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She should have known better, life had a way of breaking dreams. She could see the very last remnants of hers fading from existence as she fell to her knees. Now covered in dirt, the little hope she had been building over the last few weeks burst her heart open and kept her on the ground.
At the beginning, when she got a job at the most important factory in town it had been only the easiest of choices to make, to work hard or to end up in the streets taking her daughter down with her. It wasn’t anything else, just a job, a way to stay afloat a little longer, to keep her child save. But after she was hired, after her first long and tiring shift the tiniest bit of hope sparked in her. She couldn’t help it, her life was hard, she had to work as many shifts as she could get to send as much money as possible to the Thénardiers but the wares were fair and she thought that maybe if she kept at it she could save enough to one day bring Cosette back with her, it would take a tremendous effort and she could already see the toil that kind of life was taking on her but maybe, just maybe, it could be possible.
A few more years of it, nothing but work and pain and she could have her daughter back. That was all that mattered so if the world could do one thing for her and not get in the way, perhaps even show some mercy, then there was hope.
But when had she ever gotten leniency.
A few labored breaths… in and out… she had to get up, had to do something, had to get out of the mud… in and out… a few more and she would, she promised she would but then again promises were so easy to break.
She stayed on the floor for long enough to start feeling the pain, not only the one born out of despair but the one made of coldness and cruel hands pressing into a soft body. It had been too long, but also just the right time.
She heard steps behind her coming to an abrupt stop just before they had the chance to clash with her shaking form, a big hand tentative over her shoulder.
“Madame, would you allow me to help you?” Such a soft voice but she knew better than to trust it twice.
She turned her head towards him, anguish in her eyes. “Why sir, would you care now?” Her voice was cold, harsh.
Monsieur Madeleine was bending down to talk to her, from up close she could see the surprise in his eyes, followed by something else, something that looked like an interesting mixture of disappointment and regret.
He opened his mouth to speak again but seemed to reconsider, with doubt on his face he finally said, “Allow me, please?” He slowly extended his arms towards her to try and help her get up, she was on her feet before he could touch her but when he moved and looked back nodding his head for her to follow, she did.
He guided her to his office, every eye they walked by turning their way but not daring to do anything in the presence of the boss.
Finally, in they went, the door closing with a soft click.
“Please, sit.” He motioned for her to occupy the chair in front of his desk and waited until she did to take his own.
“I am not aware of the situation but I promise to hear anything you have to say and act with nothing but kindness. Whatever happened, I am here to listen, you will not receive unfair treatment,” he promised, his words firm in a way that almost made her want to believe him. No matter, she had nothing else, if he wanted to play the part of a saint before showing his real self then at least she would have a chance to get her job back if under a much grimmer light.
“Monsieur, the story is short. I received a letter which contents became known by the other workers who decided to complain to the foreman. The fight you were witness to became such because I tried to get my letter back,” she said, voice wavering but trying to keep calm. It would do her no good to anger the man the way she had his subordinate.
Monsieur Madeleine frowned in confusion but his tone of voice didn’t change, “I do not mean to say that I don’t believe you, It’s just that I do not think I understand. If you were robbed of your possessions, and even thought I cannot but reprove violence within these walls as a way to solve conflict, still it was not only you at fault.” Here he paused for a moment. “I need to know what came to be once I left.”
Before she could think twice she answered plainly, ”I was thrown onto the street, and told I had lost my place here.”
“Those are too grave consequences for such a small transgression and only placed on you, I believe, since I did not see the other woman on the street.” He seemed thoughtful.
“You believe right monsieur. It was just me.” She didn’t understand the direction the conversation was taking and approached with all the caution she could afford.
“I do not wish to make a spectacle of something private that was already disrespected but I must ask. Would you be so kind as to explain what it was they found in your correspondence? I need to piece the story together, nothing more.”
If what was needed for her to get her job back was a second wave of judgement, it was a price she was more than willing to pay.
“I have a daughter, her father left us. In order for me to be able to sustain us both, she stays with a family that takes care of her. I pay them for their services and even more when she’s sick. There’s nothing more. I work hard and save as much as I can to pay our bills, that is all. The rest of what they think to say is untrue.” She could not look up, on the face of that man was their future.
But when his voice came it wasn’t cruel and unforgiving, it sounded soft, almost pained so she looked up. “You received ill treatment within these walls I’m in charge of, I apologize… I will do my best to set this matter right at once.” His face was turned in her direction, intentional but without any sign of malice.
She dared to say, “Monsieur, I would only ask of you that you give me my job back, I do not need apologies but a way to earn a decent life.”
“If that is what you wish I will make sure it is done but I’ll ask you this first, do you miss your daughter?” He said in a pensive tone.
“Yes sir, every day,” there was no other answer.
“I have something else to offer, I could help you relocate to a different town, in it you would have a place for you and your daughter and no one to judge you, I can see to the details if it is something I can convince you of, as long as you accept then there is a safe place for you both,” Valjean said, reaching for a pen and a piece of paper as if readying to write.
Fantine was stunned, it was too easy, with only a few words he painted her dreams in front of her but she wouldn’t let herself forget this was a powerful man, it was never that simple, only… if at least some part of what he said was true then she was ready to take the risk.
She steeled herself with a breath and watery eyes, “I would ask you sir to speak plainly to me. Why would you help me this way?”
Valjean stopped his ministrations, leaving the pen over the desk and taking a moment as if thinking of the right words, before giving his answer, “A series of injustices have been done to both you and an innocent child, by my hand too. I cannot fix the past but if it is within my power to offer help I would be glad to be of service. You do not owe me for this, but I must admit that a selfish part of me is also wanting to aid in order to correct my errors. It is not a noble action but if it can alleviate your pain then I hope it is good enough.” He had never looked more serious to her eyes.
She could no nothing but nod, begging it wasn’t a bigger mistake.
He smiled softy. “I will leave instructions for my leave and we will part this evening, I ask you to go home and collect anything you do not wish to be parted with, you will have a few hours to prepare, I am sorry for the short notice but I imagine you no do not wish to be parted from your child any longer than necessary and the time is just right.”
She got to her feet and left the building full of worry, almost not wanting in case the man changed opinion and she found only a closed door upon her return. A door that would remain that way for her, for good. But she did, dragging herself away to pick the few important possessions she still had and anything she could possibly find useful in her new life, having no sure knowledge what the future held and not wanting to take the risk of leaving empty handed.
She moved as quickly as she could on her trembling legs and with hands the same gathered her bags before hurrying back.
She left the place that’s anything but home with one last glace and a slow breath, unaware it would be the last time.
Years later, when looking back to that night, it would be nothing but a blur. Images running one after the other without a single break to breathe. She would remember and find it fitting, since that’s exactly the way it had felt, that time their worlds were shaken into something unexpected but oh so much better than they could have ever hoped for.
Only the important remains, shots of life. Of Fantine and the Mayor leaving town, of that first moment she set her eyes on her lovely daughter for the first time in what felt like forever, of leaving with her warm in her arms and safe in the carriage, of arriving to an unknown town, one that would later be recognized as home, and walking inside a Bishop’s house.
Waking up and finding out with disbelief that the Mayor had fulfilled his promise and being in a dreamlike state of that happiness they had almost forgotten how to feel for the rest of the day.
It was not easy, a new life never was. But this time they were not alone. Bishop Myriel and his sister were immensely kind, never uttering an ill word towards her, opening their home and hearts to them and finally becoming family. They helped Fantine obtain a job in town with an old baker in need of assistance and even started schooling Cosette.
No one felt any kind of suspicion towards the new lovely woman and her adorable child, they wouldn’t think to doubt them when having such connections to the popular churchman, and they had no reason to, especially when she proved them over and over again how hard working she was, presenting her child with perfect example of what a good woman was.
They had no complaints, all assumed she was a young widow receiving support from her relatives and with pity, to both the mother and the sweet child, never dared to mention it.
Over time their arrival was no longer news, the sight of them walking around and the sound of their trailing laughter a part of everyday life.
Against all odds and circumstances.
She was with family now.