting on the pedestal in front of the mausoleum, she would forever keep the promised she made to him the night he became her guardian angel.