Eponine lay there, in the back street. Hidden away in the shadows, she watched as her tears mingled with the mud were she sat. She began to sob again. Un-controlable this time. Her eyes were so full that she couldn't see the stars as they glared down at her. She pulled herself up to a slightly more dignified position. Sitting on her knees,she clasped her hand and looked to the sky.The sky her tears forbid her to see.

"Dear God," she prayed softly to herself. "I am sure, for I know the world well, that you love some people and not others. I know God, that you do not love me but I beg you.....Stop hating me. If you want my parents to kill me,let them. If you want me to freeze or starve in the streets, let me but please, oh please, make me not love Marius any more. I know you are not cruel God but do you not see? People have been burned at the stake, people have been beaten and murdered. I would have those. They would be fine ends for me. Why do you leave me here in an alley, with this pain of love flowing through me? Look God, here is a knife. I brought it to take my own life. Can you not be so merciful as to send any thing but this? Why do you want me to die by my own misery? Why do you let it come to this?" She picked up the knife. "Look God!" she screamed at the heavens with an uncontrolable fury. "Watch and do nothing as one of your children brutally murders herself in the name of the love you put in her heart!"

As she lifted the knife, someone grabbed her from behind. He threw the knife aside and held her close to him.

"What do I do?" she wondered. Eponine closed her eyes. "If who ever this is thinks I'm dead maybe he'll just leave.I can get the knife while he's gone" Eponine went limp in his arms.

God must have been very busy that night, for just after he sent a miracle to save Eponine, he had to hear the prayer of the mysterious young man who held her. Since Eponine was not really hurt, she heard the prayer just as well as God. If she had not been so upset, she wqould have better known the voice but now in her confusion and fatigue, it was a miracle her mind let her hear the words.

"God in heaven," the prayer began "Please, oh please, save her. Let her live. I love her more than she will ever know. Save her please. Let her be happy and safe. Amen"

"What torture!" Eponine thought. "He loves me. How awful." but before she could continue her thoughts, she fainted.

When she awoke,she was in a large bed, in a fancy house, that obviusly belonged to a rich man. In a way,she had a faint hope that it was Marius but he didn't live in a place like this. She sighed. It bothered her, wondering who this man was. This man that loved her and and saved her. Just then the door opened.

Eponine cast her eyes upward, only to see Marius there, smiling at her. She didn't know what to think. They exchanged greetings briefly and talked for a few minutes.

"Marius," Eponine said. "Do you know who saved me last night?"

"Yes......." he began slowly.

"Please tell me!" she begged him. "It is very important. I'm dying to know. I heard him praying and he loves me and....."

"You heard him praying?" Marius asked. Eponine nodded. Marius exused himself and left, leaving Eponine still wondering about the man who saved her. Marius and several maids came and went but none told her who the man was. Once Eponine had asked a young maid if it was Marius, and the maid had said that it wasn't

It was the next day that the young maid adressed her.

"Ma'am," she said "I said it wasn't M'sieur Marius, did I not?"

"Yes" Eponine replied "You said it was not him"

"Oh!" The girl laughed happily. "I'm sorry ma'am. It was him. He is the gentleman who has come to see you several times. He's an odd fellow though. Comes while you sleep, and watches you. Strokes your hair and such"

Though Eponine was listening to the maid, she looked at Marius, who stood in the door way, as the maid told her all this.

"'Ponine...." he started in an embarresed tone.

She smiled at him softly. "Don't worry Marius. Don't be embarrased."

He came and sat on the side of the bed she lay in. He stroked the side of her face gently.

"God has an odd way of making things work sometimes." he said. Eponine nodded, and he leaned down softly to kiss her.