Mary strained her eyes against the dark, searching for something, anything. Surely the lifeboats would return. Surely someone would save her. The screams and yell into the night rang on as more memories engulfed her . . .
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:The Titanic," Aunt Ellen said fondly.
"Are we going to be on that ship?" gasped Mary softly.
"Of course!" said Aunt Ellen, strutting forward confidently.
The two of them wound their way through the immense crowd, the sunshine dancing on their heads. The many voices joined together to form a roar of excitement. There was a tangible energy in the air.
Aunt Ellen led the way to a plank leading up to the ship, and up, up, up, they climbed, until Mary's palms sweated when she looked down. Then, with one quick glance behind her, Mary entered the ship after her aunt.
People milled about, enjoying the luxury of first class. Skirts whirled past, immaculate suits walked by. Mary kept her eyes down; these people walked with a grace and confidence she wasn't used to, and it unsettled her. She kept close behind her Aunt Ellen, stumbling slightly.
Aunt Ellen conversed briefly with a uniformed man, who then led the way to their room. He shut the door as he left, leaving them in peace.
Mary set her suitcase down gratefully and stared around in awe. Her eyes slid down the lavish wallpaper and her feet sank into the plush carpet. She sat on the edge of one of the enormous beds, bouncing slightly on the soft mattress.
"Let's get cleaned up," called Aunt Ellen from the bathroom, "and then we can go up on deck for when the ship sets sail."
Mary timidly went into the bathroom, which was bigger than her family room back at the farm. She washed her face with a soft cloth as Aunt Ellen started unpacking.
"You will love traveling on a ship," she gushed. "Glamorous. Luxurious. It's my favorite mode of transportation."
"But . . . is it safe?" asked Mary, staring out the porthole to the lapping ocean.
"Oh, yes," said Aunt Ellen, nodding. "They say the Titanic is invincible. Unsinkable, they say. You have nothing to worry about. It's like our own personal, moving island."
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Mary leaned over the railing on deck, taking in the sight of the crowd on shore. "Why are there so many people here?" she asked Aunt Ellen.
"This is the greatest ship in the world! Everyone wants to send her off on her maiden voyage."
Just then, the ship started to move, much to the delight of the crowd. A roar rose from the crowd on deck and below on shore. Aunt Ellen and Mary joined in with waving and parting words, though no one had come to see them off.
"Goodbye!" they called happily. "I'll miss you!"
Soon the shore shrank away and the crowd dispersed. Aunt Ellen turned to Mary and said, "I suppose you would like to draw now?"
Mary nodded eagerly. She had already been scoping out places she wanted to sketch and paint.
"I'll be in the room," said Aunt Ellen, and left.
Mary slowly walked to a lounge chair and settled down, untying her hair from the particle braid it had been in. Then she stared out into the endless ocean. The endless ocean of opportunity.
