In My Life
Chapter 1
Running, not seeing. Fleeing, from the unknown Darkness. Slipping, tripping, and falling. Saved and caught in strong arms. The young girl looked up, long blonde hair delicately framing the small, pale, frightened face. Fantine. She saw a tall person, cast in shadow. "Monsieur." A sigh of surprise. Then all went black.
When she came to, she more felt, than saw that she was laid on a luxurious velvet sofa, and warm. She slowly opened her eyes, wondering if it was all a dream. It wasn't. All of a sudden, she was painfully aware of the ragged, mud-splattered, smelly frock she had on. Suddenly, the young man walked in and placed a new log on the fire. "How was your 'rest'?" he asked, his eyes laughing and sparkling. "'twas good, Sir, and who may I ask, are you?" shot back courageous little Fantine. "I, Madame, am Jean Val-Jean, and what is your name?" Asked Jean. "What does it matter what I am called? I could be Christine, Fantine, even Baron Emilie, but," she conceded, "my name is Fantine. But why must you know?" she asked, with her head on her hands, sitting straight. "I must know, Fantine," he gently replied, kneeling in front of her, "because since I met you, scared in the alleyway, I knew that you were the one for me. Marry me, Fantine!"