La Souffrance

Part One: Éponine; Book One: Many Deaths

I
Pain

"Don't worry, you'll be okay," Marius whispered. Éponine stared into Marius's eyes.

"I- I hope you're right," Éponine replied. Despite the pain of a bullet, her eyes were dry.

"How do you remain so strong?" Marius chuckled. "You're dying and there's not a tear in those sad puppy dog eyes."

"I'm not a sad puppy!" Éponine demanded.

"Whatever, mon chien," Marius teased.

"And how do you remain so happy?"

"What do you mean?"

"Gavroche has died, and all the rest are dead or dying... You seem extra happy, despite all that."

"Well, I'm in love you see," Marius explained.

"Really?" Éponine gazed longingly at her friend.

"Yes."

"I-"

"Cosette is beautiful," Marius sighed.

"Oh, I..." Éponine trailed off sadly. She and Marius were c very close until Marius fell in love with Cosette. Cosette did nothing but look at him, which Éponine did quite often. What is so special about Miss Cosette, Éponine thought. What does she have that I don't? Well, money and a good, loving, father. Éponine was short of those. Anger and jealousy formed inside of Éponine.

"Let's get you to a hospital. You don't seem to be getting any better," Marius stood up, but shot back down. "Right! War going on!" Marius slowly stood up and peeked over the barricade. "Well we're going to have to sneak out of here," Marius gently picked up Éponine.

"Thank you, Marius," Éponine whimpered. Tears began to flood her eyes. Tears of sadness and pain. Marius and Éponine snuck out of the barricade.