Chapter 5

Time becomesa blur as I tread water, adrift in the vast, boundless ocean with no land in sight. The endless sea stretches out all around me, enormous and unforgiving, as I struggle to maintain my bearings and hope. No one saw me fall, so no one could raise the alarm and prompt the crew to mount a rescue. In what seemed like moments, the cruise ship dwindled to a speck on the horizon and vanished entirely, leaving me swallowed by the vast ocean.

As the early morning hours tick by, exhaustion overwhelms me. Although I am an experienced swimmer, the human body isn't designed to tread water indefinitely. The relentless effort is taking its toll, pushing the limits of my endurance. Having had an unusually large dinner just before my fall, I can manage without food for a few days, but water is different. My exhaustive efforts to stay afloat have not only drained my strength but also severely dehydrated me. As dawn approaches, I know the situation will become more dire. The rising sun will beat down mercilessly, its rays reflecting off the ocean's surface, intensifying the heat and my desperation for even a few drops of drinkable water.

"How did I end up like this?" I mutter to myself, switching to float on my back in an effort to conserve what little energy remains. As I lie here, vulnerable and exposed, I brace for the inevitable. Perhaps a predator from the depths below, drawn to my scent, will decide to make me their meal for the day. What a horrible way to die.

I feel utterly helpless and hopeless. Throughout the evening, driven by delirium, I swam frantically in all four directions, each time deceiving myself into believing salvation lay just ahead. But now, it seems likely that my aimless exertions have merely circled me back to where I started, with no land in sight. As exhaustion creeps deeper into my muscles and bones, I realize that soon I may drift into sleep, never to wake again, sinking slowly into the depths of my watery grave.

I find myself yearning for my parents. I regret not waiting until summer to take a cruise with them, instead choosing to travel with my cousins Alice and Alina. While they are sweet girls, I realize it could be hours before they notice my absence and deduce what has happened. And when they do, the ship will be so far away from me that a successful search will be nearly impossible.

Things would undoubtedly be different if my mother were here. Her connection to me is so profound that she wouldn't have needed to witness my fall—she likely would have felt my distress instinctively. I can almost see her, not hesitating for a second, calling the captain as she raced to my cabin. And if that weren't enough, I have no doubt she would have plunged into the sea to rescue me. Mothers are like that.

As the hours meld into each other, I completely lose any sense of time. My waterproof watch gave out after being submerged for too long, and I've never been adept at reading the sun's position to tell time. Despite the dire situation, I find a strange comfort in the brief company of various sea creatures. A gray whale lingered the longest, providing a much-needed respite for my weary arms as it let me cling to its side for a few precious moments. Later, a large pod of orcas approached. They seemed to size me up but evidently concluded I wasn't worth the effort.

Surprisingly, the presence of the orcas didn't instill fear, but rather kindled a flicker of hope within me. Their casual, indifferent inspection imparted a reassurance that perhaps my situation isn't entirely hopeless. Unfortunately, that comfort was fleeting. As they disappeared into the depths, the stark reality of my isolation and peril quickly returned.

I will die alone.

Lost at sea, my whereabouts unknown to anyone, the likelihood of rescue diminishes with each passing moment. No one knows where I am, and no one will come to save me.