Ch. 17 – Return
Erik stepped gracefully from the carriage, tipping his hat politely to the driver in thanks, and then turning to look at his house from which he had been absent now for nearly a year. God, it is good to be home, Erik thought, as he stepped through the doorway. All was as he had left it, everything spotlessly clean and free from dust, just as he had instructed before he had left. Erik threw his cloak nonchalantly over a chair and tossed his hat onto the sofa, in a casual manner that was quite unlike him. He deposited the plans for his new home safely on the table, where he would be sure to remember them in the morning, though his memory was usually flawless even without such a reminder.
Tomorrow construction would begin on his new manor, now that he was here to oversee it. As fond as he was of this house, the idea of having a home that he had designed to suit his taste appealed to him. It would be grand with an enormous library, a ballroom, and his own personal favorite - a glass-domed conservatory - an acoustically perfect room in which to write and play his compositions. Add to that the fact that his architectural designs had remained, even in his absence, in the highest of demand, continuing to make him rich beyond his imagination, and the favor with which his first new opera had been received, all in his life was going along famously.
He stopped before the glass of the window, catching a glimpse of his reflection. And then there is the most remarkable gift of all, he thought silently. The reflection that met his eyes, although not perfect, resembled that of a normal man. He walked into his study, opening his wardrobe to look in the mirror once again, just as he had done nearly a year before. At first, he held his palm up, covering the right side of his face from view, showing only his naturally perfect left cheek. Then slowly, he dropped his hand to reveal an unmasked nearly identical right cheek as well. A whole face met his eyes now, where once there had only been half. Admittedly, his right side would never be perfect. There remained several scars left by the innumerable procedures he had endured, but they would fade in time, just as the insecurity and anguish of his deformity had begun to fade in its absence.
Erik turned from the mirror, still in disbelief even after the many times he had already viewed his new face. He still couldn't believe it all was real, that it all had truly happened to him after all the evil he had done. He left the study and moved into the kitchen, finding the cupboards freshly stocked, just as he had requested. He made himself a cup of tea and sat at the table, watching the sun rise over the water from the window. He had so much to be thankful for suddenly, after all his years of cursing God for abandoning him. Although it would not be easy, he vowed that he would return to the church that very Sunday, offering penance for his past deeds, and giving freely of his newly acquired wealth. For all that God had granted him at last, he would never again miss a Sunday if it was in his power to appear.
Erik stared at the long musician's fingers surrounding his teacup. Her ring was still there. In all his contentment, there was only one thing missing, but he dared not ask for that, lest God's sudden favor toward him be diminished by his greediness. He only wondered now if she was happy. Gone was his anger and wrath, and though he didn't understand all that she had done, all that remained in his heart for her was genuine love and concern. If he could just know she was alright, and that she was happy, if he could just see her smiling face one more time, he thought he would be satisfied.
He was startled from his thoughts by a gentle knock at the door. After his recent streak of good fortune, he smiled wondering what new blessing was coming his way. He cheerfully hurried down the steps to greet it.