All of two months ago, Erik tried with all his power to make the beautiful Christine Daae love him. His efforts were futile, from what he has told me it was due to his face being so horrid and disfigured.

I should clarify, my name is Anne

I am the phantom's only friend

and I am blind.

My story is not quite as exciting or horrible as Erik's, we both were in the traveling circus together but I am a gipsy's daughter. Every night I would visit Erik in his prison cell. I was never quite clear on his age though it seemed we were the same. One night our circus traveled to a town near an old Opera house.

I was in the room helplessly listening to my friend be tortured by the master. As everyone left I heard Erik tap three times on the floor signaling me to stay hidden. Then I heard the sound of the girl opening the cage as Erik choked the master until there was a thud on the ground. I couldn't believe what had happened. Someone had rescued Erik from his prison, but the thought of life without my friend was horrid so I secretly followed their footsteps to what seemed like a cave.

Soon after I relieved myself to Erik, he was so surprised yet relieved that I had followed, he took me in his arms and hugged me tight.

"Thank you my dear Anne for staying by my side, please stay with me longer" he cried, "don't go back there, stay here in this place with me."

"Erik, I hear water, this land is slick, you must remember I cannot see. How could I stay down here and be safe from harm. I have an idea though, please, tell me where we are exactly"

"You are in an opera house" the girl said.

I turned around startled, usually I pick up on people coming and going I must be tired from today, "Oh, and what is it a blind girl could do for an opera house"

"Well, I am a dancer the other girls and I dance for the shows, there are many jobs here, you could dance ballet, you could create the sets, or you could be a cleaner." she replied

"I think I will try cleaning, Im not big on dancing and Im not sure how safe it would be to have a blind girl prancing around the stage. Who shall I talk to about becoming a cleaner?"

"I can talk to the head maid for you Im sure she will give you a job, what about you Erik"

Through tears of both relief and sadness Erik replied, "I will just like here, my face, this horrid disfigured face is too frightening for others. P-please just don't let them know Im here I will live here and visit Anne, but no one must know."

"I promise not to tell" the girl said sweetly "your hidden in here now, you no longer need that bag upon your head."

I heard him slowly bring the bag from his head, and a quick gasp came from the girl's mouth but as quickly as it came she pulled it in and took a few steps towards the place me and Erik were sitting.

"I must go, goodbye Erik. Anne come with me we will go now and talk to the head maid."

"Erik," I said as I softly touched the right side of his face, he shuttered as I ran my fingers across his cheek "I will visit you often."

I turned to the girl and took her arm as she lead me away from Erik and the cave.