Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 17

Mid Ocean
Carmel School Association Elsa High School, Ronen, Daniella - 12
1409
Loud thunder, water already at waist length. The sail is torn and ripped. The ship has begun to sink. I wasn’t
even supposed to be there that day. I was only ten at the time and the only reason I was on that ship was
because I had no other home. For four years I lived with my brother on that ship, ever since our father has
abandoned us. Luckily for us our father’s friend, now the captain of this ship, has offered us work in
exchange for a home. This is where we ended up, sinking in the middle of the ocean.
We were on the journey back to China. We had what we came for. Just when everything was supposed to
work out, a storm came, and then it all began. Water invaded our ship, impossible to control. I remember
my brother’s grip on my hand, tugging me as we ran to the captain. My brother Li Wei was sixteen years
old. Unlike me, he was supposed to be there, he was at the right age. Even if our father wouldn’t have
abandoned us shortly after our mother’s death, my brother would still be training to be a ship captain. It was
his dream since he was five and it is unlucky he never got the chance to fulfill it.
We reached the captain, out of breath. “Sadly there is nothing I can do,” he said without us having to
explain, “I suggest you go onto the second ship and try to save yourselves.”
“But what about you captain?” Li Wei asked as if surprised there wasn’t much to be done.
“A captain needs to put others before himself. But I will take care of myself I promise,” he replied “Now
go, hurry or there wouldn’t any space left.”
We both knew this was probably the last time we would see him but we also knew it won’t do any good if
we died as well so we just ran, a very long run.
Water flooding everywhere. Just by looking at the other ship you could tell the overcrowding was
unbearable, everyone pushing and shoving each other to save their own lives. As we got there we
discovered there was barely room for one, if only we had been there earlier. That was the moment that I
hate to remember until this very day. I feel a gentle push on my back and I realize that I have crossed over. I
turn my head and see my brother on the other side. My brother left me and never came back.
1426
If I haven’t mentioned it before my name is Li Qian. My name means strong in Chinese. I always found it
hard to understand why I was named ‘strong’ when I wasn’t. When I lost my brother I wasn’t strong, I was
weak, and for two years I found it hard to continue. Slowly I understood he wouldn’t have wanted me like
this. I need to be ‘strong’. I realized that although my brother’s life has ended it doesn't mean mine should
end too.