A Little Fall of Rain
Summary: Eponine's thoughts as she lies dying. Musical-based oneshot.
Disclaimer: I have never owned Les Miserables. Just saw it once as a school production and fell in love with it. Well, you know what I mean.
Don't you fret, Monsieur Marius
I don't feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now
You're here, that's all I need to know
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
And rain will make the flowers grow.
But you see it, don't you? It's everywhere, like the blood. The rain pounds against the wounds. It hurts so much, my love, and you can't stop it.
Ironic. That for these past few years, you have caused me so much pain, pain you could have stopped so very easily. It only would have taken three words, just three, to send that pain away. And now… now I lie dying. Now the pain is not caused by you, you can do nothing about it. And you wish you could.
But you will live, Eponine - dear God above
If I could heal your wounds with words of love.
Just hold me now, and let it be.
Shelter me, comfort me
God? God abandoned me long ago. When Cosette left and my parents gambled away everything they had.
But nobody told you, did they? Good. Maybe that's for the best. That way I can sleep knowing something you don't. I like that idea. You, a scholar, not knowing that which is most important of all. My feelings for you, the history of your 'beloved'.
The way I watched as they abused her.
The way I watched as everything was reversed.
The way I watched as you sang to each other.
The way I sang to you, not a metre away, but unheard.
And maybe, just maybe, that's for the best
You would live a hundred years
If I could show you how
I won't desert you now
The rain can't hurt me now
This rain will wash away what's past
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
I'll sleep in your embrace at last.
At last. I always dreamed of it, my love. Could you never tell? I think you do. Now. Now, as I lie here in your arms. Now, as each beat of my heart drives me closer to death. What was the song of the factory workers? At the end of the day, you're another day colder.
My dear Marius, my darling Marius, do you really think your body can prevent that? It is warm and soft, as I always imagined it to be, but it cannot drive away the cold. The numbness coming closer with every moment, every breath, every word.
The rain that brings you here
Is heaven-blessed!
The skies begin to clear
And I'm at rest
A breath away from where you are
I've come home from so far
So don't you fret, Monsieur Marius
I don't feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now
Rain from your eyes. Tears? For me? But Marius, you could never weep.
Not to me.
Not for me.
Your heart full of love…
You never felt that way.
Hush-a-bye, dear Eponine
You won't feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt you now
I'm here
That's all I need to know
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
No, it doesn't hurt. The cold has driven the pain away. Mostly. The pain in my chest was the worst before, and it still takes my breath away.
But that doesn't matter. Not anymore. It won't be there long. I can already feel it fading away. Marius, why do you cry? This is an ending to be envied, my love. Here, in your arms, with the pain gradually falling away. The ending I dreamt of. No Cosette. No maman, no papa. Just you and me. I will sleep in your arms at last, Marius. And perhaps, just perhaps, you may join me before too long. It is a selfish hope, but it is there nonetheless.
The light is fading. Night always heralds sleep for those like you. Now, it is eternal sleep for me which beckons so invitingly.
How could I resist?
I will stay with you
Till you are sleeping
And rain
Will make the flowers
Grow