As I walked to the small garret that my love occupied, the freezing cold rain seemed to echo my mood. I seemed to get there faster than ever, faster than I wanted to. My footsteps betraying my heart. I lingered outside of his door, hoping that the nightmare would end and I wouldn't have to fulfill the ending. I prayed that I would wake up smiling in his arms. But no such solution provided itself. I took a deep breath and walked through the doorway.

There stood Christian, smiling at me, his blue eyes gleaming hopefully. Little did he know what was about to befall him. He looked at me confused, seeing me clothing and lack of baggage.

"What, what's wrong?" he asked me.

No matter what my heart was telling me, my brain persevered.

"After you left, the Duke came to me." I lied, "He offered me everything. Everything I've ever dreamed of. He has one condition; I must never see you again. I'm sorry." Confusion and hurt filled his face, creating that pitiful puppy dog face I loved and hated so much.

"What are you talking about?"

"You knew who I was." This conversation made just as much sense to him as it did to me.

"What are you saying? What about last night? What we said?" Last night.......how I wished I could forget that it ever happened......that he ever ..... my thoughts stopped cold. 'Do your job, Diamond' I reminded myself.

"I don't expect you to understand. The difference between you and I is, you can leave anytime you choose. This is my home." I repeated it as if to make myself believe it. "The Moulin Rouge is my home." Christian's brain struggled to comprehend what I was saying, how I could betray him so. And it showed on his handsome face.

Tears choked up my throat, preventing me from telling the truth, what I so wanted him to hear. Tears that prevented me from having the flawless character, from being the perfect actress. He saw my mistake.

"No. There must be something else.....this, this can't be real!" I saw his contorted face and instantly regretted looking. 'No Christian,'I thought, 'There's no waking up from this nightmare. I'm sorry. ' He asked me again, running up to me so his face was inches from mine. I tried to escape. "There's something the matter", his voice was strong and sure, "Tell me what it is. Tell me what's wrong. Tell me the truth! Tell me the truth!" Christian screamed at me, taking my wrist and throwing me against the doorframe. I was feeble and weak only for a second. 'Never drop character' I silently scolded. I composed myself, and once again became the Sparkling Diamond.

"The truth?" I looked him straight in the eye. "The truth is I am the Hindi courtesan and I choose the Maharajah." I drew sudden strength from the Diamond. "That's how the story really ends." I couldn't let myself see the damage I had caused. I ran.

The rain seemed to sob with me as I let it drench me, let it consume me. I had done it. I was now the Diamond, and she was I. I had become the actress. From my tear-stained eyes I saw the windmill turning. That had once meant freedom to me, it had seemed open and forgiving. Now it meant slavery, signified prison.

The pain of what I had done to Christian was overwhelming, looming over every movement. As I stood once again looking in my mirror, I heard his screams. The voice was unmistakable. A voice full of pain and betrayal.

"Satine! Satine!" it screamed. The voice became silent, but it's suffering could never be stifled. But, he wouldn't suffer for long. He would see that I would not become the Duke's, but stay forever his. I would die tonight. Christian would soon understand. All would be revealed.