"Mother?!" I breathed as I stood, horrorstruck, in the doorway, "Oh God No..."
I slowly walked towards my mother's frail body; goose bumps swept through me and sent my hands quivering so badly that my whole body began to shake, sending me to my knees. I felt my breath turn to ice in my swelling throat, and swallowing became impossible. My heart raced frantically, feeling as though it was trying to beat its way from my body and leap into the fire that surrounded me.
I slowly reached out with quivering hands and wary eyes to touch my mother's still hands.
Barely breathing and injured... But still alive...
As my quivering hands touched the still body of my mother, a gasp was heard. I then realized that my mother's eyes were locked on me.
"Ni... cough Nicole? Can it be?" she said, soot covered her face and her arms were burned.
I could not reply nor breath, for my lungs had ceased to take in the salt air. A tear silently rolled down my cheek, washing away the soot that lingered in the air, as my mother slowly grasped my hand in hers.
"It has been tow months since you left... Two months since the fire... And now here I am... Here we are... United again in a fiery blaze that once separated us." She said softly.
"Why are you here?" I said my voice hoarse from the smoke that was now seeping up from the floorboards.
"There isn't much time...cough the ship is going to go...gasps Leave now! Nicole!" she cried out, chocking on the smoke.
"I can not leave you!" I replied as I tried to lift her.
She put her hand on my shoulder and stopped my attempts.
"My time here on earth is soon over sweetheart... I love you Nicole...And we will be reunited in heaven someday... But NOT TODAY! Now go... GO!" she cried out as the smoke made my eyes begin to water.
"I love you too." I whispered as I dashed out of the room and jumped off the burning ship.
As my body hit the water, I felt no urge to kick, to swim, nor to live. I felt my body sink deeper and deeper into the water, washing away the ash and soot, the heat of the fire, and the pain in my heart. The ocean seemed to pull me deeper and deeper down almost acting as if it wanted me... It wanted me and I would not refuse it...
I felt strong arms pull me to the surface after what felt like an eternity in the cool, welcoming water that I accepted was to be my end. I felt my body being thrown onto a hard surface and muffled shouts flying into my ears. I felt the rocking of the waves and the cool salt air as my lungs took it in and rejected the sea water. As my lungs took in air and released the salt water, the world became clearer.
I then opened my eyes and saw where I was.
"NICOLE!" Melissa cried as I sat up wearily, tears fell like boulders from my ruby red eyes.
She grabbed my neck and hugged me tightly, knocking the breath out of my frantic lungs and sending my body into a series of painful jolts. My hands began to quiver once more as she spoke,
"You scared me half to death! What the hell happened?"
I shakily stood to my aching feet and she escorted me to my bed. As my head hit the pillow, I replied to her many questions.
"It was her..." I cried out as tears began to stream down my pale cheeks.
"Who? Who was she?" Melissa asked, holding my quivering hand in hers, "What happened on that ship?"
"My mother... She... She was on the ship..." I replied my voice cracking and my throat swelling once more.
"WHAT HAPPENED?! Was she alive?" Melissa inquired as I sat up from my bed.
"She... She's GONE!" I cried out as I fell into her arms... Tears now began to torrent down my cheeks.
"Who is gone? Don't cry Nicole... Please don't..." Melissa said as she held me tightly in her arms.
"My mother... she's dead and... It's ALL MY fault..." I sobbed as I fell into Melissa's arms once more.
"I'm... I'm so sorry Nicole that this happened... But it is not your fault." Melissa whispered as she stroked my hair. My head lay in her lap as I lie on my bed, tear falling from my cheeks...
She stayed and comforted me for hours till I finally told her that I was ok... She left the room hesitantly before going to the captain to tell him of my health and then finally going to bed. That night, I had horrid nightmares. I woke screaming and not knowing why, only to be comforted by Melissa who would come rushing in through my door.
That night slowly turned to dawn and all were silent on the deck as I approached. As I began to walk towards the crowd of men on deck, the murmur of their talking ceased and the parted as I walked past them. They took off their hats and had gloomy expressions as I came upon the captain as he stood solemnly at the front of the ship.
"Phantess..." he said, his hat held awkwardly in his hands and his eyes filled with sorrow.
"Yes captain?" I replied, my voice wavering a bit.
"I... I am sorry about what happened last night... About your mother..." He said, his voice cracking a bit, "I had Mockingbird tell me... I'm sorry."
"It is quite fine Sir... My mother is in a better place now... I hope." I replied as tears began to well in my eyes and my voice begin to break...
I suppressed the tears and the pain that was now surging through my blood as I spoke aloud to the crew...
"Last night, innocent souls perished... Let their deaths not go unfelt... Let their memories not die!!" I cried out as I pointed to the morning sky, "For now their souls will lies in the star filled sky..."
The crew now began to cheer... But their shouts soon faded as I slipped into the sunrise...
Let me forget, but let her not be forgotten...
