The whole situation had suddenly changed from a joyful celebration of the New Year to death knocking at the door. I was in the lounge, sharing my first kiss with a boy I had met a few days earlier. Without warning, we were jostled from our position by what seemed to be a collision. The lights began to flicker on and off, and commotion began. People went from stunned wonder to absolute chaos.

“We are in a state of emergency. Everyone please remain calm. We shall begin an evacuation of the ship. Women and children first please. Once I again I repeat, remain calm.”

At the sound of the announcement, body’s began bounding out of the room, people were yelling, and my boyfriend had left my side; I was forgotten in seconds. My first thought is to find my mother, but fortunately she manages to find me first. I was scared.

“Let’s go get your brother and sister.” My mother’s soothing voice assures me, as if the situation occurring at the moment is not actually happening. I nod, tears rushing down my face. She grabs my hand and smoothly, yet firmly guides me away from the confusion. We walk against the rushing crowd and head for the staircase. We sink lower and lower into the boat, my mom humming an old Christian Hymn, “Nearer My God To Thee.” I hum along, my spirits lifting and my heart at ease. My mother will take care of it. She always does. All of a sudden, she stops and cranes her head towards a cracking sound. Suddenly her movements become urgent and she pushes me towards the doorway.

“Quickly run!” She suddenly yells. Stunned at the sudden outburst, it takes me several seconds before it resisters to me that the need for my escape is necessary. A window in the dining room breaks, and gallons of freezing water come rushing in. I run with all my might, forgetting my mother for a moment. In those seconds I turn around in time to see the grand piano fall off the stage and slide to block off the entrance of the corridor.

I scream. I shout. I cry. But my mother no longer answers.

I bustle into the cabin, feet sopping wet. The sound of the slowly rising, yet steadfast flood pothers my ears and I quickly slam the door shut. I sink to the floor and cover my ears. I don’t want to hear it. I can’t hear it. That sound had carried away my mother.

She had only been a short distance behind me, but was far enough to be lost forever.

My mind panics. I need to grab our things. Dress them up warmly. The frosty air will bite them if I do not dress them properly.

“Snacks.” I whisper, diverting from the terrible possibilities clouding my mind. Sean was a hungry boy and would complain the entire trip to shore. It could take hours…days even. First I needed to get them out of the room and up the stairs…

Tears spring to my eyes as a realization sinks into me. The exit has been blocked. All the terrible thoughts come rushing back.

“What am I going to do?” I think to myself.

What can I possibly do?

I am busy lamenting to the current situation when I catch sight of my two lovely siblings, playing hide and seek innocently in the kitchen. For a minute I simply gaze at their luminescence, their brilliant light, their playful eyes.

“One, two, four, five…three…” Sean counts incorrectly as Shelly quickly scrambles to find a hiding place. She hides in the first place she stumbles upon: the cabinets under the sink of the washroom. She doesn’t even bother to turn off the lights or shut the door. Sean quickly rises from his counting position to find his twin sister. His short stocky legs scurry as swiftly as they can in search of his sister, his best friend. I only continue to watch as he checks the cupboards and immediately discovers Shelly who squeals in delight. He pulls both of her hands and helps her exit her poor choice of hiding place. They giggle in harmony, a soft bubbly melody of happy laughter.

I need to pull it together. For them. For me.

If they are going to go, they must go in peace.

Shelly catches my gaze and strides towards me, her arms open for a hug. I pick her up and place her on the the top bunk, Sean soon following. I quickly reach for their thick coats and beckon them to put them on.

“Where are we going?” Shelly laughs.

“To play?” Sean asks.

I nod cheerfully and hand them each a lollipop. Shelly seems dissatisfied with her flavour and pulls Sean’s from his mouth, popping it directly into her own. Sean is shocked at first, but then simply takes the other lollipop from my other hand and pats his younger sister’s head.

“Because you’re my sister.” He tells her. I smile sweetly and commend him for his manliness. He beams. I hear creaking sounds beyond the door. Time is running out. My anxiety grows and I catch Sean staring directly into my eyes. I look away quickly. I cannot bear to look him in the eye. As if sensing the situation, Sean tells Shelly to lie down and sleep.

“When are we going to play?” Shelly asks while fiddling with Sean’s hands.

“Soon. We have to see someone first.” I fib. The lies come out so easily. I almost convince myself that they are true. “We have to nap first.”

“When you wake up you’ll be there.” I whisper.

“Will mommy be there?” Sean asks.

“Yes.”

Satisfied with my answer, they snuggle up against each other, preparing for slumber.

I sing the hymn my mother once hummed for me.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

I am already feeling the cold slice into my skin.

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

“Cold!” Shelly squeaks, trying to wrestle her hand out of my own.

“Sorry.” I whisper faintly. “Please let me hold your hand.”

Shelly’s noises cease.

There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

The water is now above my chest. I can no longer feel my legs. With only their little hands to provide me with warmth, I continue.

Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

With Shelly snoring softly, sleepily Sean whispers, “Who are we going to see?”

“Him.” I whisper gently. Brushing the sides of Sean’s face, I continue into the last verse of the hymn.

There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

Sean is now completely asleep, his small breaths exhaling onto my frozen hands. Such warmth. Such life.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

I sing the last line of the piece, before allowing myself to fall into a long, deep sleep.

---

I sorta got my inspiration from the Titanic movie 😉

---

*Ms. Hunnisett I’ just like to say that I did hand this in at 7:00, but every time I went back to read it over I kept finding mistakes. I hope that won’t affect my mark for timeliness.*