Chapter 7:Wishing you were somehow here again…

Christine woke in the middle of the night, the moon streamed in through her window. What time was it? Who cared, she decided to go downstairs for maybe a snack. She descended down the grand staircase and headed for the kitchen when she stopped and looked at the door to the music room. She often had dreams of hearing Erik's voice singing from that room, playing the piano with a smile. Then she would wake up alone in her bed as always. Christine took a look around then slowly, silently, stepped up to the door. She carefully unlocked it and opened it. The high windows were drawn and the moon shone through. The light reflected off the smooth black surface of the grand piano and lighted the gold inlays. As if in a trance, she went to the piano. Tracing a finger along its surface, Christine began to hum a tune she once sung for her love. Then the words came.

You were once my one companion . . .
you were all that mattered . . .
You were once a friend and father,
then my world was shattered . . .

She sat down at the piano bench and traced the gold plaque she had made.

Wishing you were somehow here again . . .
wishing you were somehow near . . .
Sometimes it seemed if I just dreamed,
somehow you would be here . . .

She wanted him near her now, playing as she sang, just like before.

Wishing I could hear your voice again . . .
knowing that I never would . . .
Dreaming of you won't help me to do
all that you dreamed I could . . .

She gave a sigh as she remembered his smile when she sang perfectly.

Passing bells and sculpted angels,
cold and monumental,
seem, for you the wrong companions -
you were warm and gentle . . .
Too many years fighting back tears . . .
Why can't the past just die . . .?

Tears began to brim as her voice grew and grew.

Wishing you were somehow here again . . .
knowing we must say goodbye . . .
Try to forgive, teach me to live . . .
give me the strength to try . . .

Then she remembered his eyes as she once again rejected him.

No more memories, no more silent tears . . .
No more gazing across the wasted years . . .
Help me say goodbye.

She stood up and back away from the piano. Suddenly, the image of her Erik sitting at the piano and working on a new opera became so clear, she reached for him. Ever so softly, she sang again their song.

In sleep he sang to me…

In dreams he came…

That voice which calls to me…

And speaks my name….

Tears came down as the image faded. A shuddering sob escaped her throat as she fell to her knees. She put her hands in her hands and wailed.

"Erik! Oh God, what have I done!" She cried harder as she fell all the way to the floor. The moonlight bathed her in its cold embrace as she let loose every sorrow in her being. Soon she was asleep, tears still seeping down, unaware of the shadow lurking in the dark.