Chapter 35: The Parting

"I can't believe I saw that." Quasimodo said in the belltower that afternoon.

Esmeralda nodded. She was equally taken aback by what they had seen at the construction site.

"He's changed more than I thought." Quasimodo added, referring to Frollo.

Esmeralda's eyes lit up with hope.

"What does that mean for you?" She asked.

Quasimodo hesitated.

"I don't know." He said unfortunately.

Esmeralda lost hope.

She wasn't going to judge, of course. She didn't expect Quasimodo to forgive Frollo quickly, if ever. She hadn't fully forgiven him herself. But Esmeralda wanted her friend to experience what she did: The warmness that she now felt from Claude. He was no longer someone to hate or fear. He was sincere. He was kind. He was Esmeralda's friend. And although that felt strange, it was a great improvement over what had been between them before.

"I'm sorry to bring this up..." Quasimodo said nervously. "But... Are you ready to tell me about last night? I mean, we don't have to! I was just wondering if you... found out..."

Esmeralda remembered that her friend had been awaiting an answer. That was the whole reason she'd gone to the palace last night, to find out the cause of Frollo's change so she could explain it to Quasimodo. But she couldn't tell him what she'd learned, which was that the workings of Frollo's mind had been tied to years of horrific abuse, and that he'd only changed his ways of thinking after becoming aware of that fact.

"I did find out..." Esmeralda barely managed. "But... I'm sorry, Quasi. I can't tell you."

Quasimodo looked at her with confusion and disappointment.

"You can't tell me?" He repeated. "What do you mean by that?"

"What he told me was... Personal." Esmeralda explained. "I can't repeat it. I'm sorry."

Quasimodo was quiet for a moment, dumbfounded.

"It's too... Personal?" He finally said in bewilderment.

"You've seen his scar." Esmeralda reminded. "And I told you how he broke down the first night I was with him. It... relates to that."

Quasimodo looked down quietly, trying to process everything. It was still hard for him to imagine what secrets Frollo may have. Until recently, he'd never seen the man as someone who could suffer. But everything had come into question since he and Esmeralda had been married. Quasimodo now knew that Frollo was more complicated than he seemed. Apparently he even had secrets that were too dark for Esmeralda to reveal.

"I want to know..." Quasimodo said pleadingly. "I want to know everything! Why is he so good now? And why was he so horrible before? And what does that scar have to do with all of it? I'm just so confused about him! I want to understand!"

Esmeralda was sorry to not be able to explain more. She felt that Quasimodo deserved to know why he had been brought up so unkindly and why things were different now. But at the same time, Esmeralda felt strongly that Claude did not deserve to have the most painful details of his life told. Not by her, at least.

"You should ask him yourself." Esmeralda suggested.

"What?!" Quasimodo gasped.

"When you're ready, of course." Esmeralda added. "I understand if you can't do it yet, but you need to talk to him yourself if you want to know these things. He'll tell you if you just ask."

Quasimodo thought about it. Perhaps a conversation between himself and Frollo was what needed to happen. But not now. Definitely not now. He still had to find a way to compose himself enough to talk to Frollo without getting angry.

"Okay..." Quasimodo sighed. "I'll do it. Sometime. I don't know when."

Esmeralda nodded in understanding.

"But there's something else I'm wondering about." The bell ringer mentioned.

Esmeralda knew what it was, and she immediately felt her crestfallen mood return. Of course, Quasimodo still wanted to know why she was gone all night. But talking about that would make her emotional.

"I don't know if I can tell you that either." Esmeralda said pitifully.

"Why not?" Quasimodo questioned.

"Because... I might cry."

Quasimodo quickly became concerned.

"Did something happen last night?" He asked.

"It's nothing to worry about." Esmeralda assured. "It's stupid, really."

"No, it isn't!" Quasimodo disagreed.

"You don't even know what it is."

"I know it's upsetting you. You can tell me. I'm your friend, aren't I?"

Esmeralda was torn. She wanted to tell someone else about the heartbreak she was dealing with, but she also wanted to be strong for her friend's sake.

"I'm supposed to be there for you right now." She said disappointedly.

"I can be there for you too." Quasimodo reminded. "Isn't that how friendships work?"

He was right. It was only fair for friends to support each other. Esmeralda decided that it wouldn't be the worst thing for her to open up about Phoebus. It was far less serious than what Quasimodo was going through, anyway.

"Just don't judge me if I cry." Esmeralda pleaded.

"I won't." Quasimodo promised.

Esmeralda didn't know where to begin. It felt like ages had passed since she'd first met Phoebus and introduced him to Quasimodo.

"Do you remember Phoebus?" She asked.

Quasimodo frowned.

"Yes." He replied.

"Well... I saw him last night."

"What?!"

"I know... I thought he went back to war. But, to make a long story short, he didn't, and he came back to find me. I was so happy to see him, but then..."

Esmeralda choked on a sob.

"He... Didn't want me anymore." She revealed. "...He's getting married."

Quasimodo looked at her with conflict. He felt bad for the fact that part of him was satisfied to hear this news, the part of him that selfishly disliked Phoebus for being the one to gain Esmeralda's affection. But the other part of him was sorry for his friend. Esmeralda was lovely in his eyes. She didn't deserve to be rejected this way.

Now she was starting to cry. Quasimodo felt even more sorry for her.

"Esmeralda..." He said softly. "I'm so sorry..."

"It's my fault." Esmeralda muttered through tears. "I was stupid for thinking he wouldn't just move on. We only knew each other for a few days, and I'm not that special."

"No! You ARE that special!" Quasimodo argued.

Esmeralda was taken off guard. She'd expected Quasimodo to comfort her, but not that passionately.

"You're the most special person I've ever met!" The bell ringer continued. "Even if I didn't see you again after a few days, I could never forget you. You're wonderful! I'm... sorry he didn't see that."

Esmeralda barely smiled.

"Oh, Quasimodo." She managed. "You're too good to me."

"I really mean it." Quasimodo assured.

"Thank you... I hope you never know what this feels like."

"I do."

Both of them froze. Esmeralda's attention was grabbed by what Quasimodo said, and he was in shock that he'd allowed it to slip out. He looked embarrassed and regretful.

"What do you mean?" Esmeralda daringly asked.

Quasimodo looked down sadly.

"I know what it's like... To love someone who doesn't feel that way about you..."

That could only mean one thing. Esmeralda blushed in realization.

"Quasi..." She let out. "I had no idea..."

"I know..." Quasimodo replied weakly.

"I kissed Phoebus in front of you... Oh no... I'm sorry!"

"It's okay. You didn't know..."

Esmeralda felt foolish. How could she have failed to realize that Quasimodo had feelings for her?

"Don't feel bad for me." The bell ringer begged. "I always knew I wasn't your type."

The implication was obvious. It was heartbreaking.

"Quasi, your face has nothing to do with it." Esmeralda promised.

"Really?" Quasimodo asked, sounding skeptical.

"Really." Esmeralda insisted. "Looks aren't what I care about most. To be honest, I always thought Phoebus was funny-looking."

Quasimodo barely chuckled.

"It's just that..." Esmeralda trailed off. "When I think of what you mean to me, I think of a good friend."

"I see..." Quasimodo said mournfully.

Esmeralda hated to upset him like this. She invited him into a hug, which he accepted. She felt him cry on her shoulder.

"I think you're wonderful too." Esmeralda shared. "And I know whoever you end up with will be a very lucky girl."

"You think I could find someone?" Quasimodo asked.

"I know you can! You're such a good person. I know someone will love you for that."

"I sure hope so..."

They let go of each other. Quasimodo avoided looking at Esmeralda, so she didn't try to look at him. There was a moment of awkward silence. Then, Quasimodo was the one to break it.

"I think I need some time alone..." He told Esmeralda.

"I understand." Esmeralda responded. "How long?"

"I don't know..."

"Well, I'll go out and come back... Sometime."

Quasimodo nodded.

Esmeralda turned away from him and went toward the stairs, more crestfallen than before.

First her heart had been broken. Now she'd broken her friend's heart. And worst of all, there was only one person who she could go to now. One person who she could rely on as a friend.

She hoped that things wouldn't get worse when she saw Claude.