A Franc or Two - Les Misérables [IN EDITING]

Rally - Chapter 54

By the time May came around, everything had fallen apart.

To clarify, you weren't doing horrible— aside from being pregnant, you were quite getting along quite well... but everyone around you was crumbling, and your relationships grew more and more strained.

You had never felt more lonely in your life.

To start, your days with Enjolras had significantly decreased in number. Ever since witnessing Jehan's death, he grew more and more concerned about the revolution that seemed ready to break at any moment— and while you understood that this was his own way of mourning, he would hardly even look at you anymore.

That isn't to say that he hadn't been generous. Yes, he would give you a roof over your head and a bed to sleep in, but you never saw him anymore— he would come home around midnight and leave early in the morning. He would just pretend you didn't exist during the meetings.

Then, there were the rare nights that you were both at home around the same time— but he spent all of his time hunched over his desk, scribbling out plans and speeches for the meetings.

Afterward, you decided to try spending more time with Grantaire, but he had grown completely reckless. It was to the extent of broken fingers— he drank far more than he used to... And, knowing how much he used to drink, that was a little terrifying. Of course, he certainly wasn't ever rude to you— whenever you saw him, he was always polite and a wonderful conversationalist— but because your relationship had grown since Jehan, it sort of made his drinking problem even harder to deal with. You couldn't watch him destroy himself.

From there, you turned to Courfeyrac— but you noticed that he distanced himself from you quite often. Gavroche would often seek out opportunities to say 'hello' to you and his "brother," but Courfeyrac genuinely seemed to think leaving Rosamonde was a mistake. Though it was common knowledge that almost every woman was smitten by him, you seemed to be the only one in the world he couldn't have— and that made him absolutely miserable... And you soon found that he wished he hadn't opened his mouth in the first place. It would have made the pain of heartbreak at least a little more bearable.

You seemed to be your own company... Well, sort of.

You had consistently gotten more and more pregnant. Cramps were worse, morning sickness was worse, mood swings were worse... Your stomach had evidently increased in size— but, if you were being blatantly honest, your baby seemed to be the only person you could genuinely find comfort in. As much as you hated the circumstances under which you child was going to be born... That baby was a new start. They gave you a second chance at becoming a better person...

But, for the time being, the most excitement you got was at the rally.

You found yourself with Mourey. After all— though you often saw him at meetings and whatnot, it seemed as if his company was the only one that hadn't gone downhill... Even though your relationship was pretty static, it was a safe bet in terms of conversation during the rally.

"Marius and Enjolras are our advocators for tonight, correct?" Mourey asked, watching as the two men exchanged notes and muttered under their breaths.

"Well... Technically, it's the morning," you said, your lips breaking into a bit of a smile at the small correction. Mourey gave a chuckle and scoff.

"Oh, quiet, you," he said with a soft smile. He leaned in to whisper a little. "Have things between you and Enjolras been alright, by the way? Not to pry, but I've noticed that you two aren't around each other nearly as often anymore."

"He's been losing sleep over the revolution— I hardly see him anymore, but... I suppose there isn't too much tension."

That was a lie and you knew it.