Blood and Roses

chapter six

Time seemed to move with speed. It's been seven years since my arrival at the foster care and I can still remember the day I arrived like it was yesterday. I stand up from my bed, get my toiletries and head for the bathroom. Staring at my reflection in the mirror,I'll say I look exceptional for a fifteen year old. The splitting image of my mom or at least what she looked like when she was around my age.

The prominent dark circles around my big blue doe eyes signified lack of sleep. I brushed my teeth and took a hurried bath. It was a general bathroom and I had to wake up early so I could get some privacy.

Hurrying down the hallway,I slipped into my room,threw on some clothes and began to arrange whatever little possession I had.

Today, my adoption process will be completed and I'll be moving into a new home. I must admit, I'll miss this place a lot even though I had no friends or even acquaintances. I clutched my locket on my neck tightly, a habit that happens when am tensed. The once shinny silver had faded on the edges to bronze. Flipping the locket open, I stared longingly at the picture of my family and was lost in thoughts of how happy we used to be.

"Roselle?? It's time", One of my favorite matrons said.

"I'll be down in a minute", I replied.

"Okay child. I hope you find happiness in your new home", she said and turned to leave.

The drive from the foster home to my new home was a long one. Right now I was no longer Roselle Jackson but Roselle Smith. Mr Adams Smith and Mrs Liana Smith looked like responsible people with a decent lifestyle from what I was told by the woman in charge of formalizing the adoption process.

Finally, the car stopped in front of a storey building with a beautiful garden in view.

"Feel free to give yourself a tour later", Adams said.

"Oh am sure you will love it. It's nothing like that dingy foster home", Liana added.

"For now, get your things out of the trunk and come so I can show you your room and tell you how things operate here", Adams said with a smirk on his face.

I grabbed my stuffs and followed them inside. The interior of the house was beautiful, the fire place, the marble floor boards ,the chandelier and every single thing screamed perfection.

"Your room is on the second floor, last room by your right so get settled in and come help start dinner by five", he said, drawing my attention back to him.

My room was bright blue. A small bed, a dresser and a tiny closet. I threw my things on the bed and opened the door to the washroom. It was clean and comfortable. I took a shower and headed down stairs to start dinner.

Dinner was filled with so much silence. After twenty minutes of awkwardness,I cleared the table and went to the kitchen to clean up.

I must admit, mrs Liana was a terrible cook but I was still grateful.

"Roselle? Can you come over for a minute? Adam and I need to talk to you." She said.

I wiped my hands on a towel and headed out at once.

"Please take a seat" Adam said gesturing towards the couch next to me.

"Well, my son Richard will be coming home tommorow. He is out for some business but that's not why I called you."

"Liana and I will be needing a help with the house chores. We've never fancied getting a help so we will be counting on you for assistance" he said.

"From the house to the garden,you'll look after it and keep it clean.That'll be all for now."

"And yes!! You're free to take up a job if you want, so you can earn some money for yourself", he added.

I stood up. Smiled and returned to the kitchen.

"I better finish up and go to bed because tommorow would be a long day.", I said to myself with a sigh.