Amber Marie Daae was tearing through her newly discovered favorite book: Phantom of the Opera. She couldn't stop reading it! Everything seemed to fade as she was suddenly put inside the Angel of Music's world, wrapping her in safety. She finished, and sighed, closing the book with disappointment that her fantasy was over. She walked stiffly to her bathroom, studying herself in the mirror. She could see resemblances of Christine; they had the same last name, long curly chestnut hair, almond brown eyes. She smiled and ran a hand through her hair. But that smile faded as she looked at her skin. Blemishes, scars, ran all along her skin, and she was disgusted with the thought of comparing that to Christine's porcelain face. No amount of make-up could fix that, she knew, because she had already tried. She removed her clothes, seeing the dozens of scars and claw-like marks from years of misuse. She had a nice figure, and would've looked pretty despite her skin. She smiled and she realized she had that in common with Erik. People thought she looked like a monster, too. She was born from a mother killing her sorrows with drugs and alcohol and a father that had left before Amber was even born, so no "proper" child her age was permitted to socialize with her. She frowned but then smiled when she pictured Erik behind the mirror, pleased at the sight of her, watching her.
Cleaned up, she slid into her clean clothes for the day, a soft, flowing green dress and a simple pair of white sandals, a bit worn. She let her hair down, imagining Erik playing with the curls. She left the small dingy house, and went to the hell hole people dared call a school. The usual day went onwards though: boys were mocking her as she walked to class, making fake advances by touching her intimately, pulling her close, so that when she took offence they could laugh, girls turning up their noses at her sneering, and the teachers ignoring her during the lessons except when they had no choice but help her. She was fine with the last one, though, more time to think of Erik, her single thought throughout the day. What if he was real? What would he do to the teasing boys and the judging girls? About the mother that didn't care? Would he find her beautiful? Would he love her? Would he even care? Amber's head was spinning with these questions, almost to the point of being dazed and after four hours into the day she went to the bathroom. *Of course he would love you* she thought. *Just like you would love him, just like how you ALREADY love him. You would be what Christine never was for him, the safe place where he was loved.* She wrapped her arms around herself, imagining his embraces, and flashed "him" a smile in the mirror before leaving. She kept getting teased throughout the day, but every time it bugged her, she imagined him singing softly to her, of lullabies and sweet opera music, whispering words of comfort. When she walked home, she became lost in thoughts of Erik, a smile playing on her lips when she pictured him walking with her, sharing the stares and words that were exchanged behind her back. Erik's voice came very close, "Don't let their lies deceive the true beauty that you have." and then his voice was gone, leaving her alone and chilled.
She knew that Erik was just an imaginary friend, someone who she created to help ease the burden of loneliness so he couldn't have just spoken to her. She shook her head; I'm going crazy, let's add that to the list of the many reasons I am to be shunned she thought bitterly. After school Amber headed to the park. She always went there for a few hours after school to clear her head and brace herself for the long night she had to spend hiding out from her mother. She shouldered her bag and began the 2 mile walk. "Allow me, my angel." his voice blew over again and her bag became noticeably lighter. He was there; a few steps ahead of Amber with a soft smile. He was slightly modernized but still had the mask over his face.
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