"Christine!" "Meg!" The two friends embraced heartily. It had been a year since the last time they had seen each other. It had been the night of Don Juan Triumphant, that night which kept coming back to Christine in her nightmares. Christine and Meg stood together for a second, speaking and telling their thoughts with their eyes. Meg hugged Christine again as she saw the hurt of memory in Christine's deep brown eyes. "Congratulations, Christine," she whispered. Christine's wedding to Raoul was in two weeks and Christine had wanted to talk to Meg about a few things. She beckoned Meg to sit down and pulled a bell for tea. While they waited for the tea, Meg chatted happily about everybody at the Opera Populaire. It made Christine sad to think that she hadn't sung for a year. It made her think of all those wasted lessons with…No, I can't think about him, Christine said firmly to herself. When the tea came, Christine whispered to the maid, "Lock the door behind you." Meg looked a little worried as the silence of grief surrounded them. "What's wrong, Christine?" she asked, watching her friend tremble. "Meg," she began in a choked voice, "I've made a terrible mistake." Meg felt chills run up and down her spine. "What?" she asked. The word made Christine jump and she hissed as she burnt her tongue on the hot tea. " I can't tell you, Meg," she said hoarsely, after some thought. Meg felt a little hurt but cared more about her friend and put her hurt aside. She got up and rustled over to a desk where she took a key from her pocket and unlocked a drawer. Meg saw a slip of white and then Christine came back over. She held out a thick cream-colored envelope sealed with wax. As she handed it to Meg, she said, "Meg, I need you to give this to…" Christine swallowed hard, then whispered, "him." Meg felt awful as she saw a tear slip down her face. "Don't open it, Meg." Meg nodded and left her friend staring at the floor, tears of memory sliding down her cheeks.
The Phantom sat, staring at a sheet of singed paper that he had found behind a dresser. He had been after a mouse when he saw some paper sticking out from behind the dresser. The notes, the words. Past The Point Of No Return. After he stared at it, memories piercing his heart like knives, he struck it to the ground. He forced the sadness away with anger. Christine had left him; after all he had done for her. Why should he be sad about somebody that would do that? Suddenly, he heard the sound of ballet shoes. He could tell they were ballet shoes because he had heard Christine walk in them so many times. Turning around, he saw to his very deep surprise, Christine's best friend, Meg, standing on the bank of the lake. He moved toward her swiftly and grabbed her arm. He wasn't in the mood for a foolish ballet rat to wreck his solitude. "Why are you here? Who told you how to get here?" Meg was trembling in fright and her teeth chattered as she whispered, " C-Christine w-wanted me t-to gi-give this l-l-l-letter t-to y-y-y-you." The Phantom snatched the letter from Meg's hand and pushed her away roughly. She stood, her face white, as the Phantom slowly examined the letter. "Leave!" he bellowed angrily, and Meg jumped into the boat as quick as lightning. With rolling, tumbling emotions, the Phantom peeled the letter open and a small object fell into his hand. With shock, he stared at it. A ring.