Help Me Say Goodbye
Notes: I forgot to mention this is based on ALW's version. Christine, Erik, Raol etc.belong to Gauston Leroux.
It cold was that particular morning, making Christine pull the bed sheets tighter over her petite form. She sighed to herself as she savored the warmth and security, feeling like she could drift back to sleep.
A few moments later, she felt a light tap on the shoulder, startling her at first, before hearing a soft voice tease, "Wake up, Little Lotte"
Christine beamed as she rose to the sight of Raoul. His gentle eyes looked warmly upon her. She embraced him in affection, not wanting him to let go.
"Good Morning, Raoul" she said in a tone that matched her expression. Raoul softly kissed her forehead and smiled before pulling away.
"And Good Morning to you Mademoiselle Daae…Or should call you Madame de Changy," the young man teased as he sat down beside her.
Both couldn't help but smile, knowing they would be joined in marriage soon. Both had wanted it to happen for so long.
Raoul rose to leave after a moment, knowing Christine needed her privacy while dressing. As he opened the door he looked back and grinned.
"I will meet you downstairs for breakfast and then we'll go for a stroll. And remember that tonight we have a city hearing to attend," Raoul informed before shutting the door behind him.
Once the door shut, Christine rose to her feet with a grinand prepared for the day. Everything felt so right in her heart.
The gray sky didn't dissipate Christine's mood. She absolutely loved to walk with Raoul in the gardens; smelling the perfume of the roses also made her spirits high. For a while, they talked of the wedding and planned on their future together. It was then one of the gardeners approached the couple.
"Excuse me for interrupting, but I'm here to inform you that one of the rose bushes," the young worker respectfully curtseying, "was damaged by the rain last night. It is bruised quite badly and I think we will have to remove it"
Raoul didn't seem to mind, but Christine was intrigued. She would hate to see one of the bushes go.
"Which one was damaged?" Christine asked with interest. The gardener motioned her to follow, but a reluctant Raoul took her hand.
"We can always see later, my darling," he whispered. Christine turned to him and smiled.
"I can't help if I'm interested. You know how much I love the flowers; I will be back in a moment, I promise," she softly replied as she pulled away and followed the gardener.
After a short period, she was lead to a section of the garden where the Amiens cathedral was well in view. It steeple seemed to break into the very sky, as if opening the heavens themselves.
"Mademoiselle….?"
Christine snapped out her fixation on the historic church and returned her attention to the young girl. "Oh…I'm sorry," she said with a wisp of embarrassment.
"It's all right….Any ways, that one over there is the one that needs to be pulled out"
Christine's heart somewhat dropped at the sight of plant; it was the white rose bush Raoul had planted for her the day they had first moved into the chateau to start their new life. Its petals were strewn upon the damp earth, and the blossoms themselves wilt from the harsh raindrops the night before. She couldn't help but feel sad that she was going to lose something so dear to her.
