Chapter10 Benjamin

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Mme Giry stared at the young woman before her. For the first time in her life she was speechless, she honestly didn't know what to say to her. How could she know? How was this possible? She had always been so careful to ensure no one ever found out, ever. She had carried the secret with her for thirteen years. This way the only person it had the power to hurt was herself. She knew if it was ever released it would have the power to hurt so many people and destroy everything she had ever held dear, especially her relationship with Erik.

It took Erik a long time to learn to trust people. She had finally managed to earn his trust she knew if he found out his trust for her would be destroyed instantly. She also knew it would hurt him more than she could bear to think about. She couldn't stand being the one to hurt him in such a way. Although she had to admit there was also an element of selfishness involved. She didn't want Erik to hate her or lose his trust in her. She wanted to stay with him and have him love her as she loved him.

That was why she did what she did, through love. Al least that's what she told herself. She convinced herself that it was what was best for everyone. She had finally come to peace with her decision and now it was being brought up again by none other than the person who had become extremely close to breaking Erik and here she was ready to do it again.

"How do you know about Benjamin?" she finally managed to ask.

Christine smiled. It was an evil and conniving smile. It was a smile which took Mme Giry great restraint not to smack her across the face and remove the vicious smile from it. "You really ought to be more careful Madame. You really shouldn't leave personal items, such as a letter perhaps laying around where anyone care read them," she said hardly disguising the triumph from her voice.

Then it clicked. Christine had found one of the letters she had written to Benjamin. Although she had not seen Benjamin in many years she wrote him long letters about once a month to let him know she hadn't forgotten about him. She couldn't believe that Christine had seen one of these letters. She was trying to think which of the letters she had seen and how much information she had been able to gain from reading it.

As if reading her thoughts Christine spoke again. "It was quite a detailed letter. I read it quite a few times and I copied the note down because it fascinated me so much. Would you like me to tell you what the letter said?" she asked with an "innocent" smiled.

Mme Giry felt her stomach knotting tightly. She dreaded to think of what the letter she had read contained. Part of her didn't want to know but she knew she had to know exactly how much Christine knew. "I would like to hear it yes," she said knowing panic was leaking out into her works in spite of her best efforts to mask it.

Christine let the smile grew wider as she heard the panic in her words. She knew Mme Giry was not the type of person to let her emotions show willingly, especially not those of fear and worry, signs of weakness. "As you wish," she said as she prepared to quote the letter word for word.

Dearest Benjamin,

I realise it has been sometime since my last letter for that I most offer you my upmost apologies. There are no excuses I should have made the time to write to you. Your last letter caused me some concern. Do not allow anyone make you feel like you are not equal. You are as good as if not better than all of them. I know it is not an easy thing to live with but you must not allow it to govern your life. You must learn to rise above it so everyone will be able to see past it and see you for the great and wonderful person I know that you are.

One again I am sorry for leaving you. You must understand that I had no choice. I want what is best for you and take it from me growing up with me would not be the best for you given the circumstances. You know that I think of you everyday and that I love you very much.

Write to me soon and remember do not allow your face deformity to hide the truly wonderful person that you are.

Lots of love your mother Annie Giry

Xxx

Mme Giry's face paled. She also felt her eyes sting when she thought of her son who would be thirteen by now. She had wanted what was best for him and she knew that bringing him up in the opera house would not be fair on him.

"Erik doesn't know does he?" Christine asked although she already knew the answer.

Mme Giry shook her head not liking the way this conversation was going.

"Would hurt him a lot if he found out, wouldn't it?" she went on in fake concern that could almost be classed as mocking.

"Christine I…" Mme Giry said almost pleadingly.

"Oh don't worry Mme Giry your secret is safe with me so long as you do one little thing for me," Christine said.

"What might that something be?" Mme Giry asked praying it wasn't what she thought.

"You leave Erik." She stated.

"I…can't do that Christine," Mme Giry said helplessly.

Christine shrugged. "Than I tell Erik," she said.