What if Royce had been unsuccessful on the dark street that night? What if Rosalie had actually married him?
This is my version of how it could have gone for Rosalie, a character created by Stephanie Meyer.
Chapter 4: Beautiful
Today I had no responsibility at all except to look pretty. I would spend my time in a beautician's chair. A manicure, pedicure, facial mask and hot oil treatment were in my future. I had to be stunning for the rehearsal dinner tonight. I settled in, my face covered in a warm towel trying to convince myself of just that. My pained internal monologue was made even more difficult as my mother sat beside me, getting the same treatments from a team of women, their services all paid for by the King family fortune.
She nervously talked and talked and talked about the dress, the food, the flowers. I know I saw her glance at my wrists. I had been self-consciously fidgeting with my sleeves all day. As I lay there under the towel, she temporarily quit talking. The reprieve from her babble was glorious. I tried to make myself believe that it was concern I saw on her face as she peeked at my arms. But I knew it was false. She was afraid I'd put an end to the wedding and her dreams of enhanced social standing would break-up along with the engagement. I was trapped.
Ok, I thought, still under the protective mask of the towel, what are my options? I could call it off, I could. It may be 1933, but women were finding jobs and making it on their own. That's what I'd do. I'd call it off and find myself a job. The euphoria of the decision didn't last for long. Where would I live? How would I live? My scant 18 years had taught me little about independence. Indeed, I was trapped.
My only viable option was to go through with it. I felt the warm tears flowing from the corners of my eyes. I was once again grateful for the towel on my face as it would comfortably conceal my show of emotion. I had to do something to take my mind off my dilemma. I thought of Vera. She was happily married. I remembered the sweet kiss on her cheek from her beloved on that night that felt so long ago. Marriage was working for her. I could make marriage work for me too. Although I was still lying down, I squared my shoulders and made myself believe that marrying Royce was the right decision for me. Surely he hadn't really been mad at me; something else had to have been going on.
The towel came off revealing my most dazzling smile. I had momentarily betrayed myself.
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