Edit 4/29: Thank you all for the heads up about the text! I wouldn't have known otherwise. Hopefully it is now fixed.

Here we are with another update! I would like to thank all who have followed, favorited, and reviewed. Your support means the world to me. I love your kind words.

Chapter 56

"She still hasn't woken up?"

Jackson jumped up at the sound of the voice behind him. "No, she hasn't, Mrs. Wigston."

Mandy's mother moved to the chair on the other side of the hospital bed. "I didn't think so. The doctors still don't know what is going on with her. It's almost as if she doesn't want to wake up."

"I can't figure it out, either. It terrified me when she passed out on that stage. Now she won't wake up. It's been two weeks. I don't understand it."

Mrs. Wigston reached over the bed and tool Jackson's hand. "We're all confused. But I am so touched that you have been here this whole time. It's a very special notion, Jackson."

He shrugged. "I can't just leave her here. It reminds me too much of…"

"I know, sweetie. It must be so hard for you. They were so close."

A moment passed before Jackson said, "I went to her grave yesterday while I wasn't here. Just to clear my head. I guess Mandy had went there before the show. There was a single red rose laying there on the stone. She never forgot it was her favorite show."

Mrs. Wigston sighed. "No, she never forgot. That was one of the main reasons she auditioned, you know. She felt like she would be closer to her."

Jackson gazed at Mandy's still form. "I wonder if they're talking to each other right now. Catching up on everything. They never liked to stop talking to each other."

"I know. I was the one that caught her up in the middle of the night talking to Rose."

They shared a laugh, then a comfortable silence fell between them. "She felt so guilty after what happened."

He cleared his throat. "I never blamed her. None of us did. It was out of anyone's control."

It was silent again. They only stared at Mandy in the hospital bed, praying she didn't meet the same fate as her dear friend.

0-0

I had to stand back for a bit and just appreciate the fact of Erik.

That was it. Just Erik.

He was sitting at his organ, composing yet another piece of music, looking super handsome as usual. The deformity on his face was 99% gone, but of course he was still handsome with the deformity. He was finally free to do what he wanted, but he was still quite reserved. I couldn't blame him, though. At least he was making an effort to even show his face in public, no matter how taxing it was on him.

"Just one more moment, love. I promise I will finish this and then we can go out to dinner."

Yes, he was going to treat me to a dinner out in public. But I knew he already had a pretty rough day. "You know what? Let's just stay in tonight. I can make dinner for us."

He turned towards me. "Are you sure? It will only take a moment, I pro-"

"Yes. I'm sure. It's no big deal. You were out almost the entire day. You need a break. We can go out another time."

I swore I heard him sigh a breath of relief. "Thank you, dear."

I smiled at his back as I walked up to him to kiss his cheek. "What would you like?"

"Honestly, I am not really hungry. I just want to finish this."

I nodded. "Alright. I'll leave you to it, then."

As I was about to walk away, he grabbed my hand. "Actually, can you stay? I would like your opinion on something."

I silently sat on the organ bench as he gathered himself. If I didn't know any better, I would say he was…nervous? "Is everything okay?"

He cleared his throat. "Yes, all is well. I just…well…"

This definitely wasn't normal. "Erik?"

He didn't say a word and just started playing a beautiful song. I tried to follow along with the sheet music, but it was a completely different song he was playing. Is he having a stroke..?

After a few minutes, he finished the song with a trailing melody, slowly floating through the air and finally ceasing. His breath was coming in pants as if he had ran five miles.

"That was beautiful, Erik, but are you alright? I'm worried about you-"

He shot up from the bench, not relieving any of my concerns. "I have to get something. I will be right back."

As he sped to his room, I couldn't help but wonder if aliens had taken over his body or a robot kidnapped him and took his place. Maybe I should go and get a glass of water. If anything, it will short a robot out…

He came out of his room as I exited the kitchen, a full glass of water in my hand. "Why do you have that water?"

"I thought you may be thirsty. You seemed pretty winded."

Erik shook his head. "No, no. I'm fine. I just-"

He was interrupted by my hand involuntarily flexing and splashing the water on him. As I stared in horror, he spit out what water his open mouth caught. "Well that was refreshing."

"Oh my goodness! I am so sorry, Erik!"

He raised a hand to say all was forgiven. "I may have needed that, anyways. It has calmed my nerves actually. I have a question to ask you, Mandy."

"I don't know what you heard but whatever it is, Jefferson started it."

A look of confusion came over Erik's face. "Who is Jefferson and what does he have to do with anything?"

I started to say something snarky but decided against it. There has been enough confusion for one night. "Sarcasm and humor is my defense mechanism. You were saying?"

"I was saying…that you are the most incredible – I mean the most wonderful…with you, I seem to be at a loss for words."

I blushed. "You are very sweet, Erik."

"The song I just played for you. It was what I wanted to say. My best language is music and it never fails."

I nodded. "It was wonderful. It reminded me of love and all things good and beautiful."

"That is what you do to me. Love, all things good and beautiful. With you, I can finally see the bright side of life, not only what the darkness holds. With that being said, I have a question. Will you-"

"Erik, I seem to have misplaced my-"

"GET OUT!" Erik shouted at Nadir as he wandered into the house and quickly wandered back out.

I saw him take a few deep breaths, calming himself as he turned back to me, a box in his hand. "Mandy, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

I froze, breath stuck in my throat. Did he just ask what I think he just asked..?

He took my lack of response as hesitation. "If you do not wish to marry me…"

That broke me out of my mind freeze. "Of course I'll marry you!"

"I shall underst – wait, you will?"

I rolled my eyes and launched myself into his arms, kissing him sweetly. When I pulled away from him, I nodded. "Yes. I love you so much Erik."

A wide smile crossed his face. "I love you, too, my love."

As he leaned back into kiss me, I put a finger to his lips and shook my head. "On one condition."

"I swear I will do anything." Erik eagerly stated.

"You have to apologize to Nadir for shouting at him."

"Maybe we should wait. You know, you are still pretty young…"

After I smacked the back of his head, he laughed. "You know I am just kidding. But first…"

He trailed as he lifted my left hand in his and put the ring that was in the box on my finger. I gasped when I saw it. It was gorgeous and nothing short of what I would have excepted from my new fiancé. It was a gold band with leaves engraved on it and there was a deep red ruby in the middle, surrounded by tiny emeralds. Once it was secured on my finger, Erik brought my hand to his lips and kissed it reverently as if he were dreaming. "This is real?"

I nodded, tears coming to my eyes at his tenderness. "This is very real."

As we were about to kiss again, a sniff came from behind us. "And you didn't tell me what you were planning?"

Erik sighed. "I apologize, Nadir."

Quick to the rescue, I walked over to the sniffling man. "But think of it this way, you're the first to know. Just don't tell anyone yet. It's our little secret."

His spirits were instantly perked as I made him swear not to tell a soul. I knew he had loose lips, but he seemed to be serious about not telling anybody. As we finally convinced him to leave, Erik embraced me from behind. "When would like to tell everyone?"

"Let's wait a bit. I want to catch everyone off guard. Besides, how fun and mysterious it would be to have a secret engagement."

Yes, I wanted to pull a Christine and Raoul moment. But who can blame me? Erik seemed to like the idea, at least, and that's all that mattered.