“He refers to himself as Noah's father. This man dumped his girlfriend in the middle of the winter after learning she was pregnant with his kid. I saw her huddled in front of a stationary store, barely dressed in the bitter cold. She was in agony, she was missing her one shoe, she was shivering in cold, but her face was heated by the tears that had flowed from her eyes. I brought her home and didn't ask her any questions. Nobody came to search for her. There was not a single missing report that was filed. She gave birth to a son. She worked at my tattoo studio beside me. Her son calls me Mama. And I adore them; they are my family. Rosa is my partner, and Noah is my son. Tell me, your honour, what would you do if you were in my shoes? Should I hand them over to the man who has abandoned them for the past eight years? And returned for them after discovering her late grandfather's will? or Is it because we're both women? ... Why should just women make concessions when it's obvious he's wrong? Whatever the case may be, Your Honour, Ma'am, I will not hand up my partner and our son to a nobody like him… That is my final statement. Thank you for allowing me to speak.”

The family court has fallen silent, Noah is joyously smiling, the Rouley family is applauding along with the rest of the crowd, and our opposing side is hushed. I noticed tears in her eyes as she smiled warmly at me... I can't stop crying... I'm overjoyed... I'm very fortunate... I'm so delighted we met... The first thing that sprang to me was Patricia Highsmith's dialogue from Price of Salt: "I feel I stand in a desert with my hands outstretched, and you are raining down upon me."  My love, Sena. 

It all happened eight years ago...

“Rosa… Oi… Rosa? ... Are you paying attention? Is she awakened from her slumber and now she's dead? Hello… Rosa Homer, are you there? It's time to wake up from whatever wonderful dream you've been having and finalise the design for the O'neil family”...

“Hmm… I'm almost done, Catherine”...

“Oh! Really? So, what were you dreaming about? Something romantic or ballsy?” ... her brows danced as her brilliant red lips extended wide.

“Catherine, please stop... That's not what I'm thinking... I… came across... a receipt.” My cheeks reddened and began to ache as a result of my smile.

“What do you mean, a receipt? Don't stop... complete it”, Catherine's eyes lit up with delight.

“The receipt of a diamond ring”... I uttered it with enough zeal to make my heart skip a beat. Catherine, on the other hand, enjoyed it more than I did... She joined my happiness...

"Oh my goodness! Girl! It's finally going to happen... I am very excited to attend your wedding. Mathew is a lovely person, and I'm confident that once you become Rosa Thompson, all of your troubles will be handled... Congratulations, my darling"... She smiled brightly as she embraced me.

I'm thrilled... I counted through the days until Mathew eventually put the ring on my finger.

My name is Rosa Homer. I am 25 years old and work as an interior designer at Homer Designing. Homer Designs was created by my grandpa Raphael Homer, who is now quite elderly and feeble but still serves as the Homer group's director. My mother died shortly after giving birth to me, therefore I have no memories of her. One year after my mother died, my father remarried. Like that, I have a brother and a sister. My stepmother despised me, but she didn't express it in front of my father; nevertheless, following his death, her entire demeanour toward me changed. Although, unlike Cinderella, I was not subjected to forced labour, rather compelled to feel I was alone.

But my grandpa filled that void within me. He was always kind to me. Then I met another person who grasped my hand and flew with me. Mathew Thompson, a senior at my college. He's a wonderful man, a great singer, a top student, and a lovely man who understands me. I was overjoyed to have encountered him. I wanted to spend my life with him as his lover, wife, and mother of his children. Every day I dreamed about it. We shared our tiny dreams, like a small house, two children, little trips, and everlasting love and happiness. I concluded that by acquiring it, I would be able to fill the space within myself and begin a new life. Mathew was my cure, I thought.

I introduced him to my grandpa, who supported and welcomed our love. Mathew started as a Junior Interior Designer at Homer Designs. He was already the head of an interior design team when I graduated. Excluding the fact about my stepmother and siblings, our lives were filled with love and pleasure. Their attitude toward me was unchanged from before.

................................................................

"Baby, I'll be late today; I have a client meeting in V-city, so get to bed early... Muah, I love you!" ... He pecked my lips and then dashed out the door.

He reappeared just as I was ready to walk back in...

"Rosa, darling, are you free this Sunday?"... he said, his cheeks beaming.

"Yes, I am"... I said, trying to keep my enthusiasm at bay.

"Then, be ready because I have something to tell you, let's go out for dinner... Bye". He walked away.

"Oh, God… Oh, My God… (screaming) Yes… Yes"… 

I can't help but blush. I'm tempted to yell. My long-awaited desire has finally come true. He intends to propose to me. I rolled over on the bed, jiggling like a goofy little kid.