The lost of loved ones

   “This is so fun! Just hearing the wave clash against each other is music to my ears!” Giselle exclaimed as she twirled around gracefully. The Wang family had decided to take a break from studying or working and just decided to let loose on a cruise. Giselle was Rilia’s and Raphel’s only child and they found her more precious than all the money in the world. Rilia and Raphel smiled as they saw Giselle running from one place to another in excitement. As much as they wanted to be with Giselle, they too wanted to release their stress so they sent Giselle to the children’s room where other children were. There were building blocks all over the floor and a huge ball pit with slides placed randomly everywhere. There were soft toys strewn all over the room. There was even a small swing at the side where many children lined up for their turn to have a go at it. Any children would see this area as paradise. Without hesitation, Giselle waved at her parents and ran forward to join the other children.

     “Don’t worry sir and madam! We would provide your child with everything they need including meals or snacks! You can come to pick her up at eight tonight! Have fun on the cruise!” said one of the caretaker. Rilia who was a little worried to leave Giselle alone in the children’s room felt relieved at this statement and she could truly unwind. Rilia and Raphel then left the children’s room and took a stroll around the whole cruise as they enjoyed the sceneries. It was one of the rare moments where they could be together and they held onto every second, making sure that they would not let it go to waste. They spent their time at the side of the pool, watching teenagers slide down huge water slides. They talked and laughed as if they were little children as they enjoyed their drinks that they had to avoid in front of Giselle as she was a curious girl and would want to try everything. Just as they thought that everything was going to go their way…

      Just then, they jerked forward and nearly fell onto the ground. Many teenagers that were in the pool screamed as they jumped out of the pool. What was that? They heard a loud crushing sound as the cruise started to move to the side. Rilia’s heart thumped wildly as she held Raphel’s hand tightly, her fingernails almost digging into his flesh.

     “Attention everyone, this is your captain speaking. The cruise had crashed into a huge rock and the rock has damaged the electric motors which is something like an engine. Please stay calm and walk I said walk to your nearest boat. It is located at the sides of the cruise.” Announced the captain of the cruise. Screams, shouts and yells filled the air as everyone ignored the captain’s words and started sprinting towards the boats at the side. Many trampled over each other as people pushed each other, only caring for the safety of themselves. The only thing that Rilia and Raphel could think of was Giselle. They stood rooted to their spot. Rilia pinched herself so as to make sure that she wasn’t dreaming. It was utterly surreal! Suddenly, a woman pushed Rilia as she was blocking the way. Rilia collapsed onto the floor and struggled to pick herself up as people did not even try to avoid her but instead stepped on her like she was part of the floor. Raphel kicked those people who ran over Rilia as he picked her up. They finally started running, but instead of running towards safety, they ran to the children’s room which was located all the way at the front of the cruise which was where the cruise got hit. They fell as they ran but quickly stood up with the help of the other. Rilia could not even mutter a word. All she could think of was to hold Giselle in her arms. As they ran, they could feel the cruise sinking. It was as if time was challenging them.

     When they reached the children’s room they were greeted by the second horror of the day. Giselle was nowhere to be seen! She wasn’t there! Just then the pungent smell of smoke entered Rilia’s nose, they did not have much time left. Where was she? Rilia and Raphel searched for her all over the children’s room as parents came to pick their crying children up one by one. All the colour in Rilia’s face had been drained out and she looked like she didn’t have a soul.

     “Where is Giselle? You know the girl with pigtails who was about this tall wearing a yellow dress?” Raphel asked the caretaker urgently. The caretaker looked up at him with tears in her eyes. She pointed at the corner of the room as she kept apologizing profusely. Raphel and Rilia looked at the corner of the room where she was pointing at and expected to see their darling daughter but no… They saw that part of the room had a big hole that was emitting smoke.

     “What do you mean? Why are you apologizing?” yelled Rilia desperately. The caretaker started crying.

     “When the cruise crashed into the rock the corner of the room just exploded and unluckily, your daughter was at that corner playing. And…and the next thing I knew, there was a ginormous hole and your daughter was gone. I think she was thrown off the cruise by impact. I am truly sorry!” sobbed the caretaker as she bowed and left them. The smell was getting stronger. With tears in his eyes, Raphel grabbed Rilia’s wrist and tried to drag her out of the children’s room. As much as he would like to stay there, he knew there was no point and they still had to get to safety. Rilia however, stood still.

     “No! Giselle is still out there! Fighting for her life! I know it! She’s waiting for us to come and save her!” said Rilia as she made her way to the hole. Raphel stared at her as if she was crazy because she was.

     “Are you mental? Giselle is dead! She doesn’t even know how to swim! She’s gone! Forever!” hollered Raphel, trying to knock some sense into his wife. However, Rilia would not listen and she seemed possessed. Raphel tried holding her back but she shook his hand off her as she yelled at Raphel to let her go as he was slowing her down from saving Giselle. The caretaker who was leaving stared in horror at the scene that was unfolding. She too tried to stop Rilia but she j flung the frail caretaker across the room. Upon seeing this, Raphel stepped back, afraid of what she might do.

     “Please Rilia! This is wrong! You’re going to be leaving me all alone in this world! Please stop! There’s no point in trying to find Giselle! She’s … dead…” begged Raphel as he looked defeated. The smell of the smoke was getting stronger, the room was going to explode anytime soon. Rilia looked at Raphel blankly. She stood on the edge of the hole and took one last look at Raphel. Raphel pleaded for her to come down as he cried. This was the first time Rilia had seen him crying. Her heart ached but the news of the death of her daughter was such a blow to her that her feelings ended up controlling her. She smiled at Raphel so sweetly that it made his heart melt. His game was over… Raphel smiled back at Rilia but since he could not bear to see Rilia take her own life away, he ran out of the room, sobbing louder than ever. No words could describe the pain that he felt. He wanted to die with them and the only thing that kept him living was that he was the living memory of both of them. He did not stop running as he reached the last boat. On the boat, a family was huddled together which made him feel like he could not breathe. It felt like someone was squeezing his heart. He shook his head as he continued to cry.

     Just then, he felt a hand touch his hair. He looked up to see his wife carrying Giselle in her hands. He reached out to touch them but they vanished into thin air. They were just part of his hallucinations. The boat was released into the water and the boat was paddled by the family as he sat in the corner by himself. The family seemed like they knew what he had just went through and said a few words of comforts before leaving him alone. His eyes were swollen from crying by the time he reached the shore as he thanked the family solemnly. The news that the cruise had crashed into a rock must have reached the public as family members and reporters were standing at the shore. Raphel spotted Rilia’s sister and his mother standing there and fell to the ground.