What Lies Ahead

We all have dreams and aspirations, but there is a reason why we don't usually talk about them. Sometimes it's better to just not know what the future holds. We never want to know the details of our demise or those of our loved ones.

But that doesn't mean it isn't worth taking a peek into the world of the Titanic. There were countless stories within that tragedy—stories of hope and fear, love and loss, bravery and cowardice.

As the Titanic sailed into the cold open sea, it was just another day for the thousands of people on board. They were on their way to America, and that dream was far more important than any warning signs or foreboding feelings in their stomach. They didn't know what was in store for them, but they certainly never expected this.

What do you think?

Whatever you think of when you hear the name Titanic—whether it's Kate Winslet in her long dark dress or that heart-breaking Celine Dion song—you're probably not thinking of a tragic tale of greed and ambition.

The year was 1912. The Titanic, a ship built with the hopes and dreams of the era, sailed toward New York City. As it left Southampton, England, no one could have imagined the tragedy that would follow.

The massive ship had been built to be a symbol of hope and a testament to humanity's ability to achieve seemingly impossible feats. It was meant to inspire awe. And for many people, it did just that. It was the largest passenger vessel ever built, and it promised to cut travel time between England and America from over six days to just three. The ship was a symbol of the future, and many people boarded with high hopes for their next adventure.

But in the night, tragedy struck. The Titanic collided with an iceberg on April 14th, 1912, while travelling through the North Atlantic Ocean. Though the impact didn't sink the ship right away, it did open up six of its watertight compartments to the sea. The Titanic began to fill up with water, and those on board realized they had only a few hours before the ship would be too heavy to float and would sink below the surface.

A handful of third-class passengers struggled to get into a lifeboat before it was too late. They wanted to evacuate with their loved ones, but they were separated from them in the chaos. Many were crushed by falling debris or went underwater as they tried to swim from the sinking ship to a lifeboat. The lucky few who made it onto lifeboats faced long hours in the cold night sea, waiting for rescue ships that never came.

Although many of those on board survived due to lifeboats, many more perished due to a lack of resources or being trapped on the lower decks. Many women and children went down with the ship and were lost forever, never having made it to America or seeing their loved ones again.

In its final moments, the Titanic was engulfed by fear and chaos as passengers tried desperately to escape. As the water flooded in, people huddled together in puddles for warmth and comfort, some praying for help or shouting for their loved ones to stay close by. They waited for someone—anyone—to save them from their impending doom as they clung to hope that someone would find them and see them through this tragedy in time.

Most of those on board were women and children who were third-class passengers. That night was bitterly cold, but most of them had nothing more than life jackets to keep warm with as they waited for rescue ships to arrive. They died when the Titanic sank into icy waters hours later; only 710 of them survived out of 2228 people who were on board.

But despite this tragic ending, many of the Titanic's passengers still managed to keep their hopes and dreams alive—and even found love on board the ship of dreams!