Amelia and I spend hours chatting away. We speak of the utmost interesting travels. She was in previously in France, but her family moved to Poland a few years ago, and now she rests on the same bow as I; a ship to New Holland. What a life. I cannot help but admire her life. She speaks Polish, French and English fluently, and she's only 17, like me. Such a brilliant young lady. Her family has recently sent her to meet with a British family which is already on the other side of our journey.
"What about you, Lena?" She encourages.
"I… Well…" I trail off. Must I say my situation? Must I explain the death of my entire family to her? She may not understand the emotional trauma, but I do. The family I loved my entire life; gone. My mother who sang to me, my father who protected me, but little brother whom I played with it, and my grandma with whom story times were never dull.
"My family…" Please, no. I'm not ready to–
"That's ok. You don't have to." She softly touches my shoulder; comforting me while she feels me slightly trembling.
"I couldn't help but notice that you are traveling alone. I won't pressure you into things you may not want to talk about."
She turns her head and returns her gaze to the horizon.
I wasn't aware that my face could be read like a book. So easily had she determined my very thought process that I was startled. Clever as the day is long.
I, too, return my gaze to the beauty of the ocean. We had talked for so long that the harbour which we had boarded on was no-where in sight, only the vast sea -full of obscurities and uncharted wonders- stood before me. Like the waves which bounced our boat, so too did the wonder and awe mix with fear and anxiety. The unpredictable sea: what if a storm brew? What if we hit something? Endless possibilities berate my conscience as Amelia lies one of her hands on my shoulder once again; her soft hand meeting my cool, porcelain skin. She suddenly embraces me, taking my entire body by surprise. It has been so long since someone had provided me with the platonic care which every child yearns for. Even though I am no longer a child, I cannot help but shutter ever-so-softly, and exchange caresses with her. She pulls away from me.
"You seemed so distressed, I thought you may need a hug. It's going to be okay. The journey is only two months. It will fly by; I know it will!" She flashes a warm smile at me.
"I'm sure it will." I reply.
The sun is setting; the beauty of the twilight is almost blinding. Amelia is handed an oil lantern from a nearby passenger and she swiftly ties the lantern to the bow of the vessel; the string attached to the handle of the lantern is used to secure it. The lantern dangles too and frow as the ship rocks with the pull of the currents below us. Food rations are passed around as well; bread and soup are handed to every passenger. I feel the severe jabbing of hunger was I wait patiently for mine rations. As soon as they touch my hand, they instantly find themselves in my mouth, and in my stomach. Hunger takes over as I eat like a rabid animal. The stress of the sea does not surpass the nausea of starvation. Amelia and I continue to converse as we gaze at the stars, pointing out the most beautiful and vibrant ones. My eyelids start to feel heavy as Amelia decides she would return to the lower deck for rest.
"I will see you when the sun rises, Lena." She calls after me as she walks away.
"I cannot wait." I say through my exhaustion. I am too tired to move, let alone crawl my way into the lower deck, so I make comfort here; I curl up into a small ball on the bow of the ship. My eyes start to shut on me, creeping down onto my eyes, making me devoid of visual light. My mind begins to wander, my breathing shallows, and I descend in slumber.