“He’s right,” said Delia. “I felt just now that we hit something, or something hit us.”

It was then I came to my senses. I looked at Delia, and her face was white as a sheet. I jumped out of bed, not caring that Robert would see me in my underthings. I picked up the dress I had dropped on the floor earlier and shoved my feet into my unlaced boots. Robert helped me fasten the life belt. I reached for his hand, and together we ran out into the corridor toward the stairs to the upper decks.

As we ran, I heard Delia’s voice behind us. She was yelling about identity papers, but I paid no attention. I couldn’t care less about identity papers. I’d even left my suitcase behind. All my fine new clothes. But I’ll go back for them later, I thought. As we ran, a few passengers poked their heads around the cabin doors and then closed them again when a porter told them to get back in. Fear clutched at me. My throat turned dry and pounding filled my ears. I could hardly breathe. I clung desperately to Robert’s arm for fear he would let go. I tripped going up the stairs and kicked off my unlaced boots, which were holding me back from running. Through the drumming in my ears, I could hear the crew shouting to one another. I wanted to be sick.

For the entire voyage I’d tried not to think that I was on a floating pile of wood and iron out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I’d distracted myself from my fears by dancing and flirting and carrying on. And I’d succeeded, almost to the point where my fear had gone. But now it all came roaring back.

Robert was almost dragging me now, for I wasn’t fit to keep up with him. As we rushed across the second-class deck, I fancied I heard Delia calling my name. I pried myself free of Robert and turned around, but I couldn’t see her. I yelled out her name, but my voice was drowned in the clamor of sounds around me. I tried to run back the way I had come, but Robert caught me and forced me forward. “Keep going,” he shouted. “She’s right behind us.”

We reached the first-class deck, and Robert pulled me through the crowd to where a line of women stood.

“Get into the lifeboat!” he said before disappearing into the crowd.

“Robert!” I cried.

But he was gone. I looked around frantically for Delia, hoping against hope that she would appear, but there was no sign of her in the crowd that was surging up the stairs toward me. I was well and truly alone.

“Mother of God, save me,” I whispered.

Delia

Delia