Song Bird

by sprinkledwithpearls

A/N: Hey everyone. So, I came up with this one-shot idea a while ago, and never got around to writing it until now. For those that read my multi-chapter story Stolen, I will update that when I can. Anyways, this one-shot is written in second person, which is new for me. But I like the way it turned out. It's sad and probably depressing, but tell me what you think in a review, please. The words in italics are song lyrics from the song Top of the World by the Dixie Chicks.

Disclaimer: I do not own Phantom of the Opera or Top of the World.

You've always been such a fragile song bird.

You cry at night, but you don't tell him. You say you love him, but there is a part of you that hurts too much to bear.

And yet, you continue living. You continue wearing a mask of smiles; a mask of happiness.

The night before your wedding I watched you cry for your father, cry for your angel – for me. I watched you. I wanted to hold you, to take you away.

There's a whole lot of singing that's never gonna be heard
Disappearing everyday without so much as a word somehow

There was once a time when you were heard by all of Paris. But now, you are silent.

You try.

You try to be heard. You call for me.

But I cannot come.

Wanna grab a hold of that little song bird
Take her for a ride to the top of the world right now

Your mask of happiness does not shield all.

He sees the emptiness in your eyes. He hears you scream and cry in the middle of the night. He feels your soft skin and sees you cringe and nearly break at his touch. He watches when you only eat a bite of supper, and he pretends not to notice. He knows why your eyes are always so distant when he tries to talk to you.

He too wears a mask.

I once came to the conclusion that everyone has mask of some sort.

My mask – well, the reason for it is rather obvious, isn't it?

Your entire life is a mask. Everything you say, every whisper you breathe, every smile you fake – they're all lies.

It didn't used to be that way. You used to be happy, truly happy.

It's my fault.

You were my song bird.

I taught you. I gave my heart, my soul, and my lessons. And in return, you gave me your voice. But some time, I made a mistake.

You gave me your heart.

You gave me your soul.

And I let you.

'Cause everyone's singing
We just wanna be heard
Disappearing everyday without so much as a word somehow

I still hear your voice.

I don't hear the way you speak now. No, I don't hear that hard, cold voice. I don't hear the lies. I don't hear the masked tone with sadness and misery and longing buried beneath it.

You are broken, now.

I hear your real voice.

And I imagine that you are still the same.

I imagine that you are happy. I imagine that you love him with all of your heart. I convince myself that you don't cry, that you don't scream. And there are times when I believe myself.

I suppose that is my mask, now.

I want you to be happy with him...

I'm sorry.

Think I broke the wings off that little song bird
She's never gonna fly to the top of the world right now

A/N: Wow, that was pretty emotional, huh? It's different than my usual cup of tea, but I like venturing out sometimes. I really hope y'all liked it and got something out of it.