I woke up to the sound of ringing in my ears, I slammed my hand down on my alarm clock and groaned into my pillow. I threw the covers off and slowly got out of bed, I sluggishly walked to my ensuite and splashed cold water on my face to wake me up and sure enough it did. Then I heard my bedroom door creak open and in between patting my face dry I looked to see who it was. It was my handmaid Dianne, “Good morning Rose.” She smiled at me and put some clean clothes away for me and then made my bed. “Good morning Di.” I said as i walked over to my wardrobe. I swung open the doors and chose out what I was going to wear today. “Gee it sure must be nice to choose what you get to wear every day.” Dianne said admiringly looking at my wardrobe. Dianne only ever wore the same thing when she worked which was every day except Sunday, She wore a sky blue dress with a white collar, plain buttons down the torso and a pencil skirt bottom.  She also wore white canvas flats and did her hair up in a bun each and every day I don’t think I have ever seen her change her hairstyle. “Someday Dianne you will be able to-I rushed over to her excitingly and grabbed her hands- you will be free to wear whatever you want when you come to live with me and Andrew…when we are married.” My mood deflated at the thought of my engagement. I was engaged to a wealthy man name Andrew Roberts who came from a wealthy background and our parents had arranged for us to be married since we were 10 years old. I let go of her hands and looked down at my feet dreading the idea that in 5 months I would be marrying him and I would never be able to feel the feeling of being free to live my own life. Dianne grabbed my hands “You really are a generous soul Rose.” She looked me in my eyes and then gave me a hug. “Thankyou Di. Now I have to get changed and ready for the day I will see you later.” I let go and she walked out. I put on a red pencil skirt that went just under my knees and a white v neck that had the sleeves cut off and had a white bow tied to the side. I put on some red flats and went into the ensuite. I put on some basic makeup, teased the top of my hair so when I pulled it back into a ponytail there was a bump in front of it and let my bangs frame my face. I looked like a china doll after I got ready because of my icy blue eyes, red lips, white blonde hair and delicate features. After I was ready I grabbed red cardigan in case it was cold and my books as well as my red vinyl purse.

I skipped down the stairs greeted mother and father good morning by yelling from the front door and went out the door. I walked out to the drive way and went up to the black limousine parked outside the garage. Rudy was leaning against the driver door, he was a 45 year old man, with brown hair and grey flecks spread throughout, he had squinty brown eyes and was quite chubby. “Good morning Rudy.” I nodded and smiled. “Ready to go Miss Rosalie?” he said as he tipped his black hat, that drivers wore, in recognition. “Honestly Rudy I would have much rathered stay in bed today.”  I said leaning me head on the back seat car door. “You and me both Miss.” He laughed and got in the car. I hopped in the back seat and closed the door after me, we eventually arrived at school and I thanked Rudy and got out of the car.

I walked up to the front stairs of the college and greeted my friends. We all talked for a bit and then split up heading to our different classes. I studied journalism at school so my first class was editing, the lecture went for an hour. After editing I had 2 hours of studying until my next class which was focusing on the research side of journalism. After the lecture was over we were given the task of researching our family history. That was easy for me because we had all our old records in a box kept in the attic. After school was over a said goodbye to my friends and walked over to the black limousine that drove me everywhere. I got in the car and Rudy drove me home we made small idle chat about my day as we always did and then we got home and I hopped out and said goodbye to Rudy. I walked into the house and through the two white wooden doors and like every other day I came home from school there stood Dianne with a snack for me and today it was chocolate chip cookies. “Thanks Di, come help me with something?” I smiled, took the cookies and led her up to my room where I dumped my things. “So what do you need help with Rose?” she inquired looking at me. “There are some old family documents in the attic, they are in cardboard boxes near the entrance I think can you please go and get them for me?” “Of course.” Di smiled and walked out. I ate my snack and within 20 minutes Di came in with 3 old worn cardboard boxes that looked as if at the slightest touch they would fall apart. “Thanks Di.” I grinned and jumped up to go look in the boxes, I was a bit excited to go through my family history and find all the buried family secrets. I opened the first box and Di said “I will leave you to it then Rose.” “Di…wait.” I gasped. I stared down at the crumpled document that I held in my right hand. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, were my eyes deceiving me? Or was it true…was I adopted? And did I have a twin brother? And was his name Dallas Winston? I sunk down on to the ground holding on tightly to the piece of paper. Di had me by the shoulders and was staring at me with great concern on her face asking if I was ok and trying to get some kind of response from me but I couldn’t talk so I just handed her the document. “Oh my god.” She whispered her eyes focused on the document like mine were but now they were focused on where my mother stood in the door way. Her face full of shock like she had just seen someone murdered she raced over to Dianne and ripped the document out of her hands. Tears welled up in my eyes and started uncontrollably flowing down my cheeks. “Rose hunny I’m sorry.” She was crouched down in front of me holding my hands. “Is it true?” I asked through gritted teeth my voice full of rage, sorrow and contempt. “Yes.” She whispered looking down a single tear escaping her eye. I yanked my hands away from hers and stood up.

Rosalie: “I’m adopted?” I more stated it than asked it.

Marlene: “Yes but sweetie please understand I never meant to lie to you we just didn’t want you to feel like you weren’t part of the family.” She sounded calm and cool.

Rosalie: “You still lied to me…for 17 years Mother!!!!” I yelled

Marlene: “Rose calm down and lower your voice you are a lady not angry man in a pub.” She demanded coldly.

Rosalie: “Oh shut it Mother. I will yell if I want to and I do want to because I just found out that the out of the three people I trust with my life have been lying to me for 17 years.”

Marlene: “I am going down stairs you may come and join us for dinner IF you have calmed yourself down and stopped being ridiculous.” Then she walked out and softly closed the door behind her.

Rosalie: “Dianne we have to get out of here…tonight and go and find my brother…find the truth.” I whispered but loud enough so she could here. “Go and pack your things.”

Dianne: “Yes Rose I will meet you down stairs.” She silently left the room.

 I raced around and packed clothes and my necessities. I got the birth certificate, folded it and put into my coat pocket. I grabbed all my hidden money and credit cards and put them into my red purse. I met Dianne down stairs and luckily neither one of my “parents” was there so we walked out the door and to the limousine where luckily Rudy was still there in the driver seat. “Where to Miss Rose?” he asked not bothering to ask why Dianne and I had suitcases with us. “The police station.” My voice was cold and stern and he noticed either that or he was startled by my request to go to the police station. “Right away Ma’am.” He said unsurely. I stared out the window the entire ride no one speaking or even moving. I thought about what my life would have been like if Dallas and I had never been split up. I tried to imagine what he looked like and what his personality was like by the name I think he would be real nice and sweet like me. The car came to a stop and I told Rudi and Di to stay here and I will be back soon.  They did as I said and I slowly made my way into the Police station, I walked up to the front desk where Uncle Terrence was working like I knew he would be. “Rose how-“ he began but I cut him off. “I need to you to look into Dallas Winston, don’t ask why just do it please.” I commanded. “Ok rose…are you ok?” he asked looking at me with unease spread across his face.

After a few minutes he came back and said “What do you want to know?” his voice was full of apprehension, concern, and this tone that he used whenever he arrested some hood. I couldn’t understand why but I didn’t think about it much. “All I want to know is where he lives.” I stated. The rest I would find out when I met him “Tulsa, Oklahoma no specific address listed.” “Ok thankyou.” I didn’t say anything else I just walked out back to the car. “Tulsa, Oklahoma take us there please Rudi.” I said no expression on my face. “But Miss Rosalie that’s 6 hours away.” He said in a matter of fact voice like I didn’t know. “I am perfectly aware thankyou Rudi now if you please.” I gestured to the driver seat and got in the back seat. In 6 hours I would meet my brother….