Summertime Sadness

rom the incredible pleasure they had shared.

The tempest had ceased, and the gentle yet ruthless dawn rose from the east. Day in, life out. Juliet bid farewell to her Romeo, not to a place of exile, but to the end of life. This pair of lovers no longer harboured hope for reunion.

He held her in arms once more, kissing her sweat-drenched curls repeatedly, whispering in her ear, "Farewell, my love, my life! Farewell forever! I shall never forget the joy of this night, even in death!"

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Edith did not leave the room. She remained seated, blankly, until her sister Margot rushed in, pale and stumbling, bearing the news represented by the clamour rising from outside.

Everything unfolded just as Andre had foreseen: the speech of the patriots was interrupted, conspirators seized control of the hall of the Convention, injustice triumphed over virtue, and upright republicans were taken to jail on the spot. In his unwavering loyalty to Andre Quenet, Philippe rose resolutely from his seat in the National Convention, willingly offering himself for arrest.

The women of the Percys sat together, hearts pounding, waiting anxiously. Margot ventured out multiple times to ask around and returned home in the evening, breathless, to inform them that the enraged people of Paris had forced the release of prisoners from the jail. Now Philippe and Andre had both made their way to the H?tel de Ville.

Margot clutched her sobbing mother, forcing herself to appear calm as she reassured her, "The masses of the Commune are still with them. The National Guard from all sixteen sections stands prepared outside the H?tel de Ville, awaiting orders. Once the signal is given, they will rise up. Perhaps there is still a chance for a turn!"

However, Edith slowly shook her head, her gaze fixed ahead, her voice filled with sorrow and calmness. "No, there isn''t, Margot! I know it in my heart. There is no hope left. They wi