Everything looked normal as Eponine come into the café. The normal people were milling, laughing, or discussing politics. Marius sat in a corner reading.

Eponine adjusted her ragged dress and smoothed out her hair before approaching him. But as she got closer she realized the book he was holding wasn't a textbook.

"What'cha got there, monsieur Marius?"

He jumped at her words. "Oh, Eponine… You scared me. I didn't hear you coming."

She smiled. "I just wanted to see what you're readin', it looks like something good."

"It's a play," he replied, holding it up for her to see. "One of Shakespeare's."

"Oh, I see," Eponine replied. She wasn't going to admit that she had no idea who that was. "What's this one about?"

Marius smiled sadly. "Star crossed lovers who defy their families to be together. It's called Romeo & Juliet."

"Do they at least have a happy ending?" Eponine leaned in on the table.

Marius shook his head. "It's a tragedy. They both die in the end."

"What happens?" she asked.

"It's complicated," he said. "Their families are feuding and they fall in love despite that. They get married and Juliet plots to fake her death because her family wants her to marry someone else."

"And they have no idea about this secret marriage?" She loved listening to Marius talk.

"No," Marius told her. "And Romeo doesn't get the message. He thinks she's really dead. So he gets poison and kills himself in her tomb."

Eponine was sobered. "That's so sad. What happened when she woke up?"

"She killed herself," Marius said. "She loved him so much that she couldn't live without him. She found his dagger and stabbed herself."

"She must have been brave," Eponine whispered, "to die for love."

"They both were," Marius said. "When you find a love like that… It's a rare thing, Eponine. And it's something you can't understand unless you love someone with all your heart."

"And you… You feel that way about someone?" Ever the masochist, Eponine had to ask what she already knew.

"My Cosette," he replied. "She is my life, Eponine. I am nothing without her. I would gladly die to save her life."

"God willing you will never have to prove that."

Marius nodded. "God willing."

"I should go," Eponine said. She turned so he wouldn't see the tears in her eyes. I understand well, she told herself. If given the chance I would die to save you, Marius.

But with a revolution brewing, who knew what their futures held?