When We Were Young

Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

"'Parnasse, where are you?"

I wander through the darkness, looking for my former friend. Although right now, it feels as if things are back to normal between the two of us.

"'Parnasse," I hiss. "Come on, it's getting late."

I squint my eyes and see a figure in the distance. I quickly pick up the pace.

"I see you, 'Parnasse. Come on, let's go."

I finally arrive and put my hand on his arm. He turns around, but to my surprise, it's not him. It's a girl, or young woman I should say. She's looking at me with the same piercing hazelnut eyes as mine.

"Who are you?" I whisper, as if the shadows were listening.

"Look at you," she says, failing to answer my question. "You're so young, so innocent... You have no idea what's coming."

I'm confused at first, trying to make sense of what she's trying to tell me, before I spot Montparnasse behind her, running towards me. He's waving his arms.

"Ep!" he yells. "Eponine!"

I go to run towards him, but the other girl quickly grabs me by the arm, preventing me to make a step forward.

"He's not here," she says. "It's a dream."

"A dream? Then why is he running towards me, yelling my name?"

And as if on cue, Montparnasse disappears in a cloud of smoke.

"Maybe because it's your dream," she explains. "Maybe because somewhere inside you, you want him to be running back towards you."

I shake my head.

"If it really is my dream, you wouldn't be here. I never saw you before..."

She just smiles.

"You haven't see me yet. You'll meet me in less than ten years, don't worry."

I'm puzzled, and it shows on my face. She decides to take a step forward, revealing her whole self. I can't help but gasp. She looks...

"Like you?" she finishes, as if she were reading my thoughts.

Well, if this is a dream, I guess she sort of is in my thoughts.

"Yeah," I reply. "A little bit."

"A whole lot more than you think, actually. I'm you, Eponine, when you'll be seventeen year's old."

I look at her, completely stunned. Truth is, she looks horrible... I'll look horrible...

"You're lying," I hiss. "You look like Cosette. I will never look like her. I'll never be abandoned like her."

"Never say never, Eponine. Remember that. But for now, I can only tell you one thing. Don't let the ones you care about slip away from you. Make things right. And then maybe, you have a shot at changing this, at changing your future."

And with a flash of light, she's gone, and I'm jolting up, my eyes fluttering open to a somewhat familiar face.

"You snore," Cosette says, matter-of-factly.

"What are you doing here?" I burst out. "It's the middle of the night!"

"This is my room as well, now."

Oh, God, just when I thought she couldn't annoy me more...

"Are you joking?"

"I don't joke..."

"Of course not. Just go to bed, Cosette. I'll deal with these sleeping arrangements tomorrow."

I lay back down and go to close my eyes.

"Will you take me to see that lovely Monsieur looking for his hat tomorrow?" she suddenly asks.

I let out a huge sigh.

"Cosette, for the love of God!"

"He's so cute. What's his name?"

"His name is Marius. Goodnight."

I switch sides, my back now turned to her, and put my hands over my ears to try to block her out. It seems to be working. That is, until I feel her warm breath over my shoulder.

"So, you're taking me to see Monsieur Marius?" she whispers.

With a sigh of exasperation, I wave my arm towards her direction, urging her to move away. I don't even bother to turn around.

"No, I'm seeing Enjolras tomorrow."

"Then Marius is free, no?"

"If I say yes, will you let me go back to sleep?"

The answer comes immediately:

"Anything!"

"Then, yeah. Sure. Whatever."

I hear her squeal in excitement as I am finally able to settle back down to finish my night's sleep.

I don't care what my future self was saying in that dream, it is literally impossible for me, or any other human being for that matter, to reach Cosette's level of annoyance.

But still, her words are resonating in my mind. I have a shot. I still have a chance to save my future. And I have a feeling it starts by getting things right with Enjolras again, and saving Montparnasse from slipping down the wrong slope. If I can do that, I think I may actually be taking a step in the right path.

I guess I'll see what happens when tomorrow comes.