Chapter 13: I Love Him
Cosette sat in her garden. Her face was paler than usual with worry.
"Miss." She heard a voice say. She turned to the gate.
A boy stood in the shadows. She approached him.
"Yes?"
"I have a letter, Miss." The boy handed her the note, then ran off into the night.
Cosette unfolded the letter.
Dear Cosette,
I am truly sorry about last night. I was tipsy on alcohol, so I could not think clearly.
There already is a girl I love, but now I must die without telling her. She thinks I am just a friend and I wouldn't ruin our friendship for the world.
The words I said last night were unforgivingly pretend.
I truly am sorry.
My regards,
Marius Pontmercy.
Cosette sighed with relief. Last night had been due to alcohol from both sides.
Then she remembered Eponine, how she'd looked at Marius and narrowed her eyes at Cosette.
She gasped in a hurt surprise as it began to make sense.
Rain was falling on the barricade. Eponine stood around the corner of Cafe Musain, oblivious to what was going on.
The students were inside at the moment, confronting the man who'd volunteered to 'spy'-inspector Javert.
She didn't care.
About anything.
Except for Marius.
But he didn't care for her.
On my own, pretending he's beside me. All alone, I walk with him 'til morning. The rain began to sound more rhythmic. Without him...I feel his arms around me. Eponine was starting to run her thoughts over, to clear her mind. And when I lose my way I close my eyes...and he has found me.
In the rain, the pavement shines like silver. All the lights, are misty in the river. A river from a different dream, far away from the place where they could both easily die tonight. In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight. In the heart of the dirty grey city streets, there were no trees. And all I see is him and me forever and forever.
But reality always crept back, darkening the brightest of dreams. And I know...it's only in my mind. That I'm talking to myself...and not to him. And although, I know that he is blind... She took her cap off, letting her curls tumble down her back.
Still I say, there's a way for us.
I love him, but when the night is over. He is gone, the river's just a river. Eponine shook her head, rain and tears running down her dirt-streaken face. Despair began to fill her. Without him, the world around me changes. The trees are bare and everywhere the streets are full of strangers.
The rainfall got heavier, chilling her to the bone. I love him, but everyday I'm learning. All my life, I've only been pretending... She sank to the floor, leaning against Cafe Musain. Without me, his world will go on turning. A world that's full of happiness that I have never known.
She drew her knees up to her chest, resting the cap on her knees and sobbing into the grey fabric.
"I love him." She sobbed. "I love him, but only on my own."
The mechanical footsteps of marching was heard. Eponine quickly stuffed her hair into the cap as the students filed out of Cafe Musain.