The breeze shifts, bringing with it the scent of the ocean. I feel a tear running down my face and the memories, that seem so distant now, flood back into my mind.
I was on the Titanic in the year 1912, it was a cool crisp night and I was standing on the front deck looking out into the ocean. The stars burned brightly, spreading a warm glow that differentiated the sky from the sea. The moon was at it’s fullest in the night sky and its illuminance was magical.
The previous days had been, pretty much the best days of my life. I’d spent the first day on the Titanic unpacking and exploring, and to my delight I found a secret hiding place, right next to the stairs heading up to the captains quarters. It was hidden by an extra wall that looked out of place if you looked closely, I wondered if it was just extra material being used or maybe a mistake, whichever it was, it was now my special place.
This was my first time on a cruise, since I first lay my eyes on one it had become a dream of mine to travel and feel the wind that came off the ocean on my face. In images I had found they showed the brightly lit restaurant and the beautifully made rooms, with the towels folded into swans, the carpeted corridors and the glow that seems to emanate from every part of its structure. Also the ornately carved staircases that seemed to be situated throughout the ship and the dome that seems to be carved out of the ceiling, making the whole place seem even more vast and palatial.
Back at home I never had many friends, most of them left town, or just stopped visiting me, I always had to find some way to entertain myself and fill the empty hours of the day. I think it was mostly due to the fact that I had been branded with title of the troubled child, and that one time I was caught stealing a few sweets from the corner store, I wouldn’t have been caught if it weren’t for Miranda, who just happened to be watching.
When I arrived at the passenger liner I felt like I’d made a fresh start, it was as if the ocean air had sparked something inside of me, giving me hope. The Titanic was the first place I found a true friend, her name was Charity, she had blonde hair and blue eyes the same deep colour of the ocean. She was always very eccentric, and loved to explore just as much as I did. In fact she found the same hiding place I’d found the previous day, whilst I was at breakfast, that night I snuck out of my room and went to find my hiding spot when I happened upon her. She was just as surprised as I was, seeing as though it was close to pitch black, and I nearly sat on her. The days that followed seemed to go too quickly for my liking, filled with laughter and taking trips down memory lane, the more time we spent together, the more we wanted this cruise to go on forever.
On the 14th of April at 11:30 pm, as usual we had agreed to meet up in our corner. It was getting colder and there were more ice bergs being spotted floating by. Some were massive, and if you looked closely into the water you could see the larger mass hidden beneath the water’s surface. It was incredible and occasionally one tipped over, sending waves in all opposite directions. I eventually found my way to the hide out, but the darkness wasn’t helping, I tripped over at least twice by a protruding nail or a rope just left lying around. Finally I saw the odd wall, I turned the corner, and as agreed Charity was there.
We sat for a while eating some leftovers from supper that we had brought along, and talked for a while. Even though the nights were cold it was still worth it, hearing the sounds of the waves pounding, the cracking of the distant ice and the sway of the boat as it climbed the waves and then dipped into the trough. Then the ship tipped sideways, but remained upright, we were lucky that there was an opposite wall or else we would have slipped right over the edge of the boat. After that, we thought it was over, but then the ship started to shudder violently and it felt like a hole was being ripped through the hull.
The alarm sounded and then there was frantic screaming, as the first of the people ran out of their rooms. It was utter chaos, people were shouting and calling names, desperately trying to find their loved ones and then there was those who were still confused. I had a vague idea of what was happening, but the issue finally came to light when the captain said we’d hit something and that he had sent a distress call. Then the ship started tipping more sharply to the left; it was sinking.
Charity had already left as soon as the people started rushing out, she was just as anxious and scared as I was, but I wasn’t as desperate to find my family. I scanned the mass of people that had gathered on the front deck, but still no sign of my parents. People were getting more panicked now so it was getting more difficult to find my family.
If they took off with the life boats, then all those in lower classes would be left behind, like me. It took me a couple of minutes to finally think it through, I should try and swim to a life boat. That’s when I dived into the darkness, I approached the black ocean and heard all those still on the ship shouting at me, calling me back. Too late, the water touched my feet and a shiver went through me, I could feel my body tensing, bracing for the inevitable cold.
The water rushed over my body, chilling every fibre, it knocked the air out of my lungs and made my movements desperate. I was being pulled down by the weight of my clothes as they soaked up the water. Then I saw lights cutting through the darkness and I could see the bright orange colour of the life boat heading my way, I could only hope it was going to pull me out of the water and rescue the others that were still on the ship.
My breathing was ragged and I thought I might have been going into shock from the ice cold water. The clothes I was wearing were no protection from the freezing ocean, and then i felt it, a hand grabbing my wrist and yanking me into the rescue boat nearly dislocating my numbed shoulder. The shock of his warm fingers burned my wrist, the cold had made my skin extremely sensitive to the slightest touch. They took off my jacket and quickly rapped me in a dry woolen rug, I heard someone murmur something, my focus dimmed and I drifted into unconsciousness.
~
I woke up lying in a brightly lit room with white curtains draped on all sides, and I smelled the clinging scent of antiseptic. I was in a hospital. Although I was still sleepy, I was able to hear the incoherent sound of conversation just outside of the room. Then I remembered what happened, what happened to my family and to Charity, were they all okay? The nurse must have heard me rustle my blankets, because she came and parted the curtains, the look on her face told me all I needed to know, they didn’t survive.
