"Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and now we cannot live within."
-James Baldwin
"Stand still, Christine," ordered the blue and white harlequin. The serious look on Marisa's face contrasted sharply with her comical makeup and mask and I couldn't suppress a chuckle. It was the night of the Dance in Disguise and Marisa was helping me arrange the thick wedding veil over my face.
She stepped back, examined me with a critical eye, and then smiled widely. "You look gorgeous, Christine. Rod's going to have a seizure." I turned towards the mirror in her room. I had to admit, I didn't look half bad. The wedding dress was long, sweeping the floor as I walked and high necked with long lace edged sleeves that emphasized the slenderness of my arms. It buttoned up in the back, also pulling the fabric back to elegantly hug my hips and waist. My hair, although I had complained of it before, completed the ensemble beautifully as it spilled out over my shoulders and down my back in thick, dark curls that was guaranteed to be a tangled mess before the night was over.
Marisa's mother suddenly stuck her head in and told us that our dates had arrived. As we were walking out to greet the guys, who were grinning like fools, I couldn't help but wonder what it have been like if Erik had been the one to pick me up....
"Is something wrong, Christine? You're very quiet."
As fake as the mask that Marisa wore, I forced my voice to sound cheerful.... "I'm fine, Rod. Let's go...."
The courtyard was brightly lit under the darkening sky, illuminating the colorful crepe paper and other decorations that had been strung around the large space. As we entered, I gasped at the multitude of costumes and masks everywhere. People really had gone all out to make their costume the most spectacular and already some were laughing as they tried to dance.
"Wow...." I breathed seeing a glittering, scantily clad mermaid walk by whose mask was so elaborate that I didn't recognize her at first. The mermaid emitted a high-pitched giggle and then I knew who it was: Charlotte.
Masks... everywhere. Erik would have felt right at home.... I thought and felt a renewed surge of sadness. What kind of friend am I? Rod led me to the dance floor and I mechanically danced with him, hardly hearing the fast upbeat music against the dull roar of my thoughts. Three songs later, I went to sit down for a breather and Rod stayed on the floor where I observed the mermaid coyly working her way closer. For some odd reason, I didn't care much. Then my world was shattered as I spied a figure gliding into the courtyard, as if on air….
"Erik!" I breathed, eyes wide with surprise. He hadn't been at school since the disastrous lesson a few days ago. During that time I found that I missed him and the talks we had as we walked to our morning classes. Erik had always been a constant presence, gently watching, guiding, and protecting. Without him, I felt... incomplete, as if a part of me was missing.
Erik was wearing a formal tuxedo and a black cape that flowed and swirled around him like a shadow. His hat and mask were as they always were but I observed a new confidence in his step as other masked students walked around him, not even giving him a second glance. Somehow, through the mass of masquerading students, his gaze landed on me and though I was wearing the veil, he recognized me. I don't know how I knew but it hardly mattered because I began walking towards him immediately. Like the joining of two magnets, I was irresistibly drawn to him by some force I didn't recognize as well as the hurtful knowledge that I had caused him pain. Everything around me seemed to blur and fade as we met near the dancing floor.
"Erik, I-" My apology was cut short at a loud shout from the DJ's station.
"Hey everyone! You know what time it is!" Cheers went up around the courtyard. Confused, I spotted Marisa who saw Erik then looked at me and mouthed: "Oh no!" I wanted to ask but didn't get the chance as the DJ interrupted again. "Now is the time for the Great Unmasking! Time to take off your mask and reveal your identity!" Around us, everyone lifted their masks away with laughter as they recognized the faces of their friends.
I inhaled sharply and saw Erik stiffen out of the corner of my eye. I have to get him out of here! was my thought but it was too late, the newly unmasked mermaid shoved her way to where we were standing.
"Uh oh! These two have not unmasked themselves!" she declared in a singsong voice, loud enough for even those far away to hear. I shook my head at Charlotte, she sneered and pushed the veil out of my face. I stumbled back from the force of her hand and only regained my balance to see Charlotte reach up to Erik's mask. From then on, everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Charlotte snatched the black velvet mask away to reveal the horrible scarring and skull-like deformation of Erik's poor face for all to see. Heaven forgive me, but I gasped in shock. Charlotte screamed and all around us, students shouted and pushed their way closer to have a better view.
Erik, with an expression like a caged animal, saw my wide eyes. Moaning, he abruptly turned and ran, black cape billowing out behind him like the wings of a fallen angel.
"See! See! I told you he was a monster!" shouted Charlotte to a group of girls, some who were still shrieking and others who were already whispering excitedly among themselves. I felt dizzy, the world was spinning and suddenly Rod was there, holding my arm. He had a disgusted look on his face.
"Maybe now you'll stop hanging around that freak," was all he said and I just stared at him. The DJ started up the music again and Rod pulled me back to the floor where I escaped from his grasp, and ran out where I had seen Erik disappear to.