When We Were Young

Final Chapter

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

"I can't see anything!" I mutter, trying to push myself higher.

Turns out, spying in the inn when you're not allowed to be in the inn is harder than I thought.

"'Parnasse, higher!"

"I can't grow taller in a couple seconds, Ep! I'm already on the tip of my toes!"

"Maybe I could step on your head instead?"

"I don't think that's-"

Too late. I was already climbing on Montparnasse's head. I could hear him mutter underneath but I didn't care. Now, I could see through the broken window and could hear the end of their conversation.

"So it's settled," the man said. "I'm taking Cosette away."

"It breaks my heart, but I believe it's the right thing to do," Mama replies, hiding a small stack of paper in the desk.

I can feel Montparnasse wobble a bit and look down scoldingly.

"'Parnasse, be careful!"

"Well, hurry up! My legs can barely hold you any longer!"

"Just a little more time," I plead. "I think that man just bought Cosette."

"How much?"

I sigh and turn my attention back to their conversation.

"Cosette, so you have everything?" the man asks.

She nods, holding what seems to be a new doll in her hands. I think I saw it in a window of a store a block away. How on Earth did she get that?

"Now, I must not keep you waiting," Mama urges, almost shooing them out the door. "Off you go!"

She closes the door behind them just as Montparnasse's legs give out, sending us both to the ground. We land in a thump as the man and Cosette look at us in surprise.

"Are you okay, little people?" the man asks, rushing towards us.

"I'm fine," I reply. I can hear a faint "speak for yourself" coming from Montparnasse, but I decide to ignore it. "So, I guess this is goodbye?" I ask, turning to Cosette.

She nods. I guess she's back to her old wordless self.

"Kids, it's getting dark. You should go inside," the man insists. Little does he know that I no more have an 'inside' to go to. Still, I nod. My problems are not his. He turns to Cosette. "Come, my dear. There's danger in the streets tonight."

"I'll see you soon, Eponine," she lets out before grabbing the man's hand and walking away, the doll held firmly in her other hand.

"Whatever..." I mumble.

But still, a small part inside me felt a bit jealous of her. She was being saved, and I was stuck here. Who was going to save me?

"Come on, Ep," Montparnasse lets out. "The Monsieur is right. We should go."

"And where do you want me to go, 'Parnasse? I have no one left."

"Hey, you have me. I'll always be there for you. Come on, Mademoiselle. I'll take care of you."

I grabbed Montparnasse's hand and wandered in the dark alley with him, towards the rest of my life.

I never saw Marius, Enjolras or Cosette again this year, nor the year after, nor the one after that. I heard Marius and Enjolras got sent to a private school up North. I think Enjolras' father wanted to keep him as far away from Paris... or, in other words, as far away from me.

I wonder what will become of you, Cosette. I wonder if you'll remember me if our paths cross again. And somehow, I have a feeling they will.

THE END