Written by Panthres

My arms encircled my favorite teddy bear, Bert, as I slept lying on the small mattress that was in my room, dreaming of a land full of mystical creatures while covered in a hand-knitted blanket that my grandmother had made especially for me on my third birthday.

I had no idea that I’d be meeting the dragons in my dream and joining my friend, Silvernesti of the Faeries, soon, and that today would be the three hundredth anniversary of my trip aboard the Titanic.

I was awakened by my bear falling from my arms, and as I couldn’t sleep without him…I awoke instantly. I gathered the worn, torn, yet truly loved teddy bear from the floor and leaned back against the wall of the small room.

"Bert, do you believe in mystical animals?" I asked my beloved friend. I sighed happily, held Bert up for inspection, and cocked my head to the side.

I studied him for a minute, then gave a firm nod.

"Yes, Bert, you’re absolutely right. We do need to go exploring," I stated.

My small, seven-year-old self hopped out of bed and pulled on a fairly new white dress with a warm blue-striped sweater over it. I stepped into my thick black stockings and put on some strapped schoolgirl shoes. I brushed my hair and tied it into two pigtails before grabbing Bert off the bed and poking my head out the door.

There was no one else around, so I hurriedly ran down the corridors of the second class staterooms. If anyone is looking, they would see nothing more than a streak of red hair flying down the halls, I thought to myself in amusement as I watched my younger self sneak out of second class and to the deck of the ship.

I hid behind a few coils of rope and chattered excitedly to Bert as I looked around the place in fascination. I was happy until I heard a startled yell and I turned. That was when I saw it…a huge iceberg, and we were headed right for it. I stared in wide-eyed shock at it and toppled over backwards when we made impact. I stood up quickly as I heard pounding footsteps and yells coming from everywhere around the captain’s quarters.

I looked out curiously and gaped at the huge block of ice that sat no more than two feet away from me. I just blinked as I heard people coming onto the decks.

I pulled back into my corner, holding Bert to me tightly.

Almost four hours later, I was still hidden, but tears poured down my face as I heard the screams coming from around me and felt the panic.

My hiding place was lost when I saw the water approaching my feet and I squealed in fright before running with Bert still clutched to my chest. I ducked and crawled between slipping and screaming people as I made my way to the stern of the ship.

That was when I saw them, and I ran to them. It was my parents. My mother held screaming and crying onto my father’s hand as the ship rose into the air. I ran to her, and as soon as I reached her, I slipped and screamed. "Mum!" They looked at me, but my mother caught my hand, and I started to smile at her until my small hand slipped from hers. I fell just as the bow broke off.

I saw my father’s anger, but didn’t know why as I fell into the icy waters of the Atlantic with Bert still clutched to me and my eyes closed as I left my body.

To this day, I remember the panic, desperation, and fear from those on the Titanic, and even though I didn’t survive the Titanic’s downfall, I will never stop remembering the amazing time I had on the ship. I’ve always wondered how come my hand slipped from my mother’s, and now, as I watch this memory play again, I realize what truly happened on the Titanic and the treachery involved, as my own mother was my murderer. She chose my father over me when she picked up that small piece of ice just before she caught my hand.

The End.

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