I awake from the bench I slept on last night.

I've traveled from a small town in Germany to board the rms Titanic.

I have no money left, I have no family left, and the ache of the loss of my dearest friend still pains me.

He shouldn't have died.

I stretch, and smooth out my clothing. The sun is covered with thick grey clouds which were ready to spill their contents back to the earth.

I must hurry.

I leave the park in a fast pace, running my fingers through my brown curls to get them to look decent.

I study the many people that walk past me this morning. Some carry large purses, and others wear only rags.

I pass a shop selling fresh pastries, and I stop. I've grown up stealing for my parents, so has my siblings, and now that I'm on my own I'm not sure I want to continue the habit.

But my stomach grumbles, and aches from a day without food. This will be my last time in Europe, the last time I'll ever see this shop, and all these people.

I check my reflection in the shop's window. My face it's surprisingly clean, and pure, my clothes aren't very wrinkled nor dirty.

I take a look around me, and spy a nice dress coat left unattended. I walk casually over to it, and pluck it from the chair where it rested, and return to the shop.

I put the dress cost on, and walk into the shop. I glance around at the few customers, and make my way to the fresh bakery.

Inside the coat in a pocket I find a pretty heavy coin purse, and I pull it out and buy myself a loaf of bread, and a muffin.

Then I exit the shop, I take a few extra coins from the purse, and slide it into my own pocket, and set the coat back on its chair. I also leave the muffin there on the table, and walk away briskly.

I quickly devour the bread, only giving some to a few hungry looking dogs.

By midmorning I must be in line to board the titanic. I've heard that the ship's crew makes their third class passangers get checked for infectious deaseases, lice, and other nonsense. It's so the second nor first class citizens will catch any of our cooties.

I notice as I walk down the street that I catch many eyes. A few of them are pretty young girls, from a much higher class than I, starring at me, a charity case. Others are men from high ranks, that have nice suits, and they give me a look of disapproval.

I'm not sure why though. Maybe it's my accent, or perhaps my general look. I'm not from here and the locals are making a big show of it.

But as I reach my destination I see more people like me. The judging states disappear slowly. There's a lot of young families waiting to board the titanic. A lot of women without husbands which only means they have a place to call home once they reach America.

I pull my ticket out, and head to get in line.

I watch as first class passengers are treated with much respect and dignity. I wish all the passangers could be treated like that.

Soon I find myself handing the ticket over. I go through quick medical examinations, and I walk up the plank to the deck of the magnificent titanic.

It's quite beautiful, it's one of the grandest things I've ever seen in my short life.

I decide to look for my room later, and I stand alone on deck and watch as the other passengers aboard.

God has given us all a chance to be reborn today, and I'm quite thankful. I will not mess this up.

The main deck soon becomes crowded with passengers.

I'm amazed at all the different type of people that are aboard. I love this.

I don't wait by the rail because I have nobody to wave goodbye to, so I walk away.

I watch as some first class passangers make their way to their rooms. Their elegant clothing probably cost more than I've ever stolen...

With all my day dreaming I run into something. I look at the thing in my way, and it turned out not to be a thing but a person... He's quite large, and towerd over me a good two feet.

He glared at me, and before he could say anything a sailor might say, I took of running from him.

I've never seen a man that resembles a giant before...

I travel down to the deck where the third class passengers are staying.

A blast of different languages hits me at once.

I push my way as nicely as I can through the crowded hall to my door where I enter.

Already inside is a young family. I guess they're my roommates for the voyage.

I greet them and leave my suitcase on a unclaimed top bunk and walk out of the room.

I already need some air.

I make my way back upstairs to the main deck. People are hollering and waving to their loved ones still on shore.

I stand alone with a unlit cigar in my mouth. Bad habits die hard.

I think about my friend that I've lost, of the family that I've left behind, of the life that is forever changed.

I thank God for this opportunity, and pray for a quick, safe travel.

I actually didn't have enough money to buy my ticket, and like I said I want to rid myself of my stealing ways, so I got a job on the ship.

I'm a waiter for second class, and the captain told me if I can present myself well enough I might even be promoted from there.

I'm just paying off the rest of my ticket, and they are giving me a uniform to wear, and a private bathroom so I can keep clean.

I work every other day besides Sundays. I forbid working on Sundays.

So I start tomorrow.

I close my eyes, and let the sound of the waves soothe me.

America, the land of the free. I can't wait to be apart of her history.

I head downstairs for an early dinner, and then from there I'll probably sleep...

Even though there is such limited space here on the ship, I've never felt so free.