The Final Curtain
No one dared to speak. They all just looked at the ground, lost in their own thoughts on all that had just passed.
Suddenly the un-shaved, depressed and rugged looking Raoul broke the silence.
"What are we going to do?" He said looking straight at Gustave.
Gustave opened his mouth to speak, and then closed his mouth again, tears rolling down his pale cheeks.
"You mean who will have the boy…" The Phantom growled.
"Indeed sir I do." Raoul replied.
"Then we leave it up to the boy to decide, Gustave?" The Phantom looked at Gustave who was too upset to say anything really.
"I don't know, I don't know!" Gustave dropped to the floor and laid his head on his lap, sobbing silently.
"I think it should be you." Raoul said in a croaky voice towards the Phantom.
"I know nothing about looking after children!" The Phantom shouted and ran towards Raoul who moved away swiftly.
"Well then you should have thought about that before you impregnated Christine!" Raoul shouted, "How did it happen anyway?!"
"I-I-I-I can't remember." The Phantom turned away in shame.
"I've been living a lie this whole time!" Raoul cried and dropped to his knees, head in hands.
"What will you do?" Asked the Phantom.
"I feel like committing suicide, but that is what Christine would have expected me to do, so I'm not going to, instead I am going to go to America, start again, find a beautiful, young American girl who will love me and give me what I deserve!"
"Father!" Gustave ran to Raoul.
"No Gustave, the Phantom will take care of you now." Raoul sighed, tears in his eyes, as he pushed Gustave away.
"Father…." Gustave whimpered and wandered over to the Phantom who still looked away. "But you looked after me!"
"I was used Gustave!" Raoul shook his head eyes blazing.
"What about the house?" Asked Gustave.
"I will sell it and burn Christine's things, unless you want any of it."
Gustave gasped, "We will keep in touch though?"
"Maybe, but I cannot guarantee." Raoul turned to the Phantom. "Look after him for me." Raoul walked away.
"He is not even going to say goodbye!" Sobbed Gustave.
"He doesn't have to; you are not his….." The Phantom replied. "I'm sorry…."
Gustave and the Phantom both stared at Raoul who was now far in the distance.
"Go too him." The Phantom nodded at Gustave who ran at top speed after Raoul.
"Wait! Please wait!" Gustave shouted at the top of his voice with tears streaming down his little face.
Raoul turned around and looked down at Gustave as if he was a stranger.
"What can I do for you young man?"
Gustave shook his head and embraced Raoul, who slowly began to cry, embracing him back.
"I remember when I first held you…" Raoul cried.
"You will always be my father to me!" Gustave hugged Raoul close and they both cried together.
"Go now." Raoul sighed. "We both need to start again."
"I will never forget you!" Gustave smiled.
Raoul just smiled back and walked away, never looking back….