Titanic Bound by Destiny

Chapter 6: A Moonlit Meeting

April 11th, 1912

Nicholas lay back on his narrow cabin bed, his arms folded behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. The bed may have been narrow, but it was still extremely comfortable. The gentle hum of the Titanic's engines vibrated softly through the room, a constant reminder that he was far from the static life he knew. His mind replayed the moment he and Sebastian had touched hands. It was a fleeting moment but felt like it lasted an eternity. To make things even more confusing, Sebastian had not pulled away, his reaction seeming different than what Nicholas had anticipated. Each replay brought a mix of exhilaration and confusion, stirring a whirlwind of emotions Nicholas struggled to understand. As far as Nicholas knew, men were supposed to love women because that was how god had made them. So why did he feel these intense, forbidden feelings towards Sebastian, and were they truly as immoral as some would make them out to be?

"What does this all mean?" he murmured, his heart racing. He had never expected to find such a connection on this voyage, and now, every glance, every touch seemed loaded with potential and peril. Titanic was supposed to be a simple, smooth voyage to a new life, but now, every day seemed to bring something new. things he had never experienced or seen. His entire world was coming undone, but in a way that left him feeling liberated. He sighed profoundly, knowing everything would return to normal shortly after the Titanic reached New York. The memories of these days linger forever. One thing was for sure, no matter what happened. Nothing could indeed be the same again. However, he was still set on trying to make the new world his own. He had heard that in america, every person had the freedom and opportunity to succeed and attain a better life; he was going to snatch this so-called American dream and make it his own.

Lost in thought, he barely noticed the sound of a slip of paper being pushed under his cabin door. It wasn't until the quiet of his room was disturbed by the soft, final flick of paper settling on the floor that he was pulled from his thoughts. He darted up from his spot, thinking someone was coming in, his heart racing. He calmed himself when he saw nobody was there, but that calm was suddenly punctured again when he saw the note laid; they were on the floor, blitzing from the reflection of the afternoon sun. He took a deep breath, walked over to the paper, and picked it up.

Nicholas turned the note over in his hands, his eyes scanning the simple message scrawled in a hasty hand: "Meet me at the stern after nightfall." What on earth could this mean? This was his first thought as a million, and one question ran through his mind simultaneously. The note was brief, lacking any signature or hint of the sender. The mysterious message sent a shiver down his spine. Was it from Sebastian? Or had someone noticed their closeness and now meant to confront him? The uncertainty gnawed at him as he tucked the note into his pocket, his previous curiosity now overwhelmed by worry and turmoil. This could not be happening; it just couldn't. He sat on the edge of the bunk and borrowed his head into his hands. He looked up again as he checked his watch. It was hours before sunset. He had to keep his mind busy to avoid overthinking the situation.

Despite the unease that shadowed his afternoon, Nicholas tried to keep to his routine. He attended a lecture on marine navigation, wandered through the second-class library again and took a stroll around the deck. However hard he wanted to forget it, the note never strayed far from his mind. Later, when the sun began its daily descent, he realised he had to go and try to eat despite the pit in his stomach. Despite his best efforts, Dinner that evening did little to ease his mind despite the spectacular meal served. The food was a delight—roast beef with a rich, dark gravy, golden roasted potatoes, and a vibrant array of steamed vegetables that added colour to the hearty meal. Dessert was a decadent apple pie, its sweet aroma mingling with the savoury scents of Dinner. Usually, such a meal would have lifted his spirits, but tonight, it passed under a shadow of his apprehensions about the impending meeting. Once the meal was finished, he lingered in the room. He was watching the clock tick by, an entire passing before he decided to go to his cabin to freshen up. As the meeting drew closer, his nerves climbed higher. He just prayed that his worries were for nothing.