When Tomorrow Comes

Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

A FEW DAYS LATER

Enjolras was still in a complete state of shock. The battle at the barricade had ended a couple days before, yet he couldn't stop thinking about it. His friends were dead, well all except for Marius.

But for what? Paris was still the same. The poor were still poor. The rich were still rich. The king still ruled without paying any attention to the lower class citizens. And now Enjolras was truly starting to believe that they had all died for nothing.

"Oh, my friends... My friends, don't ask me..." he said, looking at the night sky through the hospital's windows. "Why I live and you are gone..."

He closed his eyes as a single tear ran down his cheek.

"There's a grief that can't be spoken..."

"I know the feeling..." a voice suddenly replied from behind him.

Enjolras spun around.

"Marius?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to check up on her," Marius answered, nodding towards the figure lying motionless on the bed next to Enjolras.

"She hasn't woken up yet..."

"Give her some time, Enjolras. She will."

"How can you be so sure, Marius? It's been days! What if Eponine never wakes up again?"

"Eponine's a fighter," Marius let out. "You know that just as much as I do."

"She lost a lot of blood..."

"Still, she's here today, breathing. That's all that matters."

And then Marius noticed Enjolras' wounded arm.

"Did you get that checked?" he asked.

"Yes. They said it would take longer than normal to heal, since I've been carrying Mademoiselle all over Paris with it. But it's fine."

"Oh then good, I guess."

"Marius, can I ask you a question?"

"What's on your mind?"

Enjolras took a deep breath.

"How can you live with yourself?" he let out. "I mean; how can you open your eyes every morning and find the strength to live your life knowing that they are..."

His words got strangled in his throat.

"Knowing that they're gone?" he managed to finish.

Marius sat down next to his friend.

"I don't know," he simply answered. "I guess it's my only option right now."

He looked outside.

"Marius, look," Enjolras suddenly said.

"At what?"

"Paris... Do you notice something different?"

"No, why?"

"Exactly. Where's that new world now the fighting's done?"

"Maybe," Marius started. "Maybe the new world isn't over there, but right here, in our hearts."

"I don't quite follow..."

"We're not the same since that day, Enjolras. Now, I guess, it's time to move on. Fate wanted us to live, so let's make the most of it..."

"I don't think I can."

"I have Cosette," Marius continued. "You have Eponine. We have to stay strong, for them... and for us."

"I'm not even sure if I still have Eponine..."

Enjolras grabbed her hand and squeezed it tight.

"What if I've lost her?"

"You'd know... in your heart," Marius replied. "Does it hurt?"

"It aches every day for my fallen brothers..."

"You'd know," Marius simply repeated. "You'd just know."

Marius got up and patted Enjolras on the back.

"Listen, how about you come over tonight? Get your mind off things..."

But Enjolras looked down at Eponine, peacefully resting.

"I can't leave her..."

"Okay, take your time. You can come whenever you're ready. The doors are always open for you, Enjolras... and Eponine for that matter."

Marius got up to leave.

"Take care of yourself," he told his friend.

"I'll see you sometime soon," Enjolras replied.

And then Marius was gone. Enjolras couldn't take his eyes off Eponine.

"Wake up, Mademoiselle," he tried.

But it was no use; Eponine refused to open her eyes.

"You'd better get some sleep," a nurse told him.

"No, I'm fine. I want to stay here."

The nurse smiled sadly.

"You are my patient too, Monsieur," she replied, a little bit more firmly.

She nodded towards the bed right next to Eponine's.

"You can settle down there. Don't worry, Monsieur, I've got an eye on your lady."

Enjolras lay down and smiled. He had liked the way she had said "your lady". With one last look at Eponine, Enjolras closed his eyes.

"Goodnight, Mademoiselle," he whispered.

And then he dreamed a dream...