I Was Anastasia

by Ariel Lawhon

we are the first royals in history to be condemned to this legendary exile.

“That is the home of Grigory Rasputin,”

Rasputin came from the borderlands of Russia, only to rise in Mother’s favor, and then in power. He embedded himself in our lives. His daughter, Maria, was even my friend for a time. We played together as young children. And then it was all over. Rasputin’s end was grisly, and here we are, passing his beginnings. Fate does twist her knife in the most unexpected ways.

“We have been delivered to hell,” Father says, swatting at his neck, then wiping a bloody smudge on his pant leg. “And they are celebrating.”

Anna has brushed up against death often enough to know that she is not ready to permanently inhabit its cold, clammy grasp.

They size her up against the memory of the woman she is accused of being. Their long-lost sister. A mentally unstable woman who disappeared in early 1920.

Don’t do this. Please. If she could scream the words at him she would.

Maria-Juliana’s

“Their names are Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Alexey,” Anna says. “My siblings are all dead.” Gertrude leans across the table now, desperate. “This is insane. She is insane. Tell them the truth!”

“As you know, the Romanovs tried to declare all of the tsar’s surviving relatives so his estate could be settled and dispersed among them. But I filed a motion to contest this, stating that you are his only surviving heir. And I’ve just received news that the court has agreed to see our evidence. Frederick has it in Berlin. Witness testimony. Photographs. Everything he could find.” He is elated, almost jubilant. “It’s only a matter of time and we’ll have you recognized, legally, as Anastasia Romanov.”

“You must come with us, Fräulein,” they said. “Your presence is required by the Führer.”

“I only wished to tell you that I’ve had my intelligence officers perform a thorough investigation into your claims.” Her voice is more of a squeak than she would like. “My claims?” “That you are Grand Duchess Anastasia.”

“On the contrary,” he says. “We have come to the indisputable conclusion that you are, in fact, Anastasia.”

“Of course, should I find that your claims are false, should my intelligence be wrong, then imprisonment will be only the beginning of your troubles. In fact, death would be a fate too kind for such a fraud. Don’t you agree?”