Winning and Losing
Raoul has married Christine at last… but is she really his?
I have won.
I have married the sole possessor of my heart; she is my bride. She is so beautiful, and she is mine!
No one will ever steal her away from me again.
I almost died trying to rescue her. If that… that fiend, had what he had wanted, I would have perished in that torture chamber of his. Ah, but she is worth all of the pain and suffering in the world! I would not have been capable of living with the knowledge that she was trapped, hidden away from the world in that underground prison. I was willing to give anything- even my own life- to rescue her from such a terrible fate.
I would give my life for her.
I have loved her all of my life.
And she is finally mine.
Yet, even though she sleeps by my side at night, I know that part of her soul longs to be with him. Oh, she never says anything this; she is far too kind and soft- hearted to utter a word of this to me. Still, despite all that heforced her to go through, she still cares for him.
Once, she was having a nightmare during the middle of the night. As I rocked her back and forth in my arms, she- still sleeping- moaned, "Erik, please hold me. Hold me, Erik." Although she lay in my arms and I was the one comforting her, she called for him.
She is so gentle with me that I know she loves me as well. However, beneath her blue eyes lies a deep sorrow. While I do not hold any anger against her- I love her! - my heart breaks because I know that in her heart of hearts, my darling is unhappy.
I have won her in the flesh, and she has pledged to spend the rest of her mortal years with me, but her spirit… her spirit is not mine. It has never truly been mine.
Christine, oh, my darling Christine! I have lost you!
My beloved, precious girl… she belongs to another.
End.