Beyond the Tide

September 20th, 1853
The sky was dismal today. The weather was always like this but I found the importance of saying it today because it was my first day with my journal. Some of the kids from the orphanage were gonna throw it away, so I took it before they could. They didn't seem too bothered that I had taken it, except for the fact that they told me not to come to their "secret hut" ever again, jokes on them because it was never secret, to begin with. I want to write everything in this journal about my life and how it's going to change.

September 21st, 1853 
It was dismal today too, with glimpses of sunlight peeking through the clouds every now and then. You know if you look past the pollution, filth covering the streets, the small houses, and crowded towns, London can be a beautiful place, if you squint really hard. I'm going to work today, as always I get up at 6 in the morning, get dressed and start heading to work, every day I pass the same old houses and narrow streets until I reach an opening to an alleyway, where I have to crawl through cut open fences to get into the factory. This was the only way we could use to get into the factory since Mr. Buntley didn't want us using the front entrance-- I'm not sure why it's not like it's a secret that we're working for him--.  I dare not be late to work Mr. Buntley has a tendency to get very very angry. Right on cue, Peter walks in late as always, I feel like Mr. Buntley got tired of punishing Peter because he was late all the time but he didn't let him off so easily. He would grab his stick and beat Peter until he's begging him to stop, I felt sorry for Peter but I couldn't help him in any way I would surely get beaten if I tried. By this time Mr.Buntley had left, and we helped Peter on a chair. I always admired the way that Peter could smile and act as if nothing happened.

September 22nd, 1853
Today was a great day, for one it was a lot brighter than it was yesterday, the gray clouds weren't blocking up the sun. I had also met a cat that was roaming around the alleyway, it was so cute. So many weird things happened today, but by far the weirdest thing was Peter was early today. He was happily skipping towards me holding a colorful piece of paper. He joyously whispered in my ear "we can escape now". He then proceeded to tell me about a place called NEW ZEALAND and how there would be a ship leaving on the 25th of September at 8:00 am. Without realizing Peter and I had constructed a full proof plan to go to New Zealand, he said that he had the money covered and all we have to do is just get there in time.

September 23rd, 1853
We had left the same night that Peter had mentioned New Zealand. We met a few blocks away from the orphanage and began our day-long journey. We started walking, ran for a bit, then started walking again and we did that for what felt like years until we stopped for a little lunch break in a run-down store. From there we continued our walking until we were too tired to walk any longer, we had decided to spend the night indoors in an old house nearby. That's when I dozed off, I must have been tired from the walking.

September 24th, 1853 
Today as we were walking along the road, we happened to run into a couple - their names were Margret and Dylan- who were also heading to the boating dock, and they offered to give us a ride. We both knew walking wasn't gonna get us there on time, so we decided to join them, all I hoped for was that my gut feeling was right. We drove for a few hours until we stopped because Dylan needed a break from the driving, at this time I was much calmer than before, I look over at Peter and we seem to be doing the same thing, hugging our belongings so close to ourselves. At that moment I wondered if we had the same thought running through our heads, I did it just in case I had to jump out of the moving car. The thought of it made me chuckle to myself which raised questions, but I assured them that it was nothing. from there I don't remember much just the fact that I went to sleep earlier than expected.

September 25th, 1853
Today we arrived at the boating dock, as I woke up this morning I felt extremely uncomfortable. I don't know why but I was expecting it to be more comfortable than this. We grabbed our things and got out of the car half asleep. We then said goodbye and thank you to Dylan and Margret, it turns out that they were going to the United States instead of New Zealand.
After saying goodbye we made our way to the line of people heading towards a massive ship, we were leaving tomorrow so they were getting the ships ready. We sat on a bench in a shelter, Peter took this opportunity to go back to sleep, I decided to stay awake to keep watch so that our things won't get stolen. After a few hours of drawing in my journal, Peter finally woke up and told me to go to sleep, and he will keep watch. I agreed and fell asleep right away I guess I didn't realize how exhausted I was. I slept the whole day away, it was a relieving feeling if I did this in the factory Mr. Buntley would have surely punished me.

September 26th, 1853
I woke up at 5, (I know this because Dylan had generously given his watch to Peter because he was so fond of it) and felt completely refreshed. I look over at Peter who had also fallen asleep and nudged him to help him wake up, luckily our things were safe (no thanks to him). I nudged him again and he woke up with a jolt and without thinking he said:
"I'm sorry Mr. Buntley I didn't mean to fall asleep, It...."
I couldn't help but chuckle. Then a man started screaming for people to get onto the ship. Peter had already paid for everything while I was asleep, and we got onto the ship no problem. On the ship, it was pretty crowded and not much room to walk but we got in fairly quickly so we had room to sit down. That's all I remember from today I think I may have just fallen back asleep.

September 27th, 1853
today was the first day of our long long journey, the captain said it could take around 75 to 120 days to get there. I was devastated, but then again things that are worth it require patience. The first day was pretty ok, we played some board games with some kids, we also had many people playing chess I had never played before so some people offered to teach me. Other than that I kept to myself most of the day, sometimes not even talking to Peter. Little did I know that it was going to go downhill from here.

October 17th, 1853
20 days had passed and many people were getting sick, Peter and I did our best to stay away from them. Little by little, the ship began to become more spacious, children were the main victims of these diseases, many adults were talking about something called scarlet fever. I didn't know who scarlet was but it seemed like she was the reason children were getting sick. I watched as they took their rotting bodies and threw them off the ship.

November 22nd, 1853
36 days had passed, every day got less bearable than the last, Peter was getting weaker every day. He would occasionally start skipping meals. Every day he would force himself to smile but today was different, today he had had enough. He placed himself next to me with teary eyes and started talking about the orphanage, how much he missed the food there and all his friends, he even told me how much he missed Mr. Buntley's scoldings. Then with a heavy heart, he said:
"Amy, I don't think I'll make it".
that day was by far the hardest day I had experienced on the ship. A few days later Peter had passed away, right before he passed he asked me to get his favorite burgundy flat cap, that he had kept for many years but only wore for special occasions. Before I could give it to him he passed. I couldn't bear to look at his face when they came in to take him away, so I sat down facing a wall, and cried my eyes out. I sat there for hours, but now I knew that I definitely had to survive and make it to New Zealand. Now that I think back to that day, I realized that it was a perfect day. Peter had woken up early (for the first time in his life), he told me he was feeling a lot better and stayed up to play board games with me, a lady sitting next to us gave us some chocolate that she had in her bag. We spent the rest of the day cracking jokes and solving made up riddles, for the first time in my life I had seen Peter so relaxed. It should have ended perfectly too, but I'm relieved that he doesn't have to suffer. Sometimes feeling relieved makes me feel guilty. I try my best not to weigh myself down, I have to make it.

December 15th, 1953
the year was going by so fast, sometimes I'd find myself talking to Peter's hat. I wasn't ok for what felt like weeks, that I was numb to the feeling until I heard the words that I was longing for
"We're here".
The ship came to a strong halt,
Immediately there was a line forming at the door of, eager, impatient people wanting to get out.
I grabbed my belongings along, with the things that Peter was carrying and headed towards the line. I managed to squeeze out of the tiny space between the people, and as I stepped onto the pavement and took a great big breath of air, I felt relieved and excited. I had made it
                                             
                                        -The End

"Mummy your story was awesome, can you read it again"
"that's enough now Maddalyn, time for bed"
"can you read it to me again tomorrow"
"Okay, okay. Now get to bed... Goodnight" 
"Goodnight Mummy"