Carmen stormed out of Simon's suite, her heart racing and tears streaming down her face. She couldn't bear to hear another word from him, not after what he had just said. All she wanted was to be alone, to sort through her jumbled thoughts and try to make sense of the pain she was feeling.
Simon's desperate calls echoed in her ears, but she ignored them, consumed by the storm of emotions raging within her. Her heart felt like it was being crushed under the weight of betrayal and heartbreak, and she could barely breathe through the suffocating pain.
As she stumbled down the hallway, she felt a sudden urge to escape, to flee the ship and leave all her troubles behind. But she knew deep down that running away wouldn't solve anything. She needed to confront her feelings head-on and come to terms with the harsh reality of her situation.
Her mind raced as she walked, replaying the hurtful words Simon had hurled at her. She couldn't believe that the man she had trusted and admired with all her heart could be so callous and cruel.
Despite the chaos in her mind and heart, she managed to make her way to the elevator and pressed the button with shaky fingers. As she waited for the doors to open, she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
When the doors finally slid open, she stepped inside and leaned back against the cool metal wall, letting out a shuddering sigh. The elevator began to descend, and the sound of the ocean outside filled her ears, a soothing balm to her frayed nerves.
But even the calming sound of the waves couldn't quell the storm raging inside her. She knew she needed time to herself, time to grieve and process everything that had happened. Only then could she begin to pick up the shattered pieces of her heart and start to heal.
As the elevator doors opened, the salty breeze of the ocean hit her, and she stepped out into the serene surroundings. Carmen slipped off her heels and swung them to and fro as she made her way to the small pool area. The sound of the water lapping against the pool walls was soothing, and Carmen sank down at the edge of the pool, bunched up her gown on her thighs, and lowered her legs into the water.
She took a long swig of the beer, a few of which she had grabbed on her way up, letting it numb her pain for a while. It was hard not to think about what had just happened, how the men in her life had only let her down. Her father was the only person she trusted completely, and she wondered if he would be the only one. The thought of being alone in the world made her heart ache.
As she took another swig of beer, Carmen tried to push away her thoughts, not wanting to dwell on the hurt and betrayal she felt. The taste of the beer was bitter, but it gave her something to focus on, something to distract her from the pain. She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of the waves and letting the breeze wash over her. For a moment, she felt at peace, and it was the only thing that kept her from completely falling apart.
As she sat there, staring out into the vast expanse of the ocean, Carmen couldn't help but feel like she was drowning. The waves crashing against the side of the ship were a constant reminder of the tumultuous emotions raging inside her. She had hoped that the peacefulness of the sea would bring her solace, but it only amplified the chaos within her.
Her fingers idly traced the intricate pattern of the wooden deck beneath her, her mind lost in a sea of painful memories. She had tried to escape her problems, but they had followed her onto this ship like a relentless storm.
Carmen's eyes were puffy and bloodshot from the tears she had shed, and the scent of alcohol lingered on her breath. She had been drowning her sorrows in the bottle, hoping to numb the pain that threatened to consume her.
As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, she felt a small hand on her shoulder. Startled, she turned to see a young girl, no more than five years old, staring up at her with big, innocent eyes.
"Hi," the girl said in a sweet, childish voice. "Why are you crying?"
Carmen was taken aback. She didn't remember seeing this girl on the ship before, and she certainly didn't know her. But something about the girl's presence was comforting, and she found herself opening up to her.
"I'm just…having a rough night," Carmen managed to say, her voice hoarse from the alcohol.
The little girl nodded sympathetically. "I don't like seeing people sad," she said, sitting down next to Carmen. "Can I help?"
Carmen chuckled bitterly, wiping the tears with the back of her hand. "I don't think anyone can help me right now."
The girl frowned, but then her face lit up with an idea. "I know! I can tell you a story."
Carmen raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself. She knew a story wasn't something she needed right now, what she needed was to get the hell off this ship, go back to her life, and never trust anyone again. But the girl was cute, and her effort to make her feel better was already melting her poor heart. She didn't have the heart to say no to her. "Okay, go ahead."
The little girl cleared her throat and began with Alice falling down a rabbit hole into a magical world filled with talking animals and eccentric characters. As she narrated the tale, her eyes sparkled with wonder and excitement, and her voice carried a musical lilt that enchanted Carmen.
"And then the Mad Hatter appeared, and he was having a tea party with the March Hare and the Dormouse," the little girl continued, gesturing with her little hands to emphasize her words. "Alice drank from the shrinking potion and grew smaller and smaller until she was only as big as a mouse. She climbed on the table, and they all had a wonderful time together."
Carmen couldn't help but smile at the little girl's infectious enthusiasm. "You're a great storyteller," she said, still caught up in the magic of the tale, and perhaps forgetting about all her miseries for a while.
There was something about the girl that brought Carmen calm and warmth, it was as if she were not telling a story but a lullaby that Carmen could listen to day and night. Her voice was sweet and soothing, and her eyes were full of hopes and dreams.
The little girl beamed at the compliment. "Thank you! I love stories. They're my favorite thing."
Carmen drew in a deep breath of the cool night air, feeling a sense of calm wash over her.
"What's your name, sweetheart?" she inquired, a spark of interest flickering within her.
"I'm Alice," the little girl replied, extending her hand for Carmen to shake.
"Like Alice in Wonderland?" Carmen quirked an eyebrow in surprise.
"Sure, if you like," the girl giggled, covering her mouth with her small hands and kicking her feet back and forth.
"But I'm not Alice. I'm a different one. And I'm smarter."
Carmen couldn't help but let out a gentle laugh. "Well, aren't you just the cutest thing."
As Alice told Carmen another story, this time about a brave princess who set out to save her kingdom, Carmen was once again swept up in the magic of a tale. As Alice's story of the valiant princess came to an end, Carmen was enveloped in a strange sensation. It was like a sudden surge of electricity that made her head spin with the intensity of déjà vu. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had seen this little girl before, but where?
Lost in her thoughts, she was snapped back to reality. Concern etched her face as she turned to the girl and asked, "Alice, where are your parents?"
The girl's smile vanished, and her eyes grew sad, losing their sparkle. "They're fighting," she replied, her playful demeanor replaced by a pout.
Carmen felt a pang of guilt. "Oh, I'm sorry, honey. Do they know you're here?" She scanned the area, hoping to spot the girl's parents rushing towards them. "They must be worried sick about you."
Without a word, the little girl averted her gaze and stood up, her shoulders hunched in defeat. "I think I should go," she murmured, her sadness palpable. Carmen's heart ached at the sight of the dejected child. "Wait," she blurted out, knowing that she didn't want the girl to leave just yet. She could use some company, and it seemed like the girl could too. "You don't have to go if you don't want to."
The girl's face lit up, relief washing over her features as she turned back to Carmen. "Really? I'd love to stay a little longer," she said, a faint smile spreading across her lips.
Carmen felt a pang of warmth spread through her chest at the girl's response. It was nice to have someone to talk to, to distract her from her own troubles. She nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Of course you can stay. I'd like that," she said, patting the spot next to her.
Alice settled back down, tucking her legs up beneath her as she leaned in, her eyes alight with curiosity. "Can I tell you another story?" she asked, her voice soft and sweet.
Carmen nodded eagerly, grateful for the distraction. As Alice spun another tale, the sound of her voice seemed to wrap around Carmen like a comforting blanket. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to get lost in the story and forget, if only for a little while, about her own problems.
At some point during their storytelling session, Carmen found herself slowly drifting off. They had moved to a reclining chair nearby, and while Alice continued to chatter on with her tales, Carmen's mind began to slip away from reality.
Soon, Carmen was completely lost in slumber, her gentle snores blending in with the sounds of the ship. As she slept, the moonlight cast a soft glow over her features, her hair dancing in the gentle breeze.
Unbeknownst to Carmen, Alice had noticed her sleeping and couldn't help but stare in awe. In a quiet whisper to herself, Alice spoke to Carmen.
"You're so beautiful, mommy," she said while tears welled up in her little eyes. "I know you're upset because of daddy, but I hope you know he loves you. And he'll do everything to keep you safe." Alice watched over Carmen as she slept, feeling a sense of comfort in the moment, for she didn't know when she would get another chance to be this close to her mom.
Alice gently kissed Carmen's cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin against her lips. She snuggled up close to her, feeling the softness of the blankets and the gentle sway of the ship. The sound of the waves crashing against the hull was soothing, and Alice closed her eyes, letting herself get lost in the moment. She knew that her mom was hurting, but she also knew that she was strong. Alice had seen it in the way that Carmen had held her head high, even when everything seemed to be falling apart.
"Sleep well, mommy," Alice murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "You need to be ready for what's coming."
She knew that they were on this cruise for a reason, that they were meant to be here, but she couldn't help feeling a little scared. Scared for her mommy and the tough choices she would have to make in the coming future.