As We Always Were

This is my first ever "Flash Fiction," something under 1000 words in short story form. The class rules for the assignment were simply "start the story using the phrase 'Twice. Twice never seemed enough." I'd really appreciate feedback on this, it's really only 530 words, so any help is welcomed.

Twice. Twice never seemed enough. We double checked our bags, “Are you sure we have everything, dear?” My wife asked, before we left our home for the final time. I could tell she wanted to ask again, so I replied with “Yes, dear,” to move us along lest we be late. We smiled at one another, the quiet unsure smile that meant a major change for us both.

When we arrived to the harbor, the ship was waiting for us. We looked at it, then looked at each other unable to speak. When we looked back at the ship, we absorbed every letter painted on the side: ‘R.M.S. Titanic.’ The ship was an absolutely marvelous sight to behold. “The most luxurious steamship in the world,” I say with pride, “Unsinkable even! We’ll be in America and our new life in no time.”

“We’re going to America, we really are!” My wife exclaimed to no one in particular. Her eyes bright with the promise of a new start, like a child at Christmas. I couldn’t help but smile before approaching the inspection line with our boarding passes tightly in hand. There were people around us in pairs, husband and wife on our same journey. Some from far away places as evidence by their accents, some from our own little town in Wales.

Accommodations for the third class were simple. Quaint rooms shared with other families, the ambient hum of the engines muting our roommates snores while we slept. We relaxed and lived as royalty for four days on the most luxurious steamship in the world. Most of our time was spent on deck. This was the most breathtaking experience we’d ever shared together, watching the sun rise and set over the turbulent sea.

She sat in the sun writing poetry while I sketched whatever I laid eyes on around us. We ate luxurious meals with hopeful conversation from others sharing our situation. “We’ve got family in Brooklyn, by the river. You could stay with us for a while, while you get started,” a kind man offered over a meal on the second night.

“We’d really appreciate that,” I accepted the offer, making plans to repay him and his family as soon as we were able. Our new life was looking up thanks to this voyage.

On the fourth day however, the crews chaotic cries for women and children nearly separated us for the first time since we were children ourselves. “No! I will not leave him,” my darling wife cried out.

“Get aboard the boat, there will be room for the men elsewhere,” a crew member with an insincere voice tried to convince her.

“I will not. We will die as we have lived, together,” she said sternly before turning to face me. Her hands were shaking, so were mine.

Now that our voyage has come to this end, we lay here as we always had. Together. Cold water is filling the room around us, soaking our worldly belongings and spirit alike. The sound of the engines was replaced by the creaking hull giving way under the weight of the sea. We say “I love you,” and say it again. Twice. Twice never seemed enough.