Unsinkable?

Part 3

I am startled awake by Clara violently shaking my shoulders.
"Wake up!" she screams. "We have to go now." There are people screaming, and I see them through our open cabin door rushing through the halls. I jump out of bed.
"What's going on?" I ask Clara.
She frantically answers, "The iceberg scrape is making the ship sink!" My eyes widen in terror. Mother and Father appear by our side and hurry us into the halls. Despite our best efforts to stay together, Clara and I are separated from our parents writing m within minutes. We scan the panicking crowd.
"Mother! Father!" Clara screams.
"Come on," I tell her, "We have to continue on without them." She nods, and we begin running with the mass towards the deck, where there will be lifeboats.
I feel the floor slanting slightly. We only have a few minutes left. I run faster through the sea of people, which nearly smothers me. I pause and rip the bottom six inches or so off my nightgown to allow my legs to move more swiftly. As I turn to do the same to Clara's dress, I realize that she isn't beside me anymore.
"Clara!" I call out. "Where are you? Clara!" I desperately search the corridors for her. The crowd pushes me on, and I cannot turn back and search some more.
I soon find myself on the deck, the cold night air blowing past my almost-bare legs. "Clara!" I scream.
"Abigail!" I hear faintly. Clara's voice would have made my heart fly out of pure joy was I not on a sinking ship.
"Clara!" I yell, and I follow her voice when she responds. Using this method of call and response, I find her within twenty feet of a lifeboat. That lifeboat is the last one, but it is being lowered only half full. Clara is sprinting towards me, not the boat!
I know I have two options right now. I could sprint and jump into the lifeboat to save myself just in time. Or I could sprint and shove Clara into the dingy, sacrificing myself in turn. Which choice would be the better option?
I see Clara's helpless and frightened little face, and it is brought to my attention that while she is annoying and loquacious, she is still my sister. I love her. Tears begin to fall down my face, and I make my decision. I run faster than I ever have, straight towards Clara. She hardly ever runs, and she is exhausted and weak. I extend my arms, and the hard contact sends Clara's light body flying towards the falling lifeboat. With a small yelp, she tips over the edge and--my heart pounding loudly at this point--falls unharmed into the half-full dingy! Clara is safe. Relief overwhelms me.
"I love you Clara!" I yell to her.
She calls back, "I love you too. Now jump!" It had not occurred to me that I could jump into the licensor m lifeboat after it was lowered. I launch myself into the dark night and towards the boat before I have the chance to doubt my judgment. I fall in slow motion, the entire world holding its breath--  however panicked and noisily-- waiting to see if I can make it. As I near the boat, it clearly is just out of my reach.
I miss. I plunge into the jet-black water. It encases my body in ice, and I begin descending. I hear Clara talking as usual, but in a distraught tone.
"Unsinkable?" she tells the other passengers, "I think not!" As she bursts into tears, I am grateful she at least is safe. I can barely put any thoughts together as I sink lower and lower into the freezing water. Black dots appear at the edge of my vision. I smile through my fear.
And I leave.