I went to bed that night thinking about what Erik had said to me. And I was worried. I was really worried. What if I did love Raoul?

I woke up that morning and needed a fresh breath of air. I walked out the back door, and a rose and some paper fluttered to my feet. I knew it was Erik, and looked up and around, but couldn't find him. I picked up the rose, which had it's usual black ribbon tied around it, and then began to read the letter. With every word my heart sank even more:

"Christine,

You will always be in my heart, even when you're not with me. Raoul will give you everything you want and deserve, I know it. I will never forget you, Christine, I promise I won't. I hope you won't forget me either. He better make you happy or that boy will be hearing from me. I just want you to be happy, and if making you happy is being with him, then I'll make it through somehow; I just don't know how yet. Please forgive me if you have ever felt uncomfortable with me. I will always love you, I beg you to remember that. I have seen how happy you are with him, and how lovingly you look at him. It makes me happy that you are finally going to settle down and be happy, but sad that it will not be with me. I will always remember your beautiful voice, and the times when we did believe we were in love.

Love, Erik"

Some of my tears wet the paper, smearing the words "love", "remember", and "forget". I worried that he was right, and I knew that by now it would be nearly impossible to convince him that I really loved him. I came to except facts: I loved Raoul.

When I was walking upstairs, I carefully tucked the rose and paper into my nightgown so Raoul wouldn't be able to see it.

"Good morning. Where have you been this early morning—and in your nightgown?" Raoul asked. Before I came up I had made sure that the fact I had been crying was invisible, and now it was.

"Oh, I just needed some fresh air. How are you feeling?" I asked him, sitting by his side.

"I feel much better. How was the meeting yesterday? Did you go?" he asked me, sitting up and wrapping his arms around me.

"Yes, I did. Andre tells you to get well soon, also", I told him, burying into him. Even if he wasn't Erik, I needed some comfort after the letter I just read.

We sat like that for a while, silent. I was happy that Raoul was feeling well again, but the thought that Erik thought I loved him... but then again, maybe I did.

Even though his little illness was gone, he was still a little weird—and I had a feeling that it was still about his father's death. I managed to care for him, and tried to be as affectionate as possible, but it was hard when Raoul was being so difficult. I was persuading him to eat lunch one day, and I finally just asked him about it.

"Raoul, I love you. I want you to know that. So please know that if you are having any issues, tell me about it", I pleaded him. He was just sitting on the bed.

"Christine, have you been taking the lessons that he offered you?" he asked me.

"No. I wanted to care for you instead", I spoke, and as I said it I realized that it wasn't a lie as usual.

"Christine I'm so sorry for the way I've behaved. I'll try to be better—I promise. When I married you, you probably thought you wouldn't have to take care of me everyday", he said wryly.

"Raoul it's alright. I'm your wife now, this is what I'm supposed to be doing. I know this is still because of your father and I understand that. I've been through the same thing", I told him, caressing his cheek.

He took my hand. "I feel horrible about what I've done to you. I had completely forgotten about your father. And when he died, you didn't have any family left. I'm sorry", he apologized again.

"It's alright. Will you promise that you will at least try to be better?" I gently asked him.

"Yes, I swear", he said, then drew me in for a long kiss. This time I didn't hesitate, and leaned into him. I kissed him back, and soon we were lying side by side on the bed. He cradled my head and continued to kiss me.

He stopped, knowing I didn't want to do it. "I love you Christine", he said, and then hugged me.

But I was hesitant. I didn't know why, but I just was. I managed to hug him back, though.

Raoul and I continued our lives. He hadn't brought up the idea of beginning to have a child, which was very reassuring. Even though I knew I loved him, the prospect of having a child with Raoul made me... nervous.

With every day that passed, Raoul was turning back into the drippy suitor that had first proposed to me on the opera house roof. He kissed me goodnight and good morning every day, and was constantly busy, but still managed to find time for me. I had given up almost all hope of Erik, so came to accept the fact that I was married to Raoul and nothing could change that.

As time went on, the opera house's renovations were soon complete. Madame Giry and Meg came by to visit one day.

"Hello Meg! I've missed you so much!" I said hugging Meg who hugged me back quickly.

"Christine, you look so grown up and beautiful", Madame Giry said, also taking me in her arms. She had been like a mother t me when my father had died and still was.

"Meg, don't you have something to tell Christine?" Madame Giry raised an eyebrow at her daughter as I sat them down in our parlor.

"Oh, Christine!", Meg said. She put her left hand out so I could see it. On her hand glowed a beautiful ring.

Tears of joy almost came, I was so happy. "Meg! That's wonderful! Oh, congratulations. Who are you getting married to?" I asked her.

"He usually makes the props for the opera house. Until now, now that the opera house is open, he has been working as an accountant in one of the banks. He didn't like that job, so he was happy to hear that the opera house is opening", Meg said, blushing and looking down.

"He is a very nice man. Smart, artistic, and handsome", Madame Giry added.

"But Christine, enough about me. The opera house is already beginning to start rehearsals for the parts of a new play. It's called Faust, and I really hope you can be in it", Meg exclaimed.

"That's wonderful, and I would love to take part in it, but I should ask Raoul first. And what do you mean? You're getting married; of course we have to talk about you", I told her.

We talked for a bit about Meg and her fiancee, and then the conversation slowly went back to the opera house and the new play.

"We're all so excited. We hope there is a full house", Madame Giry said. "Well I'll leave you two ladies. I promised to begin training the ballerinas again", she said and got up.

"But Meg, I love your company, but don't you have to go train again?" I asked. Meg had always been a ballerina.

Meg smiled sadly. "No, not any more. I thought it best to quit as I'm getting married. That means I'm not going to be in the opera house anymore, as well", she said, putting her hand reassuringly.

Of course! What did I expect, that everything would be the same even if Meg was getting married? "You were a beautiful dancer, but I understand", I said.

Madame Giry left and Meg and I got back to talking.

"Will the Phantom... Erik be there, Christine?"

I shook my head. "We've stopped talking to each other. He still lives there, but highly doubt he will be the same as before. He saw that I loved Raoul more then him and... let me go".

"Is that true, then?" Meg inquired.

To my surprise, I hesitated. "It feels like it, but I've found myself... missing him and his company", I said. Meg was the first one I had admitted this to; I hadn't even admitted it to myself yet.

Meg stayed for lunch and left, promising that I would meet her fiancee very soon.

I said goodbye and sat thinking. So many things had changed, even though the opera house was now back to normal. The new play would be good, I knew, but not the same as before. If Meg wasn't in it and the Phantom wouldn't be there, it would be too different.

That night at dinner, I approached Raoul with the idea of me participating in the new play.

"I've heard that they would be doing Faust. But Christine, are you sure that you want be in this play? So many things will be different now", he said.

"Yes, Raoul", I confirmed.

"But Christine, won't that bring up memories? And what if that man comes for you again? What if I never see you again?" he frowned.

"Raoul do you even want me to be in this play? Because it sounds like you really don't want me to", I said, my temper rising.

"And to be honest Christine... I don't want you to be in that play. What you really should be doing is fulfilling my father's request and having a child—becoming a mother and taking care of your child. I know acting has been a big thing in your life, but isn't there a time to stop?" Raoul said, his voice rising and impatient.

I started crying. "Is that all you can think of? Having a child, Raoul? Acting and singing used to be my life. Can't it still be that? You don't seem to understand", I cried. "Excuse me. I'll be staying at Meg's tonight", I said, putting my napkin on my plate and running to our room.

I was putting on my cloak when Raoul came to the door and lightly knocked. Then he came in.

"I'm just worried about you. What if that man takes you?" he said.

"I'm sorry. I can't think about this now. I'll be at Meg's", I said, and brushed past him and walked outside.

I took a horse and was on my way to Meg's when I stopped at the side of the road. I now knew what I wanted: I wanted to see Erik.

I turned around and rode to the opera house.