April 11th, 1912
Sleep felt like it came and went so quickly; that was the first thought that crossed Nicholas’s mind as he awoke. He looked around the room and noted he was still on Titanic. He could barely recall the dream he had last night. The winter snow had settled heavy on the ground outside, and the family gathered by the fire. His mother and sisters are not well, and he, his brothers, and his father read. He sighed. Maybe they could have days like that again, but for now, here he was. He was still heading across the sea. He suspected they were closing in on Ireland, their last port call before they set out for New York. He felt his stomach rumble. He had not eaten since last night and thought it though he had other matters to attend to first. Though he was on Titanic, to him, the rules of the home still applied, and that meant you had to wash up before you could eat up. His parents may be thousands of miles away, but it was his duty to follow the rules he had followed since childhood. Maybe he would break free from it one day, but that day had yet to arrive.
The morning light filtered through the porthole of his cabin, casting a circle of golden sunlight onto the wooden floor. For a moment, he lay in bed, savouring the warmth of the blankets and the novel sensation of waking up at sea. The sensation of the engines had already become a new normal to Nicholas; in a way, their rhematic movement had helped lull him off to sleep last night. He pondered just how fast the engines could go. He assumed it must have been a high speed for they would reach New York in four days. America was so far away yet would soon be so close. He knew he could not lay here all day, no matter how much he wanted to. His stomach would make him move sooner or later. Hunger was a decisive factor in not lying around all day. But he couldn't help but appreciate the luxury of the bed, a stark contrast to his usual accommodations, a thought that kept crossing his mind as he sampled different parts of the ship. It was indeed a wonder that had blown his mind.
Nicholas finally gave in and sat up. He stretched and looked around the cabin. His cabinmate was gone. They had briefly exchanged a hello last night, but that was the extent of their interaction. He seemed friendly, but that’s all Nicholas could say about him. He swung his legs out of the bed and put his feet on the cold floor. He gasped a little, unaware of just how cold it was. He pushed past it and gathered his things. Despite his nerves, he had to wash himself. He could wash himself in the sink, but that would not be the proper way. He pulled a dressing gown over his pyjamas, for he felt odd wearing them to walk to the bathroom. He knew the facilities were shared but did not quite care because he was used to it. Once he had picked a fresh brown suit, he left the cabin.
After stumbling around briefly, Nicholas found the bathroom; he had worried he would never find it. He stepped inside and was once again taken aback by the simple but grand nature of the room. The room was lined with white gleaming tiles, and the fixtures were of polished brass. He splashed his face with cold water, the chill snapping him fully awake, then shaved with a razor and soap provided by the ship. Nicholas Appreciated the hot water greatly, like most things on the ship. It was an uncommon luxury back home. He chuckled at himself for a second as the idea of ditching becoming a lawyer to work on a ship phased in and out of his mind. He could never do that, but the possibility of keeping such. Once done washing up, he dressed and dropped his things back at his cabin. It was time for breakfast, for his stomach was getting more annoyed at the lack of food.
He slid quietly into the second-class dining saloon and took a seat. The room was alive with chatter, cutlery clattering, freshly brewed coffee and bread aroma. Nicholas had never drunk coffee before but had smelt it on his way to school every morning since the route he walked past the local café that served the miners their breakfasts. The room was a large, elegant room with mahogany furniture upholstered in crimson, which, alongside linens, fine china, and gleaming silverware on the tables, made Nicholas feel like he was in a palace. It was beyond any luxury he had seen before. Breakfast was a hearty affair, served by attentive stewards who moved efficiently around the room. Nicholas opted for food he was used to: porridge, which came steaming hot, and a selection of freshly baked bread with butter and marmalade. He could surely branch out in food tastes later, though he tried his first-ever coffee that day. It was both intense and invigorating. He was unsure if it was to his taste, but the food was heavenly.
Finishing his meal, Nicholas lingered over his coffee, watching people come and go, listening to the hustle and bustle of the room. He could sit here all day, taking in the sights and sounds. His nerves from yesterday had subsided, and now he felt more joy than anxiousness. He finished up the last droplet of coffee and placed it on the table; in a swift action he had not expected, a steward soon swooped it up. As the morning sun climbed higher, Nicholas felt a burgeoning curiosity to explore the grandeur of the Titanic. He rose from his seat, nodded to others at the table and left the room. He headed to first class, to the heart of the ship itself. The grand staircase was doing its best to blend in; he felt he was breaking the rules, but he just had to see it. As he sneakily entered, he was thoroughly taken aback, even more than he had been with second class.
The opulence was breathtaking: gleaming oak bannisters, intricate ironwork, and a dome of glass above sprinkled the space with natural light. He had never seen anything like it before. It was beyond grandeur; he had no words. He wondered how much money this entire room would cost. He slowly descended the stairs, each step taking him deeper into the architectural marvel, his eyes wide with wonder at the luxurious appointments and the hum of hushed conversations echoing softly off the polished wood and plush carpets. Nobody noticed him as he wandered down the stairs, taking every sight and scent. He retreated up the stairs once again, taking everything in.
Nicholas continued to explore further some more, time slipping away from him. Here and there, he bid hello to people. He Was amazed to learn that Titanic even had a swimming pool and a squash court. She indeed had everything you could need. He needed air, so he retreated onto the promenade deck. He was taking extra care not to fall flat on his face. He walked over the railing next to a man he did not know. "Good afternoon, sir; the name's Wallace Heartly. Ship's bandmaster," he said. Nicholas nodded and responded, "Nicolas Goodwin". He inhaled deeply; the fresh ocean air still felt reinvigorating. Nicholas's eyes turned towards the Distant horizon. "I've never been on a ship like this before, so I must say the music last night was wonderful." Nicholas had been sitting in the second-class library drinking his ginger ale when the angelic tunes drifted in from outside.
Wallace's eyes lit up with appreciation. "Thank you. We try to complement the grandeur of this voyage with our music. It's a splendid opportunity for a musician — to play aboard this magnificent ship." He paused, looking back out to sea. In the Distance, Ireland grew smaller and smaller. Nicholas watched it intently. Wallace removed something from his pocket and handed it to Nicholas. "A timetable of our future performance times", he explained with a smile. "The next one will be our first out in the open ocean", he added. "I look forward to hearing you play," Nicholas said, his gaze drifting back to the horizon. "We'll have plenty of time for music and conversations in the coming days." It was true; Titanic was, in fact, slowly gaining speed. Ireland was growing ever distant. She was stretching her legs for the first time, sailing out into the vast blue ocean. The next time Titanic sees land, it will be in four days. New York would welcome her with open arms. As their conversation continued, the ship gained more speed. She was ploughing ahead through the water with ease. Nicholas leaned over the railing, feeling the rush in his air. And in that moment, something unlocked inside of him. His first step towards a new liberation, the stirrings of excitement for the days ahead, grew inside him. He would never be chained by his nerves again, or that is what he had hoped inside.
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