Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by others. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Songs aren't mine either. -heavy sigh-
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-Three drabbles exploring what Anthony Hope doesn't know about Johanna Barker.-
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"I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes 'til I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish, take a chance
Make a change and breakaway." – Kelly Clarkson, "Breakaway"
Johanna sat with her uncompleted embroidery in her lap, staring wistfully at the window. Sometimes, she hates sitting here and watching the world that she is not allowed to be a part of. The rest of the time, she takes comfort in the sight, thankful that she has at least some connection to the outside, little as it may be. But no matter how she feels, she knows that this is not a way to live.
For as long as she can remember, her life has been filled with nothing but longing for knowledge of the outside world. Instead, the days seem to blend seamlessly into an endless existence, while all she can do is work on her sewing, talk to her birds, and sing her sorrow.
But she expects that it will not always be this way; that one day, she will spread her wings and learn how to fly away from this place. And when that day came, nothing would be able to stop her.
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"Take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I'm with you." – Avril Lavigne, "I'm With You"
Johanna didn't love him. She liked how a relative amount, certainly; he was quite pleasant and treated her with such kindness. And she was willing to follow him into a new life.
But love would take more than what they had at the moment. She wasn't daft; she knew what she felt for him wasn't love. But despite of her feelings, she had known she would stay with him when they first saw each other - she would have done practically anything to get out of Judge Turpin's grasp.
Anthony never suspected that their love was one-sided, because he didn't know that she could be just as selfish as anyone else, even though a girl of her standing should not possess such a quality. But an honorable quality that she did possess was a receptive heart. She might not love him yet, but one day she could learn to. And in this cruel world that they lived in, that would be enough.
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"You know I wonder have you already figured out
All these things that I try to hide
All this time I've been hoping you don't find out how
All these things that I hide on the inside." – Crossfade, "Invincible"
Anthony didn't know. He figures that it must have been a terrible experience; she can tell by how protective he is of her. But he would never know the true extent of what happened.
Her stay in the asylum had been dreadful. Even though she wasn't crazy, she had been unnerved by the women who were. Some would mutter to themselves in corners, and others would scream for no reason and would lash out at everyone else. That had been terrifying enough; then there were some of the things that happened behind closed doors…
Johanna shudders involuntarily, just at the thought of it. But she's comforted by the fact that Anthony doesn't have to know about such horrors; he has already done so much for her, and he deserves nothing but happiness in his future. And it's a happiness that she knows she can give him.
Author's Note(s): My first Anthony/Johanna fic! And I think that their relationship has a lot of room for interpretation. (Not that I paid a lot of attention to them when I watched the movie, because I was too busy swooning over Johnny Depp and HBC, but I still tried. And that should count for something.) Please R&R! I'm not too proud to beg!
Next chapter: What Mrs. Lovett doesn't know about Toby!