Chapter 11
Diana
was insanely busy all day arranging her performance for that evening. She had to make sure that it went off
without a hitch. Zidler thought she was
being paranoid.
During
one of her limited breaks, Diana ventured into the Elephant. She saw what remained of Satine's things,
including the last letter that Diana sent.
Unfortunately, it was too late, arriving after she was dead. Diana wanted to see the letter again. She picked up the unopened envelope and
began to read.
"Dear Satine,
Don't give up on love just because of the damned
Duke. Christian is too
dear to
lose over occupational duties. Do you
really have the heart to break his?
Can you
bear his tears? I know you too well
Satine and I know this will kill you.
I
already know the pain of losing love and I never wish that suffering on any
other
person,
especially you. Embrace Christian with
everything inside you. This is the
love you have waited your entire life for. I know my words will not reach you in time,
just
please know what you're doing.
Diana"
Diana
knew Satine would have never gotten this letter on time. She could have never stopped the tragic
chain of events. Satine was sick and
scared. Diana couldn't dwell on the
past any longer. It was too dark, too
painful. She closed it back up and left
it to the past. Before shutting that dreadful
image out of her mind forever, Diana took out Satine's last letter and reread
it.
"Dearest
Diana,
I
don't know what to do. Today was
dreadful. The Duke demanded we change
the ending to Spectacular, Spectacular so the courtesan ends up with the maharajah. Harold
protested at first. The Dike then
persisted asking why the courtesan wouldn't choose the maharajah over the
penniless sitar player. Christian
exploded…screaming out "Because she doesn't love you!!!" He then tried to correct himself but it was
too late. I had to think quickly to
save all of us. I appeased the Duke and
told him that I would meet him in the Gothic Tower that night to discuss
things. I could see how much this was
hurting Christian.
As
I was going back to get ready, Christian stopped me in the wings. His eyes alone showed how much pain he was
in. He pleaded with me not to sleep
with the Duke. It hurt so much to see
him so close to tears. I knew the Duke could
destroy everything. "Come what may," I told
him. I know he didn't want t o let me
go.
That
night, everything went fine, including the Duke keeping the original
ending. Everything was fine until I saw
Christian out the window. The Duke also
saw and practically killed me. I would
not be writing this if it hadn't been for Chocolat taking me out of there and
into Christian's arms. Christian said
we would leave tonight. Forget about
everything. I came back here to get my
things and abandon the Moulin Rouge.
That's when Harold hit me with a couple of bombs. That the Duke was going to kill Christian if
we didn't do what he wanted and I was dying.
Now
you know where I stand. I know
Christian will wait all night for me.
Right now I don't know what to do.
Do I hurt him to save him like Harold said? Do I let Christian take me away?
Help me Diana. I need you now
more than ever…
Love
always,
Satine
Diana
placed both letters next to each other on the vanity. She couldn't bear to think of it anymore. She hated the felling of helplessness that
the letter brought back. Diana also
knew that Christian should probably never read this, it would be too painful
for him.
A
few hours later, as sunset was approaching, the Moulin Rouge was ready for
another night. Diana and Harold were
completely satisfied with all their work.
She had set out everything she needed for tonight before she went
outside.
"Harold,
I will return shortly. There is one
last task I must perform."
"Alright,
but remember the curtain goes up at 8."
"I
know Harold." Diana said as she walked
out the door.
Diana
stopped briefly outside the Moulin Rouge and gazed up into Christian's window. She saw him typing away on something. "What is he working on?" she wondered. Diana would have to answer that later
though. She walked up to the cliffs
outside of Montmartre for a moment of thought.
As she stood atop the cliff, looking over the city, she was taking the
diamond ring off her hand.
"David? I have to say this. I know you would want me to go on with my
life and I finally have. I tell you
this now because it's symbolic. The sun
will set today on my old life and rise tomorrow on the new with night as its
transition. I will always remember you
but I have Christian now." Diana held
the ring up between her fingers as if to give it to the setting sun as an offering. "This is a symbol of my old life. I couldn't part with it until now. I give this back to you now. Remember me David." Diana said as she threw the
ring off the cliff into the approaching night.
The sun as set on David and will rise on Christian.