~AUTHOR'S NOTE~
The July Revolution in Les Miserables was a failed revolution. But, for the purposes of this fanfic, we'll assume it was successful.
K thanks, have fun reading :)
~AnjaliBapat
Dear Eponine,
Fifteen years have passed since the revolution and your death. The France I live in has much changed since the France of your day. It is not perfect, of course, but it's a much better place to live than it used to be. Wealth is equally distributed among the people; no longer are the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.
Cosette and I are well. We live in the heart of Paris, and I managed to obtain a position as a lawyer. Cosette, of course, is a wonderful homemaker. Her father taught her the duties of a housewife - I find that remarkable.
A year after our marriage, our daughter was born. Cosette and I decided that we would name her after two women who died so that she could be brought into this world. One of those women is Cosette's mother, Fantine. The other is you. You, Eponine, who brought me to Cosette. You, who fought in the barricades by my side, dressed as a boy. You, who loved me enough to have taken a bullet for me. Eponine, I am forever in your debt. When I held you as you were dying, I wished more than ever that I loved you as well. You died heartbroken, and I wish you hadn't. You were my best friend; I always appreciated you. But I could never feel the same way towards you as I did towards Cosette, so I broke your heart without meaning to.
Our daughter's name is Marie Eponine Fantine Pontmercy. She goes by Eponine, in your honour. Yesterday was her fourteenth birthday, and Cosette and I thought it was an appropriate time to tell her about her namesake. So we told her both your story and Fantine's. She didn't say anything when we were finished, but I could tell that she heartened and slightly overwhelmed by what she heard.
Just now, Eponine came into my bedroom and saw me writing this letter. I intend to take it to your grave tomorrow, as tomorrow is your death anniversary. My daughter asked if she could come with me, to which I said yes. After a moment of silence, she said, "Papa, it is so strange to think that a woman with the same name as me was in love with you all those years ago."
I just laughed and said, "Eponine Thernadier was a remarkable woman, and I know that Eponine Pontmercy will grow up to be just as wonderful."
Marie Eponine Fantine Pontmercy has brought us joy upon joy ever since the day she was conceived. Again, I owe you a debt that cannot be repaid. Eponine Thernadier, your name will live on in glory.
Sincerely,
Marius Pontmercy
