The Titanic: A New Life

Chapter 12

I was the first in the group to wake the next morning, the sun peeking over the horizon to let me know the last horrid night was over. I had my family to keep me warm during the cold night, huddled together like penguins under the blanket.
I didn't move my stiff, aching joints, for fear that I would wake the sleeping children in my arms and on my lap. I also made sure to breathe quietly.
I took a glance around the boat to see that I was the only awake. We had moved farther away from the sunken ship, and the sky was a very light shade of blue, almost white. The sea was quiet, but not motionless, as the waves gently picked us up and put us back down again. It would have been peaceful if it was a different situation.
I noticed that the woman I had pushed into the water was now holding onto a piece of broken wood from the ship, and she was yelling at people that she deserved a spot on one of the skiffs, too.
But no one listened, as her screaming wasn't loud enough to wake anyone up. If it had been, I would have punished her for waking up my children. She would have shut up then.
Soon after myself, Jillian woke up and went to the front of the boat to grab some of the limited food supply so we wouldn't starve.
"The rescue boat should be here in a few hours," she reported, placing a bag of crackers and cheese that had probably become moist in the ocean air next to me.
I didn't care if it was salty, though.
I could feed my children.
I was quickly informed the food source had been put together by the few people who had managed to grab food before we left and were willing to share. I was great full to those few people.
The thick ocean air was damp and freezing, making my clothes soggy and flushing my cheeks.
"We're almost home."
I smiled to show my thanks to her, and she smiled back. She was the only woman on that ship who didn't show hostility towards me... even my mother hated me.
But then my smile broke when I realized there would be no home for me. I couldn't go back to England; it would be too expensive. And how would I be able to take these children with me even if I did get the money? I'd at least have two, three if Emily didn't find her family. Her mother didn't seem to want her, anyway.
I felt connected to the three children I had met, and I was sure they had connected to me. That was all I ever wanted in a family. I couldn't let them go now.
Emily picked her head up from my lap, her glazed eyes turning to me.
"Mommy, I'm hungry," she groaned.
Oh! She hadn't forgotten! She really did want me to be her mother!
"I have food for you," I explained to her, nudging my head towards the bag that sat on the bench next to me. "Just save some for your siblings."
"I will," she promised.
I didn't know how I was going to provide for my children once we reached the shore, even if I didn't decide to return to England. But I knew I would find a way. Until then, I would try to stay alive on the raft.
I wasn't even sure if there was going to be a 'then' anymore.