On the cemetery
Weak and trembling of the cold I stumbled through the snow. I should have listened to the other artists and not have gone out to my father's grave in that storm but I wouldn't turn back now that I had almost reached the cemetery. It would take me another two hours to get back home and I did not know how I was going to survive that, frozen and tired as I was, but now finally I had reached Gustave Daaé's grave, fell to my knees in the snow and prayed and cried for my beloved father. I missed him with every part of my being and he had torn his music from my life when he had left me forever. His music - I had only felt it again in the times my angel of music had appeared. He had filled my heart and soul with unearthly music and lifted my spirits to highest happiness... and passion. I really had loved him - he had done so much for me, lifted me from the depths I had fallen into after my father's death, and my heartbeat had increased significantly whenever I had sensed his invisible presence. I had only felt alive when his extraordinary tenor voice had comforted or taught me. How heartbroken had I been when I had realised that he was nothing but a physically and emotionally scarred man who scared me with his hardly controlled anger. Also, I had feared his face because I made this discovery so unexpectedly... now that I had had time to think about what I had seen, I realised what horrors this burden must have held for him. But it was not only pity that I felt for him, there was so much more inside me now... I was thankful for him having been there comforting me when I had been all alone and I could not deny that I had fallen for that beautiful - and powerful - voice. I needed it like I needed the air for breathing. But as the stupid and scared child I was, I had run away and betrayed him. I had told Raoul everything about my angel - good, kind Raoul... I did not love him. He had just been there being good and gentle in my most desperate hour and in my fear I had willingly ran into his arms and promises of a better future. By now I had realised that he was chasing after a meaningless childhood romance that wouldn't do any of us any good. I had never felt for him the intense way I felt drawn towards another man - my angel, Erik. I broke down at the grave, my tears falling to the ground freely. I could feel the cold and wet snow creeping through my coat and my dress to my skin and shivers ran all over my body but I did not care anymore. My life was forlorn - I did not feel for the wealthy man whose ring I wore, I had unhealthy feelings for a madman who had murdered in my name and had no moral whatsoever... Furthermore, he probably hated me by now. He had seen me with Raoul, he knew all about my complete and utter betrayal, he knew of the plan I had agreed to - the plan to kill him. I couldn't do that. How could I betray a man who meant so much to me? But how could I admit that? Was there any right thing for me to do?
In the middle of my despondency I heard a voice. An extraordinary voice singing softly in my head and soothing my desperation. I slowly lifted my head and looked up, not surprised that I couldn't see anyone, for that voice could not possibly belong to a human being. It was indeed an angel's voice. For a moment, I wondered whether I had died now, frozen at the place my father rested but then a dark cloaked shape appeared at my side and the comforting music stopped. 'Christine' Erik said with his incomparable voice, way more gentle than I would have expected it. So maybe he did not hate me after all. I felt empty - the only thing tying me to the world seemed to be the tall figure beside me. I looked up towards him and as the wind stoked my face, I felt the trails of my tears ice cold on my cheeks.
For a few seconds, we just stared at each other, I could not see his face obviously but I knew that he was examining me. Then, slowly and deliberately, he extended his glowed hand in my direction. Slowly and trembling, I reached out and laid my hand, blue from the cold, into his. The moment we touched, he seized my hand and cupped it with his while carefully pulling me to my feet.
'You're frozen, my dear!' he exclaimed and I could hear the concern in his voice. I had no strength left to answer. I felt my tears starting to flow again and my whole body was shaking. How could he be so nice and gentle to me now? I had betrayed him... Again! 'Christine!' there definitely was fear in his tone now, my slow-working brain tried to figure out, why, but in the next moment, Erik pulled me towards him and enveloped me in a warm embrace. I hadn't been aware of how cold I actually was until I felt the comforting warmth of my angel's body. Here in his arms I felt safe and secure. I knew that nothing was ever going to hurt me as long as he was by my side. How I had longed to be close to him... A small sigh escaped my lips, then my knees gave away and everything went black.