"Girls. Girls... Wake up. It is late. I made you both tea and I started a fire." I heard the vague voice grow more clear as my tired eyes forced themselves open. Aunt Pol stood in front of me with a small smile placed on her face.

I heard a quiet moan from Ada who was laying across my bare legs, asleep.

"Ada, darling. Daisy. Come on. You girls have a big day ahead of you."

I slowly lifted my body from the bed and stretched my arms, high in the air. I took a big yawn and gave Pol a warm smile.

"Well, at least one of you are up. I brought tea, dear."

"Awe, Aunt Pol, you shouldn't have."

"Oh well, I needed to. It will refresh you both for the day." She smiled and sat me down in the rocking chair next to the blazing fire.

She joined me and we sat in comfortable silence.

I looked out the window. From the sky was falling bright snowflakes. They would softly hit the ground and become one with the other specks of snow on the sidewalks. It was beautiful outside.

Today was the perfect day to just stay inside, enjoy a nice read of Charles Dickens by the fireplace, and drink tea.

A fully awaken Ada soon joined us with a cup of hot tea and a blanket wrapped around her body.

"It's a beautiful day isn't it?" I whisper loud enough for the two women to hear.

"It is." Ada smiled brightly as she glanced out the window.

We all, once again, remained silent.

"Today is a big day for you girls." Aunt Pol said breaking the peaceful silence.

"What do you mean?" Ada and I looked at Pol hazed.

"Don't tell me you girls forgot?" Pol placed her tea on the side table next to her chair and stood up.

"Forgot what?"

"Today is you and Ada's Suffrage speech down at town square tonight!"

My smile dropped.

"I thought that was tomorrow?!" I exclaimed.

"I thought it was as well!" Ada cried.

"No! It is tonight at 8 o'clock!"

"But we haven't prepared our speeches!"

"Well, I would start at it now. You have 5 hours till you need to be there!" Pol said standing up. "And make sure your brothers don't catch you. You know they don't like the idea of equality towards sexes. They think that the men should control everything while the women stay in small cellars and are used only for food and intercourse. The audacity they have. Now, get to work."

Aunt Pol left the room leaving Ada and I in disbelief. We both thought it was tomorrow. The day before Christmas Eve...

I pulled out my Underwood Standard Typewriter from beneath the bed Ada and I share and placed paper in it. Ada did the same. We both sped over to our desks near the window and started to quickly type.

I could feel beads of sweat roll down my neck.

Ada and I have been best friends for 17 years. Her brothers Tommy, John, and Arthur were good friends with my brother, Dean.

Our fathers were also good friends and did business together. Both of our mothers had passed after we were born. I never met my mother. Ada knew her mother for a good 3 years before she was murdered at a pub in Dublin.

Ada's father is who knows where, leaving Aunt Polly in charge. Dean and I's father who was abusive towards only me, left us just last May. Aunt Pol kindly took us in as well, as long as Dean worked for the Peaky Blinders. He agreed and we've been living with the Shelby's since.

It's been a rough past years. Ada has always been there for me. She barely ever leaves my side. Except for when she goes to see Freddie Thorne. He is a tall, handsome man Ada has been going around with for about 2 years now. I'm still waiting for the day he'll proposes. I wouldn't be surprised if it was soon. They're madly in love. The only thing that is stopping them for marrying is Tommy. He despises Freddie. Only Pol and I know about Ada and Freddie's constant affairs. And that is how it shall stay.

My mind focused back on what I was writing. Much time must have passed because Ada was done already and getting dressed in her green and purple clothing.

I soon finished my speech and joined Ada in picking out what looked suitable enough to wear. Tonight we would be speaking in front of hundreds of women and men, fighting for women's vote and equality. Aunt Pol knew the famous Emmeline Pankhurst personally and got Ada and I the chance to speak to her supporters. We were both honored yet shocked when we heard the news. We were quite surprised she was allowing the sisters of men in a gang to speak.

We decided I would dress in an all purple dress traced with foresty green lace, topped with a beautiful purple and green feathered hat. Ada dressed the same, but a green dress traced with purple lace and topped with a green and purple feathered hat.

My hair was perfectly curled and rested on my shoulder. Ada's was straight and promptly set in its desired place. We always loved to were quite a lot of makeup when it came to suffrage rallies. We both felt we looked more professional and sanguine.

We both wore a deep red lipstick and mascara.

We placed our gloves on our hands, hid our speeches and sashes in our handbags and got out umbrellas. There was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" I questioned.

"It's Pol. Are you girls ready? It is half past 6."

"We are."

I smiled at Ada and we walked to the door.

Pol put her hand over her mouth in awe.

"You girls look so beautiful." She started to tear up.

"Thank you Aunt Pol." We smiled.

"Alright, now the boys are downstairs in the lounge drinking some whiskey and having a smoke so it is going to be quite difficult to sneak you two out."

We followed Pol quietly down the stairs as the sounds of men's laughter became increasingly louder.

We got to the bottom step and slowly started towards the door. We made it to the wall that separated the dining room and lounge.

"I'm leaving you girls to walk out by yourself. I have chores to do. Please be careful. If any of the officers or men try to start a fight, run home as quickly as you can, you hear me?"

"Yes, Aunt Pol, we'll be okay. I promise you."

"And remember, when you get there report to a man named Corey. He should be waiting by the door for you two."

She winked us. We smiled and started walking in the lounge to the front door.

"Woah. Where the hell are you girls going? Do you know how bloody late it is? The streets of Birmingham are not safe for two girls at nighttime. Definitely when dressed like that! " Tommy said standing up, looking almost frustrated.

"We are not girls. We are ladies, Mr. Shelby. Ladies who are perfectly capable of taking a stroll by themselves. Now, if you will excuse us. " I said smirking and dipping my hat.

We opened the door and walked out in the cold December air. I opened my umbrella and placed it over my head, preventing the cold snow from hitting my face and hair. We rushed down the dark street hearing shouting from the boys behind us.

We quickly made it to down to town square were a crowd of people stood proudly, with purple and green sashes around their waists. I grabbed Ada's hand and squeezed it. We walked up to the man who I presumed was Corey.

"Excuse me, uh Ada Shelby and Daisy Murphy. Ms. Pankhurst gave us the honor to speak at tonight's event. You must be, Corey?" Ada exclaimed.

"Indeed I am. Right this way ladies." He gave us a gentle smile.

We followed him inside the building, up the stairs and into a large room with beautiful decor.

"Ms. Pankhurst, your guest speakers are present."

I squeezed Ada's hand even harder. My inspiration. The woman I aspired to be since I was 7, was standing in front of me wearing a welcoming smile.

"Hello ladies! Welcome."

"It is such an honor ma'am! Thank you so much for having us." I say and shake hands with her.

"Oh please, when Ms. Gray told me of your stories and backgrounds, I was the one honored to have you two speak for all of Birmingham. Thank you."

Ada and I looked at each other and giggled.

"Now, Ada, is it?" Ada nods. "I'd like you to say your speech first, love. Daisy, you will speak after Ms. Shelby and somebody should signal you to welcome me on the stage."

We both nodded eagerly.

"Get your sashes on ladies. It's showtime."

We got everything we needed from our bags including our speeches and sashes.

I wish Ada the best of luck as she walked out on the stage, taking deep breaths every step. She was welcomed on by applause and cheers.

I watched her from the doorway and couldn't help but smile at every sentence she spit out.

She gradually became more and more confident the longer she stood on the stage. I was so proud of her. I hadn't heard her express what was on her mind so much since we were both 5 and a girl tripped Ada while we were at the park.

During the end of her speech I saw her smile brightly as people yelled and clapped.

"Thank you for you time. Now, please welcome, Ms. Daisy Murphy."

"Good luck, love." She kissed my cheek and smiled.

I took a deep breath and walked on stage while people violently cheered me on.

I started to speak.

"Most of us, are gathered here tonight because we all believe in one thing. Equality towards women." Cheers. "I know that is why I am here. My whole life, I was pushed around and used by men. I never got a say in what I wanted to do with my life. If I wanted to get an education. If I wanted to marry or not to marry. I was always told what to do. No man has every asked me in my 20 years of living, for consent. Because of that, I've been abused, raped, almost murdered twice. My father was one of those men. Just one out of the hundreds. When I was 7 years old, I vividly remember being dragged from my bed late at night, and brought to the willow tree, outside my old home. There, my innocence was taken away from me. My confidence was taken away from me. My whole life was taken from me because of one man. If I had told the police, they would've thought I was fibbing and beat me up as well. This went on for another 12 years until my father left me. The last thing he said to me was, 'You've become a beautiful woman Daisy. I can wait to fuck you once more when I see you again.' Not that he was sorry. But that he couldn't wait to see me older and matured to he could, once again, assault me." I needed to breathe. My speech was already overwhelming. I was sweaty and angered. But I continued. "What I am trying to say is, I am tired of not having a voice. Having the authority I should have over my own body. Over my own life. I do not belong to any man. Nor any woman. I belong to myself. I shall choose if I am to work or not. I will not stay isolated for the rest of my life. I will not live my life, cleaning up after everybody and cooking food for filthy, ungrateful men. If they can work and handle guns, then they are damn capable of cooking a pot of soup. I am a human being, exactly like them. And I shall be treated like one. My reproductive parts shall not define who I am. I'm tired of living in the shadows. I want my children to grow up and not have to worry about what I have to worry about in my generation. No child or woman should have to go through such pain, of not being able to do what they'd like with their lives. I want change. WE all want change. We want it now. And we will get it now, no matter what we must do. I am a soldier. I am a suffragette."