My Story
She raced through the streets, her bare feet splashing in the rain puddles that dotted the dirty cobbles until she caught sight of the cafe Musin, lit up with jovial sounds erupting from it, contrasting with the otherwise silent street. As she made her way toward it she noticed a beggar man sitting on the kerb. He did not bother to raise his cupped hands to her as he knew she was as penniless as he. "We are untied in our hopeless cause, my friend." She said in her head as she passed him and reached the doors of the cafe.
Eponine waded through the throng of loud voices and joyful laughter to where he stood. It made her stomach tingle to think he was waiting for her. "Marius!" she called to where the curly haired figure stood. His head snapped around toward her and she jumped slightly.
"Do you have any news? About My Cosette!" he asked hurriedly.
Her smile faltered a little at his harsh greeting. "I...um, I found her house. She lives on Rue Plumet, the posh street down by the bridge. She lives with her father, I think, in a big old house with iron gates."
A glassy look had entered Marius' eyes and she told him about the beautiful girl he had seen only days ago from across the street. It was just one glance, but it was enough.
"Can you take me to her, 'Ponine? To her house?" He asked the young gamine.
She loved the way her name sounded from his mouth. "Well..." she said before she heard a name called.
"Marius! We are about to begin the meeting, may I have your attention?" The young man said as he approached. He was tall and statuesque with a chiselled face and straw coloured hair.
"Excusez-moi, Enjolras." Marius turned away from Eponine to give his full attention to the man before him.
Eponine sighed at the loss of conversation with the boy and Enjolras saw her shoulders visibly droop.
"Mademoiselle, would you like to step out of this room, just while we students discuss revolution?" he asked turning to the girl.
"No thank you monsieur, I enjoy listening to talk of a better time for people like me." She said adamantly, folding her arms across her chest as she spoke.
"As you wish, mademoiselle." He said turning toward the group still seated in the cafe. Addressing the whole room, he said "we have much to discuss."
Eponine was staring intently at her beloved, trying to imagine what it would be like to be seen walking the streets on his arm, but she felt her concentration waver.
The pretty words that came from the student's young leader were catching her attention. Words like 'future', 'revolution' and most promising of all, 'equality'. Eponine was not perfectly educated and some of the words that were said, she could not understand but the few she did made her tear her gaze away from Marius, toward the angel faced revolutionary.
"These people have nothing. No money, no food, no home but most of all, no help, until now. The people who have lived in starvation and poverty for hundreds of years will join us against the common enemy, the foolish and useless monarchy. We will strike them when the fire of rebellion is ablaze in their hearts! We must choose the right moment to strike! Deliver the fatal blow!"
Hearty cheers erupted from the men in the cafe as they raised their glasses in the air to show their support to Enjolras' words.
When Enjolras' speech had finished and the people were dispersing from the cafe, Eponine approached Enjolras.
"You say very pretty words, monsieur. It catches the ears of girls like me. But how will you know when is the right time. How do you know if the people will rise?" she asked him, her eyes wide and questioning.
Enjolras turned his attention to the small girl in front of him, a little surprised at her sudden appearance as he had spoken to her but once and had no name to call her. "Uh...well, the people will rise to fight against the oppressors, they will fight for their freedom and we when know when the time is right because...well...we just will, mademoiselle." he finished. It was not the best answer he could have given but he was a little confused about the girl's interest in politics and was even more surprised she could withdraw her attention from Pontmercy to listen to what he was preaching.
"Eponine." She whispered quietly before turning in the direction of the boy who had just called out the name she had a second ago given to another.
" 'Ponine, will you take me to her now?" Marius asked, eagerly clutching on to Eponine's arms.
She revelled in the contact and slowly nodded her head before turning to Enjolras. "Au revoir monsieur, it was nice speaking to you." She said as Marius practically dragged her toward the door.
"Au revoir, mademoiselle Eponine." Enjolras said quietly to the closed door.