CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

89.

A/N: this book is almost over, I am already so freaking sad. I hope you all enjoyed this book and hope you will find a new book of mine to be interesting. Thank you so much for commenting and reading, this means a lot to me.

January 1840

My cough had calmed down. Combeferre ordered bed rest but I had two little children and I couldn't not take care of them. They kept me going.

"Bonsoir Madame, I come here to check your lungs. I hope you have followed my instructions."
"How do you expect me to rest? I have two children and I am the only person to take care of them. My husband has literally died almost a year ago.", I said.

"Annelise, I must say I am disappointed. You're not healthy. You need a break."
"I cannot rest."
"You have to. You have a raging fever. Now lay down in this bed, and sleep off that fever. I'll take your children with me.", he declared.

"Do not dare to take my children away from me."
"Annelise, you have pneumonia. Do you want to risk your children's life as well?", he asked, getting louder and madder.

I stayed silent. Pneumonia. It would explain why I was out of breath all the time and felt this sharp, stabbing pain in my lungs.

"Will I die?"
"No. I will not let that happen. But you must rest.", he said, sitting down beside me.
"Can you sent Delilah to me?", I asked.
"Sure. Why?"
"It's a female thing you wouldn't understand."

"I am a doctor, I know everything."
"Well, not about this. Please tell her to come. It's urgent."
"Will do. Don't worry.", he said, pressing a cold cloth on my forehead.

I was scared. People my age would die from pneumonia. My children would be orphans. I could not let that happen. My children were everything. Timothy can not take another heartbreak. Eliza needs her mother.

"I will fight with all my strength to survive this."
"You don't need all your strength. Let your body do the work. You need sleep and plenty of rest. Fresh air is also good for you.", he explained.

I nodded and laid back down on my pillow. I needed the rest.

"I will go now. But I will be back with Delilah.", I said, leaving.

I could hear him talk to Timothy and Timothy refusing. Eliza began to cry and shortly after that the front door closed. I turned to my side and began to cry. This was all my fault. I wanted to be there for them. I was not ready to leave this world. Not when everything was going so well for me.

***

"Annelise, sorry to wake you. You wanted to speak to me.", Delilah said, shaking me awake.
"Combeferre says I have pneumonia."
"I know. He mentioned it to me."
"When I die, please take care of them. They love you.", I whispered, tearing up.

"Stop saying that."
"Promise me."
"I promise."
"I will write all properties in Timothys name. When he's old enough, give him the keys to his house.", I said.

"Please give me the jewel box.", I said.

Delilah handed the box to me and I went looking through it. I pulled out the ring Bastien had given to me on the necklace. Feuilly made it a long time ago. Eliza should have it when I am no longer here. Both to remind her of her father and me.

"That's the ring Bastien gave to you."
"Give it to Elizabeth when she's older.", I said.

"You will not die. I promise. I will not let that happen. Combeferre and I will be here to help you survive.", she cried.

She hugged me and sobbed into my shoulder. There was no medication for pneumonia. You either survived it or you died from it. And in most cases, you died from it. I had to stay real.