"I promise, I've never been pampered in my entire life. I was an orphan, I spent most of my childhood bouncing from one family that didn't want me to another, and in and out of church run children's homes. That didn't have much money or time for all the kids there." Nadine shakes her head, hoping to dissuade Eponine of any ideas that she's well off or had grown up easy.

"I was in foster care or church care until I got too old, and then I was out on my own with pretty much nothing. I just got lucky and got into college so I could be a teacher. And I'm really no angel." She gestures to her white hair. "I think this was a trauma reaction to being pulled here or something."

She...doesn't exactly remember. The night before being pulled out of the well here is hazy, like a dream. Half-memories and sensations and vague impressions. But when she was able to take stock of herself here, her hair was white.