Maybe someday we'll have our own heart full of love (on hold)

Chapter 6-Notes and shards of glass

I wake up the next day, the sun seeping in through the windows and blinding me. I rush downstairs planning to walk outside again even though I my clothes are still soaked from yesterday.

I am about to step outside, but I see that on my doorstep, there is a note sealed in an envelope. I bend down and pick up the note; the paper a bit damp from laying on the moist ground. On the front of the note in cursive letters was my name. I quickly rip open the envelope. I was secretly hoping the note was from Marius.

I pull out the note and start reading.

Dear Eponine,

If you have time this afternoon, would you care to meet me at "our special place"? I will be there around noon and will stay there for an hour. I hope you will join me!

Sincerely,

Marius Pontmercy

I quickly drop the letter and rush to my room. Excitement rushes over me as I run my fingers through my hair to try to make it look better; at least make it look like I didn't just wake up. I slept in today unlike yesterday so it was almost noon.

I rush outside and down the busy streets. I find the alleyway and make my way to "our special place". I couldn't be happier. Marius and I already have a special place just for us! I start running through the alleyway, not thinking about anything else besides Marius. Clearly not paying attention, I step on something sharp; the pain shooting through my foot. I fall onto the hard stones.

I sit up and look to see what I stepped on. In my foot, I see a very small piece of glass protruding from my foot. I look back to where I fell and see pieces of glass all different sizes and I realize that they are shards of wine bottles.

I gently pull out the piece of glass from my foot. I see blood dripping down slowly, but constantly. I examined my foot and didn't see anymore glass. I hope I looked carefully enough.

How could I be so clumsy? Maybe I was so focused on Marius that I didn't realize I was about to step on glass. Either way, it was stupid of me and now Marius is going to make a huge fuss about it and probably scold me.

I didn't want that to happen so I just picked up a large, sharp piece of glass and used it to cut a long, thin piece of fabric from my skirt. I cut the skirt in a way that you would never know I was taking fabric from it.

I took the piece of fabric, wiped the blood from my foot and then wrapped it in the cloth. I sit there for a few minutes letting my foot rest.

When I feel like I can stand again, I attempt to stand up. Using the walls of the alleyway as support, I slowly rise to my feet. I stand on one foot for a few seconds unsure if I should put weight on my injured foot.

Gradually, I place my injured foot down. Still holding onto the walls, I start walking down the alley again, this time looking down. Once I estimate that I'm almost there, I let go of the walls and try to walk normally.

For now I can walk and look like nothing happened, but i don't think I will be able to last for a long time. I just hope I can continue walking like this while I spend time with Marius.