It felt like I just hit my head on something. Also I feel like I’ve been in a washing machine for a while. I feel sick, in my head, my torso, legs, everywhere. I’m afraid of opening my eyes because of just how sick I feel. But when I did, it’s all blurry; I noticed three figures, mom, Danny, and I’m guessing the third is dad.

“mom,” I groaned.

“Ellis, honey,” mom sighed as she lunged to hug me.

I had to blink enough to get rid of this blurry vision of mine. But when I did, I saw my dad, Jack. He looks a little different; the blonde is there but a bit darker and it’s slicked back, I’m guessing age has to do with it; instead of just overalls, he’s wearing the full suit of today. But his face and his eyes has not changed.

As I was hugging mom, I looked over to dad and said “dad?” While holding back his tears, he went over and hugged me. It feels so…oddly comfortable getting a hug from both parents instead of one.

When I got a look at mom again, her dark red hair is lighter than it was, there still a bit of curl in her hair but not as much as when she was 17.

When I tried to find Danny, he’s already gone. Maybe trying to fetch the doctor. After we were done hugging, I don’t know what my parents said because my mind is still shrouded with the memory of Titanic and me being with them.

“Hey,” dad asked. “what’s wrong Ellisa Bear?”

“I had this dream…”

“We know,” mom responded.

“You do,” I asked.

“Yes, we’ve always known but didn’t want to say it,” dad chimed in.

When I asked what has happened to them, to us, in the last 20 years, this is what they said:

By the time they landed in New York, mom got sick. Dad thought it was just seasickness until it became more frequent in the morning. Once they went to the doctor, they found out they were with child, me, and a cloud of worry came across their minds. When should we get married? Where should we go? Where to work? What life should we give to Ellis? But then they remember me on board and what I said. They moved to Wisconsin, dad worked in a labor type job, not sure if it’s agricultural or lumber, mom worked as a seamstress until she was seven to eight months pregnant. Before the belly got too big, they had a courthouse wedding, they personally wished for a different outcome but at the time, it was right. For the first five to eight years of my life, our family has traveled around the country for film and art opportunities and made good money for themselves. When the Lusitania was attacked and suck, thus causing America to go into the Great War, it was mom and I that pushed dad into not joining, and I was only 3 years old. By the time the Spanish Flu ravaged the country, they almost lost me, but by the grace of God, I survived, and I was only seven years of age. With all this, they picked South Haven as a place to finally settle down and for me to have a normal life.

Personally, I could not believe we went through so much in the first 10 years of life! But the rest of it, I do remember. The right to vote, prohibition, Olympics, Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, the Mississippi flood 5 years ago that killed 700,000 people, the Stock Market Crash a few years back, and many other events. I feel like the 1920’s is where I’d get in the most trouble with my parents.

When asked about the people I came across with on the Titanic, this is what they said:

Grandmother Ruth lived in destitute for the remainder of her life until she fell victim of the Spanish Flu. Hockley and Lovejoy did not survive. Eyewitness accounts say that Hockey managed to regain consciousness seconds before the nearest funnel collapsed on him. Lovejoy was never found, probably never regained consciousness from mom’s blow by the time the water flooded that hallway. Dad’s friends, Tommy Ryan and Fabrizio, did not survive and dad did choke up talking about them. Mr. Astor did not survive but mom keeps in contact with Mrs. Astor and her son, John Jacob Astor VI, whom I’m close with in age. I know that Jakey has attended Harvard and didn’t have the best relationship with Madeline after she married her third husband, but he has gained the reputation as the “Titanic baby”, in which we still bicker about 15 to 20 years later dammit.

“Mr and Mrs Dawson, the doctor is here,” Danny announced.

The doctor came in and described what has happened, which is exactly how I remembered: I slipped and bonked my head before going into the water. If it wasn’t for Danny getting my dad, I would’ve be gone. Only concussions happen to football players, not to someone like me. So to doctors orders, I am resting in the hospital bed for the next few days and morphine every 6 hours or so.

“So she’ll be released in a few days,” mom asked.

“at least, yes,” the doctor responded.

I don’t mind resting. The last five days, or what it feels like, has been a whirlwind. I just hope I’d get a normal and restful sleep for the next few days.

Dawson’s creek, sunset

It’s so good to be back home at Dawson’s Creek. From what my dad said, he and mom named our property Dawson’s Creek after the little creek that used to run across the property. That creek has dried up since but the name remained.

“Hey Ellie,” Danny shouted. He’s the only one that called me Ellie, ever since we were little and cannot pronounce Ellis.

With black hair and dark eyes, he’s your typical small town boy. We’ve grown up together, he’s always been by my side and always has my back whenever there’s a fight going on. He has deep respect for his elders and respected my father so much, he’s the man that any girl would want as a husband and any man wants as a brother. Probably stems from his father being a war hero.

“How are you feeling,” he asked as he sat next to me

“head’s a bit better,” I replied.

As we stared out into the sunset, I couldn’t help but think of my parents on the bow of the ship.

“While I was out, I had a dream that my parents were at the bow of the ship. And I could not help but wish for a beautiful sunset and place for it.”

“You know you almost died…again right,” Danny pointed out.

“Did I,” I asked.

Danny told me he was worried about me and never left my side, even when my parents told him it’s ok to go home.

“Wow! I didn’t expect that from you.”

“Well that’s because I care. You’re my best friend Ellis and I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without you either,” I replied with my eyes twinkling in the water’s shine and a smile on my face.

He scooted a little closer to me and I elbowed him. He responded with a “hey”.

“How is it that you’re not even afraid of water after this,” he asked.

“I don’t know”, I responded. “Maybe resilience.”

“Maybe it’s because you’re a Dawson, daughter of titanic survivors.”

“Maybe.”

After a moment of silence, I jousted Danny’s neck and we were playing like two little kids messing around.

“Oh you’re going overboard,” he sneered as he grabbed me.

I screamed playfully “no, no!”

This is my story, I have changed the past for a better future. Because of that, I have a father and a mother who survived the sinking of the Titanic, their resilience made them who I am today. I don’t know what the future will bring or what the devil may hurdle at me. But I know that I am strong, confident, and far from perfect. I know that I am perfect in someone’s eyes. I don’t know what the future may hold, but I know my parents are there and so is my best friend and I will live out the rest of my life happy knowing I got them.