I awoke slowly, glancing around for a moment before I realised where I was. I was not in the large four-poster bed in my room in Erik's home beneath the Opera House. Nor was I in my room in my flat. I was in Monsieur and Madame Emond's home, waiting for my wedding day.

I got up and got ready for the day. A glance at the small clock on the dressing table told me it was nearly noon. It had been so late when I got to bed I was not surprised that I had slept away the morning.

I went downstairs and found Madame Emond in the kitchen, preparing sandwiches.

"Good morning, Madame," I said as I walked into the room.

"Oh, good morning Mademoiselle," she replied, turning to smile at me. "Please, sit down. There is tea," she motioned towards the pot. "Would you like a sandwich?"

"Yes, thank you," I said, sitting at the table.

Madame Emond bustled around, pouring tea and setting a tray of sandwiches on the table. She sat with me. "Charles will be back soon. He would like to take you to the dressmaker's for a fitting."

"Oh!" I said, glancing up.

Madame Emond smiled. "You are excited, non?"

"Oh, yes, I am," I said, feeling an excited fluttering in my stomach.

We talked comfortably, she told me about her children and I told her about my father. We avoided the subject of Erik, and she did not ask me how we had met. I wondered how much she knew of Erik and the Phantom of the Opera.

Charles arrived an hour or so later and took me directly to the dressmaker's. The dressmaker was a tiny little woman by the name of Gabrielle Laroche.

"I am so happy to finally meet you," she said, squeezing my hands. "Such beautiful dresses he has ordered for you."

I looked at her inquisitively as she directed me into a curtained room. "You made all of the dresses?" I asked.

"Of course, Mademoiselle. I was sorry to hear that the other wedding dress was ruined, but I think that this dress is magnifique!" She disappeared and came back a moment later with a bundle of white satin and lace. She helped me into it and then stepped back.

"You are beautiful," she stated and led me to a full length mirror. "The dress, it is perfect on you."

I stared at my reflection. This dress was every bit as beautiful as the first one. It had a longer train and elaborate embroidery on the corset-style bodice and along the bottom edge of the dress. Tiny pearls were sewn into the embroidery. It was long sleeved, the wrists coming to a point on the top of my hands.

The fit was perfect. It had a high neck and the shoulders puffed slightly. It was exquisite.

"With your dark hair and porcelain skin you look just like an angel in that dress," Madame Laroche said, smiling broadly. "It will be done in time for your wedding on Saturday, Mademoiselle. I have only to put the finishing touches."

I nodded, staring at my reflection. For the first time when I looked at my reflection I saw a woman, not a timid, wilting flower of a girl. My eyes no longer held the childish innocence that they once had, but life had shaped me into the woman that I now was; the woman that would become Erik's wife.

The dressmaker fussed over the dress for some time before she helped me back out of it and I slipped into the violet dress, one that had come from the wardrobe below the Opera House. She looked critically at the dress. "This one suits you," she said finally. "I had often wondered who was wearing the dresses that Monsieur Emond ordered for his employer. I have never met him, of course, being an invalid as he is. He is quite particular about his clothing, but he has always paid me far more than I charged him. He has helped my business immensely. Congratulations, my dear. You are marrying a generous man."

I smiled, thinking of how Erik demanded perfection. This woman was obviously very good at what she did, or Erik would never have continued to make his purchases from her!

Charles drove me back to his house in silence. When we arrived I met their children, little Etienne and Francois. I played games with them, anything to keep myself busy. The time seemed to drag without Erik. I wondered how he was doing and wished I could see him. Only a day and a half, I told myself. I could wait that long. Nothing was going to happen.

X

The next day dawned, cloudy and cold. I peered out the window, wondering if it would snow the next day for my wedding.

I took my time getting up and dressed. I had the most unusual feeling of foreboding, as if something was about to happen. I tried to dismiss my anxiety, blaming it upon my wedding the next day.

The day passed slowly while my nervousness grew. To try to distract myself I went into the parlour to play the piano and practise my singing. My piano playing skills were meagre at best and I acutely missed Erik's magnificent playing as I fumbled through a few songs.

I was singing a piece from Faust when I was startled by a timid knocking on the parlour door. I turned around and Madame Emond walked in. "Mademoiselle, there is a gentleman here to see you. Shall I bring him in here?"

My heart leapt, thinking surely it must be Erik! Who else knew I was here? "Certainly, Madame," I said, smiling. "Thank you."

She disappeared and a moment later the door opened again and in walked Raoul, looking decidedly nervous. He looked little like the elegant Vicomte de Chagney. His hair was mussed, his clothes rumpled. There were dark circles under his eyes and he appeared to have not shaved for some time.

"Raoul!" I gasped, feeling all of the colour drain from my face. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

"Christine, please, hear me out," he pleaded. He walked slowly towards me with his hands outstretched, cautiously, as if I were dangerous.

"You should not be here, please leave," I said, feeling my hands shake.

He crossed the room and took my hands in his. "Oh, Christine. I have been looking for you for so long."

"How did you find me?" I asked again, pulling free from his grip.

"I hired a private investigator," Raoul said. "He has been looking for you since you left me. I was so sorry that I lost my temper with you, Christine. You have been through so much and I was not patient. Please, forgive me."

My heart was pounding rapidly. "There is nothing to forgive, Raoul," I said. "It is over and done with. I am marrying Erik tomorrow."

A flash of pain crossed his tired features. "No," he whispered. "Please, no."

"I am sorry, Raoul, that you wasted your time and money to find me."

"But I was so certain that you were in danger, that he was holding you prisoner…" his voice trailed off and he looked lost, bewildered.

I looked sadly at Raoul, my old childhood friend, who could not bear to lose. It was quite obviously destroying him to know that he had lost me.

"You cannot marry that monster, Christine. He will destroy you!" Raoul said, his eyes flashing.

"Please, Raoul. Please do not make this any harder than it has to be. I love him," I said. "I am not doing anything against my will."

"You cannot mean it. You cannot!" he protested, moving towards me.

I backed up. "Please, Raoul. Just go, forget me."

He laughed. "I will never forget you, Christine. I want to marry you."

I swallowed. "Please, just leave. I love Erik, nothing you say will change my mind."

"He is a murderer, Christine. How can you forgive that? How can you condone it?"

"I do not condone it, Raoul. It is in the past. Have we not all done things that we regret?" I asked softly.

Raoul laughed again, sharply. "Yes, Christine. I regret ever bringing you back to Paris. I regret delivering you right into the waiting arms of your Angel of Death."

I sighed. "Raoul, you have been my friend for many years, and I wish you nothing but good will. I will always care about you, but I will not change my mind. I will not marry you. Please, just go."

I watched in silence as Raoul's hopes were dashed. He looked at me, shattered. "I will never stop loving you, Christine. Never forget that. I will always love you."

"Please," I whispered, fighting tears. "Please go."

"Goodbye, Christine," he said and I darted past him and ran upstairs to my room. I shut and locked the door behind me and collapsed on the bed, crying.

X

I awoke a few hours later feeling strangely refreshed. My head hurt from crying but I felt light, as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I thought about it and realised that I had not felt as if I had truly put Raoul out of my mind until now. I had loved him once but I knew now, without a doubt, that I did not love him anymore, and that I loved Erik with all of my heart. I truly did forgive him for his past, and looked now only toward the future.

I knew that had I not met Erik that I could have married Raoul and been happy. The Christine that I had been before meeting Erik would have been happy to settle for the love that I had had with Raoul. Simple and gentle, our marriage would have been one of companionship, not passion. How glad I was that I had been visited by my Angel of Music. And how glad I was that I had not let my childish fears ruin what Erik and I had. No doubt I would always think fondly of Raoul, in the way of nostalgia, but I knew without a doubt that I would never again wonder about what might have been. The past truly was the past and I felt as if my marriage to Erik was the beginning of a new life together.

I joined the Emond's for dinner. They said nothing of Raoul's visit. I felt Madame Emond's questioning upon me but I did not wish to discuss the situation with her, so I remained quiet.

Charles told me that Madame Laroche had sent word that the dress was ready and would be delivered to the chapel in time for the ceremony the next day.

My stomach fluttered nervously and I could barely eat. I retired to my room early to try to sleep, but was unable to. I stayed awake far into the night, looking out the window. When I finally fell asleep it was quite late and I slept soundly.

I awoke bright and early the next morning. I packed my few belongings and went downstairs where Charles and his wife were sitting at the kitchen table. We ate a quick breakfast and then the carriage that Charles had called for was waiting for us. We got in and drove to the chapel.

My heart was racing and I had to hold my hands tightly clasped in my lap to prevent them from shaking. When we arrived at the church Madame Emond and I were led to a dressing room while Charles went to find Erik.

An hour later I was dressed and Madame Emond was fixing my hair. There was a veil which consisted of a band of white flowers with gauzy veil attached. Madame Emond fastened it into my hair and arranged my curls carefully. "You look beautiful," she said as she stepped back. She led me to the mirror and I gazed at my reflection. I was barely able to believe that it was really happening, that I was going to marry my Angel of Music.

Excitement coursed through me when Madame Emond handed me a bouquet of white roses and daisies. "It is time, Mademoiselle."