"But, don't you want to know?" He wondered as our eyes met.

"It's up to you, Léon." I placed a hand to his cheek, trying to comfort him.

He sighed, placed his hand over mine, and looked deeply into my eyes as he leaned his forehead against mine. His eyes shone with love and adoration. I sensed his appreciation for my understanding. "I want to tell you all of it but now I'm overwhelmed to find the right words."

"If that's what you want my love."

Suddenly he blinked. "Now rethinking how it happened on the stage. I was the Phantom that many people talked about. Then, who let the chandelier fall?" He paused. "And the other day we were on the stage and the stage prop came down. Is it really him?"

I gasped as I recollected the thoughts. "If it is really him, then this poor soul is not at rest. He saved me from your father shortly before you arrived. I did not see him but heard him and was able to pull me away."

"Wait, I thought you don't believe in such things." Léon scoffed confused.

"I do believe in ghost but when something unexplainable happened, I try to rule out every possibility I can find and as a last resort I'll turn to the supernatural." I paused. "It did cross my mind but mingled with the natural you. I felt mostly glances upon me and always thought it was you literally watching but now I think there was a second one all along, perhaps awakened at the same time as I came. Two phantoms in this opera; one in flesh and blood and the other in soul wandering through time."

"Well, besides what troubles it caused. It saved our lives. Why do you think it would have done that?" Wondered Léon.

"Why indeed? Just like we are right now out of love. If my facts are correct, the former and real Phantom of the Opera was a man with a beating heart and had great passion within him. Although gone through harsh conditions, life or fate had some pinch of mercy for him and allowed to show him what love, respect and just is before he came here." I shook my head. "I even heard his voice once or twice. At first mistaken it was you but then later I noticed sound of the voice was slightly different than yours. How could I have been so blind when facts were dancing before my nose and I'm a Sherlock Holmes fan?" I scoffed.

"Better now than never." He smiled at me. "My angel of music."


Within a few days the funeral took place and we all mourned Léon's father's death. Léon bid me to stay at his side during the funeral as I wanted to suggest standing out of the way. Grandparents were nowhere in sight but soon found out that they died few years back. During lunch eating with a smaller group of relatives and close friends the mood changed for the better to my surprise. Many were curious to know who I am, before I could response Léon explained that I am a dear friend who came to help him.

Suddenly a gentle hand tapped on my hand, I turned to see. An elderly lady grinned at me; I recognized to have seen her briefly at the cemetery. "Can I speak with you, alone?"

"Of course." I grinned at her and helped her up from her chair.

"Let's sit in the garden over there." She pointed with her walking stick to the courtyard garden of the restaurant. In the middle of the garden stood a small fountain and four benches around it with a café table. We took our seat. I turned to her with greatest curiosity and highest attention. "You may not know me, but I'm Léon's great aunt, Anne. I am overjoyed to know that Léon has found someone to trust and share with. I know everything since Léon and I keep contact through postcards and letters. He knows I'm old but am still always here to listen and help however I can. The situation of his father was sadly something beyond me and Léon bid me to keep distance for safety reasons." She took a deep breath. "I know you are the love of his life and I can see clearly why. You have many things in common like his mother before she died. A loving and understanding heart, a talent to act and sing and possess great beauty." I grinned to her warming words. "You remind me a lot one of my great aunts that I sadly never had the pleasure to meet. But from what I've heard and the pictures I've seen you could be the reincarnation of her. Her name was Jenny Lind." She paused. "She was renowned in her time for her talent and pure voice; they called her the 'Swedish Nightingale'. Léon's mother had same the talent too. I was not surprised that Léon had it too. It runs in the family but only to certain members, I on the other hand never had the talent."

"I'm sure you're better at other things where they lack on it."

"True, I have an artistic hand. I painted many pictures and portraits, now my eyes do not see the best anymore and my hand trembles." She repositioned her glasses. "Léon's been kind enough to give me a ticket to watch the musical you act and sing in for tomorrow night. I'm excited to hear you sing." She smiled at me excited. "From what I know of Léon you are the woman of his dreams but is he to you the man of your dreams?"

"At the beginning of this month I had great doubts that love would have anyone in store for me and was content with being alone and the person I am. The first few times I met him I was distant, careful and saw him more of a heart-throb but actions spoke louder than words and started to see in him a different person. Answering your question, I never had a man prepped up in my mind so no."

"Love has its element of surprise in everyone."

I nodded to her words.

"I know I'll be hearing you sing tomorrow but could you sing me one song now? Just one song?" She pleaded.

I laughed to her adorable character. "Just one song and I'll sing it softly. Do you have a song in mind?"

"No, sing whatever comes to mind."

Not very long I've decided to sing the Irish song 'By the Hills' softly to Anne. As I sang Anne listened carefully while her honey brown eyes flickered with delight and soon I saw tears streaming from the corner of her eyes. As I ended my song I looked to with concern.

"Don't worry dear, those are tears of joy. Now I see even clearer why Léon chose you." She dapped gently her tears away with a handkerchief she had in her purse. Slowly we all departed for the day and promised Anne to see her after the show tomorrow night. As Léon and I returned to the opera house he walked with me to my room. He embraced me and looked content into my eyes. "Thank you for being with me today. It really meant a lot to me."

"For you always, my love." I smiled at him, leaning my forehead against his, our eyes locked.

"I saw you were in good company of my great aunt Anne."

"She's lovely; I'll be looking forward to see her tomorrow."

"She bid you to sing. It was beautiful what you sung. Did you compose that?"

I gave him a kiss. "No, it's an Irish song called 'By the Hills'. I do have a wide imagination but composing a song is not one of them. That's where you come in." I smiled.

He gave me a frantic kiss and his hands stroked gently around my waist. "But you are the key to my music." He whispered. Suddenly he his arms were gone from me and pulled something out from his waist-pocket. It was a little box. "As a symbol of our love and knowing you will leave next week, the distance shall not hold us apart until we meet again." He opened it. There lay in silver a necklace with a pendant in the shape of a key. "The key shall not only hold that I compose but above all my heart."

I gasped at the sight of it and its emotional value for him as well as for me. "Léon." I gasped speechless. As I gently held up the necklace I noticed a few music notes engraved on the key and a mask. "This key reminds me of you Léon, especially how we came to meet and know each other. It's beautiful, thank you so much Léon." He helped me put on the necklace. Once I wore the necklace I turned around and embraced him and gave him multiple kisses on the cheek. "Why don't you come with me? Take a break and I can show you my home?"

He laughed overjoyed. "Sounds like a great idea, Eleanor. Come; let us practice for tomorrow night's performance." He took my hand and led me to the stage.

I laughed to his joy as he led me onto the stage. Already the way how he led me reminded me of the main song of the musical and started to sing it. "In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came."

Léon slipped into the Phantom's role and led me in circles about the stage as we sung. He spontaneously grabbed a Venetian mask and cape as he sung and wore them on. As we ended the song and our voices echoed the walls, suddenly we heard a slow applaud. I looked everywhere and especially box five, there was no in sight. "You two are indeed made for each other and wish the best for the rest of your life." Spoke a man's voice softly in French. I heard the voice before and thought it was the Phantom, well Léon under cover.

"It was you who helped me as the Directeur came for me. The glance I felt was yours, watching over me to keep me safe. Erik, if that is your real name, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you've done and I shall never forget that. You may be a ghost, a spirit, but I will remember you as a friend. What can I do for you, to thank you?" I walked to the edge of the stage, looking at box five.

After a long moment of silence I heard Léon gasp loudly behind me. I turned around to see him. I gasped surprised to see a dark figure standing between Léon and me. After a while the dark figure began to have details and looked almost humanly natural except he was a bit transparent. Like a ghost can look like, the phantom stands literally before me. His head was slightly bowed and looked to the floor. "In all those years, no one has ever shown me such kindness." Slowly he raised his head. Beautiful large olive green eyes met mine. A disfigured nose was the next thing I noticed upon his face was the bulge like skin with multiple scars along his forehead and nose. It isn't a pleasant sight but not horrific from where I stand. "You, you can see me?" He asked surprised with a soft voice. I nodded. He gave a scoff, doubting of my reaction that he sees. "You're not afraid?"

I shook my head. "Should I be?"