A Way Home

Chapter Three: I Dreamed A Dream- Les Misérables

Joy sighed and looked up at the sky from where she was leaning against the wall of the lodging house.

She'd found him, her Sean, but he had no idea who she was. Tears slipped down her cheeks quietly, "There was a time when he was mine, when his voice was soft, and his words inviting."

Pushing herself off the wall, she grabbed the bottom rung of the ladder and hauled herself up, starting up to the roof as the sun finished setting.

"I dreamed a dream in time gone by, when hope was high, and life worth living, I dreamed that love would never die! I dreamed that God would be forgiving."

Up on the roof Jack was leaning against the wall, and turned to meet her eyes, "You okay?"

She nodded softly, wiping away the tears, "Fine. Fine."

"No you ain't."

"You don't look like you are either." She retorted.

He sighed, "I might've offended Davie 'er something. I dunno, seemed mad. You?"

"It's a long story."

Jack sat down on the edge of the roof and motioned for Joy to sit next to him, "I got time."

"There was a boy- I knew for most of my life. H- w- I loved him. I still love him. We tried to run away when we were 11. We got separated. I got caught. They took us, well- my family took me to London. I never forgot him, I kept planning a way to get back to him. Everything was for him."

Jacks fingers quietly laced through hers, "Sounds like quite a guy."

"He's the reason I keep going. I took my chance when I could, got out of there, came here. Spent every day looking for him. Had to keep faith," She sighed, "Three years, and I was still looking. And- I found him, today."

"Spot." Jack said softly.

"Spot." She agreed, tears beginning to fall again, "He doesn't even remember me."

Jack reached over and gently wiped away her tears, the strange silent agreement still standing as she leaned into his side, "It's cause the tigers come at night, with there voices soft as thunder. As they tear your hope apart."

Jack wrapped his arm around her, "As they turn your dreams to shame!"

"He stayed many a summer by my side, he filled my days with endless wonder. It was together we survived, but he was gone when home I came."

Joy looked up at the ceiling, wishing the arms that encircled her waist were Seans, wishing the tears would stop, wishing the sun wouldn't rise so she wouldn't have to put the mask back up.

But nothing can stop the journey of the sun in the sky, and a few short hours later found her dodging around the others in the bathroom yelling, "Oi! Watch the water!" As Albert tried to wring a wet towel over her head.

"Why? I'm just tryin to get all that gunk outcha hair!"

"Wes been over this! I dye it on purpose."

Race laughed, "I betcha 'f any of us had ugly ass ginger hair as yours we'd dye it wit oils just like Joy."

"Ain't oils, the mix just ain't fully set yet." She grumbled, tugging a brush through her hair carefully.

"Why ya gotta color ya hair anyway? Looked fine the way it was when ya first showed up." Jack asked with a yawn.

"Cause I knows there's still people in the city lookin for me, an I don't wanna get caught."