Liverpool, 3 April 1912

The morning began ... no, not with coffee. With a severe hangover. There are three eternal questions that every person asks himself: «Who is guilty? », "What to do?" and "Why did I mix whiskey with beer?".

On half-bent legs, I went to the window and opened it with trembling hands. A fresh sea breeze blew into my bedroom, blowing alcohol fumes out.

What can I do today? Everything is somehow bleak. Pretty, but boring house without internet and TV. There's not even a radio here. I've already been to the pub. I do not want to repeat.

I decided to hang a punching bag in the yard. I am obsessed with boxing. Don't know if Henry liked sports.

I had just started hanging the punching bag when the doorbell rang.

Holding hammer in my hands, I opened the door. On the threshold stood a lady about my age.

Copy of Henry, but woman. A sister? What's her name?

- Why are you dressed like a ragamuffin, dear Harry? - she pointed to a pea coat and frayed jeans.

- You don't understand a lot, this is casual style. Soon it will be popular all over the world, - I kissed my sister on the cheek.

-God forbid!

-Why did you come? I didn't seem to invite you to visit, - I answered, going back to the garden to finish hanging the punching bag, - sorry, for don't offering tea. The housekeeper left to get groceries, and my hands are dirty. No sugar and it's better for you to go home.

- Henry, what's wrong with you? Why this rudeness in the Easter week? - sister followed me - it's just impudence. Have I offended you in any way?

-Sorry. I visited Polly, Archie and Richard yesterday. Got upset. Came home, drank whiskey, but it doesn't help.

- A year has passed. A year ... you have to move on. They can't be returned.

- I'd love to live on. I just don't know how.

-You should get married. Children need a mother. You are constantly at sea, and they are alone with nanny.

- Whom to marry? I see that everyone here knows what I have and what I haven't to do.

- Looking at you and don't understand anything. We haven't seen each other for only a week, and you've changed strangely. Never seen you interested in boxing or wearing an old pea jacket. You were never rude to me.

Ada...remembered. Henry Wilde's sister's name was Ada.

- Everything changes, Ada.

- So much that you started fighting in pubs and stopped shaving? Mr. Williams saw you yesterday at Rice Lane.

- Don't forget, I'm a mariner. We all know how to fight. Or you think I should have forgiven the insults?

-Don't go where all the drunks gather and you won't have to beat their faces.

- A free man in a free country has the right to go wherever he wants. And if some do not know how to behave, they need to be explained that they are wrong.

-Waving your fists is called "explaining what is wrong"?

- You came to teach me how to live, dear sister? I'm thirty-nine, hello.

- If you, Henry, have not learned by the age of thirty-nine, I am powerless.

Ada walked towards the exit without looking back.

-You forgot to ask why I don't shave! Everyone knows what I have to do and what not.

Only I could spoil relationships with my own sister. Really time to run away from this family.

Liverpool, 9 April 1912

5 a.m. Sitting in bed until 7, I held in my hand a coin with the profile of King Edward VII. The suitcase has already been packed. Time to make decision where to go and what to do.

Heads or Tails? Titanic or quiet life without problems and adventures?

Tails – I'm leaving Henry's life, house, children, relatives. And moving forward somewhere to Australia or South America. Heads – I'm staying and continue to be Henry Wilde. With all the consequences that come from it.

It seemed that the coin was turning over in the air for an eternity. Sl-o-owly…Heads! Well the choice is made. The train Liverpool-London leaving Lime Street Station in 6 hours. Then transfer at Waterloo station and directly to Southampton. To the biggest challenge in my life.