Enter: the conflict-causing male entity. THE PLOT THICKENS.

If I owned Phantom, Raoul's parents would have actually put a stop to things before they got out of hand.


Chapter Twelve: Goodbye

The years flew by like petals on the wind. The Opera House never changed. Erik never changed, but Christine…

Christine was budding into a young woman right before everyone's eyes.

This girl-child of fourteen was as beautiful as her hidden voice. There were days the Phantom found himself in awe of her very appearance.

One day like any other, she tip-toed into the chapel, her dancer disposition only becoming more apparent as her training continued, but Erik noticed that her head was bowed and she played with the hem of her skirt.

It was the look of a guilty child.

It didn't take her long to confess. "I'm going away for the summer, to visit some old family friends."

A deep part of Erik cried out at the thought of being parted from his Christine that long. How would he survive months without her?

"Angel? Angel, please say something, anything," she pleaded.

He sighed, steadying the quaver he felt forming in his voice. "This upsets me greatly, Christine."

"I'm not sorry I'm leaving," she said quietly, to his surprise. "But I am sorry that it will be away from you."

There were no lessons that day, he was ashamed to say he sulked with his few remaining days with her, and his disapproval wore down on her hidden excitement.

A week later, as she hugged her surrogate family goodbye, Madame Giry slipped a flower into her hand.

Cyclamen. Christine held the flower close the whole way to the Chagny house.


Cyclamen: Resignation and Goodbye