There's No Such Thing as Second Chances

The Ferry

"Ma'am, do you have your boarding pass?" The young man looked at me like I was growing another head.

"Yes, sorry" I pulled out my phone and let him scan my pass. I blushed as he gave me an irritated look and directed me towards the loading dock.

My mind had been all over the place and I found myself remembering things that I wish I would have forgotten.

All the little things that I knew were red flags back then but chose to ignore, hoping that my intuition was wrong and that I was just being paranoid.

All the signs were there, written in neon lights, I just didn't want to see them.

I made my way up the stairs to an open sitting area and found a bench near the window. It was a few hours until we got to the destination and the crew was busy directing and parking cars on the ferry.

I checked my pass and saw that the departure was scheduled in thirty minutes but I was doubtful that they were running on time. As if I was a mind reader, the captain made an announcement that we were slightly behind but he would have us underway as soon as possible.

I decided to check my emails and respond to a few messages while I waited and hoped that we would dock before nightfall.

I was never this spontaneous and rarely travelled on my own, but felt that I needed to start on a new me and become a person that I could look up to.

I found myself falling back into memories of me and Derrick and, By the time I focused back on the present, we were well on our way.

"First time on a boat?" an older lady sitting across from me grabbed my attention.

"That obvious?" I chuckled. I was nervous but didn't think I was giving off that kind of obvious energy.

"Your leg hasn't stopped moving" she smiled warmly. A smile that reached her eyes and made me feel settled. "I come on these at least once a week. It's relaxing being at sea, it gives me peace and fills a void."

"I have always wanted to go on a cruise, but I'll settle for this" I looked down at my phone and checked the time. "Looks like we have about an hour left?"

"Yes. Might be longer, looks like a storm is coming in" she pointed out the window and I could see some dark clouds rolling towards us at an extremely fast pace." here, let me go and get you some hot chocolate and you can tell me all about your travel plans"

"Deal" I smiled at her and relaxed a bit. It would be nice to pass the time talking to someone who didn't know me or my problems.

The woman seemed wise beyond her years and I was interested to listen to what she had to say as well. She gave off a motherly vibe that made me miss my mom terribly.

I should have allowed her to come with me like she asked but chose against it. She had her own stuff to deal with and she didn't need to spend all her time fussing over me.

I promised her that when I finished my book and got back home, we would go on a nice vacation together. That seemed to appease her but didn't know for how long. I wouldn't be surprised if she joined me in less than a weeks time.

I chuckled a bit and leaned back, closing my eyes until the woman came back.

I didn't know what happened next.

I heard a loud explosion and the next thing I knew I was floating in the darkness.