Epilogue
Dear Journal,
It's been one month since we've returned from my world and, so far, there's been no sign of my father trying to take me back home. Now, hopefully Erik and I can live happily as we should have. Yeah, six years late. The opera house is still being treated for the fire damage from the chandelier falling and setting the building on fire and, from what I've heard. It will be months before they reopen again, but even when it does Erik and I don't plan on returning. That place holds too many bad memories and we don't want to be haunted by the ghosts of the past.
Once we returned from my world, the first thing I did was track down Christine. Apparently, after the night I disappeared, Christine decided not to marry Raoul and instead went off to England to work at the London Opera House. I've managed to write her and say I was alive and well and her response was priceless. When I told her that Erik came to find me I knew it was time to tell her the truth. I explained my past with Erik, how we met and why he took me the night of Don Juan. She was happy that we found each other again and said she'd pray for our happiness in the future to come.
However, I was extremely shocked to hear that she didn't marry Raoul. That became the topic of one of my other letters. When I brought it up she told me it had to do with the fact that he tried shooting Erik and killed me. I was one of her closest friends and despite all that Erik had done, she didn't want to see him dead. So, she's settled in nicely in London and in her most recent letter has found a new sweetheart named Edward and is doing very well.
I've also sent letters to Madame Giry and Meg telling them the news and they were both very happy that I was alive and that Erik managed to find me. They're still living in Paris and are currently waiting for the opera house to finish its repair before they return to their previous jobs and hope to see us sometime in the near future.
After that little fiasco back home before we left, I might not chance going home again for a while. My dad needs to cool his heels before I see him again. I'm sure everyone will understand. Anyways, back to the now. Erik and I have just moved into a small estate outside of Paris in a nice secluded little area. I was so excited when we got here because it had enough open space for a garden, and in case we begin starting a family so the kids can run around.
But, before that, Erik still plans on having us married. I was surprised when he said this because I knew how we couldn't just walk into a church and ask to get hitched, but he assured me that everything was under control. That's what makes me nervous. When he says he's got something under control, I don't even want to think about it.
But, today is the big day after all. I wanted to just write a quick note before the ceremony started hoping it would calm me down. I'm so excited!
"Aisling? Are you ready?" Madame Giry poked her head from behind the bedroom door to check on the young bride to find her hastily putting away a piece of paper into her desk drawer.
"Yes, I'm ready." Aisling said. She stood before the older woman in a beautiful new wedding dress, though she missed the one she wore the night of Don Juan. But this one reminded her almost of one of the wedding dresses from all those fairy tale stories, both Disney and otherwise, she'd seen. But somehow, it seemed to fit in along with the story they created for themselves. Looking back on all that transpired, it felt very much like a fairy story in its own right.
"Oh Aisling, I have never seen a more beautiful bride." Mme Giry said taking her hands in her own. "Erik is a lucky man indeed." Aisling couldn't help but blush at her compliment.
"Erik has made me the luckiest girl in the universe. Until now, I never believed he could have loved someone like me. I always thought he would only have eyes for Christine DaaƩ. But, I guess not all is as it seems." She looked down at her engagement ring and smiled. "You have no idea how many times I would wish to dream of him. Every night I would focus on making him appear, but only one out of maybe fifty attempts are successful. Now I don't have to dream to see him anymore." There was a knock at the door and Christine and Meg. Christine was dressed in a pale pink dress while Meg was dressed in a mint green dress.
"Aisling, we're about ready to begin." Meg said. Aisling was glad to have her friends from this world with her this day. Even though she had no reluctance in marrying Erik, it was still a very nerve wracking thought. She was marrying the man of her dreams at long last. It certainly seemed too good to be true.
Well, I guess I shouldn't keep them waiting. She thought and Madame Giry led her from the room with Christine and Meg walking ahead of them. Her heart was pounding as she made her way down the stairs and towards the entrance to the gardens. Christine and Meg walked through the doors first and let them close so that no one could see her just yet.
"I swear, if this is a dream, I will be so pissed." Aisling said half to herself.
"If you are dreaming, everyone will be disappointed." Aisling chuckled at the older woman's statement.
"Then, if it is a dream, let it be the best anyone will remember." She said and the doors finally opened allowing her to take her first steps towards her new and happy life.
A Note for My Readers
YAY! It's done! Hopefully this will be the last time I rewrite this story. As much fun as it was writing this for the third time, I've had the sequel sitting on my computer for a while. But, it's almost done! Just a few more chapters and it will be settled. Yet I know many of you are eager to know what I have in store for Aisling and Erik in my next story. So, on New Years Day, I will be posting the first chapter of my Phantom Dreamer sequel... A Time for Us. It took three years for me to post it, some have waited that long but I'm sure others only waited this long, but I hope the wait is worth it. The thing is, I'm not going to be posting every day for this one. Since it's a new story, I will instead be posting every week, this way I'll be able to keep a consistent posting schedule instead of random times each day.
So Happy New Years to all! Look forward to A Time For Us coming on January 1, 2016!
