• 1924 the orange sun is setting on a red and purple sky as she walks along the shore and docks of the bay among the ships. She was with her group of six at the dock, a ship grave yard. Ships lay scattered about the docks, a hundred ships and more pulled to the bay for the exploration by the community.

    She sees half of a ship out of the water tied to the dock on the left. It stays mostly level on the green murky water. She stops and watches her group ahead of her keeping forward. Her shoes weren’t meant for this type of terrain. She walks to the dock on the left to board the vessel. Once a renowned cruise ship, it sits at the harbor, broken, and abandoned.

    The dock rocks as she walks towards the ship her eyes fixed on the deck, rustic and dead. She makes a stretch to place her foot on the deck’s floor. She grabs the rail and bends under it. She walks on the deck testing the sturdiness of the worn out wood and hears water beneath her slosh around beneath her. The water is right under her, all three levels flooded up to the deck.

    The breeze carries the smell of rotten wood, dead fish and rusted metal. Each step she takes makes a groan. She walks on further and reaches the middle of the deck.

    He appears a foggy blur at first then sharp and clear. In his tux and shined shoes he walks towards her and her wide eyes with steady long strides. He smiles at her and with an outstretched hand he asks, “May I have this dance?”

    “You may.” She replies as she hesitantly gives her hand.
    The first step is taken and a ghostly orchestra forms to play a ballad perfect and clear.

    His one hand on her lower back and his other hand holding hers firmly they dance floating like the foam that glides on the water beneath them. The deck no longer groans with each step. Music of the phantom orchestra plays on.

    “You look beautiful tonight.” He says beaming with pride.

    “You look very handsome.” She replies with a wide smile. She looks upon his face. His deep eyes that are dark like rich coffee. “And his hair, he combed his hair back.” She giggles too herself.

    The sky grows darker but the music grows, capturing what light is left of the day and engulfs the deck, the dancing couple and the orchestra in its glow.

    They dance on, around and around on what was left of the deck. She tries so hard to find something to say to him, anything at all, it didn’t matter. She just wanted speak her heart out to him before the opportunity is lost again but this time forever. They sweep across the deck, eyes locking on to one another's.

    He leans forward and whispers shyly in her ear “May I have... This kiss?”
    Without skipping a beat she breathes “You may.”

    Both stop, arms still locked in position while he leans in. Just as the electricity between their lips begins to spark she hears her group’s leader.

    “Amanda!” he yells “What are you doing?!”

    She half turns to see the confused looks being given by her group. She turns back to find that the orchestra, the music, the lights and her partner has vanished. Her arms held in position, she relaxes them and with a sigh she replies “Dancing…”

    With a deep breath she takes in her surroundings once more and walks back towards the dock with the groans of each step sounding mournful at her leaving.