A/N: My weekend was magical. Thursday night I saw The Phantom of the Opera in New York City. I was so sad because I found out when I went to the Majestic Theater that Hugh Panaro would not be performing that night. I should not have been. David Gaschen took the place of the Phantom. His voice was pure magic. It was beautiful. He played it almost exactly how I would have had Erik be played. His website is www.davidgaschen.com (no I do not own that site...lol) He was wonderful! Sandra Joseph made a lovely and enchanting Christine Daae. If anyone has any more information on David please give it to me!!! I would love to write him a letter or try to get his autograph. Thanks again to my loyal readers and reviewers! I don't own the stranger than you dreamt it song.

The Phantom of the Opera

Majestic Theatre

247 West 44th Street

New York, NY 10036

"LEAVE ME BE!" Erik screamed at the woman. Suddenly the bizarre blackness of the nightmare was gone replaced by the dim light of candles by his bed. His hands curled around the sheets and tightened as if he was trying to strangle them. His breathing was heavy and he was shaking. His mask was off his face and had fallen several feet away from his bed as if it had been thrown. Warm tears fell from his eyes streaking down his cheeks, landing in his hands.

"Why...?" He cried. His sobs racked his body with intense force. "Why!" He shouted at the darkness. He lay there for several minutes unable to move. Agony washed over him. His body shook with exhaustion. If any other person had heard them they would have wept even if they hadn't known his plight. His weeping was the mournful cry of an abandoned and forlorn being. Erik suddenly ripped the sheets away from his body, slipped from the bed and crawled on the floor towards his mask. He cradled it in his hands like it was something precious. His crying had now reduced to whispered sobs. He suddenly remembered something. Something about this situation caught his memory, like breathing in the scent of the ocean from a sea shell and yet being miles from the ocean. Ah yes. He remembered why it seemed so familiar. Christine. He could remember her sweet fingers suddenly flinging the flimsy protection of his face from him that next morning in the lair after he had brought her there. They had both fallen to the floor, and as he had crawled to her he had sung to her. Trying to convince her of a truth that not even he believed. The words were coming back to him now...

Stranger than you dreamt it Can you even dare to look?

Or bear to think of me This loathsome Gargoyle, who burns in hell, but secretly

Yearns for heaven

Secretly... Secretly...

But Christine...

Fear can turn to love You'll learn to see, To find the man behind the monster, This repulsive carcass,

Who seems a beast, But secretly dreams of beauty

Secretly... Secretly...

A single tear drifted down his horrid cheek. He flung it away and replaced the mask to its rightful position. His mother could haunt him from her grave if she wished. No longer would he be prone and weak to her spiteful lust to torment him. Never again...

A/N: I now have the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack cd (not the highlights version! ALL OF IT!) So I can play and write at the same time. It helps me get in the mood and remember the beautiful majestic sights I once beheld as I watched The Phantom on Broadway! Review please!!!