Erik was in pain, this he knows. What he did not know was how or when it would end. But he wished it would end soon. He first noticed the pain after Christine left. Back then, it had been manageable as he had only felt it in his soul. Now, he feltitnotonly in his soul, but in his heart and weary body. He longed to lay down and rest in peace, without this pain at least. Oh, how he wished itwould end! But alas, it did not. In fact it only got worse as the days wore on.
Poor Erik, now he is so wracked with pain that he cannot get up anymore. He hasn't risen from hiscoffin bed for the last week, even. Every day, nay, every hour, he prayed for a merciful fate—he prayed for death, sweet, glorious death.
And like a rose that blooms at night, perfuming the air with its sweet perfume, Death passed by unseen, but readily accepted. The "corpse" was now a true corpse in every sense, for for life has fled these tormented bones.
Nothing stirred in the darkened, rock-hewn crypt, for the last candle stubbs had long since burned down to nothing.