The deck of the cruise ship was crowded with passengers enjoying the bright morning sun. Everyone wanted to watch as they exited the port, passing under a shiny, silver suspension bridge before turning out to sea. The calm, blue waters were disturbed by a pod of dolphins and shouts of joy from the railings brought the mob crowding to one side of the boat to watch the aquatic creatures.
Below deck at a little tiki themed bar sat one brunette who had no interest in squealing with the sunburnt masses. She'd barely made it through the safety briefing without punching someone.
Anna tossed her long, brown hair over her shoulder as she flagged the bartender for another drink. He flashed his thousand watt smile and nodded. Turning on her stool, she was jarred again by the banana leaf patterned walls, but fit the cliche theme. She crossed her tan legs and kicked one flat off the heel of her foot, dangling it on her toe.
In her head, her mother's voice rang sharp,
Anna, stop fidgeting! A lady sits still and straight to attract a mate.
She snorted at the rhyme her mother drilled into her from age seven.
Well that really worked out for me didn't it, Mom. I've been sitting still for twenty-two years and look how that worked out for me!
The bartender slid her martini over and Anna took a big sip. She silently thanked herself for buying the unlimited drink package as more alcohol hit her system. While she let the gin marinate her insides, an older couple took up the two seats to her left. Anna scowled, not happy that the two had invaded her space. Unfortunately, after ordering, the woman decided to strike up a conversation.
"Hello dear! You look like you're already having fun!" Her thick gray curls stuck up at all angles, obviously windblown from the deck.
Anna responded with a curt nod.
The woman continued undeterred, "Are you celebrating?"
"Yup."
"Oh, us too! It's our fortieth wedding anniversary!" She looked dewy-eyed at the old man. "What are you celebrating then?"
"The end of my engagement." Anna took another long pull of her drink without looking at the couple.
"Oh, oh dear. I'm sorry."
"I'm not."
"Well, you're young." The gentleman piped up. "I'm sure you'll find another young man to treat you right."
Anna rolled her eyes, "God, I hope not." She tossed her head back and downed her martini. With a little shiver, she flagged the bartender a salute.
"Don't say that honey. I'm sure there are lots of nice men out there. I saw quite a few on this boat!"
The brunette stood, "Well since I'm gayer than glitter skates at a roller derby, I hope none of them talk to me."
She strode out of the bar leaving Fred and Ethel gaping and the bartender chuckling.
The cabin she'd chosen for herself, well for herself and Ruby, was near the front of the ship and had a private balcony. The room was compact, the bathroom even more so, but it was the best she could afford on this ship. Well, it was the most she was willing to spend anyway. Ruby was always frustrated with her money-saving habits. This trip,
this honeymoon
, had been a joint decision after months and months of begging by her less frugal fiancee.
And even after giving in, the woman still left her.
"Stop it, Anna," she scolded herself. "You promised you wouldn't think about that here. This is a vacation and we're going to fucking enjoy it."
She flopped onto the stiff bed and let the ship and alcohol lull her to sleep.
Three hours later, she woke with a start when the cruise director's muffled voice slipped under her door from the hall intercom.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! The ring-toss competition will be starting on the main pool deck in fifteen minutes. Our dinner service will begin with the five o'clock guests in the Geranium Dining Room with eight o'clock service after. Remember that the buffet is on the lido deck and is open twenty-four hours. We hope you enjoy your first day at sea. Happy sailing!"
Anna groaned and rolled over onto her stomach. She was supposed to be with the eight o'clock diners, but sitting by herself with six to eight other strangers just didn't sound appealing. Neither did putting on real pants.
She forced herself up to at least go enjoy some sun. Slipping her pencil skirt and blouse off, she stretched her long body. Her hands grazed the ceiling and a wall as she stretched in the small space. Her blue bikini, purchased as a set with one she'd never get to see now, fit perfectly on her lean body. Ruby had chosen it just as she had chosen a hot pink one for her more voluptuous ex-fiancee. Anna sighed.
"Okay, Anna. You can miss her ass, but you don't miss her!" She told herself.
The main pool deck was absolute chaos. People danced, some were playing games, kids were screaming, and everyone was drinking. There was indeed some sort of ring-tossing game going on by the pool's edge, so Anna avoided that and headed to the bar.
Four drinks later, she crashed into a deck chair at the back of the ship while trying to find the "adults-only" section. The shrieking children had finally broken her down. It was another thing Ruby launched at her in their final fight. Anna didn't want kids, Ruby did. She stubbed her toe on the chair before collapsing into it.
Anna didn't remember falling asleep again but a server gently shook her awake.
"Madam? The deck is closing for cleaning soon. Would you like someone to escort you up for dinner?"
The chill sea breeze and dark purple sky let Anna know she had crashed hard from her drinks. "No, no. I'll just go inside." She gestured to the buffet area behind her.
"Of course, Madam. Enjoy your evening."
Anna stood with a little wobble and leaned far over the railing to peer into the churning waters below. She shuddered to think of the dark sea. Of falling in and being left behind to sink in the inky depths.
Stumbling into the buffet, she managed to locate a salad and a croissant. Ruby's voice nagged her,
Baby, you have to eat more than that. Put some protein on your plate for god sakes.
She took a big bite of spinach and rolled her eyes. It frustrated and saddened her that she was still hearing her fiancee's concern all these months later.
"She doesn't care what you eat now, Anna," she mumbled.
"I'm sorry, did you say something?" A large man stopped as he passed.
"Nope."
"Oh, I thought I heard you talking to me. Name's Nate. It's my first cruise! What about you, eh?"
Anna looked up at this man. He had a thick midwest accent, was at least six foot two and had to weigh well over three hundred pounds. His shaggy blond hair and blue eyes screamed 'aging all-American boy'.
"Yup, this is my first one too."
Nate smiled wide, his chubby cheeks sporting tiny dimples, "Well the food is to die for, dontcha think? You gotta try the ribs over there. Oh, and the pizza is loaded with sausage."
"I'm a vegetarian."
"Oh," his smile faltered. "Well, uh, looks like you got yourself a good plate there, eh. Have a good dinner, uh..."
"Meredith."
"Oh nice! My cousin's friends mom's name is Meredith! Have a good salad, Mere! Seeya 'round!"
When Nate trundled away, Anna let her head hit the table with a clank. Why had she thought this was a good idea? A cruise by herself?! Ruby was the people person, the chatterbox. Anna was the smile and nod type or the completely-ignore-people type. She dumped the remainder of her salad on a busser tray and retreated to her cabin.
Unfortunately her alcohol-induced nap made it impossible to sleep. So she popped open one of the two bottles of wine she was allowed to bring on board and went out to the balcony. The horizon was visible only because of the halfmoon that shone in the sky. The twinkling stars captivated her attention as the waves crashed around the ship. A cool breeze blew her hair away from her face as she leaned over the edge. The same uneasy feeling of falling into blackness settled into her stomach.
Slowly, the wine flooded her system as the waters churned and the earth rotated for a different view of the stars. It was getting late and she was nearing the end of her bottle, eyes drooping. Suddenly, a flash of silver caught her eye in the waters below. Anna bent further over the rail as it appeared to siddle along the ship.
"A dolphin?"
When the creature breached the surface right near the red hull of the boat, Anna dropped her bottle. A girl?! A white face peered up at her in the moonlight. Startlingly blue eyes widened in surprise. Then, a single note, like something out of the sweetest lullaby pierced the sound of the waves.
Anna woke up in her deck chair, with a stiff neck. The moon had set, but the horizon was still dark with no sign of sunrise. She stumbled to the door, shivering, and entered her cabin. A hollow clunk let her know she'd tripped over the empty wine bottle as she slid inside. Stripping off her cover up and bikini, Anna collapsed into bed and passed out again.
When she woke the second time, her head and throat were screaming at her. She tumbled naked to the floor and crawled into the bathroom. Freezing cold water blasted her in the face as soon as she turned the nozzle. Holding back a scream, she opened her mouth to drink as she huddled on the cold fiberglass floor. Then she panicked,
was ship bathroom water drinkable?
She sputtered and spat, then turned off the tap.
"Well, Anna. You are officially your mother. Wine drunk, alone, and bitter. The lying on your bathroom floor is probably new though. Mom would never do that."
She shifted her weight to her feet and leaned against the door jam. The bathroom mirror reflected a haggard-looking young woman with eye bags, stringy wet hair, and smeared lipstick.
"Lovely. You definitely won't die alone now."
A knock on the door pulled her from her self-loathing.
"Housekeeping!"
"Just a moment!"
She hobbled to her suitcase and pulled out a big, fluffy robe. The tie for the waist got caught around her calf as she hopped to the door. Finally tying it tight she threw open the cabin door to admit a smiling woman with a thick eastern European accent.
"Good afternoon! I am Amy, I will be servicing your room." Anna's eyes caught on the woman's name tag which did indeed say, "Amy, Bulgaria". She quickly assumed "Amy" was not the woman's real name.
""Thank you! Um, I don't really need anything at the moment."
"No? I can retrieve you fresh towels. I am sure you two could use more."
