I never expected him to love me. God, I never even expected him to notice me! All I knew was that he lived next door, and I just wanted it to stay that way.

And now? Well, now that I've been shot I can finally say "good riddance" to all of this. To Montparnasse's constant innuendo, to Marius and his blindness to everything but his little angel. Angel! That ungrateful wretch lived under our roof for five years, and then some stranger came and paid a small fortune for her. And how did Papa invest that money? In stolen goods. Nearly got arrested, and after the government was through with us there was nothing left. Maman had some friends with connections, and that's how we landed in the Gorbeau house.

But none of that matters now. I took Marius's stupid letter to the lark's father, and I even brought him a letter back! I could have stuck that letter in the nearest gaslight and watched it burn, and perhaps I should have. But no, I had to get it back to Marius. Maybe there's more to this feeling than I thought... damn it! I can't be in love! I'm not supposed to be in love! I'm just a gamine...

Now here I am, lying in my blood. Someone's coming... tell whoever it is to go away. Oh, no. It's Marius... I can't let him see me like this! But, no, he's looking for me... or someone...

"Monsieur Marius!" He seemed to think my voice some kind of hallucination, and he started to leave. I wanted closure so desperately...

"Monsieur Marius! At your feet." He studied my face... was that a spark of recognition in his eyes? No, it couldn't be. "You don't know me?"

"No," he said.

"Eponine." The dolt, who did he think I was? As soon as I had said it, though, his confusion gave way to recognition.

"How did you get here? What are you doing here?"

"I'm dying." It didn't take a genius to figure that one out.

"You're wounded! Wait, I'll carry you inside! They'll dress your wounds! Is it serious? How can I pick you up so as not to hurt you? Where are you hurt? Help! My God! But what did you come here for?"

I was surprised by the concern in his voice... no one had ever talked to me like that before. Then he tried to pick me up to carry me inside. But maybe I was just sick of living. In any case, he brushed my hand... that felt worse than the gunshot itself. I yelped.

"Have I hurt you?" Marius asked gently. How sweet that he was concerned for me! Oh, snap out of it, Eponine!

"A little," I admitted quietly.

"But I've only touched your hand."

Did I have to spell it out for him? "What's the matter with your hand?" he pressed.

"It's wounded."

"Wounded?"

"Yes."

"By what?"

We're in a barricade, surrounded by men with guns, so of course I was stabbed. "By a bullet."

"How?"

This is the last time I save the life of such a dolt. "Did you see a musket aimed at you?"

"Yes, and a hand that stopped it."

"That was mine." I did not see his reaction, because my eyes were shut at a sudden burst of pain.

I could hear his words... I remember answering him, but I don't remember what... I can remember spasms of pain- in my chest, in my back, in my hand... but I can't remember what I told Monsieur Marius. Except...

"Promise to kiss me on the forehead when I'm dead. I'll feel it." What was I saying? Perhaps this pain was making me delirious. I would never ask him to do something like that.... But after saying that, the pain grew too much to bear. I just sat there with my eyes shut until the pain began to finally subside.

"And then, do you know, Monsieur Marius, I believe I was a little in love with you." Oh, no. Those were to be my last words? Just as well. He may as well know. And now there is suddenly no pain at all. In fact, I feel better than I've ever felt. I just manage to smile, and then the happiness overtakes me completely. I can feel Marius kiss me, and that only makes it sweeter. And now... now I can go home... somewhere I have never truly known, but which has been waiting for me....

Goodbye, Monsieur Marius.

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