After we caught our breath Eric took my hand and guided me back to his layer, to that place was music is eternal, without beginning or end.

When we had reached the foot of his organ he placed his hands over mine, brought them to his chest, and looked into my eyes. In his eyes I saw a splinter of light, a touch of hope among the shadows. I felt safe again with his warm strong hands apron mine. I noticed he still had a glove on one hand. The other he had taken off to wipe my tears. I giggled and grasped his thumb with my thumb and index finger. Then I pulled the glove off and placed it in his shirt pocket that the other glove was hanging out of. He planted his soft lips on my cheek and I Found myself disappointed when his lips parted from my skin.

Erik sat on the piano bench flinging his cloak over the seat and began playing. I Held his head to my chest and stroked his dark slicked back hair. I secretly wished the smell of his hair would be forever imprinted on my fingers. I ran two fingers down the visible part of his face to his neck were the last bit of his skin appeared. He rolled his head enjoying my touch.

He began playing. I sat next to him on the bench and wrapped an arm around his broad shoulders and laid my head on his neck. The invisible presence of music filled my ears and melted in my soul. When his voice joined the instrument the music filled my lungs, not allowing me to breath. I felt the vibrating of his voice box as he sang and the shifting of joints in his arm as he played the organ.

After a while his voice began to grow fait. After he had stopped playing I felt his body rise as he released a yawn. He must have been exhausted. I stood up and gave his arm a light tug and gestured him towards the bed. When he finally dropped his head on his pillow I planted a soft kiss on his forehead. As his eyes began to close he grasped my arm his grip became more and more loose. I smiled at his sleeping body. There are so many things I had never seen this man do. He had remained such a mystery to me and there is so much I still want to know about him. I slowly headed back to my room, but savored that vision of him lying in his bed so helpless. He would have never put down his defenses for me before.

After breakfast I headed towards the stables and handed a man with curly blond hair some coins. He nodded his head in thanks and suited the horses. The carriage had no roof but I liked it that way. You can feel the wind. He took my hand and helped me up then with a snap of his whip I was forced backward as we started towards our destination.

I was dressed in a blue dress that wasn't too formal but not to casual. I wore blue gloves and a hat on top of my bun. I managed to buy a few outfits with my pay and stored away the leftover money I had in a secret place. I hoped to buy a house one day.

I knew exactly were I was going. I was headed for the church were my parents had wed. I closed my eyes trying to hold back emotion. My parents had been so in love. The last days of my father's life, and only days without my mother he spent every day in bed. He hadn't said a single word after she died. He was in complete agony and mourning after she had left him. He could not bear to be without her for a minute let alone the rest of his life on earth. He would only sit in bed and sob day and night. He didn't eat, bathe, or get up. He sat there for days. We tried so hard to force him to eat. He even bit maids that were strong enough to open his mouth. He was so madly in love he couldn't live without her.

After three days of agony he took a knife to his heart. I remember so vividly the image of Ticy, my favorite maid, holding my fathers dead body. The blood, oh the blood, I will never forget that image. I had sent one of the slaves to go get a doctor but we lived so far from the closest doctor he only made it in time to wrap up my fathers dead body. I would never tell a soul that my father had committed suicide I always said it was tuberculosis. I hadn't gone to church since that day. I had blamed God for everything that happened to me.

I could no longer hold back the tears that ran down my closed eyes. I took in a breath trying to regain composure.

After a while the carriage movement and I opened my eyes to see the church. I was still as large as I remembered. It was extremely tall as well. The steeple with a cross at the top seemed to reach the heavens.

I entered and sat on the last row. The must have been 50 rows of benches and there were three isles in-between them. The carpet and benches were both red like I remembered. The walls were a white color. On the right was a stain glass image of Moses parting the sea and on the left of the room was one of the Garden of Eden. Their were three steps leading up to the stage. They were the same color as the walls. Behind the alter was a stain glass image of the virgin marry holding baby Jesus. The one thing that caught my attention the most was the organ. Its pipes glittered in the light shining in from the windows. I smiled thinking of Erik.

Behind the alter was the same priest that used to give sermons. He looked a bit older. His black hair was beginning to turn gray and lines were beginning to form around his eyes and mouth.

After the sermon I waited till everyone dismissed then made my way towards the box with red drapes in the right corner.

I sat down not knowing how to start. I told the priest on the other side what happened with my parents and the fire and when I finished I began talking of Erik.

"Have this situation with a man," I began.

"Is it a temptation problem child?" He asked.

"I guess you could say that. He's a bit older. No, he's extremely older then me." I winced while waiting for his answer

"Go on," he said.

"Well he has made some mistakes in the past but I think he's changed"

"Do you love this man?" He asked

I bit my lip and couldn't help the smirk that formed on my face.

"Love," I nearly sighed in a dream like state.

On my way out I stopped when I heard two voices to my right. They were discussion the opera house.

"Did you hear that a woman is playing cello for the next opera?" She asked

I ducked out of site to the side of the building. They were talking about me!

I heard another lady gasp. "Oh my! How unladylike," she said amazed at the comment.

The first lady that spoke began speaking again. "Yes it seems that the man that auditioned broke his hand from an accident."

My fist clenched when she said accident. You could tell the way she exaggerated it she meant to say I was the one who broke his hand.

"It was fortunate for the opera. They love having someone they can give less pay." She said snickering.

I stared down at my feet. It was true. I would be rich if I were paid as much as the men. I was only given a fourth of what they made, but that is how things are. I don't know a single woman who ever made as much as a man did at the same job.

"It's been said he may not be able to play ever again. His arm will be damaged for life," she said.

The second lady and I both gasped at once. I clapped a hand over my mouth hoping they hadn't heard me. Could it have been… no it couldn't have been... What the lady said next assured me my assumption was correct.

"Yes it seems during the audition something just came falling down on him on the stage. A little fishy don't you think? "She said.

My teeth clenched in anger. I felt my face turn hot in anger. I knew exactly who was behind this.

"ERIK," I nearly yelled in anger.