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Four days they had spent on the RMS Carpathia and they had been the worst four days of their lives. There had been a weird combination of people in their nightwear, others in ball gowns and very few who were actually properly dressed; all slowly starting to understand what had happened. The crew of the Carpathia had seen the worst scenes, silence had fallen over everyone, and some of the people had turned into spectres. No one dared to say a word, as if this disaster had silence all human emotions. The crew had gone down to the water in lifeboats to try and find more survivors, but the only thing that they found were fragments of wood, the cork from lifebelts, a slight brown discoloration in the surface of the water and the occasional deck chair. People waited to see if more survivors were found, waiting for a husband, brother, son or sweetheart that never came back.

Grief settled among the survivors as the situation started sinking. In those four days they all lived together, and as they left the scene and approached New York people really started realising what had happened. The RMS Olympic, the sister of the Titanic, had turned around to assist the passengers, and as both ships approached New York they had ask the Carpathia if they wanted help, which they refused, thinking that an almost copy of the Titanic asking the survivors to board would terrify them. With that the Olympic turned and went back to Southampton.

As the skyscrapers of Manhattan were seen through the fog and the rain the only sound they could hear were the bells. As the survivors left the ship the only sound that surrounded them was silence, the silence of death. The scene was so heart-breaking that some people broke into sobs and cries, but the flashes from the cameras seemed so inappropriate.

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Screams, coldness, guilt. She couldn't move, she was freezing, surrounded by death and water, slowly the strength was leaving her, she couldn't swim; she couldn't breathe. Suddenly she was alone, looking up to the surface as her body fell deeper and deeper into the water, everything turning black around her. The fear rose making her scream, but no one heard her, and as her last breath left her body she felt two strong hands, then, blackness.

-Elsie! Elsie wake up!

She opened her eyes to meet Charles', not knowing where she was, what was going on, the memories coming back, hitting her.

-Charles! We have to go! Charles!

-Calm down darling, we are safe. We are in land.

As Elsie started focusing she realised she was in a bedroom. She slowly remembered she was in America, in Cora's house. She sat on the bed and saw that the sheets had fallen, that it was dark and she was in her nightgown, the only thing she had left. She looked up to Charles with tears running down her cheeks as she remembered her nightmare.

-It's alright darling, everything'd fine.

-Why they don't go away?!

-Because they are part of us. But don't worry, I'm here.

-Where's Michael? – She looked at the right side of the bed, where the crib should have been.

-Sleeping soundly in the nursery. Cora and I thought that maybe it would be a good idea. Do you want me to bring him?

-No. If he's okay there.

-I checked not an hour ago and he was sleeping like an angel. Why don't you try to do the same?

-I don't want the nightmares to haunt me forever.

-One day they will go, but for now we have to live with them.

-I need air.

She stood up without looking at Charles, leaving the room and walking down to the front door, opening it and stepping out into the cold night. She walked a few meters away from the door before sitting down on the floor. She hadn't taken that nightgown off since the night of the accident, not wanting to leave the only thing she had left. The screams were ringing in her ears, and the feeling of coldness from the water still surrounded her.

-Elsie. – At the sound of a female voice she turned her head to see Cora in her robe.

-I was… I'm sorry.

-Charles told me.

-I hope I didn't wake you.

-It's been hard to fall asleep since the incident. Who wouldn't afraid to close their eyes and the next moment to be back in the ship?

-I thought I was much stronger.

-Elsie, you've been put to the limit, it's obvious that something like this can break anyone. You have many more years behind you, and many more memories; crying after all this years doesn't make you weak; it means you've been strong for too long. You need to cry, go ahead; you need to scream, do it.

-I can't stop hearing them. The screams over a sea of silence.

-We all hear them. You've witnessed death in all its glory, and now you are trying to forget, but you can't.

-Why don't you cry? Why can you get up every morning?

-I saw my daughter dying, that makes you stronger, but I can assure you that I will remember this all my life.

-I just want to go home, but I don't think I'm strong enough to cross the ocean again.

-Let's not think about this today anymore, let's go back to bed.

-I needed to get out.

-I know, but you can't do this alone.

Cora offered her her hand, and Elsie, after looking at it for a minute or too, took it and rose form the floor. They both walked back inside the house and Charles took her to bed, lying beside her, letting her cry on his chest.

The next morning came, and Charles got up and faced the day, leaving Elise in bed. She had finally fallen asleep, and no more nightmares had come to her that night. Charles walked to the dining hall to find Cora, Robert and Cora's mother having breakfast.

-How is she?

-Sleeping Lady Grantham.

-They want us to go to New York.

-Who?

-The owners of the… of the Titanic.

-Why? I don't think Elsie could…

-Carson, they want us to go because we are survivors. The captain of the Olympic will be there too.

-Olympic?

-It's the twin sister of the Titanic. They want us to give some sort of speeches or talk about this. It might do well to Mrs. Carson.

-I don't its wise. She's not able to get out of bed, how can she…

-I will go.

Elsie was standing in the doorway with baby Michael in her arms. She had washed her hair and it could be seen that she had washed and dried her nightgown.

-You are up. Do you want a cup of tea?

-That would be lovely.

-How are you feeling?

-Not very well, but I'm going to New York. I want to know a few things. When are we leaving?

-This evening if it's alright by you.

-By me I would be leaving right now, I don't have to pack.

-About that, my mother has taken the liberty of buying you both new clothes. You don't have anything else.

-No Lady Grantham, we have nothing. Two pictures and a locket. That's all we have left.

-Then go and get dressed, wear whatever you want Mrs. Carson. I didn't buy you many fancy clothes.

-Thank you Mrs. Levinson. Do you have anything for Michael? He's just wearing his diaper.

-I'll go with you and we can both get dressed.

Cora took the tray of tea and accompanied Elsie to her room. The windows were open, and the coat and shoes that she owned were next to it, the salty water had left a mark on them. Cora helped her with a black summer dress.

-I will ask my mother where the shoes are.

-I want to wear mine.

-They are ruined.

-I want to wear them.

-Alright. Don't get angry.

-I'm sorry. My nerves…

Cora took the salt covered shoes and gave them to Elsie, who took them in her slightly shaky hands and looked at them.

-Do you want me to put them for you? – She nodded.

-They were a gift from my mother when I started service at Downton. She also gave me my blue dress, which is lying now at the bottom of the sea.

-I didn't know that.

They arrived at New York the following day, an hour or so before the reunion began. The sky was grey, and it was cold; the reunion was taking place in front of the Statue of Liberty, where the press was as well as many unknown people. They sat in chairs, a small stage separating the survivors from the rest. The sound of the water made Elsie shiver, but she didn't say a word.

-Thank you very much for coming.  – the major greeted them with a gloomy face. – I know that you have suffered great loses, and been here means the world to all of you. We know that today won't bring those who have lost their lives back, but we want you to tell us who you are looking for, and perhaps answer questions. So, if any of you would like to come up here.

The major waited, and waited, and waited. No one moved, they felt that this wasn't how a situation like this must have been treated. There were cries, and silence, but no one moved. After fifteen minutes Elsie rose. The major smiled as he helped Elsie on stage. Journalists stood up but Elsie raised her hand telling them to sit down.

-I won't answer questions. I'm asking them. My name is Elsie Carson, and as many others here, I want to know why. Why did she sink? We were in for a wonderful journey and now… Why weren't there enough lifeboats? I was one of the lucky ones who were rescued from the water, and I would give anything to forget that night. I want to know why everything I had is lying inside a ship that has sunk! For God sake's I was in labor while the ship was sinking, and if they hadn't come back my son, my husband, my friends, we would all be dead, frozen! All I have of my own is this nightgown, – She took her nightgown from her purse. – this shoes and this coat. Why do I hear every day the screams, the silence; why do I feel guilt from being alive; why do I have nightmares every night? I just want to know that. – Charles stood and tried to take her out of the stage, but she refused. – I have nothing left; if I had died I would have left two little children alone. Why the hell were we sentenced to die in the middle of the Ocean with no one to tell us that we would be alright?!

Charles run to her and took her out of the stage when she started crying. No one took pictures, they just stared in silence. Elsie cried in Charles chest with Michael in her arms, sleeping, oblivious to what was happening.

-She's right. We should be able to answer all those questions. We should be able to say sorry. – A men from the public stood up looking at them. – I'm the Captain from the RMS Olympic, and my ship is available for anyone who wishes to go back to England. I want you all to know that it's the twin sister of the Titanic, so if so feel you can't, that seen it would be too much I'll make sure there are other ships willing to take you back.

-When is it leaving?

-The 26th. We will be waiting for anyone who wants to go back home.

-Thank you.

-I want to say something.

-Me too.

-We all want.

People started getting up, telling their stories, asking questions. Elsie looked at them with an amazed expression. They all were scared, there were very few more who could say that they had been in the water in the verge of dying, but still they were there. They got up every morning, and continued with their lives, not forgetting but still living. Elsie wanted to go back home.