Eponine looked out her bedroom window, anxiously waiting for Azelma to return. She was annoyed that Azelmawas sent to the store by herself, and probably with a long list of what to get.

Azelma was, after all, only seven. She had also missed a lot of school this year and last year, the crucial years in which you learn the foundation of reading and writing. Eponine would help her with her homework as best she could, but she wasn't exactly
student of the year herself, missing more school than her sister and raising her siblings practically on her own.

Eponine, Azelma and Gavroche's mother had passed away after fighting a long battle against cancer. She was diagnosed with lung cancer when she was just thirteen weeks pregnant with Gavroche. She had to make one of the hardest decisions any expecting mother
should ever have to make- begin chemotherapy, which would hopefullyeliminate the cancer, but would kill her unborn child. The other option was to not get chemotherapy and continue withthe pregnancy, increasing her chances of the cancer
spreading and getting worse.

It was a life changing decision, but Evelyn chose to carry on with the pregnancy. Having a happy and healthy baby was all she wanted.

At the time Eponine was only five so she didn't quite understand was happening, and little Azelma was only three so she didn't know much different. But even at the age of five Eponine could sense something was wrong.

With her mother being sicker during this pregnancy than withthe girls', Eponine's mother found it hard to look after her and Azelma like she used to do. To be fair to her father, he really tried to help at the start. Bernard Thenardier owned and
ran a successful enough motel in Jervistown, a couple of miles away from Evanstown. He couldn't just close up for a while to look after his kids and sick wife, no matter how sick she may be. Business was business. Besides, what else was going to pay
for the hospital bills? He knew he needed to call for help.

That was when shecame.

Evelyn's first cousin, Anne-Marie, moved in with them along with her two boys George (aged 8) andNapoleon (aged 2). It seemed like perfect timing as Anne-Marie's husband had died suddenly a few months prior and she was looking for somewhere to stay.
Bernard saw this as a blessing as he could look after the motel while Ann-Marie cared for all at home.

He couldn't have been more wrong.

Just as Eponine was thinking about the touchy subject that was her home life, she saw a little head of light brown hairdart down the street. She recognized it as her sister and immediately jumped off the windowsill and headed for the door. Gavroche
had fallen asleep in Eponine's arms and she had placed him on his bed (a mattress on the floor with a thinblanket and a pillow) and he was still asleep. She went out the door and brought the key with her. She then began her decent downstairs
to get to her sister before her father did. She did not want her to be on the receiving end of his fury as well.

She entered the kitchen to see Azelma putting the shopping away into its rightful places and promptly began helping her. She knew that if they were to leave the shopping out they would still get punished. Once everything was where it belonged Eponine
grabbed Azelma and ran up the stairs.

Once they were safely in their room Azelma gave Eponine a confused look, but realization dawned when she saw the red mark on Eponine's cheek. Realization no seven year old should have to come across. Eponine merely shrugged and proceeded tolockthe
door, not wanting to take any chances. Azelma's voice eventually broke the silence.
"My do we live like this 'Ponine?" She said in a voice that still had some innocence in it, innocence Eponine lost long ago.
"Because, Azelma, there is no where else for us to go. We wouldn'tsurvive on the streets, not for long. I don't want that life for you or Gav" Eponine answered, indicating towards the sleeping boy.
"It's time you got some rest 'Zelma, you can have my blanket tonight." Eponine threw a worn, yellow blanket towards her sister, who promptly caught it. It was the warmest one they had. Azelma smiled at her sister and hopped onto her mattress, quickly
dozing off.

Eponine waited until Azelma was asleep before curling on top ofher own mattress. She stuck her hand into a hole in the mattress that had been there for some time and took out an old, faded photo. The edges were freyed and slightly browning. But
it was the people in the picture that mattered most to Eponine. There was a small baby, a newborn, a toddler and a woman who was the mother to the two children. The woman was wearing a pink top with lots of different colour flowers on it and a pair
of jeans with sandals on her feet. She was beautiful to look at too. She had her hair tied back in a messy bun, bits of its chestnut brown colour sticking out here and there, but that made her no less pretty. She had deep chocolate eyes, and a smile
that at the very sight of it made you smile as newborn was wrapped in a yellow blanket and the toddler was wearing a yellow dress with a matching headband and anyone who were to see the child would say she was the spitting image of
her mother.

It was a photo of pure happiness. It represented everything that Eponine's life used to be, and everything that her life would never be again.

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