Flashbacks (in chronological order)

by ManyWords24

All the flashbacks from my story "The Fire That Made Him", in chronological order. Major spoilers if you haven't already read that story! This isn't any content new to the series, but I really wanted to make the flashbacks easy to read in order, so here's the result! TW for violence and abuse.

6. Flashback 6

Flashback 6: Esmeralda

"It's going to be okay, Esmeralda. Really!"

Esmeralda cried on Clopin's shoulder, struggling to believe him. Her aunt was gone, taken by an incurable disease. How could anything be okay anymore?

"Nothing is okay!" Esmeralda sobbed. "She's gone! She's DEAD! We don't have ANYONE now!"

"That's not true!" Clopin insisted. "We have each other! We're still a family!"

A family of two orphans. It wasn't enough, but it would have to be. They needed to find a way to be alright together.

Clopin ushered Esmeralda into their shack and revealed a surprise he'd prepared for her: A basket of strawberries. Nothing could possibly end the suffering right now, but the berries provided a much needed moment of sweetness.

While they ate the strawberries, Clopin showed Esmeralda his puppets.

"I know what we can do," He shared. "We can be performers. We'll make a lot of money!"

Money. That was something they desperately needed. They'd have to do whatever was necessary for it.