I'll never let go..| A titanic inspired story 🚢

Boarding the ship (chapter 3)

I rushed out of the pub, tears streaming down my face. I couldn't believe James had ruined this day for me. My throat felt tight and soar as if there was a rock stuck in there. Furiously, I wiped my tears away. My father would be meeting me at any minute and if he saw me crying he would surely scold me.

Eventually, my tears started to disappear and all that was left behind was a reoccurring sniffle whenever I thought about James. I just couldn't help but revisit the memory with guilt and shame. James was my fiancé; I was supposed to marry him one day. For some reason I thought that maybe this wouldn't be my destiny. Maybe I was destined for more? Suddenly, I felt a bony hand rest on my shoulder. I gasped in surprise and turned around to meet my father's sorrowful gaze. I was relieved not to see an axe murderer stood behind me.

"Do you think your mother would like this trip?" He said.

"Of course she would, Daddy. It was always her dream to go on a ship like this." I replied. The truth is I had only a few memories of my mother. She died a few days before my 4th birthday from pneumonia.

"That's good. Well, the maid has packed your case." He handed me the case. I took it.

"Thanks." I said nothing more and took the bag from him. It was often hard to have a conversation with him. He was a rather cold man.

We stood for a couple of minutes, waiting to board but I hadn't really been able to see the titanic properly due to the massive crowds but now I could see perfectly.

The ship was truly colossal. Many glass paned windows were lined in rows on the exterior, creating a clear difference in each floor (about 10). A thick cloud of black smoke emerged from the 4 engines aligned in the Center of the boat, each of them towering over the wide, wooden deck, equipped with a few life boats in case of emergency. The ship was coloured an achromatic white lining, black core and red bottom. I stood in total astonishment, completely in awe, taking everything in.

A man with a bald head and round glasses stood at the boarding station next to the stairs.

"Boarding passes please, madam and sir?"

My father took a step in front of me and presented our passes. The small insignificant man nodded and let us board. However, just as I took a step on the stairs to board, my sage hair ribbon was blown from my hair by the gusty wind. I stupidly chased the thing in the wind and almost knocked into a few people. Surprised gasps erupted from the crowd as I chased my ribbon. I just couldn't loose it! I heard my father angrily cursing at me but I didn't care. The wind died down and the ribbon fell to the ground so I very carefully bent down to pick it up..

But so did someone else.

"Does this belong to you ma'am?"

I stood up properly and looked at my sage hair ribbon in a strangers hand. Their hand had a few cuts and even a bandage around one finger. I took the ribbon and tied my hair up quickly.

"Thank you..."
I stared and came face to face with a young man. His brunette fringe created a curtain that slightly displayed his dazzling blue eyes in the spotlight. His skin was very fair and a small cheeky smirk spread out across his face. My eyes wandered down and I noticed that he was wearing a white button up shirt paired with a tweed jacket. His trousers were very tattered and seemed to have mud stains all over them. I knew he was working class just by looking at him. But I knew he was attractive just by looking at him.

"Joel." He filled in the gap in my sentence. "You should really hold onto this next time. It matches your eyes."

His accent! He was an American.

"Oh. I will. Thanks, Joel." Blushing, I turned away from this man and rejoined my father

"What on gods green earth were you thinking! Just come here." My father pulled me over by my arm, digging his nails into my skin. I flinched slightly at the pain but it was nothing I wasn't used to. I stared at his nails and they were unwashed at had mud and dirt in the nail beds. I prayed to God that I wouldn't get tetanus from his foul nails.

James decided to join us just as we were just about to board. For some reason, his eyes were puffy and red and I considered that maybe he had been crying. He showed his boarding pass and we all climbed the stairs onto the titanic.

"I'm so sorry Isobel. I'll never do that again." James whispered in my ear whilst kissing my cheek softly. I smiled at James and nodded my head reassuringly but I knew it wouldn't last.....