Chapter 1

"Do you promise you'll never forget me?"

"I promise, Rosalynn. I'm yours forever."

I woke up with a sudden jolt. Where am I? This room, it looks unfamiliar. I stood up from the bed and walked over to the window, trying to see if I knew where I was.

As I looked out, there were people walking down the sidewalk. They had smiles on their faces, some were real and others were for show. How did I know that?

I heard a knock on my door and in come a woman wearing an apron. Her eyes widened when she saw my empty bed and then glanced over at me. She dropped the clothes she had in her hand. I guessed she was going to change my unconscious body. She must have been the one taking care of me.

"You're awake?" The woman asked as she slowly crept her way to me, like I was some alien.

I looked around first, trying to understand what was even happening. I finally answered back, but my voice cracked at the beginning. "Yes." Ouch, that hurt my throat.

The woman noticed I was in slight discomfort and quickly ran out of the room. I looked down at the clothes that were on the floor. They looked like some sort of bed material. They were clothes you slept in.

My head spun as I tried to understand what was going on. Where am I? Who am I? Who was the woman?

"Rosalynn, please drink this." The woman said as she handed me a glass of water. When did she come back?

I took the glass of water and relieved myself of the dry and scratchy feeling. It felt like I didn't use my voice in ages. Why was that? How long was I sleeping?

After I drank all of the water in the cup, I gave the glass back to the woman. "Where am I?" I asked, finally able to talk without sounding like a frog.

"You are in Storybrooke." She answered and ran a hand over my cheek.

I backed my face away a bit, not wanting her to touch me. Who was this woman?

"Rosalynn, do you not remember me?" Her voice was heartbroken and it made me feel this unknown guilt.

"I'm sorry, I don't. Hell, I don't even know if my name is this…Rosalynn name." My voice sounded off to me. Maybe it was because I just woke up?

"My child, you must be so confused." She sat down on the bed and looked at my face. "You went to sleep one day and never woke up. It's been three years…"

I finally noticed the machine that was by my bed. I followed the tubes and wires from it and saw they were attached to me. I heard the sound of a beeping noise. I looked up to the source and found that it also showed a zig zag line for every beep. I spotted at the corner a heart shape with a number beside it. That machine was probably showing my heart beat and rate.

"I have no memory of you. I have no memory of myself. I have…nothing." My voice trailed off. No there was something I remember before waking up. The voices I heard seconds before my eyes opened. It was a young male's voice and I think my own too.

"Your name is Rosalynn Burks. I am your mother, Julia Burks." She explained to me.

Honestly, I had no idea if I should believe her. I sighed, but did I have anything else to go by on who I am?

"Do I have a father?" I asked, feeling like I knew the answer to that.

"Of course you do, but he…was just a sperm donor. When he found out I was pregnant he left." She answered and gave me a shrug. "I think I did pretty well on my own on raising you."

"Friends?" I wanted to get off the topic of this father thing.

"You do. You only have a couple though." My mother answered. "There is a teacher named Mary Margaret Blanchard. Your other friend is Ashley Boyd. While you were out, Ashley got pregnant. I wouldn't be surprised if she had the baby now."

I frowned in confusion. I had no idea who these friends of mine were. "Do they know I am awake?" I asked out of curiosity.

"No, would you like them to? I was so wrapped around the fact that you were awake that I forgot." Her voice made it feel like she was ashamed.

"Don't be sorry, I understand…I think." I wasn't one hundred percent sure on much.

We talked for a while. I was back to lying on my bed. My muscles were getting tired of me standing. It had been awhile since I used them. I'm surprised I'm not skin and bones for how long I was out.

"Tomorrow, I would like to go out. I think fresh air will do me good…" I looked over to the window, watching the clouds fly by.

"You're right, Rose. Shall we take a stroll in the woods? You used to love looking at all the nature and creatures in the woods as a child. It was more entertaining to you than playing at the park." My mother let out a soft laugh when she was remembering me as a child.

"That sounds lovely. I might need to take breaks though. My muscles are weak." I looked down at my blanket covered legs. It's not like I was unable to walk, but after some time I might need to take a small break.

I was standing in front of my long mirror. I turned a bit to the side and then to the other side, checking out my outfit. My top was tucked into my black skirt. It had small black dots covering the white cloth. The ruffles of the top were very elegant to my body size. I had on a brown belt around my waist, where the shirt and skirt met. The black skirt went down to the part above my knees. For shoes I wore black flats that had a tiny black bow on top.

I looked at my hair. My mother went all out on it, claiming she hasn't had her fill on doing my hair in a long time. I laughed at the memory of her saying that.

We were walking along the path in the woods. It wasn't very sunny today, bummer. The clouds weren't rain clouds. The temperature had to of been in the seventies, maybe late sixties, but it wasn't very chilly.

As we walked along the path, I caught something at the corner of my eye. I turned my head and spotted a man in a hat. A top hat. He wore black clothes that fitted him nicely.

He stared back at me, sending a chill down my spine. Who was this man?

I gave him a small smile and his face seemed to change slightly. He looked like he was trying to hold back on doing something. I didn't feel threatened by him. Instead, I had this strange attraction to him. Maybe it was his face. He had a nice face. His lips had his charming curve to them that could mean mischievous or cuteness.

I turned to look at my mother. "Who's that?" I asked, pointing to the man.

She turned and looked puzzled. "Who?"

"The man over…" When I turned my head I noticed he was gone. "…there…"

"Are you okay?" My mother asked.

"…Yeah…" I said in a distant voice, trying to figure out where the hell he could have gone.

"We can take a break if your legs hurt, Rosalynn." My mother suggested.

When my mother said my name, I felt eyes on me. Not just my mother's eyes, but someone else's. Maybe it was the man?

"I'd…like to go now. Are there any places to see in this town?" I asked my mother as we turned around and started to head for town.

"There's a café. You used to work there…I'm sure everyone there will be happy you woke up." I rolled my eyes at the thought. Ugh, people.

The café was cute and small. It had dark brown, square tables with white tea cups for chairs. Inside the tea cups were padding so you wouldn't be uncomfortable. The cups had part of the side cut out so you could sit in it. The walls were milky white and the floors were dark brown, hardwood floors. The menus were blackboards with blue, pink, and white chalk writing over it.

I sat at my chair, my mother on the side of the table in hers. I ran my hand over the smoothness of the white cup I was drinking out of. The steam was still coming out of my French vanilla cappuccino.

The door chimed, meaning someone was coming in or leaving. I turned my head slightly and spotted the man in the woods. He knew I was here. He must have followed my mother and me.

I knew that this was creepy, but I still felt that weird attraction to him. It was like my body knew him but my mind didn't. It was starting to piss me off.

I saw him walk over to a table that was a few tables down ours. I saw a glimpse of his drink. It was tea.

"Rosalynn…" I heard my mother call out for me softly.

I saw the man tense up at the sound of my name. I knew then he must have known who I was. Not wanting to offend my mother by not responding, I turned and smiled at her.

"Why were you staring at that man?" She asked quizzically.

I was trying to think of a reason, quickly. "I like his hat." I answered my mother.

She looked around me towards the man and then gave an approving nod. "Yes, he does have a nice hat." There was a moment before she spoke again. "And a nice face…are you sure it wasn't that?" My mother raised an eyebrow at me.

I sighed and put my hand on my forehead. "Mother, please…"

"Should I give him your number? He might be single." My mother teased me more.

"Mom, please…stop. I…uh…I'm not attracted to him." I lied and she knew it. "Okay, I am but still…stop!" My voice got quieter when I started to get more frustrated.

"Well, his name is Jefferson if you'd like to know." I couldn't help but pray he couldn't hear out conversation. "He keeps to himself mostly, but I hear he's very sweet when you get to know him."

"Can we change the topic, Mom? Please?" I gave her a serious look and she held up her hands.

"Okay, okay…well I need to head to the restroom. I'll be back." She stood up and walked over towards the bathroom.

I sighed when I knew I was alone at my table. I felt a tapping at my shoulder. I turned and spotted the man, Jefferson, was standing right there.

"May I?" He asked, pointing to the empty chair. It wasn't the one my mother sat in.

I nodded, not able to find words. He smiled a charming grin, showing smooth and white teeth. Great, he has a perfect smile too…fucker.

"If you don't mind me asking, were you the woman who…went into a weird sleep coma?" He asked me, not taking his eyes off my blue eyes.

I nodded again. Where did my voice go?

"Well, I am glad you're awake now. I know your friends and they have been worried about you." Jefferson's eyes glanced down to my hands. "Are you nervous?"

I looked down at my hands, not knowing why he would ask that. My fingers shook slightly, showing some nervousness. I guess I am a bit intimidated by him, but not scared.

I shook my head to answer his question and he bit his delicious bottom lip, trying to hide a smirk. Delicious? Really?

"Cat got your tongue?" He asked me and got closer to me. "I can go get it back for you."

I went to say something but all that came out was uhs and ums. Finally I took a deep breath and spoke. "Sorry, you're very…intimidating. I hope I didn't offend you."

"Intimidating? You've said that before to me…before your sleep coma." He held out his hand. "I didn't get to introduce myself before. I am Jefferson."

I took his hand into my clammy hand. Great, our first greeting and my hand is all clammy.

"My name is Rosalynn…I think. It's what my…mother says." I furrowed my eyebrows and let go of his hand.

"…You don't remember anything do you?" He asked and I nodded again. I saw his tongue peek out when he licked his bottom lip. "I'm not a very busy man. If you'd like…I can help you?"

"How would you help me?" I asked and looked down at his lips again. They were very distracting and I think he knew it.

"I can take you to your friends, have them help you. I can…take you around town…" He shrugged. "I guess your mom can do all that."

"Yeah, she could…but thank you. I would like that." I smiled kindly at him. No offense to my mother but I want to spend time with mysterious man.

"Great, I'll see you soon. Here's my number…" He took a napkin and a pen, writing down his name and number. I had no idea where that pen came from. Maybe his ass, I don't know.

"…Do I know you? I mean…"I sighed. "I feel like I know you."

"We've met once. Remember, a few minutes ago I said that?" He answered when he gave me the napkin.

"I don't mean that. I feel like there's more…" My head started to hurt and I put my hand on my forehead. "Sorry, I don't know what I am saying. Ignore me…"

"Don't give up on that feeling." He whispered to me. "You'll know soon enough."

I looked up and saw he was already walking out of the café. I felt a gush of wind go by me and heard someone sit in the chair.

"Sorry, I saw you were talking to the guy." My mother said with a huge smile on her face. "So…did you get his number?"

"Yeah, I did…how old am I?" I asked, because I wanted to know for reasons.

"You're twenty one." My mother answered. "Your birthday is in a month or so."

"I see…" I looked out the window and spotted Jefferson getting into a car, probably his.

It was black old fashioned car. I had no idea the make and model, just judging by everyone else's car his was old fashioned. As I watched him drive away, I couldn't help but wonder what the hell just happened. When I finally was able to speak to him words came out like nothing. He was so easy to talk to. Who was this man?