On the lonely barricade at night...
If you would have spoken to a young child version of me and told her "In ten years you'll be dressed up as a boy so that you can fight in a battle because the man you love is in love with Cosette, who is rich and has fancy dresses" I would have thought you were insane. I would give you a strange look and then run and tell my mommy that the drunk customers are talking to me again.
But here I stand on the streets as people throw furniture from their windows to the ground. Some young man motions for me to help him lift up a table and move it to the large pile of furniture that is being built in the middle of the street. Luckily another man runs over to help him. I stand there motionless while everybody around me is busy. If I talk they'll suspect I'm a girl. If I try to lift things they'll suspect I'm a girl.
I see Marius again and walk over him. He is busy moving chairs to the barricade. I grab a chair and fallow him. The chairs are heavy. I try to keep up.
"How big are we going to build it?" I ask.
"Big enough to protect us," Marius says.
"Will we get enough furniture?"
"I hope so." He throws a chair onto the pile. He is so strong. I cannot throw mine like he does so I just set it down next to his.
We move chairs for what seems like a long time, then Marius goes to talk to Enjolras, the leader of the group. I keep behind. One of the chairs gave me a splinter. It hurts. If a simple splinter in my finger hurts, how must a bullet feel? I begin to have second thoughts about being here. I know I can't go back now though. I'm not even welcome in my house.
I stick my finger in my mouth and suck on it. I feel like a baby. I take my finger out and try to pick out the splinter. It's no use, though.
The boys in charge start handing people guns. I don't get one. I am invisible.
Everyone starts to assemble at the barricade. I stick by Marius. His eyes meet mine. I take a step closer to him. In the distance we hear noises. The noises are unsettling. Like a slow rumble in the pit of your gut. Danger.
My skin starts to form goosebumps. My forehead sweats. The sky starts to turn dark. I didn't think it would be late enough for darkness yet. There must be rain approaching. My vision gets slightly blurred. I feel slightly dizzy. The rumbling sound turns into drum beats. A large group of soldiers comes marching down the street.
Enjolras shouts "Fire!" and we Fire at them. A few guys fall but it's hard to tell. The sky starts pouring rain. Cold water streams down my face. I take another step towards Marius.
The leader of the other side yells "Aim!"
I see a gun pointed right at Marius. It is my instinct to jump in front of him. The man yells "Fire!"
I hear a bang and feel a sharp shoot of pain go flying to my stomach at a million miles per hour.