Opportunities

Once a prince, always a prince. It counted for Merlin, although he'd never felt like royalty. He had been using his mother's surname ever since his father's death. He was now called Merlin Miller. Merlin Miller, whose dad laid under the ground and whose mother was about to be left alone because he couldn't stand being in Ireland anymore. They'd moved to a small home there when Merlin had turned fifteen. But it was just the same as in England and Scotland: magic was banned and it seemed that the law wouldn't be turned around, not even in the very, very far away future. Merlin wanted to be able to use his magic freely, and be proud of who he was instead of ashamed of himself. His mother respected that decision, helped him pay for a third class boat ticket, and arranged a car to pick him up and bring him to Queenstown. It turned out not to be that hard to find a ride: Will's family owned a car and he'd stayed with Merlin in Ireland for the past week. He would bring Merlin to the harbour and from there, Merlin would cross the Atlantic on board of the Titanic. Merlin Miller was going to America: the land of endless opportunities. He was pretty sure it would be everything he ever dreamt of and more.

Before it was time to leave, he said goodbye to his father. He looked at the red roses, took a step back from the marble stone and found his mothers warm hands. ''The flowers are lovely,'' she said quietly.

''The least I could do,'' he answered.

They both stood in the cold April air, little clouds of condensation formed from their breaths. Merlin had a boat to get onto, a time limit, but they were both not ready to say goodbye. Not yet. It was that way because Merlin wasn't sure how long his stay in America would be. Who knew, maybe he'd settle down and start a family if he found 'the right one'. Yes, he was only twenty-three years old, but, again, who knew. Maybe he'd find a great job and let his mum come over. The possibilities were infinite: at least he hoped they would turn out to be that way.

Behind Merlin and his mum someone honked the puffing Ford and they both turned to face each other, for they knew now was the time to say goodbye. They fell into an embrace, both shivering from the cold.

''I'll miss you, darling.''

''I'll miss you too.''

''Promise me you'll write, Merlin.''

He laughed. ''As if I haven't promised that a thousand times already. Yes, I will. Don't worry about it.''

''I've bought some more ink for you, just in case you run out of your own.'' She pulled back from their embrace and began the search in an overfull handbag, then smiled triumphantly when she found it.

Merlin grumbled and slapped his own forehead with one hand. ''You're ridiculous, mum.''

''I'm prepared, and there's nothing wrong with that.'' Hunith made a very serious face, Merlin shook his head in disbelief.

From a small distance, the boy's best friend hung out of the window of his car, calling out: ''We've got to leave, princess, otherwise you'll miss the fucking happiness that's waiting for you on the other side of the world!''

Merlin turned his head towards the though-looking guy and yelled back: ''But you are my fucking happiness Will, what will I be without you by my side?''

''Fucking heartbroken!'' He laughed, they all did, even Hunith, who'd accepted the boys' weird sense of humour and inappropriate use of language a long time ago. She connected her hand with Merlin's again and they walked towards the car. Merlin's luggage was already there. She gave Merlin's hand a last squeeze and kissed him on the cheek, one, two, three, five, ten times (Merlin had counted) and then she let him go. She waved and waved until the car was long out of sight, mouthing several I love you's and I'll miss you's – but she was determined not to cry. She wanted this for her son and she still did. After the long goodbye, she made her way home – a ten-minute walk away from the graveyard. It was silent there: one of the things I'll have to get used to, she thought.

Will sang terrible. Merlin had closed the car windows the moment he began his serenade, sounding like an injured howling wolf. Merlin had begged him to stop, but then Will kindly reminded him of the fact this wasn't, in fact, his car, so that, in fact, Will was the one who decided what was happening in there. Even if that meant a terrible cover of Let Me Call You Sweetheart by Arthur Clough, a song that was played on the radio multiple times every single day.

''Let me call you sweetheart / I'm in love with you / Let me hear you whisper / that you love me too –''

''I swear it, Will,'' Merlin threatened, ''I will kill you if you sing another line. I'll take over the steering wheel and drive myself.''

''You've never driven a car before! Keep the love light glowing / in your eyes so blue – you hear that Merlin? This song is written for you – BLUE!''

Merlin groaned. ''You don't have to imitate my mum, you wanker!''

The remark was ignored completely by the wanker. ''Let me call you sweetheart / I'm in love with you.'' He got even more into the song, closing his eyes for short seconds to get the dramatic face expression.

''Jezus, keep an eye on the road!'' Merlin cried out, even though the sight of Will made him laugh so much he was afraid he would get stomach cramps. Stupid, awful Will, he thought. I'll miss this.

''Got it under control. Ah, jee, the song is over.''

''Good for you. You're the worst.''

''Well, you're wrong. I've got loads of other songs. I should be a performer. I'd rock.'' Another song began, and Merlin shook his head when Will yelled ''Sing with me, Merlin! Live a little!'', but after a while he found himself screaming the lyrics of the most cheesy songs on the radio. And that was how he joined Will, and Will was pleased, because both of them knew the time would come to say goodbye, but for now, they were purely enjoying the moment and nothing else. The goodbye was an inevitable subject though, and sooner than Merlin thought, they were entering Queenstown. Not far from here anymore, was a thought that crossed his mind. He lowered the volume of the music after song number twenty ended. Will saw it coming and the carefree expression on his face vanished.

''So,'' Merlin muttered, ''what will you do when I'm away?''

Will sighed: ''Go back to England and work in my father's garage. Do some stuff, do some more stuff, and in about fifty years – die – probably.''

Merlin had expected a comment like that. ''Come on, mate,'' he tried, ''I'll be back.''

''To come to my funeral? Thanks.''

Merlin kept his mouth shut, not knowing how to comfort Will when everything he said would be taken the wrong way. He also knew Will had a point: Merlin had no idea when he'd be back – he had no idea how everything would turn out.

''But, you know,'' Will continued, ''go make the magic happen. Go find great people to spend your time – year – life – whatever – with. Just don't forget me, I s'pose. That is all.'' He hit the brakes and drummed on the steering wheel with his fingers. ''We have arrived,'' he stated, but he wasn't moving. And then Merlin realised he was waiting for an answer to his previous confession. That he even needed to hear an answer, was ridiculous. He knew the answer.

''There are two people in this world I'll never ever forget,'' said Merlin. ''You, and mum. And now I have even more ink'' – Will laughed a little, unwillingly – ''you won't miss a single adventure of mine.''

Will nodded slowly, never once watching Merlin, who was making an effort to comfort him. His eyes were glued to the view before him. The enormous boat that appeared, the little boats that transported luggage and passengers to it. The Titanic was so big, it was too big to anchor in the harbour. Both young men had never seen something like that before. Will took a few quiet minutes for himself, before his eyes met Merlin's. They were glittering with beginning tears. There were some more irrelevant words, but not that many, and then Will's face was buried into Merlin's shoulder and he was shaking a bit. Merlin murmured: ''You'll be great Will. You'll be fantastic – you've always been. And I will be back.'' Now this sounded more like a promise. It sounded different than all the times he'd said it before. Merlin knew he couldn't break this one.

Will heard the difference. ''If you say so, then I believe you.''

Merlin made a mental note that Will was the best friend ever to exist on this planet.