Dawn Over the Seine

Chapter 1

A lone figure was standing on the bridge which spanned across the Seine River in Paris. Her long hair was flowing freely behind her as the cold night wind whipped across her face, causing her hair to be caught in the current of moving air. She stood still as a statue as she looked out across the water. Few people walked past her. But all asked the same question to the figure; "Why are you standing on the bridge this late at night?" The girl would just turn to them and smile weakly. She would reply, "I'm waiting." With that, she would turn back around and her gaze would be back on the Seine. The passerby's didn't ask what she was waiting for, but instead went back to their own business, soon forgetting all about the lone figure with the long hair.
Then on this certain night, one man did ask what the girl was waiting for. She slowly faced him again, very surprised. "I'm waiting for a new day," she whispered. The man cocked his head to the side.
"What do you mean by that," he asked. The girl laughed as if that was the dumbest question she had ever been asked.
"The sunset, monsieur. When the sun comes up, it will be a new day. Maybe things will get better.
"I think that it would be wise if you were to go home," the man said.
The girl looked down at her feet. "I will not go home until I determine if the sunset shows that the day will be good or bad. I must wait."
The man cleared his throat, said a farewell, and quickly walked away, determining that this girl was crazy. The girl let out a sigh as she turned her attention back to the horizon, waiting for the distant sun.
No more people walked by the girl. She sat herself down on the edge of the bridge, letting her feet dangle. She hummed quietly to herself as she waited. "Come along you small ones, come along with me. Tonight we will sit as we sip our tea. We shall watch the sky, the big dark sky. We will wait until the sunlight fills our eyes." Smiling at her made up tune, the girl continued singing until she caught the sight of a stream of sunlight coming up from the horizon.
She quickly stood up as more rays of light shone across the sky. Soon the whole sun was rising from the horizon. The Seine's waters turned from black to a golden color. The sunrise was quickly causing everything to turn from dark to light. The girl smiled wide as the warm sunlight fell across her face. She stretched her arms out wide, soaking up the sun's rays. "Today will be a good day," she whispered. A few birds chirped in agreement. The girl stepped off of the ledge back on to the main part of the bridge. "Let's begin this day right, Eponine." Eponine walked off the bridge, heading into the city, heading for her destiny. Little did she know, her destiny wasn't at all what she had in mind.