About ten minutes before my students would start to arrive with their parents I finally finished reorganizing my class room and getting everything dusted off. I sat down at my desk and saw the letter lying there.

"Better get it over with now." I said quietly to myself. I tore open the envelope and began to read the letter from a man I was broken by ten years ago.

"My Dearest Roza,

It has been ten long years since I have last seen your beautiful face. Somedays I don't want to get out of my bed knowing that you are not with me. I know you probably think I am a terrible man, but hear me out. I did NOT write that letter that you received. When you stopped talking to me I questioned your mother about it. After an intense interrogation she admitted to writing that letter. I swear to you on Ivan's grave that this is the truth. I wish to ask if you would possibly watch my daughter carefully in class. She never had a true mother figure and she could use a good female role model like you. I hope you know that if I hadn't thought you had left forever I would never have gotten married. You may know that I am now divorced and my ex wife is in jail for attempting to kill my mother. If you could ever forgive me I would love to take you to dinner some time. If there is anything you ever need from me just ask Mason he will be the only guard with my daughter Sara, but he will remain outside your room.

With love,

Dimitri

I am afraid that if I try to talk to him the steel wall surrounding my heart will fall. Reaching into my bag I pulled out the only thing I brought with me when my mother kicked me out. I never went anywhere without it and not a day goes by that I don't look at it. It is a picture of Dimitri and I holding on to each other in a meadow near the local lake. As I look at the picture I finally realize that he said he didn't write the letter. All these years I thought he had torn my heart to pieces when really he loved me the whole time. Tears began to run down my face and sobs wracked my body. The letter fell to the floor but I held on to the picture for dear life. I tried to stand but my legs collapsed and I was on the floor as a fresh wave of tears began to fall.

After a few minutes I my tears stopped and I walked to the sink to splash my face with water. Just as I was drying my face a knock sounded on the outside door. I turned and looked at the door seeing who was outside. I saw the prettiest little girl I had ever seen and behind her was Mason. Walking over I put a smile on my face and opened the door.

"Hello Ms. Hathaway it is a pleasure to see you again. This is Sara I will leave her in your care. If you need anything I will be around." Mason said with a smile.

"Before you go there is one thing I need. I need you to stop calling me Ms. Hathaway and start calling me Rose." I said before smiling and pulling Sara inside before closing the door.

"Hi sweetheart. My name is Ms. Hathaway but when it is just you and me you can call me Rose." I said smiling at Sara.

" Hi Rose. Which seat is mine?" Sara asked shyly

"Well I put your seat right near mine but still with the others so that if you need me I am nearby but you can still make friends." I said picking Sara up and carrying her over to the desk I picked out for her. "This seat is yours but in the afternoon when it is just you and me you can sit where ever. I was thinking today after class ends we could go get lunch and some ice cream before coming back here and playing some games. Does that sound fun?" I said to nodded her head vigorously to show she wanted to go.

The day passed in a flash and all of a sudden it was time for Sara to go home. Mason tried to get me to let him drive her but I insisted on walking her. So he left in the car to wait at the castle while I walked with Sara. While we talked and chatted as we walked I made sure to keep a sharp look out. When we were about a five minute walk from the castle a man emerged from the wooded area behind us. Without hesitating I picked Sara up and pulled her close to my chest making sure to shield her body completely and ran. I heard the loud popping of a gun behind us but kept running. All of a sudden I felt a sharp burning pain in the small of my back and I knew I had been hit, but I also knew that I had to protect Sara with my life. I knew that if Dimitri lost Sara he would be destroyed. We finally made it to the castle and I began pounding on the wooden gate yelling for someone to let us in. The door to the guard station opened and I ran in with Sara as fast as I could. Once inside I slammed the door closed and told the guard my name and that I had to get Sara to the king as fast as possible. She saw that I was clearly carrying Sara and she let us through telling us the king was waiting on the front steps.

I kept carrying Sara because she was Shaking like a leaf from the whole ordeal. The pain in my back was worsening and I was becoming woozy from the blood loss. We finally made it to the stairs and there sitting at the top was Dimitri. As soon as he saw us he jumped up and began running down the stairs towards us. I set Sara down so she could run to her father. Dimitri picked up his daughter when she met him halfway down the stairs. He called out my name and continued down the stairs. I raised my head up looked him in the eyes and mouthed "I am sorry" before I collapsed going into unconsciousness from blood loss. The last thing I saw was him by my side looking into my eyes with eyes filled with love and sorrow. The last thing I heard was Dimitri say "Roza fight your way back to me I love you" before he called for the guards and a doctor.