When Tomorrow Comes

Final Chapter

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

"Eponine?" Enjolras whispered.

He said that every hour. Sometime, he was sure, Eponine would hear him and wake up. But now was not that time.

"How is she?" the nurse asked, walking in the room.

"Still hasn't woken up..."

She nodded back hesitantly and left. Enjolras sighed. He knew what she was thinking, what they were all thinking. Eponine wouldn't wake up. They couldn't keep her forever. He couldn't stay here forever.

"I guess fate didn't want us to have a happy ending..." Enjolras whispered.

He held his head in his hands.

"Everything happens for a reason," he kept repeating to himself. "It always happens for a reason..."

Enjolras looked at Eponine peacefully sleeping in the bed next to his.

"Eponine," he tried again.

But there was still no response. Eponine's eyes refused to open and she refused to wake up. He got up and went to her bedside, grabbing her hand.

"I love you..." he whispered.

But then he felt the hand close in on his fingers gently. He wiped off his tears and look at her face. And that's when he saw her eyes flutter open.

"Monsieur?" she managed to say. "Where are we?"

Enjolras let out a shriek; he was overwhelmed. He kissed her hand.

"Mademoiselle, you had me so worried!"

Eponine looked at him; she was completely lost.

"We're at the hospital," Enjolras explained.

She nodded her head. Eponine still felt pretty weak.

"Fate wanted us together," Enjolras started. "Fate brought us together. Fate kept us together..."

Eponine couldn't help but smile.

"Enjolras," she interrupted. "Forget about fate and just hold me."

Enjolras smiled back and went to lie down beside her, passing his arm around her.

"I'll never let go," he promised. "Never again."

"I know you won't, Monsieur."

"Now, go back to bed," Enjolras told her. "You need to rest. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."

He tightened his grip around her just a bit as she squeezed his other hand.

"You have to promise me something, though," he said.

"What is it, Monsieur?"

"Promise me you'll wake up again, okay?"

She closed her eyes and smiled.

"I promise, Enjolras."

***

The nurse came up and found Enjolras lying in Eponine's bed, sleeping. But the way he was sleeping, she just knew. He seemed calm, happy, which could only mean one thing; Eponine had woken up. She smiled as she went to leave.

"Madame," she heard a voice whisper softly.

She turned around and saw that Eponine was looking at her. The nurse felt a weight being lifted off her shoulders.

"Madame," Eponine said again. "Could I have some water, s'il-vous-plait?"

"Anything for you, Mademoiselle. You are a living miracle. I'll be right back."

Eponine looked down at Enjolras snoring by her side. She couldn't help but laugh a bit. If the other rich girls obsessing over Enjolras had seen him like this, she was sure they would've stopped running after him every day.

"Your water, Mademoiselle," the nurse said, presenting the glass.

"Thank you," Eponine replied, grabbing it with her right hand.

She turned it around, examining it.

"Something wrong?" the nurse asked.

"No, it's just that... I can't believe you're doing all this for me. No one's ever paid attention to how I was feeling."

"You're in a hospital, dear."

And then it hit her.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Madame," Eponine said in a panic. "I have nothing to pay for your services."

The nurse smiled.

"Don't worry, Mademoiselle, it's all been taken care of. Your friend here took care of everything and insisted you get the absolute best services."

And then she lowered her voice.

"But you know, Mademoiselle," she continued. "By the way he looked at me when he arrived that night with you in his arms... I would've done it for free."

The nurse went to leave.

"He cares a lot for you," she said over her shoulder.

Eponine looked down at Enjolras, still dozing off.

"I know," she replied. "I believe he loves me..."

***

Enjolras woke up to birds chirping. It was morning. He looked up to see Eponine awake, looking back at him. And then he realized his head had slowly fallen down on the wound on her chest during the night. He gasped as he sat up in a flash.

"Oh, Mademoiselle, I'm so sorry!"

"You snore," Eponine simply replied, matter-of-factly.

Enjolras was caught off guard.

"I... I do not!"

"And how would you know?" she answered with a smile.

"I hope it didn't wake you up..."

"I couldn't sleep... I was thinking too much."

"That's a first," Enjolras said joking.

Eponine punched him on the arm. Enjolras winced in pain.

"Oh, excuse me, Monsieur. I forgot."

"It's fine. I'm fine."

Eponine smiled sadly.

"Now, that's my line."

"Not anymore," Enjolras said. "You won't need to say it again for as long as I'm living... with you."

"About that," Eponine started. "I think we need to talk..."

"Don't worry, we'll figure it out," Enjolras told her.

"And when will that be?"

But Enjolras just smiled. He looked out the window.

"We'll figure it out when tomorrow comes," he answered.