After the End

Chapter 1

Éponine finally felt herself become aware again. She was aware of a surface beneath her, although she couldn't move any part of her body. She smelt a clean smell, yet filled with spices. She finally felt her eyes flicker open and light came pouring into her vision. She squinted and could see a figure standing above her.

"Oh thank goodness your waking up dear, I was beginning to lose hope" the women said. Could it be another angel Éponine wondered, but then she remembered she was alive. This woman had saved her.

She was finally able to open her eyes fully and gazed around the room. It definitely was not a hospital room but instead the woman's spare room. The room was small and bright, natural light from the window flooded the room, and the walls were covered in small paintings and tapestries. Éponine finally laid her eyes on the woman who saved her.

The lady was dressed in a simple dress that still displayed her social class. She had a friendly smile and kind eyes surrounded by small laughter lines. She had brown hair that was fraying slightly at the roots but she was beautiful.

"Thank you ma'am but I really should be going" Éponine rasped from the bed. She tried to sit up but found herself restricted by stiffness.

The lady scolded her, "nonsense child. You need more time to heal-" she began but Éponine shook her head.

"I need to leave, I'm sorry" she said. She had to get out of the house, she had to find Marius. They could finally be together now, he finally realized he loved her. She had to see if he was alright.

The woman sighed, "Okay, let me fetch you some new clothes to wear out" she said before leaving the room. She returned quickly with a plain dark green dress. "I never wear it anymore and have been meaning to get rid of it for awhile. Don't think anything of it" she said kindly.

Éponine thanked her before walking slowly to the bathroom. The fabric of the dress was far nicer than anything Éponine had ever felt in her life. It was smooth and thick, unlike the rough, thin dresses that she had before the barricade. She walked out of the room and back to the woman.

The woman smiled at her, "It looks perfect on you" she said clapping her hands excitedly.

Éponine felt herself blush, "Thank you Madame, for everything" she said.

"It was no problem dear but I do have a question" she said.

Éponine nodded, "Yes? What is it?"

"How did you get shot my dear?" She asked.

Éponine had to think quickly. She couldn't tell the woman, no matter how kid she was, that she was fighting at the barricade. She could be loyal to the king. "I was passing by the riot and I was shot in the crossfire" she said, not totally a lie but not the whole truth.

"Oh that barricade, it is such a shame" she said sadly.

"What happened?" Asked Éponine eagerly. "All the boys who fought died, there were no survivors. It's such a shame really, all those wasted young lives, dying before they could make a true contribution to the world" she said with a heavy tone of regret.

Éponine felt like she had been punched in the gut, no survivors. That means, no, Marius couldn't be dead. Oh please God don't let him be dead. She felt tears coming to her eyes but she nodded nonetheless. "Yes ma'am it's a real shame" she said, "thank you for your hospitality and healing. I don't know what I can do to ever repay you" she said graciously.

The woman shook her head, "Just my good act of the week, be careful out there" she said as Éponine walked out the door. As soon as the door closed behind her Éponine dashed off to an alley way and sunk to her knees. Her love was gone and she wished she could have done anything to save him.