Tragic Endings

Tragic Endings

"Farewell my sweet, whispered François as he slipped out of the window into the inky black darkness. "Someday we will hide our love no longer. And with that, he slid down the trellis and vanished into the night.
Nicole Dumont sighed, and reluctantly left the window and retreated into her room. Oh, if only she and François could out their love out into the open. But, alas, she was in an arranged engagement with John-Pierre. Oh, how she hated him!! Almost twice her age, he had been through 3 wives, all of them doing some desperate act of escape that cost them their lives. Nicole certainly did not want to be the next headstone is John-Pierre's graveyard plot.
François was the better match. Exactly her age, not previously married, and a handsome man, François was quite a catch. Nicole would rather marry François, but the engagement was final, settled over three months ago. Oh, how she loathed her father after he had told her of the engagement. How dare he set her up with that . . . that beast of a man!! But her complaints fell on deaf ears.
"My child, he is a respected man among the upper class! her father had pleaded. "Think of how well you will live!!
"Even if he was the king himself, proclaimed Nicole, "I still wouldn't marry him!!
"But my angel, the engagement has already been arranged! her father blurted out
Nicole was horrified. "What!! You've already settled it!!! How dare you!! she shrieked. And from then on she refused to speak to her father.
The next day Nicole met François in their usual place, behind the blackberry thicket.
"My precious, I cannot stand it here and longer. Please let is elope and be gone from this place forever, plead Nicole.
François thought for a moment, then, hurriedly replied "My dear, we will try. But you know as well as I do that they will look for you. We will have to go far away."
"I do not care, proclaimed Nicole. "I have no family here. My father is a rat and my mother is dead.
"Nicole! shouted her father "Nicole, where are you?? John-Pierre is here to see you!!
"Oh, not now!! Nicole cried aloud.
"Please, do as he says, or he might come looking for you, and see us together, begged François.
"No, said Nicole. "Let him come. I don't care anymore.
"Please, I beg of you. Let us wait until tomorrow. Please Nicole.
"Alright, Nicole sighed. "Coming father!! she yelled into the courtyard.
Nicole ran with a heavy heart to greet her fiancé.
"Ah, Nicole, my angel! So glad you decided to show up!! her father cheerfully exclaimed. He turned to John-Pierre. "It's been a long while since we've seen you last. I suppose you missed your future bride.
"Why yes, wheezed the beast himself. "I really did miss you my sweet Nicole. How are you my darling?
"I'm fine, Nicole said stiffly.
"Well, that's good news. I guess you're looking forward to the wedding tomorrow my pet, John-Pierre said contentedly.
"What?!? Nicole exclaimed, aghast. "T-t-t-the wedding is tomorrow??
Why, yes. Didn't you know? John-Pierre questioned. "Didn't you tell her Mailhairer??
"Why yes of course, Her father stammered. She must have forgotten. Didn't you precious? he gave her a look that ordered her silent.
"Well, I guess she's just forgotten. We'll see you tomorrow.
As soon as John-Pierre had left the courtyard Nicole exploded at her father.
"How could you do this to me?! she shrieked. "The wedding is tomorrow?
"Angel-"her father began.
"Don't call your 'Angel' or 'pet' or, or 'darling'! I hate you! And with that she stomped off to her room.
Tears ran down Nicole's face in rivers. How could her father do this to her? He secretly moved the wedding up, and then was going to stand there and watch his only child suffer!!
She desperately flung open her window and slipped outside. Though it was pitch black she knew exactly where she was going, having traveled there countless times. François' house.
"What are you doing here? François exclaimed with surprise as he saw a breathless Nicole on his front stoop.
"The wedding, she gasped "It's tomorrow. My father moved it up.
"What?!?!? François cried "How could he do this to you! To us?
"I don't know!! sobbed Nicole "But I want to leave right now!!
"Yes, of course my love. We will elope tonight. But let us wait until the moon is full, promised François.
Nicole waited with worry though the night. Would they escape John-Pierre's wrath? And what about her father? What would he do if he found out about her and François? She shuddered at the thought of it.
The hours ticked away with agonizing slowness. Would the moon ever be full? Nicole eventually drifted off into a worried, fitful sleep.
Tap! Tap! Nicole woke with a start. Something was striking her windowpane!!
"Nicole! François whispered as loud as he dared. "Nicole!!
"I'm awake François! Is it time to go? Nicole whispered back.
"Yes. Now hurry!! said François, daring to speak louder.
"Nicole, who's in there with you? came a voice from outside Nicole's door.
"Um, no one father. Stammered Nicole.
"No, someone's in there. I heard them! her father insisted. "I'm coming in! and with that her father burst in and looked around her room with a fiery look in his eyes.
"François, run!! Nicole tried to whisper discreetly out the window.
"Who's that? Who are you talking to? exclaimed her father, shoving her aside and looking out the window.
"Aha! he cried "François! I should have known! he turned to Nicole. "You've been cheating on John-Pierre!!
"No! shrieked Nicole "I never loved hi! I wasn't even married to him I didn't even know of the engagement until you told me of it! I hate you!!
"No. . . stammered her father "You're . . . you're just trying to ruin this marriage! I would have been rich! Now, shut up and do as you're told. You are going to marry John-Pierre!!!!
"Never! exclaimed Nicole.
Nicole's father stalked towards her and grabbed her by the shoulders and shoved her down on the floor. As she fell, Nicole's head struck the corner of her bed. After she hit the floor, her father stormed out, too mad to care about his daughter. But, when had he ever?
Nicole lost consciousness for a little while, but when she came to, her head was throbbing
with extreme pain. As she reached back to hold her aching head, she felt something sticky on her hand. Bringing it into the moonlight, she saw blood coating her hand.
Nicole was weakening with each breath. "I'm dying, she thought.
Crawling over to the window, she called out in a faint voice "François are you there?
"Yes my dear. Are you OK? François asked, with a worried note in his voice.
"No. I'm dying. Nicole answered, in a voice so quiet it was barely a whisper. François was too shocked to speak. Silently, he began to sob. Nicole climbed out onto the sill and she too began sobbing, silently. As she did so, the blood-streaked hairs on her head began to blow in the chilly night breeze. Slowly, she stuck her hand out of the window.
"François, she asked "Please, grab my hand before I die. And with that, she reached down and groped in the air for François' hand. But the movement soon slowed and came to a stop.
François reached up a grabbed her hand and gave it a tight squeeze. But her hand was awfully cold, and he knew she was dead. "Farewell Nicole. He sighed, the words croaking out of his mouth in complete grief. And with that, he slipped down the trellis and disappeared into the inky black night one last time.

The End