But this was a new start, a fresh beginning and so far, not a very good one.

“I’m sorry!” Maura said, stopping to wait for Jane who smiled weakly and hugged her partner fondly.

“Me too!”

“Hey look, that’s it!” Maura said loudly, pointing towards a stunning boat in the far end of the harbour.

As they made their way towards the ship, they relaxed slightly, partaking in one of their favourite games, people watching. A fat, balding man with a sunburnt head waddled in front of them, loaded up like a Himalayan donkey while his equally rotund wife puffed loudly while dragging a suitcase behind her. She paused for a moment, apparently to catch her breath and turned towards her husband and smiled. He caught up with her and she kissed his red head fondly as she offered him a drink.

Maura smiled at them sadly as she passed. Having seen the boat, Jane had marched on ahead, their moment forgotten as her excitement for her first cruise took over.
This is what Maura wanted from a relationship, obvious love and affection even in the midst of heavy luggage and sunburn, instead, the pressure of their work seemed to have drained the lives from both of them, leaving behind a cold and irritated shell.

She followed Jane with her eyes and smiled as she turned back to see what was keeping Maura.

“Come on!!” Jane yelled, drawing some rather irritated glares from a collection of older people sitting nearby.

Maura’s smile vanished as Jane turned away and marched herself aboard the boat.

“Good Afternoon!” A young man whom Jane aged at about 27 years smiled warmly as she stepped on deck.

“Good afternoon to you too.” she replied, smiling broadly.

“Welcome aboard the Galaxy,” he continued, “If I can see your ticket and boarding pass, I will guide you to your cabin.”

Jane rummaged around in her shoulder bag and complained loudly when she could find no official looking paperwork at all. Pausing to run her hands through her long hair, Jane sighed heavily, it had to be in here, she always had the tickets for every important event.

“I’m sorry!” Jane said, looking up only to smile apologetically at the queue that was forming slowly behind her, a queue that consisted of the same older people whom had already formed an opinion of this loud mouthed brunette.