Epilogue

For the next few weeks, Sellah was given an opportunity to live with Sophie and Vladimir, as well as going to regular dance classes; she got better and better at dancing. One day, Sophie received a telegram addressed to Sellah. "Miss Sellah," Sophie called to Sellah, "You have a message!"
Sellah, who was dressed in a sky blue shirt, a yellow dress, and black flats, came running down some stairs to see what the commotion was about. She soon saw the telegram, and Sophie handed it to her. It said:

To Sellah Rosenberg,
Come to the main harbor. Two men are waiting for you. Stop. They say they come from Boston in the United States. They don Jewish prayer shawls. Stop. The two men wish to see Sellah Rosenberg as soon as possible. Stop.

"My brothers!" Sellah cried out excitedly, "They're here!" She then looked at Sophie, and then her expression changed to worry. "You heard the Jewish parts, didn't you?" Sellah asked the curvy blonde.
"Oh, my dear," Sophie said as she gently put her hand onto Sellah's shoulder, "You need not worry. The Empress and I stopped worrying and fretting over Jewish people ever since we moved here to Paris. We both felt the hurt on what it was like to be forced from your positions, leave behind your old homes, and lose family members."
Sellah lowered her head in sadness and said, "Yes. My parents died at the hands of your Czar's men many years ago. All this time, when I was with Anya, ever since Dmitri and Vladimir mentioned the royals, I worried." Sophie looked at her with sympathy as Sellah continued, "I never told the Empress my last name or what religion I belong to. All I told her was that I lost my parents in a fire, and my brothers had to go to America without me."
"Oh, my dear, shhhh," Sophie softly shushed her, "Do not think of the horrible things now. Think about the joy you will feel when you see your brothers again."
"But what about the Empress?" Sellah asked her, "If you tell her, then…"
"Everything will be alright," Sophie softly smiled, "In the meantime, we should get Vladimir, and then we will take a motorcar to the harbor!"
Sellah managed a little smile as she and Sophie looked for Vladimir to take them to the harbor.

A few hours later, Sellah, Sophie, and Vladimir arrived at the harbor; Sellah looked around, and it was hard for her to see her brothers within the large crowd. "Please excuse me," she said as she opened the car door. Sellah stepped out of the car and then decided to get a better look at the crowd of people.
Suddenly, a brown-haired, blue-eyed man wearing a blue shirt, an indigo vest, and tan slacks saw Sellah and happily called out, "SISTER!"
Sellah turned and saw the man, along with a ginger-blonde man with brown eyes (wearing a cream-colored shirt, a dark green vest, and dark gray slacks); both men had Jewish prayer shawls around their waists, and fedoras on their heads. "FYVUSH!" Sellah exclaimed happily as she ran towards the men, "MOTTEL! I'M COMING!"
"Sellah!" Mottel cried as he and Fyvush also ran towards their sister.
The three of them embraced each other into a big, tight, group hug. "Brothers!" Sellah cried out as tears of happiness streamed down her cheeks, "I thought I'd never see either of you again!"
"Mottel and I missed you so much!" Fyvush breathed.
"L'chaim!" Mottel cheered as the hug broke free, "This is the happiest day of my life!"
"Mine, too!" Sellah grinned as she gave her middle brother a kiss on the cheek.

Sophie and Vladimir, meanwhile, looked over and smiled when they saw their friend being reunited with her brothers at last. Sellah looked back and saw the man and woman, and then she cleared her throat. "Boys, I'd like you to meet some friends of mine," she said. She then led them over to the motorcar, and introduced her brothers to Sophie and Vlad.
"A pleasure to meet you both!" Vladimir beamed as he embraced Fyvush and Mottel, "I helped Sellah come all the way here to Paris so that she could find her place in life, and eventually see you two again!"
Fyvush looked at Sellah with a confused look and asked her, "So, why'd you wanna come to Paris?"
"It's a long story," Sellah shrugged, "You see, I met this girl at the orphanage…" The caramel-haired girl then told her brothers about her adventures with the girl named Anya (who was eventually revealed to be a Russian royal), Pooka the puppy, Vladimir, and Dmitri.
A few minutes later, Mottel asked with shock, "So you were travelling with the daughter of our enemies this whole time?! Are you crazy, Sellah?"
Sellah just shook her head and stated, "No, just brave. But at least I never told the… Empress about… my last name." She looked at Sophie nervously before finishing sadly, "I guess the Empress will have to know sooner or later."
"Very well," Sophie said, "I will arrange a meeting for all of us tomorrow. In the meantime, you three are welcome to stay at my estate for the time being until you decide to go home."
Sellah gave a small smile at her brothers, and Mottel put his hand on her shoulder for comfort.

The next day, Sellah and her brothers were facing Maria at her study. "So you see, your highness," Sellah confessed, "This is why I wanted to stay here in Paris. I just wanted to see my brothers again so… we could be free."
The Empress stared at her with disbelief for a moment, and then felt like yelling at her for being secretive. But then Maria put her fingers on her temples and remembered that Sellah was part of the group that helped bring Anastasia back to her. The Empress then sighed as she lowered her head onto her desk.
"Your excellency?" Fyvush asked, "Are you alright?"
Maria slowly lifted her head up and looked at the siblings with tears in her eyes. "For being part of a family that prosecuted your people," she softly said in Russian before pausing a bit, "…I apologize."
Sellah softly gasped with disbelief, and then she slowly walked up to Maria's desk. She looked at the Empress with teary eyes and responded in Russian, "Accepted."
The Empress took a deep breath, and said in English, "You did find my granddaughter, and stayed by her side for ten years. You are a true and loyal friend. In fact, I wish the world was full of more people like you… and your brothers." Sellah and her brothers all smiled softly as Maria returned her own sad, small smile and finished, "You three are dismissed."
The three siblings bowed and then left the study.

When they returned home, Sellah was surprised to see another letter for her waiting with Vladimir and Sophie. She opened it, and this is what it said:

Dear Sellah,
Dmitri and I are doing very well here in a Russian town just outside of St. Petersburg. I thought I'd write to you as soon as we settled in. How are you? Are you getting ready to go to America soon? I would love to visit someday.
Love,
Anya

Sellah smiled sweetly as she read the letter. Then she reached into a drawer and pulled out a pen and paper, ready to write her own letter. A few minutes later, Sellah had written down:

Dear Anya,
You will not believe what happened – I have met my brothers here in Paris! They said they got my letter about traveling with you, and they wanted to come here to see me just in case. We will be returning to Boston in three weeks' time, and when I settle in, I will write a letter to you and ask you to come and visit us. Take care!
Sellah

Sellah smiled and then got her letter ready, prepared to live a life of freedom with her brothers, along with maybe seeing her old friend soon.

THE END