CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

64.

A/N: I told you guys that act 4 would start with a bang. But don't worry, better things are coming up.

June 1837

It was very hot outside and France had a drought. It hadn't rained for the past three weeks. Bastien and I had to keep the trees alive but also us. Timothy had fainted often due to dehydration but there was no fix for it. The King had stored his water in a bunker and now he would not share.

Timothy was bedridden at this point. He could not get up, without the fear of collapsing again. He was afraid of taking too much water. I remember the first time he collapsed.

He was playing with me when all of sudden he fell and did not get back up. I rushed to his side and he was not conscious. He had a bloody nose from the fall and he had not regained any consciousness. I began to freak out. I had no idea what happened.

I cried for Bastien and he had called for a doctor. I just remember yelling 'please don't take my baby' 'please don't take my baby'. Then the doctor told us he had regained it and he was in a bit of pain. I was so thankful for him to be alive.

The second time he was with Bastien. They were outside while I made some food. He had collapsed once again but quickly regained his consciousness. Both times, Timothy could not remember what happened.

We would always make sure that he was drinking and eating enough. I would stay at his side for the entire night, waiting for him to wake up in the morning. Then I would go to sleep, while Bastien took care of him.

It was sad to see him like this. He used to play and run around. But now, it wasn't possible. I, like any other french woman, carried around buckets to fill them with water. But many women did that.

We had to water our horses and the trees surrounding our house. The rest was for washing, cleaning, cooking, and drinking. Not much left. I had not washed my hair for the last three weeks in fear of using too much water. I'd rather give it to my son, who needed it.

The streets were too hot to walk on. If you had no shoes, you'd burn your feet. Horses refused to step on it.

***

I was working in the forest as usual. It was too hot. I was working for the last 3 hours, without a break. Bastien had to help my father and Timothy was reading his book. He was sitting in the garden beneath a tree. It was the only one that was still very green.

My vision began to blur. I had to push through, I could not stop. I put down the heavy buckets and rested for a second. I lifted it back up and tried to keep my balance. Step by step to the next bush.

I felt myself getting weaker and weaker but I could not stop now. We had to keep the forest alive. I saw Bastien coming home and that's when my leg gave in. I fell forward, dropping both buckets. One of them fell on my hip. The cool water hit my body.

I could make out Bastien running towards me but that was it. I was in great pain. The bucket was full of water, that I had now wasted.

"Annelise, come on, wake up.", I could hear him say.

His voice was faint.

"Shit, why does this happen now? What do I do?", he cursed.

I was not able to react to him. My body was simply not able to. I felt myself being lifted up but quickly laid back down. I slowly regained my hearing and my eyes didn't feel so heavy.

"Annelise, you scared me for a second. Are you alright?"
"My hip hurts. I must have dropped the bucket."
"Yes, I saw it."
"I wasted the water, didn't I?"
"It's okay. I don't care about the water but you.", he said.

I weakly nodded. My hip caused me lots of pain. He tried helping me up, but my legs just gave in.

"It's time for you to lay down."
"No. Let me."
"Stop this nonsense. You need rest."

Then a rumble of thunder and the first drops of rain. Bastien lifted Timothy and helped me walk. The rain grew stronger. Soon we were drenched. I was laughing, Timothy was crying out of happiness. We put up the buckets, so they'd fill up.

We could not be happier about the rain. My hip would heal with time and Timothy would be back to tolling around the forest, just like before.