One Way to Go On- A Les Miserables Story

Epilogue

Javert did indeed follow Eponine's advice, and he quit his job as an inspector the following morning. Those who saw him do so were appalled by the sight of him, his face filled with a sort of secret happiness, his brow softened from its sternness. He became an astronomer, but it was something of a paid hobby. He was also a mender of roads, a messenger, and, of course, something of a father to Eponine.

Eponine herself couldn't handle not contributing to their household, and so she sewed while Javert was working. She also helped him with his observations of the stars, something which they both enjoyed as something of a hobby more than a work, and a passion more than a hobby. Neither of them said it to each other, but they both remembered the couple of stars on the horizon that night on the bridge.

Eponine took Javert's last name, that is to say, the lack of one. She was simply Eponine, as he was simply Javert.

She no longer dressed in rags, but she thought it ridiculous to spend excessive amounts of time on her appearance. She was content with the kiss she received from Marius, she had no more desire for romance than Javert did.

The two of them got into the habit of going on walks just after dusk, when the stars began to come out. Eponine would put her arms in Javert's, and lean against his shoulder if it was cold. They were content, more than that, they were happy.

On one of these evenings, they came across a pair of strangers. As one often does when walking, they exchanged awkward greetings mid-conversation, but in the middle of a quiet 'good evening', Javert stopped short.

It was Jean Valjean.

Javert tensed, and Eponine felt it. She looked up at him followed his gaze, and did her best to hide her own surprise.

Jean Valjean didn't recognize either of them. If he had, he probably would've made some pretense and run the other direction with Cosette, as was his pattern of meeting so-called justice.

They walked past each other, but Javert couldn't handle maintaining the silence, because he suddenly turned around.

"Jean Valjean?"

Valjean turned around with a start, as no one was supposed to know that name but Cosette, Marius, and Marius' grandfather. After a moment's hesitation, he recognized Javert.

"I was wondering when you would find me," he said, smiling solemnly. He took Cosette's hands off his arm and raised his wrists as though allowing himself to be put in handcuffs. "Go on ahead."

"No, no," Javert said, stepping forward. Eponine hung back and watched, before her eyes turned to Cosette, who also was watching her. "I've resigned. But I must ask you... Why did you spare me at the barricade?"

Valjean lowered his arms, somewhat taken aback by the sentence or two Javert had said, or his demeanor, or the way he had failed to recognize him.

"Because I've never killed a man."

"Then why volunteer?"

"Because enough people died at the barricades." There was something in his voice that told everyone that that was just a guess, that he may not have known himself.

"Why did you go in the first place?"

"To save a man named Marius Pontmercy."

"He's alive?" Eponine cut in with a cry. Cosette looked at her, bewildered, then nodded.

"Of course. He's my husband."

"Oh," Eponine said, her happiness somehow undimmed by this information. "Will you tell him that Eponine congratulates him?"