Recalled to Life and Resurrection

     What atonement except life itself would be sufficient to honor dear Sydney Carton for the incomprehensible sacrifice he made on my and my family’s behalf!  It is immensely difficult to fathom how he galvanized himself to willingly take my place in the line of death heading towards the Guillotine. That man was scrutinized, under appreciated, and disregarded all his life, I being guilty of being one of those thinkers at times, but he is a man forever unmatched in his bravery, mercy, and ability to see what living really is. He has recalled me to life twice when I was on the verge of death, while being recalled to life himself through the sacrifice of life itself.

     My emancipation has delivered me to a long life with my wife and child, and the children I am blessed with in the future. I could ask for nothing more than a quiet life in England to enjoy the simplicities and small joys of everyday while giving constant anamnesis to the strong wills and tribulations that gave me this miracle of being recalled to life. 

     Carton will forever be resurrected and remembered. We will weep for him on this day that he has passed to Heaven and the next son for Lucie and I shall be named Sydney Carton and will be told the divine story of the man who became the golden thread for us all.

Farewell My Love

Dear my darling wife Lucie and our beloved daughter,

    Please to do not weep for me, love. Rather, remember my love for you and take precious care of our daughter, who is so much like you in the most magnificent of ways. I deeply apologize for putting our family in this position, but when I came to Paris I did it with the complete intention to help the people here escape the wrath of oppression. The letter I received from Gabelle made me obliged to come here with the conclusion that I could relieve him from his charges of treason by explaining the misunderstanding that he was helping me by working on my orders to help the commoners and peasants, who actually were satirically condemning him. I wrongly assumed I could halt the revolution’s terrible violence and bolster a benign resolution. I did not deem conceivable that the revolutionaries would punish me for the past offenses of the prior generations of my family. I did not know of your father’s past of his witnessing of my family’s treachery, which landed him in prison, otherwise I would never have done anything that risked putting you in the danger and anguish you now face. I strongly believe your father had no notion of remembrance or recognition of writing that condemning letter. All you can do now is comfort him and let him and others comfort you. I know you are strong enough to escape this miserable country and return to your peacefulness of England… and of home. Tomorrow I face the Guillotine with the composure that only comes from knowing you will be okay. Kiss my daughter for me and never forget my unconditional love for you.

Forever Yours,

Charles Darnay

A Life of Love With Lucie

       Life seems so blissful and flawless! I have loved Lucie Manette from the time of my trial many, many years ago when I first laid eyes on her, and now I have the great honor and pleasure of getting to marry her! A few days ago I visited the Manette household to discuss my feelings with Dr. Manette. I immediately saw an improvement in the vitality and vigor of Dr. Manette from the last time I was in his presence and it gave me a renewed sense of confidence for my purpose for being there. He was very willing and open to speaking to me, and as soon as I began he knew I was there to discuss terms relating to Lucie. I explained the intensity of the love and admiration for Lucie that I would hold for the rest of my life, never faltering a day. At first, to my disappointment, Dr. Manette seemed frightened and unsure by my indefinite pouring out of my heart. I quickly assured him that I had no intention of reducing the intimacy between him and his daughter, but instead to actually become part of their family and create an even stronger bond. At this, Dr. Manette seemed to relax a bit and accept what I was saying, thank goodness, for I feared losing my chance at a life with Lucie due to her father’s lack of consent. To my greatest gaiety Dr. Manette promised to vouch for my affirmation of love for Lucie, and give me his compliance to marry her, with her agreement and desire to, of course. Now having shared this intimate exchange of words, I felt it necessary I confess to Dr. Manette my real family name of Evremonde, although I was and still am apprehensive about the affects it will cause. But, for some reason unknown to me, Dr. Manette stopped me abruptly saying he wished not to learn of it till the morning of the wedding between myself and his beloved daughter. I am still bemused for the reasoning for this…was he afraid he would change his mind on allowing me to marry Lucie? I sure hope not with all the desire in my heart, solely beating for her. But I will loyally comply with the doctor’s request and not question it or give him my true identification. 

       A few days after the interchange of those words, I proposed to my dear Lucie and by the grace of the heavens, she accepted! The day Lucie proclaimed she would marry me, will live eternally as one of the happiest days of my life! I can now only wait in unbearable anticipation for our wedding day so I may call her my wife, making that the happiest day of my life!  I so long for it and for her!

Out With the Old and in With the New!

       I have had enough with the injustice! I hide my true family name and identity out of disgrace and humiliation for their actions! Evremonde used to be the name of an honorable family of aristocrats but it is so no more. That name is the source of pain and oppression for the commoners of France and I want no part of it, nor to be associated with it in any way. I am on my way to tell my uncle, the Marquis that I renounce my family name and all that goes with it such as property and privileges. Material things cannot alleviate me from the distress I feel when it comes to knowing how people are treated because of the harsh realities accompanied with “Evremonde”. The name is a curse and I renounce it in all ways possible! I renounce Evremonde! Renounce the abomination of it all! My poor mother’s words to me as she was dying were to have mercy on the people, and mercy I will have!  I possess infinite amounts of shame for the murder, poverty, oppression, indifference, and injustice forcefully imposed on the commoners and peasants of France. I will not only leave behind my Evremonde name, but I will also leave behind France.  I will go to England to work for a living and be a teacher so I may give back to the children and families who need it most. It is my duty and destiny. Evremonde aristocracy is no longer my obligation. I can only imagine the reaction my uncle will have to my declaration. His disproval and objection will not falter me though. 

This is my new life.

My Acquittal

       I feel so revived of life and thankful for the acquitted state of my trial, so preposterous to begin with. How absurd the accusation that I may be a traitor to England by divulging information to the king of France. I may be from France and have my ancestry there, but I am in no way an ally to their government. It gives me great anxiety to think about what would have become of me if the jury found me guilty, which was so likely due to the corrupt state of the English legal system. It is in no way suppressed what the government does to the traitorous guilty…everything from life in prison to beheading, burning, and hanging. I have Mr. Sydney Carton to thank for my innocence and return to a free life. His canny observation about the unequivocal resemblance between myself and him was my saving grace as it shattered the Attorney-General’s creditability and case all together.

       One witness, named Miss Lucie Manette I found out later, caught my eye during the trial. She was supposedly told to testify against me, but actually seemed to ameliorate my position, and I graciously thanked her afterwards for doing so by kissing her hand. She is astonishingly beautiful and I do so hope to see her again in the near future if I may be so lucky.  She was accompanied by her father, Mr. Manette who also took the stand. He seemed to be held to this earth only by the presence of his daughter. After the Manette’s left with a business man by the name of Mr. Lorry, I, rightfully so, gave my greatest appreciation to Carton for his brilliant contribution to my freedom. To my surprise I was responded to by a drunk and rude demand-like invitation to follow Carton to a nearby tavern. There, the contemptuous questions and comments by Carton about my life and situation persisted with every glass more of alcohol he consumed. This man seemed to be attempting to drink away his pity and feelings of hopelessness and meaningless that he made so clear he possessed. What a poor man so miserable in this life which I have just gotten a whole new outlook and admiration for! Well I can only hope he finds a purpose for his being on Earth. I on the other hand, have great plans for my renewed future!