Veronique could no longer hold back the tears. She began to cry, after hearing Erik sing such a beautiful and melancholic song. At that moment, she knew she should never have left him. He loved her for who she was, and she loved him in the same way.

Making her way down the dim passageway, she had his song ringing in her ears. The words made her realize how much she had hurt him, and the sobs she could hear only emphasized it more. Her pace quickened to a run, as to reach him faster. She had to let him know that she forgave him. Skipping every other stair, she hurried down to his lair. Reaching the lake, she saw that the gondola remained at it's dock. Taking the long pole into hand, she struggled to push herself through the hand-hewn canals.

Erik sat at his piano with a rose in his hand. Gazing at the artwork he had created in his sadness, he knew that it was time. Time to end the tragic and loveless life he had led. He wondered aloud to himself the many options he had. "Now, how shall I do this? How does one end their life? Maybe I could... Or maybe that one would... What if I..." Every path seemed blocked by obstacles that were unremovable. And every time he thought of an option that had a chance of success, he shooed it from his mind. He subconciously told himself that there was still reason to live, but, overriding the thought, still knew that this was his end.

Finally, at wit's end, he took hold of his nearest source and stood up. His most trusty weapon at his side, he took one final glance at his true love. Her angelic face pleaded with him, begging him to love her and be with her for the rest of their lives. But he turned away and waded out into the lake. Reaching the porticullis, he took the rope and strung it up. His heart pounded in his ears, drowning out the lake's angry waves beating upon the shore. Slipping the noose around his own neck, he tightened the knot while holding the rope in his damp hands. He couldn't even hear the swishing of the gondola coming towards the porticullis.

He only heard Veronique. "Erik! Please, don't do it!" Her voice was racked with sobs as she began to sing to him, to calm his fears.
"Say you want me with you
here, beside you

Anywhere you go
Let me go too
Erik
That's all I ask of you!"

so, tell me what you think! please!