Eventually, they let Marius get out of bed. Slowly, he began walking again with the help of a cane. It was terribly slow and frustrating work until he could get his strength back, but Cosette was there through all of it. She watched him work every day until he became too upset and then she would convince him to rest or take a break. Through those days, she was his strength.
When he could walk well enough again, Marius expressed his desire to visit the café. His nurse said this was a bad idea. So did Cosette's father. Cosette sat quietly as Marius explained this was something he needed to do and insisted he could handle it. When he had finished, she agreed with Marius and volunteered to go with him. So they went.
The Café Musain was still empty, exactly how it had been on the night of the battle. Marius slowly climbed the stairs with Cosette's help and she waited for him on the stairs.
Marius sat down at the one remaining table in the corner and examined the room closer. Blood still stained the floor and walls. Someone had died up here. Someone he knew.
The grief he felt was unbearable, dwarfing anything he'd felt since waking up. Suddenly, it was all real. Everything that had happened. This was where he had met his friends, where they would drink together after a long day of classes, where they had first heard Enjolras's plan of rebellion and agreed to help, where they had learned of General Lamarque's death. This was where they dreamed of changing France. There was history here. And this was where it ended.
He wept the tears of a child, wondering again why they had to die when he of all people lived. Marius could practically hear the voices of his hopeful friends, young and naive, wanting nothing more than a better world to live in.
He could almost see their faces, his friends with him in this room. There was Enjolras, avidly discussing his plans with anyone who would listen. Grantaire sitting at the table, a bottle of wine at his lips, eagerly watching him speak. Courfeyrac, Combeferre, and the others spread around the room, some listening to their leader, some chatting idly about their latest classes and assignments. Marius could hear the laughter in the room. He almost smiled at the sight of his friends.
He blinked again and they were gone, and Marius was once again reminded of how truly alone he was in the cafe, and how his friends had met such terrible ends. Why was it fair for him to live? Why had it happened? How? Now more than ever he thought about how he would have much rather died in the fight than be left like this after it. The grief alone crushed his soul.
Marius sat in silence for a while longer until he could pull himself out of his thoughts long enough to leave. He had seen what he had come for. Standing somewhat shakily, he crossed the room back to Cosette. She had waited for him again. He tried to smile at her in reassurance and the look she returned was one of understanding, of hurting for him. Marius knew she hated to see him this way.
He also knew that no matter how much Cosette tried, she would never understand his pain in her whole life.
Even her presence did not lighten his heavy heart this time.