Chapter 1: Learning to move on

7-year-old Christine Daae sat on her father's deathbed, her father was her only friend since Raoul De Changy but they hadn't seen each other in what felt like forever.

"Christine, I am counting on you to be a good girl when Madame Giry gets here she will take care of you properly" Christine's father Gustave Daae said weakly

"I will father" Christine said quietly.

The door squeaked and Gustave smiled.

"Madame Giry is here," he said

"Why is that a good thing?" Christine asked as tears flowed down her cheeks like a river.

Gustave never answered her he was struggling at this point to breath, and by the time Madame Giry got into the room Gustave Daae was no more. Madame Giry came into the room and walked around, the first thing she noticed was Christine lying on the floor crying softly to herself.

"Mademoiselle Daae why are you crying?" Madame Giry asked Christine.

Christine looked at Madame Giry as if she was crazy didn't she see what was right in front of her? Didn't she see her father dead on his bed? Wasn't it obvious?

"Do you not see what is on the bed? It is my father my dead father! He is gone he left just before you came in! He closed his eyes and never opened them! Can't you see it can't you see now why I am miserable?" Christine practically screamed.

"Yes Christine I see it and trust me to look at it makes me feel terrible but think about it, how long was your father sick?" Madame Giry asked calmly

"Since my mother died two years ago, doctors said he became sick from an unknown disease, but I knew better it was because of a broken heart." Christine said trying to hold back tears

"That's right Christine, now think about it your father loved your mother right?" Madame Giry asked

"Yes, he loved her a lot" Christine said

"Then don't you think he would be happy to die and be with her?" Madame Giry asked

"I never thought of it that way" Christine said

"And what about his suffering? He suffered for two years before he died he is in a better place now where he never has to suffer anymore" Madame Giry said calmly.

"I guess your right" Christine said

Madame Giry picked Christine up off the ground and led her out of the house.

"I'm glad you feel better now, I know that you are still getting over your father's death but I need to bring you to the Opera House I don't want you to stay here and cry any longer" Madame Giry said.

Christine just nodded and followed Madame Giry.

The moment they got into the Opera House Christine stood and looked around in awe this place was amazing her father had told her many things about the Opera House but this was far grander than anything he had said. She walked around the foyer, not paying attention to where she was going at all when she bumped into somebody.

"I'm so sorry" Christine said

"Don't be" a girl said.

Christine looked at the girl she had bumped into, she had blonde hair just past her shoulders, and bright blue eyes and had a ballet tutu on.

"I'm Christine…Christine Daae I'm going to be a ballet girl here" Christine said

"Hi Christine, I am Meg Giry I'm a ballet girl too, I'm sure you met my mother Madame Giry she came and got you right?" Meg asked

Christine nodded.

"She is the ballet mistress here, trust me you will love it here I know I do maybe it's because I grew up here…" Meg started

"Megan Giry! Christine Daae! Stop talking you have to get to ballet practice!" Madame Giry's voice came interrupting the girls' conversation.

Meg and Christine ran to the stage to get to ballet practice.

"I hope I am a good dancer, I've never danced before" Christine said

"You'll do great trust me Christine and if you need help I'm here for you." Meg said

"Thanks Meg, you're a true friend," Christine said with a smile.