This whole chapter is Erik's POV. I also have no rights to "Mary, Did You Know?" but I do love it!
Erik stared at his computer, although for once, not at Christine. He had found the perfect arrangement of flowers to send to her; the deepest red roses he could find, and specifically requested that the florist cut off all the thorns prior to arranging. What he struggled with now was the card included with the flowers. What should he say? He wanted to pour out his deepest desires and passion, just to relieve him from the volcano of need growing within him, but knew that it would be too much, and more than likely scare his beloved away. How was he supposed to condense the enormity of his love for her to a small white card?
He closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair, trying to organize all his thoughts and recollections of Christine. The exercise proved to be quite pleasing to him, as he remembered the first time he saw her.
"Erik, you've been bent over that camera for weeks. It's not good for your back or your eyes." said Nadir, "It's just one night out. Our client invited us to this concert; I don't understand your reluctance. You love music!"
Erik sighed in annoyance, "Nadir, it is a concert that takes place in a church. When have I ever set foot in a church?"
"Never," Nadir conceded, "but from what he said, it's not a sermon; strictly music. Their choir has been preparing for weeks."
Erik admitted the thought of hearing live music was intriguing, but to sit in a church of all places was asking a bit much.
"Erik, we owe Edward. He was our first client, and so far, is our biggest investor in Sombre. He asked us to come; please don't upset him."
Erik closed his eyes. He knew before the completion of his first camera that if they were to really soar financially, he might have to participate in events he didn't like, in the name of business. This would be the first of many.
"How long is the performance?"
"Two hours. You can survive that." said Nadir, knowing Erik was weakening.
Erik put down his tools and turned to Nadir.
"Not one minute more." he warned.
The two men arrived at the church, and were greeted by the head pastor, who invited them to sit where they pleased. Erik was glad of that, for instantly, he chose the furthest back pew that wasn't occupying anyone. Once seated, he looked down at his program.
"Portraits of Christmas? Well,…I must admit, they could have had a worse theme." said Erik.
"I think it looks wonderful," said Nadir, "like a real winter Wonderland."
"I'd hate to be the one cleaning this up." said Erik, while Nadir rolled his eyes.
The lights dimmed and the choir took their place on the risers behind the stage, filing in one by one. Then, one bright light was turned up onto the center of the choir; specifically, on one, small young woman in the center of the bottom row. Her brown hair was curled into beautiful ringlets and pinned back above both ears. She wore a stunning red dress that went to her calves, and her eyes absolutely sparkled with excitement, and possibly nerves. Erik couldn't tear his eyes away. Come to think of it, he couldn't feel any of his other extremities at all. It was like he was paralyzed, and the only thing he could do was stare at the enchanting creature. She stepped forward while a gentle piano introduction began. When she opened her mouth to begin her song, Erik was done for.
"Mary, did you know, that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know, that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know, that your baby boy would come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered will soon deliver you."
At this point, a young man from the tenor section stepped out and joined the angel in duet. Envy grew in the pit of Erik's stomach, seeing the young, handsome man sing with the lovely girl and her breathtaking voice. How he would love to sing with her. Oh, the ecstasy he would feel!
"Mary, did you know, that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man.
Did you know, that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?"
The passion this girl put into the song moved Erik to tears. He carefully blinked them away, otherwise he'd never hear the end of it from Nadir. His heart felt like it was going to burst with some foreign feeling that was becoming quite overwhelming to him.
"The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again!"
Erik's eyes fluttered closed as her voice, as well as the boy's, rose to a crescendo; perfect in strength, pitch, and tone. The song eventually reached the end, and, unsurprising to Erik, received a standing ovation from the audience. He was quick to jump to his feet and join in on the applause, and if Nadir noticed it, he said nothing. When they sat back down, Erik was disappointed to see the beautiful girl disappear from the choir risers altogether and quickly looked back down at the program, flipping past the first two welcome pages with urgency.
"What's the matter?" he heard Nadir in his left ear.
"I need to find it…" he mumbled to himself, scanning the first page of the program set.
"What?"
His finger stopped underneath "Mary, Did You Know?"
"Her name." he breathed out, "Christine Daae"
"Is that her name? She did a beautiful job." agreed Nadir.
He should berate Nadir for calling her performance simply 'beautiful,' when it was so much more than that. It was exquisite, uplifting, perfection! Erik didn't know what to make of this high he was currently riding on, but he'd enjoy it while it lasted.
His Angel, Christine, appeared again later on to sing with the choir, after changing out of her red dress into the navy blue and white ensemble that the other choir members wore. Though he was sad that he couldn't pick out her voice from amongst the other singers, her presence alone did amazing things to him; things he never thought possible. While his heart and emotions were racing all around with this new feeling, another feeling also began to settle into his body. It seemed almost….peaceful. It didn't make sense to him how he could feel two such contradicting emotions at once, but he was. He was so focused on trying to decipher said feelings, that he didn't notice right away when the concert was over.
"Erik," said Nadir, shoving his shoulder, snapping Erik from his trance.
"What?"
"It's over. We can go now."
"Oh,…right." said Erik, rising slowly, and following Nadir out of the pew.
"That was a wonderful concert. I'll be sure to thank Edward for the invite." said Nadir, as they walked down the steps of the church.
"Yes, please do. And if there are any more in the future, I would like to attend."
"You would?" asked Nadir, in surprise.
"Yes." Erik simply said.
He could feel Nadir's questioning eyes on him as they arrived to their car. As they drove home that night, Erik gently held the program against the left side of his chest, while he gazed out of his window. Something profound had definitely occurred; he was finally happy.
Erik came back to reality and sat back up to see the blinking cursor on the screen. Taking a deep breath, he began his note.
"Dearest Christine,
Your tender care towards my injury has been on my mind for some time. Never have I encountered a kinder or more compassionate soul. It would honor me greatly if you would accept these flowers, and this phone number, as I wish to speak with you again, if for nothing else, then to convey my deepest gratitude in person. Your humble servant, Erik Destler."
As he read it back to himself, it occurred to Erik that it might be a bit too long, but he didn't care. He'd pay extra to have a bigger card put in. There was just no way he could condense what he wanted to say in ten words or less. He submitted the order and stood up, turning off the monitor.
"Oh, Christine, the things I would really love to say to you…." he sighed, "I take a line from the song you sang…. "The dead will live again."