A Promise

Chapter Forty-Four

"Papa?" a voice said. "What are you doing in Eponine's bed?"

I opened my eyes, the glare of the sunlight hitting my face and causing me to squint. Ambrosine's fiery red hair seemed to glint in the morning light.

"Good morning, Amber," Enjolras said, yawning and rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Eponine was having nightmares so I came to keep her company."

"Nightmares? Like the nightmares you have?" Amber asked him.

"Yes, like my nightmares," he said, his voice hoarse.

"Do all grown-ups have nightmares?" she asked.

Enjolras considered her question thoughtfully. "Yes," he decided. "I believe they do, although some peeple have worse nightmares than others."

"Oh," Ambrosine said. "Papa, I'm hungry. Can we eat breakfast?"

"Yeah, sure," Enjolras said, disentangling himself from the bedsheets and stretching. "Eponine, you care for some eggs?"

"Sure," I replied, sliding out of bed. "I'll help you cook. Just let me change first." After Enjolras and Amber left the room, I quickly slipped out of my nightgown and pulled on a pale blue dress that Cosette had left for me when I was still unconscious. Then, I pulled my hair back into a bun and headed to the kitchen. When I got there, Enjolras had already started making the eggs, and Ambrosine was setting the table. They both smiled at me as I came into the room. For a moment, if felt as if we were a normal family. "Can you get the salt from the pantry?" Enjolras asked.

"Sure," I said. I walked into the pantry, searching for salt. The room was small and cramped. I felt like I was trapped inside a walnut. Suddenly, my heart started to pound rapidly. My head began to spin and a wave of nausea crashed over me. The room was so small! It felt like I was back in my prison cell. Sweat poured from my skin, and my hands began to tremble. I began to hyperventilate.

"Eponine, are you all right?" I heard Enjolras' voice say. I didn't respond. Panic seemed to be choking me.

"Eponine!" he called out. He rushed to the pantry and gently pulled me out. "Shhh, it's okay," he said, gently stroking my hair. I fell to my knees. Tears stained my cheeks.

"I don't like small spaces," I gasped, my body shaking. "They remind me too much of jail."

"It's okay," Enjolras said soothingly. "I'm here."

He held me until my panic dissipated and my heart rate slowed down to normal. When I had finally calmed down, Enjolras helped me off the ground. I glanced at Ambrosine, who had a terrified expression on her face.

"I'm sorry, Amber," I said. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

"Are you all right?" she asked, her eyes wide.

"I'll survive," I told her.

"Go lie down," Enjolras instructed me. "I'll make Amber her breakfast and then I'll come check on you."

"Aren't you going to eat?" I asked him.

"I'll be fine," he said. "I don't feel very well anyways."

"Okay," I said, and returned to my room. I laid my head down upon my pillow and tried to rest, but I couldn't seem to quiet down my mind. What was wrong with me? Why could I no longer handle being in small spaces? The fear was completely irrational. Still, the mere thought of a cramped, enclosed environment caused me to feel faint.

After a while, Enjolras knocked on the door to my room and came inside. "Are you feeling better?" he asked. I noticed there were dark circles underneath his eyes and his skin was pale.