Maria always wanted to explore the world beyond her home. Nothing was wrong with her current lifestyle, and that bothered her. She loved exploring the globe, but the Ortega family couldn't afford a lot of luxuries. They were able to make ends meet, though there was little  room for taking risks. Keeping this in mind, she followed her grandmother's footsteps and became a waitress in a restaurant, but her life was so much more than serving food. Her schedule was practically the same every day: wake up, get ready, leave, work, lunch, work some more, and return home.

One day, her uncle offered her a ticket to the RMS Titanic, and to say she was surprised was an understatement.

The young woman was ecstatic! Finally, she would get a break from her tedious life, and all those years of waiting paid off. Her uncle won a second-class ticket in a game of poker, but Maria's mother was against it. However, the waitress didn't care about how he got it; she cared that she was going somewhere far from her home.

April 10, 1912, was the day she was waiting for ever since she was born.

"I can't wait to board the ship," she mumbled as she packed her bags. She wore her best clothes and a stunning locket from her late father. He was a traveler, but sadly he died during a trip to a terrible place.

"Don't do anything foolish, and stay safe," Mrs. Ortega said as her daughter walked towards her brother's horse buggy. She knew Maria wouldn't listen to her ramble about the dangers of going on a ship's maiden voyage; she was exactly like her father. Oh, how much Nina Ortega would give to talk with her loving husband once again.

At least, her daughter wouldn't die during her journey.

Carlos Ortega got ready to head to leave for the port of Southampton; the duo bade their farewells, and Maria's journey had officially begun. She chatted about the places she would see, and the people she would meet while her brother silently listened with a blank expression.

This day felt like a dream, and if it was, Maria never wanted to wake up.

"Have a great time," her brother murmured when Maria stepped off the buggy with a bright smile on her face. She hugged her brother tightly before saying goodbye. She picked up her bags and got ready to board the luxurious Titanic.

"I know this may sound weird, but miss, do me a favor, and say that I'm your relative, " whisper-shouted a man a little younger than Maria. He had uncombed hair, and his face had dirt on it. He stood beside her with nothing but a sack and a notebook in his hand.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know you. Please ask someone else," Maria said, showing little to no emotion. She felt like this person was trying to scam her, but she wouldn't fall for a measly con artist.

"I am not trying to trick you, miss; I need your assistance. I have a ticket, but people will think I stole it; my friend was sick and handed his to me. You seem like a nice person, and that is the reason why I asked you," said the boy. His hands were sweaty, and he kept biting his lip. Anyone would be nervous if they were in his place.

"This may sound impolite, but what do I get in return?"

"A new friend? As you can see, I don't have much to offer."

Maria thought this man seemed genuine. He didn't offer her gold or silver, but something that she will treasure forever. She never had a true friend, and the fact that she found one during her journey was remarkable. God truly wanted her to have a good time. She was ready to accept him.

"Of course, I'll help you," she smiled at him. His face lit up like a toddler in a candy store, and he was about to tear up. He attempted to hug her, but Maria pushed him away, showing her discomfort. Luckily, they boarded the ship without any trouble.

"What's your name," Maria asked when they reached the E deck. The room was bustling with passengers and crew members rushing around the place. She wanted to know who this mysterious boy was.

"My name is Finn," he responded with confidence and a grin on his face.

"I am Maria Ortega," she answered as she put one of her bags on the floor to shake his hand.

"Well, I must be getting to my room. It was a pleasure meeting you. Do you want to have dinner together?"

"I would love that," she replied with a smile on her face. She waved goodbye to the other traveler when he left for his destination. The young waitress was about to head to her cabin in the F deck when she happened to eavesdrop on a heated argument.

"Annie, listen to me! You must not be rude to your father's friends," exclaimed an old woman wearing extravagant clothes. The other girl, Annie, wore a simpler dress, but her bracelet looked extremely expensive. The two of them were talking peacefully before the sentence Maria heard.

"Mother, I swear, there is something off with them," Annie retorted. She crossed her arms and muttered profanities under her breath, which disgusted the other lady.

"Annelise Thayer, we are from the First Class! You have given our family a horrible impression! Behave yourself! We must go to our suite; follow me!"

"Yes, mother," she glumly muttered. She walked away with her, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Maria could not help but feel sorry for her. Her mother was less demanding than Annie's; she was grateful for that. She heard loud horns, indicating that the ship was ready to depart; she rushed outside to look at the crowd on the ground.

"Yes, mother," she glumly muttered. She walked with her, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Maria could not help but feel sorry for her. Her mother was less demanding than Annie's, and she was grateful for that. The young woman heard loud horns, indicating that the ship was ready to leave the port. She rushed outside to look at the city. The crowd on the ground were shouting and cheering, and passengers were waving to them, and vice-versa.

The maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic is not a minor event.

"We are going to France! We are going to Ireland! We are going to America! We are going all over the world," screamed little children. Maria chuckled. Her father would have loved to come with her; she glanced at her locket and sadly smiled.

'I miss you,' she thought as the ship set sail.

"Hey, Maria," yelled Finn as he waved at random people. The young lady walked towards him.

"Hello, Mr. Finn," she playfully said as he jabbed her arm.

"No need to be so formal, my lady."

"Says the person who called his friend a "lady."

"How wonderful," he muttered sarcastically. The pair kept talking about their lives while exploring the ship.

Finn Winslet was advancing to the next tier of education, despite the financial crisis in his family. He loved playing the piano and drinking hot tea with biscuits, but he loved his family most of all. Maria felt her heart rip piece by piece whenever Finn mentioned his father, and what a wonderful person he was. She told him about the dull life of a waitress, her caring family, her dream to be an inventor, and her passion for adventure.

Time flew by quickly when the two of them were together. They snuck into a third-class party and watched the dolphins in the sea. They gazed at the stars together and ate all their meals together.

It was the best time of their lives.

On April 12, 1912 (one day after the RMS Titanic left Queenstown,) Finn found a first-class woman weeping outside in the cold night. This person was none other than Annelise Thayer. She was rude towards the captain of the ship, her father's friend; this caused her mother to slap her tightly.

"He is an evil man; I can feel it," she whispered when Finn hugged her out of sympathy. He asked her why she disliked him, and she gave him a grim smile; she didn't utter a response.

"Hey, do you want to eat dinner with Maria and me tomorrow? Maybe that can cheer you up," he asked with an innocent expression.

"Of course," she responded as she smiled cheerfully.

With a new member joining the group, things started to get uncomfortable between everyone. Annie felt awkward with Maria because she was worried that the waitress thought that she was a spoilt brat. Maria felt neglected because she thought Finn forgot all about her; he ignored her for Annie. She didn't like him romantically, but it still hurt. Finn felt that he might have ruined his relationships with Annie and Maria by introducing them to each other.

April 14, 1912 (two days after Annie came into the group) was the most unfortunate day for everyone on the RMS Titanic.

It happened after dinner when the trio went stargazing. Annie and Maria were able to have proper conversations with each other; that made Finn very happy. They were wrapped in blankets to prevent the cold from freezing them.

But everything changed when the Titanic hit the iceberg.

"I called it! I called it," shrieked Annie as she went to alert her mother.

"Pack — I need to pack," muttered Maria as she rushed back to her dorm. Finn quickly followed suit.

Fear, panic, and chaos. That was what everyone felt, whether they were a part of the crew or a passenger.

"The lifeboats! Get the lifeboats!"

"Women and children only!"

"The ship was sinking; stop locking us here!"

"We need to get out of here!"

"Blame the captain for his foolishness!"

"Help," shouted a little child, "please, someone help!"

The water made it difficult for her to walk, and no caretakers were close. Finn heard her screams and looked at her. How her eyes were full of fear and how frightened she looked. The situation had overwhelmed the mightiest of passengers; he couldn't expect a child to be calm during this situation. Even though everyone on this ship had to die one way or another, today wouldn't be the day for this girl.

"Maria, come here," he bellowed as he approached the kid, the water freezing him and soaking his clothes. The waitress glanced at the young man trying to save the young girl. She had a million thoughts in her mind.

'Save her. Do one good deed before you die.'

'Leave her; your life is more important than hers.'

'Don't leave your friend alone. Go!'

'He's not your friend. Now, get your bags, and leave!'

'Friends don't abandon each other!'

Agreeing with the last statement, she rushed to assist them. After a few hard-working minutes, the little child was free.

"I'll tell my mama how amazing you are," she shivered as Maria wrapped a shawl around her. They brought her to the Boat Deck, where the crowd was getting ready to leave. They happened to bump into their friend.

"Finn, Maria, I have a lifeboat! Come with us," said Annie. She held their wrists and took them to the first lifeboat, reserved for the first-class. Mrs. Thayer and a few other women protested against this, and Annelise threatened to throw them off the ship. But security took Finn off the boat.

"If he's not going, I am not too," huffed Maria. She scrambled off the boat, taking her bags and walked towards him. Annie screamed like a madwoman when they lowered the lifeboat, with 28 passengers when the capacity was 65. The first-class lady began weeping and tried to get back on the ship, but her mother thought she was unreasonable yet again.

"We need to fix you once we get home!"

"Mother, you need the fixing!"

"Child, I will not hesitate to throw you to the sharks. Now, if you value your life, sit down," Annelise's mother spat.

More lifeboats left, more people tried to escape, and more time passed with no sign of happiness. The ship broke in half, with Maria and Finn on the same side. They were a few inches away from the icy cold ocean water with nothing but each other. There was no hope anymore.

"This may not be the best time, but you are my first friend, and you changed my life," whispered Maria. Finn was surprised to hear her loving words. He never knew he meant that much to her.

"Maria, you are an extraordinary woman even though you are a bit strange sometimes. I hope we meet each other in the next life," he replied, "I will always cherish times we had together."

The ship fell into the ocean, and those who were lucky could find something to grab on. Sadly, Maria and Finn weren't a part of them. People screamed for help only to be answered by silence.

"They will save us, Finn," she quivered, "Trust me."

"Maria, you should have taken a lifeboat."

"I would rather die with you," she weakly smiled.

Death is an unavoidable thing, and for these young, innocent souls, it came too quickly. They had an entire life ahead of them; if they didn't board the ship, things would be different. In the end, the RMS Titanic's maiden voyage ended in turmoil and death.