Lacrimosa (Scomiche)

Vanitati

A/N - Sorry it's a bit of a monster

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Times were changing, society evolving in the blink of an eye. There were countless advances in all aspects of industry, technology... The world was becoming a much different place. It was amazing to watch, yet it made things rather difficult for someone like myself.  

It's fortunate that money could get you nearly anything you wanted, especially in Edwardian society.

I wondered how much had I changed? Had I changed as drastically as the lands and people around me had? Was I still the same man I had been?

No. I was... I don't know. I don't know what or who I was.

I knew I needed a drastic change of scenery, and so I began to make plans for such a venture. I hired a liaison, someone to travel across the Atlantic to handle all of the many affairs that needed to be settled beforehand. Once all paperwork had been created and filed, a new home purchased and fully furnished, I sent what belongings and riches I had on the way to their new home.

After months of planning, it was finally time to make the long journey myself.  I was ready for something new, new places to explore, new air to breathe.

I should have realized it would come with a price.

My original booking was transferred from one vessel to another as the result of a coal strike that seemed to be never ending. At the time, I could find little to complain about in the alteration.

You hear the rumors of luxury and grandeur, but you can never fully understand the enormity until you are there seeing it with your own eyes.  I was rendered speechless by the massive sight and regardless of the crowd milling about the port of Southampton, I was not the only one simply standing there in awe.  She dwarfed every other ship in the harbor, and it was quite the marvel.

The morning of April 10th, 1912, I boarded the acclaimed steel giant with an abundance of hope and also sadness at leaving behind the site of so many memories, both wonderful and painful.  It was time for a new start, time to take charge of my own story and that was to be the beginning.  

I seemed to forget that my story already had an author, and nothing I said or did would change it.

The Captain was on hand to greet me with a firm handshake as I came aboard, and though he seemed an intimidating figure, he was quite soft spoken and kind.

A steward directed me to my cabin that provided far more space than I needed between the three rooms, but I can't say I didn't love the lavish space.

Before departure, I joined many of the other first class passengers along the promenade and watched through the windows as we slowly pulled away from the place that held so many memories. The air was soon filled with the deafening sound of the steam whistle and raucous cheers from ship and shore.  

 

"Leaving home for the first time?"

I turned to find a young woman, maybe 19 or 20 standing next to me. She was distinctly American.

"You could say that." I nodded.

"There's an adventure out there and the world is so much bigger than just one place. It seems rather a waste to spend your life staring at the same scenery don't you think?"

I chuckled. Most of the first class passengers would never be that brazen or outspoken, even though she had said nothing wrong or out of turn. The informality proved refreshing.

"What I think is that you are quite wise beyond your years."

She grinned and held out her hand. "Charlotte Graham, sir."