elfigreen14- My latest reviewer, thank you SO much, here's for you!
For the first time in thirty-five-year-old Erik's life- he felt shy. He had knocked on Meg Giry's dressing room door and now upon entering, found her standing before him looking all lit up inside- she looked dazzling.
"Erik! I am surprised to see you up here; didn't you have to walk through a crowd to get here?" She asked. Erik did not respond right away, for he was too busy taking in the lovely figure of little Marguerite. He cleared his throat.
"You- um… I came to tell you… that is…" She could see he was avoiding her question, and she was aching to know what he had to say.
"My, are we articulate this evening?" Meg remarked.
"Forgive me…" He cleared his throat again, hoping his words would come out right.
"You danced divinely." Upon his rather generous compliment, at least it was generous for the infamous Opera Ghost; she was flattered immensely and blushed conspicuously.
"Thank you," Meg replied, and sparks lit up her soft brown eyes. Erik nodded once in reply.
"Well," She remarked.
"Well…" He repeated. They both stood there, she looking at her feet, and he gazing at the petite girl with his eyes shining. What a little beauty. He thought.
"Well, I'd better go and change…" Meg's words broke him out of his thoughts. He swallowed.
"Right," He said.
"Right," She repeated and he made an awkward bow before closing the door behind him. Seeing the door handle click, Meg Giry sat down with her hand on her forhead. She heaved a deep sigh. Alright, get a hold of yourself, Meg. She thought. She then stood up and walked back behind the wooden dressing screen.
As Erik now headed down a dark passageway that led down to his lair, he could not get the picture of Meg standing before him; eyes alight with a flame burning inside her. What were these thoughts? One year ago, he would have never even imagined feeling any of these feelings or thinking any of these thoughts about anyone except Christine. But the more he thought, the more he realized that these thoughts were better… Whenever he used to think and fantasize about Christine, the thoughts would fill him with a feeling that was rather uncomfortable; for even though he denied it sometimes, he always knew that Christine only cared for him as friend, or as comfort- but nothing else, and that always left him feeling cold. So, he always tried to convince himself that she would come to love him, and he would sketch her, or even stalk her every where she went- just to ensure that maybe her feelings were slowly moving towards the affection he desired her to have for him.
But those affections never wavered or moved in a direction that he wished for- in fact just after he had threatened the life f her lover, she told him she hated him. His love for her had started as a love for her voice, then for her whole being, and then it was just longing and obsession, until it drove him mad. His love for her was not the right kind of love. And it was never returned, or even accepted. It started out to be amiss, and then continued that way until the very last day he saw her. These new thoughts and feelings that were for Meg were different. He did not know what she felt for him- he would not have blamed her if she too loathed him. But when he thought of her, he thought of her gentle touch, how very careful she was. He knew that she would never do what Christine had done to him. He stopped his heart burnt with the memories. His feelings for Meg were new, but they did not start on a dangerous level, and they were not far fetched.
He knew that lessons were learned, and he was going to be careful this time. He was not going to let his emotions take over him. He was going to actually think about Meg. That was where he was flawed before; his love for Christine was selfish. It was as if she were his toy, and then his property, and if she so much as glanced at another man, she had tripped; he wouldn't allow her to be 'stolen' from him. The way he felt for Meg, was not that of a toy, she was a human being, and a young lady. She deserved respect, as well as she deserved care and affection. And he was going to make sure he gave her that. He was going to be a gentleman- something he always had in him, but it would go amiss for he did not quite know how to keep control over his emotions. Above all, until he knew that she might have feelings for him- he would simply be her friend. Yes- as he now sat in his bed, removing his shoes from his feet, he knew that he was in control over his feelings and that he could finally handle himself.