Fantine

Lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, for just a moment, she could see Cosette, her little girl, as she knew she was, calm, happy, playing in the garden of the inn, no longer sick, no longer wanting for anything.

Come to me, Cosette, the light is fading
Don't you see the evening star appearing?
Come to me, and rest against my shoulder
How fast the minutes fly away and every minute colder.
Hurry near, another day is dying
Don't you hear, the winter wind is crying?
There's a darkness which comes without a warning
But I will sing you lullabies and wake you in the morning.

Looking up, the Mayor walked in, a haze surrounding him, his words dovetailing with her thoughts.

Oh, Fantine, our time is running out
But Fantine, I swear this on my life

All her pride is gone, everything she has is gone, but she can plead this one last time.

Look, M'sieur, where all the children play

She is there. She knows her beloved daughter is there, happy, child-like in the innocence that Fantine never had.

Be at peace, be at peace evermore.

Peace? There is no peace until her daughter is safe.

My Cosette...

Please, please. She knows that her darling deserves better. There must be something better.

Shall live in my protection

Hope. A faint ray, another plead...

Take her now

Please, Monsieur, she needs someone, someone to truly love her.

Your child will want for nothing

Relief. A light, a faint ray of warmth.

Good M'sieur, you come from God in Heaven.

Not since before, not for years has it been warm, peaceful.

And none shall ever harm Cosette
As long as I am living.

He promised. Cosette will be safe, she will be happy.

Take my hand. The night grows ever colder.

An angel. He must be an angel. She must keep him close.

Then I will keep you warm.

She doesn't matter. Only Cosette. Only her beloved girl.

Take my child. I give her to your keeping.

A blessing. She gives a blessing to him for Cosette.

Take shelter from the storm

Storm? There is no storm. Just the light. She must know, she must believe that she was loved, Cosette, her darling. The warmth is getting more and more and more comfortable.

For God's sake, please stay till I am sleeping
And tell Cosette I love her
And I'll see her when I wake...

The light got brighter and brighter, and a door opened, drawing her up, through the roof, out of the squalor and dirt, and out of everything to... the end of things.

[ooc: Italicized text from Les Miserables, the musical.]