Opening Up
I sat down beside Erik and placed my hand over his. He looked up at me and smiled.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, Erik. I will be here to listen whenever you are ready. I didn't mean to sound harsh when I said you don't seem to trust people, it's just I have been trying to reach out to you. It's just so hard to see a friend in pain."
He squeezed my hand and nodded his head.
"I know that you will wait for me to tell you, but I am ready now. I have run from my past for far too long. I will tell you everything I know and in return I ask for you to tell me everything you know of my past."
"I promise, Erik."
He took a deep breath and slowly released it. I could tell that this was difficult for him. I squeezed his hand for courage.
"Well, ever sense the men took me away to be their little "show", I have seemed to not trust people as I should. I know that is normal, to go thru something like that and not trust people, but I have taken that to a whole different level it seems. I have killed people and treated the people that I care for the most very terribly."
He looked at me while saying the latter part. I could feel my heart pick up its pace.
"I have also been unfair to myself. I torture myself for being deformed, even though that is not my fault. I guess it's because no one has ever shown me kindness except for you and Madame Giry. I just feel as if my life is a black hole that is worth nothing. I have harbored so much anger inside that I have exploded at moments that I shouldn't have. That's one of the reasons I have pushed you away. I didn't want you to get tangled up in my sorrowful life and I didn't want you to get emotionally hurt. The one thing I should be doing, though, is letting people help me."
"Then you come and tell me that I was your best friend! That really blew me away! Here, I have never thought about my past, and then you come in knowing everything about it! I guess it scared me, because I had no control over it."
He paused to take a deep breath.
"Now, I believe I have told you everything, so I trust you will keep your part of out deal."
"Of course I will. Let's see, I've told you once but I left out all of my emotions. You and I were as close as brother and sister. We did everything together and told each other our deepest secrets. Then, one day, some men took you away while your aunt and uncle were away in town. I was inside my house and saw the whole scene take place. I wanted to scream out to you, but knew that if I did that then they would probably come for me as well. I guess they had heard of the strange boy with the mask, and decided to come and kidnap you."
"Well, they took you away and I never saw you again. Then, I came here and heard of the mysterious Opera Ghost. Once I met you I knew at once it was you! Even your personality was the same, in a way. I guess I never imagined that you would have lost your memory. It was just so hard to see my best friend not remember me or the friendship we once shared. But we still do share that friendship, Erik! I still love you more than anything, and I desperately want you to trust me! I don't care about your face because all I care about is your soul! Our friendship wasn't made up by a face, but by the soul deep within you! I hope you can see that."
The whole time I was talking, Erik had his head down. I could see his shoulders shaking as his body racked with sobs. I placed my arms around his shoulders and turned him so he could cry into my smaller shoulder. I could even feel my own eyes starting to burn with tears. Oh, Erik, I know how hard this is for you. I love you, even more than a friend now. My love is so strong for you! Maybe one day I can tell you how I truly feel, that I love you more than just a friend. I don't want to frighten you, though.
He then pulled back and wiped his face with the back s of his hands. He turned to me and smiled that beautiful smile that I've grown to love more than life itself.
"I think I am starting to trust you, Rachel. I think I really am!"
(Author's Note: Okay, this was a very deep chapter! I tried to make it as sad as I could, since it is a sad matter. I'm thinking that there will only be 2 more chapters, though, so I hope you're looking forward to that! I know I am. So, review! Love you lots!)
