The rehearsals had just been a run through of previous arias, just to keep everyone's voices intact while the Phantom had been making his descision. Christine sighed as everyone gave her looks. Thankfully none had heard her crying through the night, except for Meg. But everyone could tell by the dark smudges that today would not be the best day for her. And to top it off, news was going around that the Phantom had accepted another Vicomte's offer of patronage; probably not Raoul. As the chorus girls began their ballet warm- ups, Christine stared at them wistfully until finally Monsieur Reyers was able to get her attention.

"Ah… Mademoiselle Daae, if you would please. The other patron has arrived and requests to hear our diva."

"I'm sorry Monsieur Reyers, I was just- reliving the past." she got up with a smile as the director gave her a silent 'thank you.' If it had been La Carlotta in her place, Monsieur Reyers would have had a hard time in getting her to cooperate.

"Your aria is laid out for you mademoiselle, the Phantom insisted that you sing this."

Probably from his opera. She sighed annoyingly. But a glance at the music proved to her that she was wrong. Looking up at Box 5, she saw the glimmer of his white mask, and then it was gone. Oh so he wants to play it like that does he? A man sat in the fifth row, staring at her awestruck. A man with longish black hair and green eyes. "Monsieur Reyers, is that the new patron?" she asked. He looked around and finally spotting the man nodded. Hesitantly, she smiled at him as the music began. Closing her eyes, she tried to put herself back in the Phantom's lair- with just him and the music.

Think of me
think of me fondly,
when we've said goodbye.
Remember me
once in a while -
please promise me
you'll try.

Just her and him and the music... wait... him...

Her voice trembled as she thought of the man who had let her soul take flight, while her dreams also soared. Her throat caught. Recovering quickly she saw the looks that both Monsieur Reyers and the Phantom had given her. The man had frowned. She kept continuing, this time looking up at the Phantom, and at that time he knew that her heart was breaking...

When you find
that, once
again, you long
to take your heart back
and be free -
if you
ever find a moment,
spare a thought
for me

The Phantom of the Opera knew that this had been a grave error on his side. He could hear it in her voice. She had given up. The look she had given him told it all: he had won. But she would leave, and in that gain a win herself. He wouldn't be able to lose her again.

We never said our love
was evergreen,
or as unchanging
as the sea -
but if you can still
remember
stop and think
of me . . .

The Angel of Music sings songs in my head. Why is it, she thought, that I must always have so much pain? First my mother, then my father and now I lose my Angel as well?

Think of all the things
we've shared and seen -
don't think about the things
which might have been . . .

Think of me,
think of me waking,
silent and resigned.
Imagine me,
trying too hard
to put you from my mind.
Recall those days
look back on all those times,
think of the things
we'll never do -
there will never be
a day, when
I won't think
of you . .

And that's when it happened: when the memories of her and him and then The Kiss. Him stealing Piangi's part just to sing for once with her. Her vocal training- it all came back to her. her voice choked up as she suddenly collapsed, her body trembling. She curled up into a ball for a moment then wearily tried to stand up. People rushed to her from all directions, but she only looked up. at him. but he wasn't there. he was- gone?

"Christine are you all right?" Everyone kept asking her. The faces spun, blurring into colors.

"Madame Giry." was all she could say. A face peered into hers. A flash of white. And then she saw no more.

Yeah I know it's really short and crap but my head hurts... and I thought that was a pretty good spot to end so ciao