Officer Lover

Chapter One - Departure

Titanic was the worst night of my life and I can never forget it, the sinking changed who I was and changed my life entirely in ways I could never had imagined. I'm Christina and this is my Perspective of the events on the Titanic.

The date was April 10th. It was a cloudy day in Southampton, England and we had just arrived at the docks all the way from Liverpool. Today was the day we were taking father's newest ship out on its maiden voyage.

Father was co- Chairman of The White Star Line alongside Mr Ismay, Father was a kind man who always cared about us and he put a lot of hard work into the things he loved including Ships. Here was his newest ship the RMS Titanic!

Father had told us for months that it was the largest, grandest ship afloat. And he even said that the ship was unsinkable. Which to me seemed impossible, I was always very smart as a young girl and always curious about the what ifs. But that's just me.

I was 15 at the time and I was travelling with my mother (Alexandra Augustine) and my father (John Augustine) and accompanying us was our handy maid Florence. Florence had been our maid since I was 7 and she'd always been coming with us on our trips around the world.

The carriage door swung open and a hand took mine as I stepped out of the carriage, closely followed by my mother. I looked up at the great ship that was towering over us, the ship looked so grand and so big it was like something out of a dream. As I snapped out of my daydream my father stepped out of the carriage and said.

"Well ladies, this is the Titanic!"
"So this is the ship you've been rambling on about at dinner for the past, what is it now? Two years.?" Mother said sarcastically.
"Well what do you think Tina?" father asked me.
"It's Beautiful." I said as I turned back to face my father.
"See I knew you'd like it." Father chuckled before he continued. "You see this ship is the Best Ocean Liner in the world. And one day Tina, it will be yours." Father smiled.
"What?... this is gonna be mine?" I asked curiously.
"Yes dear, you are part of The White Star Line's legacy now and one day you'll be running the place... Alongside your future husband of course." He explained.

I hated when father brought up marriage. I didn't want to get married, I wanted to inherit the White Star Line and run it myself without a man controlling my every move. Besides I was too young; in my eyes at least.

Florence stepped out of the carriage and we linked arms as my father linked arms with my mother. We walked through the huge crowd, there had to be over a thousand people here. We walked over the bridge as I looked back and saw all the people from where I was standing they all looked like little toy dolls. We continued and as my foot crossed onto the grandest ship in the world I felt a wave of excitement cascade through my body but I stayed calm on the outside and just smiled but on the inside I was ready to run about but this wasn't the kind of place for that.

Once aboard the ship my initial thought was to go find our rooms but father said.
"Hold your horses now there's something we should do first." Father chuckled at me as we walked to the deck, once on the deck I looked down to all the people who were on the docks, we were so high up. I turned around and looked up I saw a man standing up in the deck above, he was wearing the crew's uniform, he was tall and handsome. From where I was he looked pretty cute. I didn't want to be rude but I could help but stare at him. He looked at me and waved at me, I waved back but suddenly father pulled me along and said.

"Why don't we go on the bridge ladies." He suggested.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea darling." Mother agreed.
"Why would we go on the bridge? Are we allowed there?" I questioned.
"Of course we are, now come on let's go meet the captain." Father exclaimed.
"Wow sure father." I said I didn't expect to meet the captain this early on our trip.

We walked up the stairs and onto the bridge and there was the Captain and the officers. Again there was that man I saw earlier he was one of the officers, it started to make sense now. My father talked to the Captain for a second before introducing us.
"Ladies this is Captain Smith." Father told us
Mother and Florence shook his hand first and I did last, I recognised the name from a little bit ago and then I remembered why I recognised him.

"Aren't you the captain driving the Olympic when she crashed into the Hawke?" I said as a shook his hand.
"Christina! Stop it." Mother said. "Please excuse her."
"Well forgive me captain for being curious." I said to please my mother.
"That's quite alright miss you can't be too curious." Captain Smith said thankfully.

Father who was clearly embarrassed broke the tension and said.
"Well this is my wife..." he said as mother shook all of the officers' hands "...and this is my daughter Christina." He finished.
"Hi." I said nervously. The first officer said.
"I'm officer Wilde." He smiled.
"And I'm Officer Murdoch." The next officer told me as he shook my hand.
"Officer Lightoller, nice to meet you miss." He spoke firmly I smiled back at him.
"I'm Officer Moody." Another officer said as he shook my hand softly.
"Moody? That's a... cool name." I chuckled.

The last officer was the one that caught my eye earlier. I expected a handshake like the rest of them but I was surprised when he grabbed my hand and leaned down to kiss my hand. "And I'm Officer Lowe miss." He smiled.
"Well aren't you quite a gentleman?" We both laughed.

I couldn't take my eyes off of him he was just so handsome and nice, he was perfect.
"Well we had better get to our rooms now. It was a pleasure to meet all of you." Mother said.
But before I left Officer Lowe said.
"I guess I will see you around." He said as he looked down at me. My heart was racing.
"See ya around Officer." As I waved goodbye.