It was late. I hadn’t slept much but I knew it was late.
I slowly got down from my bed and opened the door. A maid stood at the threshold.
“Miss, I need to ask you to come onto the deck. Put on your life belt and come to the safety demonstration.”
I frowned and walked over to Beatrice.
“Be, we need to go up on deck for a safety demonstration. Help me get the life belts.”
Her eyes flew open. “It’s happening.”
“What is Beatrice?” I asked sighing impatiently.
“What I’ve been telling you about. It’s happening.”
“Well, there is no way to stop it. Let’s go.”
I pulled her out of bed and we grabbed the life belts. I was just about to walk out when I quickly grabbed our jackets and my journal.
I put the jacket in Beatrice’s hand and she hastily pulled it on.
We walked in a daze, following the crowds of people moving up to the deck. When we came out on the deck I saw many annoyed looking people without their life belts.
“It will take more than an iceberg to me out of bed.” I saw one man say to a steward.
Beatrice grabbed my hand. “Iceberg.”
“What are you talking about Beatrice? You are tired.”
“No. No. We hit an iceberg.”
“You are really tired, Be. I’m going to wait until they tell us what to do. I am not going to decide anything over your half asleep intuition.” I retorted angrily. She was starting to get on my nerves with her cryptic whispers.
I looked around. I saw many young boys playing soccer with large chunks of ice. The musicians had set up their instruments in the lounge near the deck. Then I saw a steward stand on one of the chairs and yell, “Ladies and gents, I just want to tell you that there is nothing to worry about. The life belts are just a precaution.”
Beatrice snorts, “As if.”
I turned to tell her to shut her mouth when I saw the crew members start swinging life boats over the side of the ships.
It was that moment that I learned that we truly were in danger. Almost instantly people started yelling. Frantically collecting their children and some started crying. I could see the stewards trying to calm them down. Some ran back inside, probably to get their belongings. I stood, numbness filling me not just from the cold.
“Please. Listen up, women and children first.”
