Alone- Eponine

Chapter Two

I woke up stiff and sore but I was mainly cold. The snow had grown thicker and the howling wind was blowing it into me. I sighed. I knew that today was Christmas. That meant that all I got was MORE work, while Azelma would be upstairs and be showered with love, presents and affection. Sometimes I think I see a glimmer of pity in her eyes but it is gone in seconds. She says that whenever she goes out she is asked where I am, so now mother has told everyone that I am dead! I cannot believe it. My own mother saying that I am dead! Well, at least I'm still alive now. If I'm being honest I'm surprised that I am. With the minuscule amount if food and sleep I get I should be well dead by now.

I pick up my brush and start sweeping. After last Christmas I know what to expect. When I woke up I had the ignorance of running upstairs as I thought that there might have been an exception for it was Christmas. I was completely wrong. In fact, if anything Christmas was the worst day of the year for me now. I am ten and although people may say it is young for the amount of work i do, I am used to it.

I never see the children anymore. I wish I could buy now mother has started working me off my feet so I never have any chance to daydream. As far as I was concerned this was life now and it would never change.

"Eponine! Get here now! Do not make a sound." I recognised the slight drunken slur in my fathers voice. I scurried up the stairs, trying not to make a sound.

"Ah, my little one. We are leaving. Don't speak a word if this to anyone. How would you like to live in Paris?!" I looked at my father in disbelief. Paris! It was said to be the place of new lives. I couldn't speak for shock so all I did was nodded. I hoped life would be different.

Before I knew it we were all squashed into a carriage to take us to Paris. I hadn't dared to ask my father why we were going because I knew it would be something to do with money. When they thought we were all asleep my mother and father started talking in hushed voices. I couldn't completely make out what they were saying but it seemed to be about me and a person called Montparnasse. I hoped they didn't do anything to drastic. Soon though I also drifted off to sleep with the name Montparnasse echoing around my head.