I waited, holding my breath.

“Your name is undoubtedly on the list of the missing, but there are almost fifteen hundred names on it, and you could be any one of them.”

“Missing?” I said. What in the name of God was this woman on about?

She seemed confused. “Missing as in drowned. The Titanic!” Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, what’s wrong with me? You don’t remember a thing about it, do you? The Titanic was a new ship that sailed from Southampton to Queenstown and then on to New York four weeks ago. It was said to be the greatest ship ever built.” She paused and sighed. “There I go again, slipping away from the main subject. You were one of over two thousand passengers and crew. The night before it was due to arrive in New York, it was hit by an iceberg and sank. Some seven hundred souls were saved, but the rest drowned.”

Mrs. Shaw took my hand in hers. “You were one of the lucky ones, my dear. A sailor carried you onboard the rescue ship, the Carpathia. Apparently, you had fallen out of the lifeboat, hitting your head on the way. You were in the water for some time, but eventually two seamen managed to pull you back into the boat. I was a passenger on the Carpathia, and when I first saw you, I thought you were dead. Then I looked closely at your face and realized you were still breathing. I ordered the sailor to bring you to my stateroom. A ship’s officer came to my cabin, checking for survivors. I told him there was no identification on you. He marked you down as an unidentified survivor, and most likely because your name, whatever it is, was on the manifest, it is now on the list of the missing. I watched over you until we arrived in New York, and then I arranged for you to be brought here. Dr. Taylor is an old friend of mine. As soon as you are well enough, I intend to bring you home with me so that you can convalesce.”

I let out a whimper. Nurse Mason, who I hadn’t noticed in the room, came over to the bed. “I think that’s enough for now, Mrs. Shaw,” she said, her tone making clear she would stand for no argument. “This girl has been through a great deal. I don’t think it’s advisable to relate all these details in one fell swoop. Perhaps you can return later in the week?”

Mrs. Shaw nodded and stood up. “You are quite right, of course, Nurse Mason. I don’t know what I was thinking. I shall give her a few days to absorb what I have told her.” She turned to me and patted my arm. “Goodbye, my dear. I can’t wait to take you home.”