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Underneath the Stars

A mission complete.

By Kristian B. DelpilarPublished 2 years ago 9 min read
Underneath the Stars
Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash

It was Mid-April during spring and the petals were arriving and there I was where the European seas starts to create a riffle of waves that travel way west north is a young hard working as an American spy.

My name is Peter, and I am the third from Alabama America. I'm here in Europe taking care of duties for the troops back home. My journey has been long and torturous this far, but a new task has been presented forth upon the commander here. I'm pleased to be sharing with all of my family back home that I'll be escorting a unit on board the Titanic. John, my commander confronted me this past week that there will be many units presented headed back to North America and would love for me to travel back to execute the final plan before time off is requested at home base.

It's been about five months here in Europe and many patrons here are eager to get back on to the Sea with productions levels rising. I'm looking forward to going home and being united with my family and younger sister Sarah. For the past five-months I've been able to receive post from Sarah going on how the business is picking up there in Alabama for the tobacco industry. I'm starting to believe that my ties are coming to an end here in Europe and I'll be able to create a foundation for myself back home.

It's the crack of dawn and I'm up preparing to meet with command to go over boarding procedures to execute proper exchange throughout course. John was able to forward all of my work relative transactions to the American base where the Titanic will be arriving in North America. It was really crowed during booking the docks, many filled with luggage's and fancy items guarded by other workers attending the Titanic as well. Many women watching aside as they gather their proper gowns and accessories for the operas. Many of the gentlemen around were conversating preparing for drinks in the corridor. As boarding the ship, I noticed a young girl looking for her parent. Her face spoke nothing but worry so I asked her if she knew where she was going and unfortunate, she didn't speak English.

At that point I was aware of my commands and decided to tell her to follow me behind. The child presented to be about the age of five or six brown skinned with jet black hair short and thin. She was well dressed and accessorized with expensive trinket. I was well out of my conduct by approaching the child due to my level of hierarchy. Repeatably, I ask her if she knows where her parents are but unfortunately, I didn't speak Italian at the time and the child didn't speck much to me. I was fortunate at the time that the child followed me as guidance.

At the front of the ship, you can see all ends of the ship working together to get the boat headed in the direction of the big apple. As I plan to return to my post to secure all transfers, I'm walking around with a young child by my side. With a face filled with concern already the young girl walks of vastly towards the opposite direction. Instantly, screams of Joy nearby as the young girl shouts towards her mother and father with relief. Her parents thank me through a lengthy conversation over the boats astonishing design. I didn't understand much they said, there English was covered up much by the deep Italian tone. It seemed to me they were newlyweds and extremely pleased to be aboard the luxury Titanic.

To continue my position of securing the boat and the units at the post. I head towards the post to proceed with commander and anything new to be aware of. It was then commander invited me to a dinner show the titanic host. There I would be able to step away from post and conversate among guest and maybe build a romantic connection. With the thought of the younger girl stuck alone before boarding the ship gave me more courage to build a stronger connection among myself and loved ones.

With cocktails and classical music ringing our ears I come across fine young English college students headed to America for shows in the big city. We were dancing and exchanging words triggering my heart to yearn for more gracious times. After a few more diligent cocktails and a few more dances I found myself staring at the stars. Looking back at the thought of her parents and how it seemed like the focus wasn't there. Was I starting to become distracted? Continuing with cocktails my eye caught eye back with the college exchange student with her headed my direction.

Tempture dropping among the dark sea with nothing but the stars and moon to shed light upon our skin. With music warming are bodies i step aside to catch my breath. Dazing around I start to identify something unusual a floor down below. My officer duties ignite, there was a crew intact preparing the emergency boats. Arrogantly I breach them providing as much help as I could. Together getting about five lifeboats into the water we begin loading the boats up while collecting information from employees running the ship from the floor above. The ship has now begun to sink due to a glacier. My heart was beating faster due to the drinks I've had earlier, but my heart couldn't seem to skip a heartbeat with the thought of the younger girl who depended on me before this boat caught sea.

Sobering up immediately and ignoring my duties for the ship at whole I decided within me to focus on gathering the children. The youth was the most important when loading the rescue boats efferently. Immediately running towards the west wing dining hall then again, I see the young girl with a set of twins, young boys I saw briefly during check in during boarding was there with her. Rushing them all together holding hands I guide them in my direction searching first for the parents and any children in site. As the boat filled with water, I had completed search in all dining rooms on the floor I have yet to find them. Dizzy from the constant searching I waste a second catching breath with focusing returning towards the children. Starring at them staring at me we continue back to the direction of the lifeboats.

I decided to leave the twin boys behind to be loaded on the lifeboats then decide to take the girl and look once again for her parents. The power on the boat begun to flicker and urged me and the girl to start running while the water was rising. Warning people through just direction of my hands I was guiding passenger that were able to move throughout the water toward the emergency boats. As I turn my back towards the girl, she's crying. Rethinking my plan from before I freeze and have a euphoric thought of my captain back home and my younger sister. Thinking of my role models and little sister gave me strength to fight through the doubt beginning to surround us both.

With water waist high and the younger girl shivering her thighs around my neck our search ends with no sight of her drunken parents. With now less concern and more doubt shown on the young girls face I direct her back towards the crew hoping her parents will eventually come around. As part of the leading command on the ship I couldn't resist my duties to help as many people as I could within what felt like final moments for all of us. It was then my previous task aboard the Titanic change.

With screams in the distance, I continued my rescue search. I manage saving a teenage girl who also spoke Italian and a little English. Luckly when running into the younger teen I was able to identify that she spoke the same language as the younger girl Italian. Immediately I try to rush her to the same boat I had put the other young girl on to be able to translate any given information. They instantly connected and conversate through this whole disaster. I never really understood how the two young girls were able to remain with strength so poise, but they did.

There was about 14 of us mostly young kids and a couple of babies couped up on the boat silently with only shivers of teeth and light screams to hear. Breaching delusionality I caught my breath sitting next to the children that survived a terrible thing no one could have seen coming. My thoughts were frozen, and my hope was changed. In the moments of near death, I continued to encourage the young children not to worry much longer.

The other adult on the boat with me was Cook Kenny Kent, He has been aboard Titanic since a month prior shipping, he quietly went over the emergency plan emplaced and how he handled the evacuation. As Kenny continues to conversates I hear the teenager who was last to aboard the boat translates to the younger girl I was with. She was then able to exchange names with me. Her name Is Sarah and she an exchange student headed to NY for schooling. Sarah also mentions the terrible details the other girl and how she saw her parents jump the boat when the lights cut and that her name is Marissa, she is four. Kenny and I had no time to be discouraged. With my heart having no words to comfort the pain they begin to cry and me and Kenny continue to row in silence.

The sun warming us all the boat was able to make it ashore. With all of us gathered aching in pain we slowly make way towards many coast guards in urgency as we all our foreigners from the sea. Coast guards begin to separate us all children from adults. Rushing to the first authority figure I encounter I pull out my badge and begin to share my story. Rushing my words and staying aware, I keep my attention on the Marissa. Quickly the officer asked if I had any children aboard the boat and with hesitations, I look around again to see Sarah crying in the arms of an older lady with a dog that seemed to be her grandmother she mentioned when I first met her on the boat and there was again all alone was Marissa. My heart once again cold, quickly I shouted out to Marissa and told the authority that she's, My Daughter.

Running towards me was Marissa, instantly my heart filled with utter joy like never before there was a bond between us that has grown since I first saw her alone upon boarding. Hugging each other with relief she grips my hand and we both approach the aid provided. The coast guards ended up directing us with the requirements needed to clear before a boarding transportation to return home. After discussing and checking with many concerned people we both found ourselves enduring in the peanut butter and jelly sandwich the translator snuck in for us. On the way home running through my brain constantly focus on the younger children at the time of the sinking I questioned how strong we all were in the state of great fear. Finally warm to temperature me and Marissa smile at each other not looking back on the cold time and instead fulfilling growth and discovery.

After a week of recovering the state was able to identify any recovering persons from the titanic and any other family around for the orphaned children from the incident. Marissa was pleased to stay with my family here in Albama. Home never felt more welcoming with Marissa's English skyrocketing with the help of my younger sister. My family encouraged my decision of caring for Marissa after connecting with her through a traumatizing event. As my position of command, I decided to grow a family and better bond with Marissa to gain knowledge on her roots. Sarah sends post to Marissa often in Italian greeting her with warm welcoming from her and her grandmother. We both plan on returning to Europe when we here from people there.

Around dinner time here in Albama no brings up what happen the night of the sinking of the titanic or how Marissa's parents decided to leave her behind with nothing but a nice outfit a pricey trinket. We all gather simply to be thankful for living after such a horrific event. Marissa is now 11 and is American citizen studying to return abroad. I've decided to marry and provide Marissa with a sibling to travel with when she ventures back east to discover her history. Throughout all of the spiritic adventure we remain warm and happy with surviving together.

Historical

About the Creator

Kristian B. Delpilar

Filipina African American 24 and more : )

Twitter: @delpilarover

Instagram: @kristianbdelpilar

Linkin: Kristian Brianna Delpilar

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    Kristian B. DelpilarWritten by Kristian B. Delpilar

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