Chapter Two: Heaven
What was heaven? I thought, looking silently into her eyes. This was heaven…or as close as I will ever get. Christine is my angel and therefore, my heaven. A few more tears fell. She had come back…but why? Why would she give up the chance for a life of luxury, a life in which she would never want, to be with me? "Why did you return?" I asked, her face twisting into a look of shock or, dare I say, a look of pure hurt. "How could you even ask me that? Do you not know?" she answered, obviously holding back tears. "You were so in love with De Chagny, it seemed too sudden for you to change your mind…" I felt my heart begin to break as I saw the look on her face grow even more heart broken than before. "I never loved him…we were friends since childhood, we were trying to rekindle our friendship, nothing more. If it looked like love to you, obviously you are blind!" she answered coldly, a few tears running down her cheeks as I looked toward the floor.
"I-I only meant…" I said, still looking toward the floor to hide my tears. I heard the fabric of her dress make a rustling sound against the stone floor of the cavern; I looked up slightly to see her shifting her weight impatiently. She said nothing, she only lifted an eyebrow, as if asking for me to finish. I looked back to the floor, remaining silent. "You only meant what?' she asked, after a few moments. "I meant…" I answered, thinking carefully about my reply. "…why did you give up someone who can give you anything and everything you could ever want or need? Someone who can give you the life you deserve…" I continued, looking up just in time to see her look to the floor. "What good is all of that…" she answered, looking from the floor as she finished, locking her glance with mine. "…without love? Say I went with Raoul, I married him and we spent a few happy years together, had children and all of the rest of the things that go with a marriage. I would spend the entire time thinking, wondering…even dreaming, about what I missed out on." She explained, a few delicate tears running down her cheeks. I stood and walked over to her, stopping when I was mere inches from her, so she was just out of my reach. So close, but so faraway.
"Yes, he can give me a big house and anything I could ever ask for, even love; but I cannot give him everything. He is simply a friend, I love him like a brother…I could never give him the love I have already promised to you, I would never forgive myself if I had left you…" she said though a few whimpers. "I just couldn't…" she fell to her knees softly, her face covered with her hands, crying softly. I kneeled before her quickly, taking her into my arms. "Shhh…none of that." I whispered, resting her head on my left shoulder, my hand running affectionately through her hair, soothing her. Her cries grew still, but then calmed as she felt my hand. She put her arms around my slowly, letting out a soft sigh, simply resting against me as I rocked her gently.
Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Lead me, save me from my solitude. Say you want me with you here, beside you…
I sang softly, crying quietly.
Anywhere you go, let me go too, Christine that's all I ask of…
It was the song I had sung to her during my Don Juan, Triumphant and once again I did not finish the song, but this time it wasn't because she ripped my mask off, it was because I heard something else. I gave a slight laugh as I looked down at her, seeing her breathing softly, her delicate breathes falling against my skin. "And they say music soothes the beast? I think it is the beast who soothes through music…" I said aloud to myself as I stood slowly, picking her up carefully, so as not to wake her up. I walked out of my room and into the room next door, the one I had fixed up for her long ago, back when she came to me for singing lessons. I laid her on her bed slowly, gently, pulling the covers over her small form. "Goodnight my love…" I whispered, as I walked to the door, stopping in the doorway to watch her sleep for a few moments. "Christine, I love you…" I sung silently. I turned and walked into the main cavern of my home, I sat at the organ and began playing a slow, beautiful melody. It was the final number to Don Juan, the one we hadn't gotten to, Christine's final song.
"Say you love me every waking moment…say the word and I will follow you…"
I sang a few bars of the song quietly to myself and then slowly drifted off to sleep, still sitting at the organ.
