The Diary of Vanessa Rocoso

By Z. D. Boxall

December 2017. The horrifying event has been haunting and intriguing us as a nation ever since the story broke. Even though many of us now know what happened, there are still so many unanswered questions. What really happened over those two weeks? The Diary of Vanessa Rocoso grants an insight to the awful events by those who experienced them. It tells of the trials, tragedy, and trauma that they faced and inevitably had to overcome if they wanted to make it out with their lives. It involves piracy, slavery, and starvation. Most people wouldn’t survive, so how did they?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Apr 18, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796002638

Z. D. Boxall

Z. D. Boxall is a published author who enjoys writing about action, adventure and exploring the darker sides of life. Boxall believes that character is the most important part of the story and understands the importance that we, as readers, have when connecting to a character.

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Copyright © 2019 by Z.D. Boxall.

Library of Congress Control Number:        2019904474

ISBN:                        Hardcover                 978-1-7960-0265-2

                                 Softcover                   978-1-7960-0264-5

                                  eBook                       978-1-7960-0263-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 04/17/2019

Xlibris

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Contents

Foreword by Elizabeth Sacha

Sunday 3/12/17

Monday 4/12/17

Tuesday 5/12/17

Wednesday 6/12/17

Thursday 7/12/17

Friday 8/12/17

Saturday 9/12/17

Sunday 10/12/17

Monday 11/12/17

Tuesday 12/12/17

Wednesday 13/12/17

Thursday 14/12/17

Friday 15/12/17

Saturday 16/12/17

Sunday 17/12/17

Monday 18/12/17

Tuesday 19/06/2017

Epilogue

About the Author

To my friend Kimmy,

who has pushed me to be a better writer more than she knows.

Foreword by Elizabeth Sacha

The events of December 2017 will forever be remembered not just by me but also by this very nation. We’ve all heard the story, the carnage and catastrophe, but what actually happened? It can be hard to properly understand the story at hand and the outcomes that followed without context.

This transcript of Vanessa Rocoso’s diary, which I was granted the rights to publish, is a raw and unedited first-hand look at the tragedy and trials that were faced and overcome. What’s written here is truth but not a heart-warming fairy tale. It’s truth. Truth is honest but also blunt and unforgiving. We can’t expect anything less from something that cannot, by definition, be wrong.

This is the only warning that I will give. Nothing is held back. Nothing is left out. Everything is real. What’s written is honest – disturbing and disgusting but honest. For me, reading this shook my roots, disturbed my core. It caused me to reflect on my own life, and I hope that it will do the same for you.

Sunday 3/12/17

Unfortunately, I have to keep it short today. It’s an early start tomorrow, and I need some sleep. Nothing special happened today. I did some reading, but that was about it. I can’t believe Shae talked me into going on this cruise. I don’t even really want to go. She is excited though, and I like to see her happy. When I was packing for the cruise, she came bursting in through the door with a huge joy-filled face.

‘Aren’t you excited?’ Shae screamed. She screams too much.

‘It’s just a cruise, and shouldn’t you knock before you enter?’ I asked with a mellow tone, trying to illustrate the noise level that I want.

‘It’s not just a cruise, and why would I knock? You hiding something?’

‘No. It’s just polite.’

‘What do you think of my outfit?’

Shae twirled around, showing her short white miniskirt and pink low-cut tank top. Combining this with her blue eyes and blonde hair, she really is beautiful. It’s just a shame that she knows this because if she didn’t, then maybe she would be using her body as a credit card. That sounds judgemental. I just think that she should dress so that she doesn’t look like a half-open biscuit barrel. I obviously didn’t say that.

‘What are you going for?’ I asked, half-interested.

‘Party girl combined with summer fun,’ Shae stated proudly.

‘Well, it suits you. You look good.’

‘Enough about me. What about you?’

‘I’m fine.’

‘What clothes are you bringing?’

‘Just clothes.’

Shae managed to steal my bag before I could stop her. I tried wrestling her for it, but when she wants something, she generally gets it.

‘Come on, Shae, give it back. I’m almost done packing,’ I pleaded.

‘V, you have spent most of this year locked up in this room doing schoolwork. Now that you are free, you need to start acting like it,’ Shae explained as she probed my bag.

‘I liked school.’

‘I know, and that’s a problem. You need to have fun.’

‘I have fun!’

‘With other people.’

‘You don’t need other people to have fun.’

‘Oh my god! V, you’re bringing books?’ She waved a couple of my novels in the air.

‘Well, yes. It’s a cruise. What else am I going to be doing except rocking side to side?’

‘Rocking up and down on a guy?’

‘Shae!’

‘There are going to be guys there, and I know that we’re too shy at school, but this is a good opportunity for you.’

‘No, Shae. I’m not … not going to do that, okay?’

‘Especially if you dress like a librarian. I know you want to be one, but that doesn’t mean you have to dress like one now.’

‘I like what I wear.’

‘Yeah, but will others? And tomorrow you’re going to wear this?’ Shae held up the next day’s pre-picked outfit.

‘Yes.’

‘A grey pencil knee-length skirt with a light blue button shirt and light blue flats. This is not good. Your skirt needs to be smaller, and wear a white shirt. There is nothing wrong with a little bit of transparency.’

‘I’m not going to do that.’

‘If you want a guy’s attention, then you need better output.’

‘It matters what is on the inside.’

‘And this is what is on the inside?’ Shae coyly remarked, holding some of my underwear in her hand.

‘Shae! Give that back!’

I tried reaching for it. Shae’s stupid sexy long legs blocked me. I probably would’ve tried harder, but I could see up her skirt – not something I wanted to see.

‘Not until you promise to bring something sexy.’

‘I don’t have any … I can bring what I want.’

‘You can borrow some of mine.’

I stepped back, stopping my assault.

‘That’s weird.’

Shae tossed my underwear into my face. It draped over my eye.

‘I’m just trying to help.’

‘Shae, if there is a guy out there for me, he will like me for me.’

‘Okay, wear what you want, but I will find a guy for you.’

‘Whatever.’

‘Don’t even think of putting those books back in your bag.’

‘Fine. I won’t bring my novels, but you HAVE to promise not to embarrass me, okay?’

‘No promises.’

Shae and I are quite different, but she always has my back. She is a great elder sister, but now I must think of what I’m going to do on this cruise when I can’t read. I hope this cruise isn’t too boring.

Monday 4/12/17

The day started slowly, which I thought was symbolic. Shae and I were deposited at the dock at nine o’clock, where we waited with a group of other passengers. The dock was damp. It had rained earlier in the morning. You could smell the rust. It’s like an old coin that has been in your pocket for a while.

Looking around, I thought it strange that there were no birds gawking or people walking, just eleven strangers standing with zero talking – I need to stop rhyming. I’m glad I had Shae. All the other people just stood awkwardly by themselves, I at least could be awkward with her.

A yacht finally arrived a short time later. It was around twenty metres in length, white as well. Its name was the Kay Pay, and the captain was a merry man, with his all-white uniform. He almost looked like an actual captain. We were escorted on board with our suitcases and placed them below deck. On top, there was a large open area with a bar at one side. In the bar stood a provocatively dressed co-captain. She obviously knew about Shae’s emphasis on output.

The captain explained that we were heading to the actual cruise ship that was currently waiting by Tasmania. We were told to just enjoy ourselves, drink as much as we wanted, and have fun. I decided that I would not. However, Shae was insistent on social interaction, so she tried to introduce me to some people. There was this guy, Edward – good facial features, slick brown hair, and wore a grey shirt with yellow spots, combined with ripped blue jeans. He was a little over six feet. He spoke to Shae, kept looking at me. It’s rude to not give eye contact when you’re talking to someone.

‘So it’s no big deal. I just generally don’t need to practice. I’m that good,’ Edward said, sounding presumptuous – probably because he is.

‘Wow,’ Shae sarcastically remarked, not that he noticed.

‘So what do you think of this idea? A coastal road, a convertible car, my driving, you two being there. Sounds like a fun trip, right?’

‘No,’ I responded.

This surprised Edward.

‘What?’

‘It doesn’t sound fun.’

‘Why?’

‘What’s so fun about being driven around by you?’

‘Well … I’m good at it.’

‘So?’

‘So?’

‘Can we go now Shae?’

Shae kindly let us leave to move on to the next person. I’m not usually that rude, but I just don’t like arrogant people. I can always see through their lies.

After arrogant Edward, there was this tall muscled blond-haired moron. He looked like a glorified protein ad, with his thin white tank top and skinny cream jeans. It was a role he seemed born to play. He did have a name, Michael, and attached to Michael’s arm was a little girl with a loud voice. She wore black short shorts and a multicolour T-shirt that was tight enough to be uncomfortable for both her and others. She had blonde highlights throughout her long brown hair and heavy make-up – high quality though. Her name was Jaqueline, and while I didn’t like Michael, she hated Shae and me talking to him.

‘I could bench both of you babes easy,’ Michael boasted, not impressing either of us.

‘Good for you,’ Shae replied.

It was at this point that Jaqueline forced herself into the conversation. ‘What do you two want?’ Jaqueline was quite protective of her boyfriend – not that either of us were interested.

‘I was just telling them about my gym routine,’ Michael explained.

I noticed that he has a weird way of speaking. He seems to draw out the end of his words slightly, only by a second but enough for it to be annoying.

‘Don’t waste your time with them.’

‘Don’t worry, babe. You’re the only one for me.’

That comment might have been sweeter if Michael didn’t grope her uncomfortably – for us, not them. I don’t know what he sees in her. Actually, I do, but I wonder why he can’t see past them.

There was one guy I liked. His name was Jonathon. Very polite, very charming, and, as Shae said, ‘very handsome’, though she used another word. He was well groomed, with styled brown hair, clean shaven – he knew how to look good. Tall as well, physically fit, almost the perfect man. We talked for a short time, with our conversation consisting of reading. He is well read and well dressed. He wore a black suit with a white shirt underneath.

‘Jekyll and Hyde would be my favourite book from school. I appreciate Stevenson’s approach to the monster within. Have you read it?’ Jonathon asked, smiling politely.

‘I have! I love how it makes you think that such a horrible monster could lurk within you,’ I replied, excited that for once, I can talk to another human being about books.

‘I agree, but I think that such a monster can only surface under the right circumstances. Did you bring anything to read with you?’

‘I wanted to, but my sister forced me to leave them behind.’

‘That’s unfortunate. I brought some of my favourites with me. Feel free to borrow them anytime you like.’

‘Thank you. That’s very kind of you.’

‘Please. I’m not going to deny a fellow reader of the luxury of a good book, especially when the situation allows for a good read.’

‘I’ll make sure to take you up on that.’

‘Please do. I’m going to grab another drink. Would you like one?’

‘No, thank you.’

‘Very well. I’ll see you around Vanessa.’

I like him. He reminds me of the kind of guy that I would want to carry me in his arms as we rode away into the sunset. I would lie in his arms under an apple tree as he read poetry to me, his fingers sliding through my hair, his eyes interlocked with mine – I hope Shae doesn’t read this. She’d never let me hear the end of it.

Once we were a fair distance from land, everyone decided to settle into the cruise. While the others were distracted by the free drinks, loud music, and the co-captain, who looked like a stripper selling lollies to little boys, I was not. I sat in the shade, with my back to the shore, hoping this trip would get better. I noticed a blind girl has come on this trip. I thought she’d be seasick, but she seems to be doing all right.

After an hour at sea, with people still dancing and drinking, this guy came and sat next to me. He was averagely sized for a guy and wore a yellow T-shirt with green cargo shorts. Clean shaven with short brown hair and kind of fit. It was hard to tell with such baggy clothes. He obviously didn’t put much thought into his appearance.

‘Are you enjoying yourself?’ he asked, looking forward.

‘There are things I would rather be doing,’ I replied.

‘Like what?’

‘Reading. Why are you here?’

‘I wanted a second opinion from someone.’

‘I meant on this trip.’

‘You don’t think I belong?’

‘No. You don’t dress like the others, not to mention that everyone came on with suitcases, but you had a small bag.’

‘Have you observed anything else?’

‘Some things.’

‘How did you find out about this cruise?’

‘My sister Shae. She was approached by