As the coldness of winter gradually melted away, Sophia and the rest of the staff found their days to be longer and harder, preparing for the much busier warm seasons. Time and time again, Sophia would take on a bit more work so that another could tend to personal matters or just get some much needed rest. She was one of the younger workers anyway, and she had nothing else going on in her life. To be sure, she still had the occasional chat with Erik, but even he continued to keep quite a bit of distance, listening to her thoughts while offering none of his own story. Some mornings she would wake up even before Erik could sing to her, meeting Paulette in the kitchen for her lessons. Some nights, she would crawl into bed long past midnight, satisfied to have not skipped a single task.

What she didn't notice, however, was how much of a toll the longer hours were taking on her. Even then, her usual determination mixed with a bout of stubbornness. Her reasoning was unclear; perhaps she was trying to prove her worthiness to Carlotta, or perhaps she subconsciously hoped that if she worked hard enough and well enough, the Opera House would allow her to stay on. True enough she had a room and position now, but it was only certain for a few more months. After that, perhaps someone else in need of employment would come knocking at the Opera House door, hoping to take her place.

One fateful morning, Erik's voice sounded from the wardrobe just as Sophia was tying on her apron. "You should really stay in bed, Sophia...You don't look well..."

"I..I appreciate your concern, Erik...I just...there's so much to do..." Sophia grabbed onto the doorknob, ignoring the sweat pouring down her face.

"Sophia...Sophia..!"

Arms around me.

Satin sheets.

Voices.

"How is she, Erik?"

"The doctor said she could go either way at this point."

"Is there anything I can do? A message perhaps..?"

"Send for Paulette. It's time I meet her face to face."

"Very well..."

"And, Antoinette..."

"Yes, Erik?"

"I want you to look into the arrangement with this Monsieur Lauder. Hire whatever lawyers you must in order to get to the bottom of this."

"Right away...And...Erik?"

"What is it?"

"If...if the worst should happen..."

"It won't."

"O—of course not...I just want you to be prepared is all..."

"I believe you have errands to run."

So cold, but sweat still clings like a second sheet.

Erik's distant voice. Angry. Paulette's voice all the fainter. Apologizing. Please don't argue. My fault…

So quiet.

A sudden draft.

Something cold and wet on my lips.

So thirsty…

A sudden heaviness falling over me.

Trapped….

Something on my finger...sliding up toward my palm…

Can't breath…

I push at the weight.

I feel a shoulder.

The heaviness disappears suddenly.

Crashes and thumps.

A yelp of pain.

Erik….

"Erik…?" Sophia blinked awake, attempting to sit up. The sharp pain in her head stopped her, forcing her back down. "E—Erik..?" She moaned, though her voice was cracked from dryness.

"Sophia..." Her masked friend rushed to the bedside, gently wrapping the sheet back around her while keeping his eyes on her face.

"W—what happened…?"

"You...had a fever...a bad one...You've been asleep for days…." He caressed her face ever so softly.

"Is...someone else in here..?" At her question, Erik sighed and carefully helped her sit up. Despite her weakness, she gasped at the sight of her great-aunt's credit lender, sprawled on the floor.

"Monsieur Lauder, I presume..?" Erik raised an eyebrow, to which Sophia merely nodded.

"Wh—what was he doing here…?"

"Making one last desperate move to ensnare you, Sophia..." He gently took her left hand, showing her a ring she'd never seen before. Although her color was returning to normalcy, she felt herself grow pale once more at the realization.

"I—I never thought he'd...d—did he…?" She was growing shaky again, but Erik's arm around her steadied her.

"All he got was a look and a kiss...and if I had only been here, he never would have set foot through the door..."

"No Erik...it's not your fault...Please don't blame yourself..." Sophia sniffled. "If anything, I allowed myself to get so sick...I—I didn't mean to worry you so..." Erik wrapped his arms all the tighter around her then, pulling her close. She couldn't hold it back anymore. Resting her head on his shoulder, she wept openly all the tears she'd kept bottled up for far too long. All her fears. All her grief. All her frustrations. All her loneliness. She was only vaguely aware of his fingers running through her hair as he gently rocked her, whispering encouragement and comfort.

"Le temps est venu à dormir

Un nouveau jour arrive demain

Le soleil s'efface maintenant

Mais il se lèvera à nouveau

Alors laissez vos rêves commencer

The time has come to sleep

A new day comes tomorrow

The sun is fading now

But it will rise again

So let your dreams begin"

The next morning, Sophia woke up still feeling weakened by the fever. A cold cloth was carefully folded on her forehead, alleviating the pain in her head. Erik was gone, but he had placed a blanket over the sheet covering her. Exhausted, she let out a sigh, closing her eyes once more.

Before she could drift off to sleep again, however, a sudden cough and moan across the room caused her to turn her face towards it. There, she saw Monsieur Lauder, bound securely to the chair. Beside him, Erik was fashioning a rope into a lasso, making sure the creditor could see and understand the danger.

"N—no...don't kill him, Erik..." Her voice seemed to snap him into reality, and he set the lasso aside to take her hand.

"Why would you defend him, Sophia? He tried to-" Erik's voice dropped then, as if he couldn't bear to even say the words.

"I—I know...and I'm not defending his actions..." She weakly squeezed her friend's hand. "But no one deserves to die like this...Without being able to speak for themselves...Besides, I keep reading in my father's Bible how God wants us to forgive our enemies and let Him be the Judge..."

"Only if that's what you truly want, Sophia..." Erik mumbled, seeming to try to grasp what she was saying. Slowly, he turned back toward Monsieur Lauder. "Go on then...speak! Tell her why you dared to even think of trying what you did!" Seeing the dead seriousness in Erik's glare, the old creditor cleared his throat.

"When...I received word from the Opera House to not expect further payment due to your illness, I...knew I had to see for myself...I've spent the last several months preparing my home...for us...I purchased that ring on your hand...Keep in mind I did not place it on your finger until after you returned my kiss..."

"I—I was feverish! I didn't know what was happening! You're the one who's sick!" Sophia pulled her knees up to her chest, pulling the blankets tighter around her.

"I want to take care of you, Sophia! It's what your family would have wanted! Don't you understand? I love you!"

"Tell her the truth, Lauder!" Erik growled, taking something off of the washing table and showing it to Sophia. Opening his hand, he revealed her mother's locket, the chain broken. "This fell out of his pocket when I knocked him down. I know you would never part with it willingly. On top of that, Madame Giry informed me of the results of her search into your arrangement. As it turns out, your aunt's debt was paid off ten years ago! He simply kept changing the numbers to his benefit. In truth, he's in debt to you!" Sophia slowly took the locket into her hands, turning it over. Tearfully, she slid the ring off of her finger, the extravagant jewels feeling cold and slimy in her hand.

"I—is it true, Monsieur Lauder? Y—you stole from my father's aunt? Deceived her?"

"You would have gotten it all back...Don't you see? I invested it into our life together..."

"It's a life we'll never have, Monsieur..." She tossed the ring to the floor in front of his feet. "True enough, I forgive you because that's what God wants me to do. You do not deserve death before God wills it so. But for the sake of justice...for Aunt Geraldine...I want you to sit in prison for as long as the law decides...I don't want your money or your words. But I never want to see your face again." She turned her tearful gaze to Erik, swallowing the nausea down. "Please...take him away..." Laying her head back on the pillow, she rolled over so her back was to the creditor. Silently, Erik moved to obey her wishes. Clutching the locket to her chest, she closed her eyes once more. God, your daughter is lost and scared. I don't know where to turn or what to do now. Help me to learn to love with Your love, because I cannot find it in my heart on my own. As if in response, bits of the thirteenth Psalm came to her mind.

"How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord?….How long shall I...sorrow in my heart…? But I have trusted in thy mercy...I will sing unto the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me."

Thank You, God, for this reminder. You have sent Erik into my life for a reason. You've provided for me. Protected me. Healed me. And I know the strength to face Monsieur Lauder just now could have only come from You. Continue to work in me and through me so that I may do everything You want me to do. Amen.

For the next several days, Erik refused to leave Sophia's bedside. He helped her eat and take her medicine, combed her hair and washed what he dared, and held her when she awoke in the night from her nightmares and flashbacks. When she felt up to it, he would gently place her father's Bible on her lap, listening to her as she read aloud from the Psalms and Gospels. The more she read, the more questions he asked. "Do you believe all this to be true, Sophia?" He tearfully questioned one afternoon.

"Of course….How else could I have gotten through everything I did? He sent you into my life...His words bring me comfort and hope and answers...and without His strength, I wouldn't have been able to face Monsieur Lauder, let alone forgive him..."

"I suppose..." Erik's tone was thick with uncertainty, however, and he didn't ask anything further. Closing the Bible, Sophia set it aside.

"Do you think I could try to walk today..?" She changed the subject.

"Are you sure you're feeling up to it?"

"I think so...I'd like to sit by the window for a bit…" Sophia carefully sat up, and Erik helped her to her feet.

"How's your head?"

"Somewhat heavy...but the pain is gone..."

"That's good..." Erik smiled, linking arms with her as she made the few shaky steps to the window sill. He had moved the storage chest over to it, adding a cushion so that she could have a window seat. As she sat down on it now, he slid the window open, letting in a welcoming late spring breeze. The birds had returned, and Sophia smiled as she heard their familiar song. "I...suppose you won't need me to sing to you now..." Erik pulled the chair over.

"Oh, I don't know...Perhaps I will, just in case there's a storm and I'll need to close the window..." Sophia smiled more, and her friend chuckled.

"Of course, you won't need to wake up at such an early hour anymore..."

"I...I won't?" Sophia turned her face away from the window.

"No...it's been decided that you will no longer be scrubbing floors or any other cleaning chores..."

"W—what are you saying? H—have I been let go?" Tears spilled down her cheeks as panic set in, and his eyes widened, pulling her close.

"I did not mean to alarm you, Sophia..! No, you've not been let go. Instead, you'll be taking a new position..."

"But, Erik, I don't know how to do anything else!"

"On the contrary, Sophia...you read and write very well...and Paulette tells me you've learned from her rather quickly..."

"I suppose..." Sophia was still very doubtful, and Erik moved his fingers through her hair.

"Then it's settled. You'll be teaching the younger chorus girls and ballerinas how to read and write in the morning. In the afternoon, you'll help Paulette and train to be her replacement should that need arise. Your evenings will be completely free." Sophia pulled away from him then, studying his face.

"R—really?"

"Of course! That is, if you want to..."

"Erik, I...I'd love to!" She grinned, hugging him again. "I never even considered the possibility of teaching!"

"Well, none of the girls ever thought reading and writing would be a possibility for them. But I talked with Madame Giry, and she pointed out how lethargic the girls seem to be in the mornings anyway. They can spare the time and energy."

"When do I start?" Sophia grinned, the eagerness shining in her eyes.

"September. That will give you ample time to fully heal and prepare your lessons. Summer is the busiest time for performing operas, and so the girls will be fully devoted to that. If you truly feel up to it, you may help Paulette every once in a while, but you're not to push yourself too hard too soon."

"Don't worry….I've learned that lesson..." Sophia assured him.