The end of the day came at last. And all the stores, one by one, closed announcing that the time of resting approached. She felt confused and strangely happy. It was the attitude he had previously had with her what made her heart beat faster. On the other hand, that was an illusion that could be easily shattered
She looked around. People returning home, some of them with their couples, others carrying armful of bags from the market…and a mother holding hands with her daughter, who was laughing and just so happy eating some candy.
She remembered those days. When she was young and happy too, walking along the park with her parents
Everything had changed in a matter of years.
It was understandable that more members in the family implied more complications and responsibilities at home…but reality went further from that.
Being the eldest, she was the one that more things had to do and witness of their domestic problems. Amongst others, how her mother and father argued almost constantly. Soon afterwards, he was gone. She did not remember every detail, just images in her mind that were sufficiently revealing.
And that was the end of all the happiness she may have known during her childhood. From then on, the attitude of her mother towards her had changed completely. They barely spoke, many times when she came back from work she only had time for her four brothers…and not for her.
That afternoon, that horrible afternoon…
Her mother was terribly exhausted. She had just finished lunch for all of them. And she, a 10-year-old girl, only looked for a little conversation, some company.
Janine was sitting on the small chair of the lounge, reading. Ah, she'd always been so beautiful, in a natural, classic way. Her hair looked exactly the same as the one she had inherited, although she always took much care of it, her blue eyes focused on the reading.
She came near her. There were not many occasions in which they were alone in the silence of the house. Timidly, she leaned a hand on her shoulder.
'Angeline, not now please. Don't you see I'm resting?'
She frowned, taken aback by her answer. 'We hardly spend time together, mama, and I have something to ask you'
Sighing in resignation, she turned.
'What do you want to know?'
'Will dad come back some day?'
It had been, possibly, one of the most innocent questions she'd ever asked. But she didn't understand it. Janine looked at her in rage, slapping her on the cheek.
-'I have already told you NOT to name your father! Am I clear? You should help me instead of being here, lurking all over the house and asking meaningless questions. Go find a job; get your own money and maybe you'll do something useful'
She left the house weeping. But that was not what made her leave the hell that her house had become.
Her first job consisted simply of selling all kind of objects in a street-market. She used to arrive rather late, many times deliberately, just to avoid her.
One of those nights was perhaps the most impressive of her life; when she decided she would never, ever, return to that house. To that place that was no longer warm or worthy to call a home.
Although her working day has ended hours ago, she preferred to remain with some of the few people she had known. But anyway, at some point she would have to return…
So she did. She was unaware of what she was going to find once she crossed the door, though.
She entered, calling for her mother. As she didn't respond, she went upstairs to her bedroom.
What she saw then…She had never thought that…
The door was slightly opened and she could clearly see what was going on. Just enough to know that her mother was no longer the same woman
She was kissing a man. Chestnut hair, tall…and she could not see much more of him. Before the show continued in front of her eyes, she caught sight of a detail she would never forget: her mother was not wearing her wedding ring, but the one she supposed that man had given her.
Her eyes ignited with fury. She could not accept, she simply couldn't, that she had forgotten about him, and apparently about her too. Before she managed to see her, she left the house for never coming back. No notes, nothing.
That's how her life had been until that moment. A sigh full of sadness and longing escaped from her lips…the yearning of having a family and a proper, normal life. Seconds later Angie found herself in front of her working place again.
'Damned girl, I told you the dishes must be all in the same place'. Emma gave an almost murderous look to Christine
She sighed. She had learned to control her temper more than once. 'Very well, Madame'
The slap she received as an answer caught her off guard.
'And I hope everything's ready before 10. Your food will not be served otherwise. Is it clear?'
Christine closed her eyes. Things were going far, extremely far. She had to get away from this place, somehow. But those two devils she had as female leaders would not let her go anywhere. And whenever she needed to leave the residence it was always under their strict supervision.
At nightfall her head rested comfortably against the pillow but she couldn't get any sleep. Her body was aching for rest, but her mind kept wandering. She would even prefer to be in the great French Village, with Raoul, than being where she was now.
At least life there was peaceful…extremely peaceful. She loved Raoul, but his absences were more abundant than his days at home. It was all so…monotonous. With no colour, no life, no music…unlike her days at the opera.
The previous days to the wedding went by normally. He was adorably nervous with the upcoming event. He had been in charge of introducing her to his family during that time.
'Oh, Raoul, my son, you're going to have a really beautiful, charming wife'.
That was the first impression of his mother…until that evening.
She was in front of the mirror, fixing her hair before leaving to have a stroll along the garden. Françoise, her faithful servant, entered after she had given him permission to do so when hearing his respectful knock at her door.
'My dear Viscountess, someone wants to see you'.
She frowned, surprised by the unexpected visit. 'Who is it?'
He shrugged. 'She introduced herself as Mademoiselle Giry'
A smile lightened her face. 'Meg! Oh, please, let her in…let her in'
He obeyed and a few seconds later she entered the room.
She was happy to see her best friend again, but saddened by what she'd have to tell her…
She looked at her, smiling. 'Christine! I'm so glad to see you'
Meg hugged her tight. It'd been a week since she last had seen her…since that night.
'How's your new life? Does Raoul treat you well, she took a seat.
'Raoul has always treated me well, Meg. I can't complain but…there are things I miss of my days at the opera'
At the very moment she said those words, her face paled. There had to be some way to tell her…she had to know it.
'Christine…'
She focused her attention on her friend. 'Yes?'
'I..I've come to see you. Mama was really worried about you and Raoul after what happened but…', she sighed. 'There's something I need to tell you, it's about your tutor…'
She had named him. Her ears were listening carefully to every word. 'Please, Meg I beg you. Whether it's good or bad news …just tell me'.
'All right'
Opening the little bag she was holding, she slowly showed her what was inside of it. His mask! God, this could not be happening. Her eyes began to feel watery.
'I found this down there', she leaned a hand on her shoulder. 'Christine… he died victim of all the armed people. I couldn't stop them…I…'
Christine began to cry. She refused to believe what she had just said.
'No…it can't be Meg, please tell me it's not true…', she was shaking uncontrollably.
The only thing her best friend could do was to hug her. But she completely understood how she felt, for she had witnessed that kind of strange connection which had grown between them while they had sung wonderfully on the stage…with so much feeling, complicity and passion that she thought possible only of two people who knew and loved one another more than themselves.
'I am very sorry. I know how hard this is for you. Do you want to keep this last memory of him?'.
'No', she said, looking at the mask. 'That mask has always been a part of him, and I want it to remain this way. Besides neither Raoul nor his family will be pleased to know I have it. Go and leave it where you found it. Let him rest in peace…'. Those last words were broken by her sobs.
Meg nodded, rising of the chair.
'Please, if you need some help just let me know'.
'I know, thank you Meg…for everything', she tried to smile.
She left, looking at Christine one last time before Françoise came to lead her to the hall. When he was back she found her still crying heartbrokenly.
'My lady, I don't want to sound indiscreet, if there's something I can do to make you feel better…maybe you should tell me what's making you so sad'.
She looked up at him. Her brown eyes now irritated by the crying. 'Françoise, my dear friend…Haven't you felt some time that you've wasted the opportunity of your life and now there's no way to solve it?'
He nodded, leaving her alone in the room. That night, at the heat of dawn, she tried to leave. She had to verify it, to see that he was really gone and to visit the place that had been his home one last time.
But the cold tone of the voice behind her stopped her intentions.
'Are you going somewhere, dearest?'
Yes, she had to accept her reality. Sighing, she lied back on her bed slowly giving in to sleep.
Angie left everything in his house. When she came back to her apartment she found a pile of wool she had not used yet and an idea crossed her mind. It had been a while since she last knitted something and that was one of the few things she had learned.
She spent an hour working on it, and she knew whom she was going to make this present to. He had been harsh to her, but the moment they shared before proved that he could be a perfect gentleman.
She was still knitting when she heard that familiar voice again
'I didn't know you knitted'
Angie rose of the seat, surprised. She hid it immediately, leaving it on the table.
'I wasn't expecting a visit'. She could feel the nervousness in her voice.
'I know, I hope not to be disturbing you…', he looked curiously at her hands. 'What are you working on?'.
She frowned. He was invading her privacy and she had to tell him about his gift?. 'Nothing!', she continued hiding it, a little bothered by his attitude. 'You practically burst into my apartment and you want me to tell you what it is when it is clearly not your business? This is my personal, private space!'.
Half smiling, he came near her, trying to see what was that which she was fighting so hard to keep away from him.
'I do not believe it to be something as important as to keep it hidden, hm?'. This time he was really close, holding the hand that was at her back.
She looked into his eyes. Was it possible not to be entranced, taken by them? No, and he knew it perfectly well. Angie moved her hands, briefly touching his, slowly showing the present, and not leaving for a second the nearness between them.
'It's…', she sighed in defeat, 'a gift. I wanted it to be a surprise, but…'.
For a second, he felt his heart moved by the girl's words. Erik looked at it thoroughly.
'That's coming off really well, Angie. But you should not have taken the trouble... Now go to rest. Tomorrow will be a hard day'.
She couldn't help it. Despite the small incident, he had treated her with such gentleness…and that, coming from the man she had always admired and questioned from a distance, meant a lot to her.
Angie smiled, shortening the little distance between their bodies. She was going to kiss him, and just when her lips were going to meet his, he separated his face slightly holding her hands so that she could only give him a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth.
A small smile left his lips. 'You must sleep, dear ', he held her chin. 'I would not like to see those eyes tired tomorrow'.
She sighed, slowly going away from him. When she was going to turn her back, he held her hand leaving a smooth kiss on it.
'Have a nice rest'.
She looked at him, bewildered by his gesture. 'Thanks…'.
Erik slowly left the room and Angie's heart kept racing with lots of indefinable feelings…Was she falling in love?