Chapter 12 - Goodbye

The last two months had been busy at the opera house for the company, Erik and Kimberlee. Erik was meeting more often with Christine now tutoring her singing, the entire company was rehearsing for the production of Beauty and the Beast which would open on Christmas Eve and Kimberlee was getting ready to leave for the States once the gala night was over. She and Erik hadn't been able to spend much time together in the last few weeks but Kimberlee still wanted to ask him once more to join her in America. She had begun to feel sick more often, sometimes two or three times a week but she had been to busy to notice that she had missed her last two periods.

Finally able to steal some time away from costume fittings and rehearsals she went to Carlotta's dressing room, which was now Christine's because the diva had walked out, and stopped short of the door. She could hear speaking inside the room, it was a man and woman conversing; placing her ear against the door she recognized the voices as Erik and Christine's.

"When will you finally reveal yourself to me my angel, I long to know who you are?"

"After the gala I will meet you here."

"And what will we do, the show will be done?"

"It will be a surprise."

"Do you really believe that I am ready?"

"You will be a perfect Belle, I know of no other who can do as well."

Kimberlee was surprised and flabbergasted, Erik had never mentioned to her before revealing himself to Christine. She didn't quite know what to make of this revelation so she made her way down to his lair to speak to him.

She hadn't expected to beat him there; she thought he would have returned after his lessons that evening. She walked over to the organ and looked through the papers laid out there. There were musical scores and drawings of a young woman, but the woman was not her…it was Christine. She flipped through more and more of the papers and continued to find drawings of her, her accusations to him only months ago came back to her. He was falling for her; he didn't want her any longer. Suddenly she felt a presence behind her; she turned to find Erik standing a mere five feet from her with hurt and anger in his eyes.

"What are you doing?" he demanded

"I could ask you the same thing, what are all these?"

"They are none of your business."

"Is this how you treat me after all that we have been to each other? Betray me with your thoughts and lust?"

"And just what were we? Friends, lovers…did you really think that it would last?"

"What are you saying?" she asked stunned with tears welling up in her eyes

"We are over Kimberlee, go to America and leave me."

"Erik no, I want you to come with me…please?"

He said nothing.

"We could be together there, you could write your music and..."

"And what, you'll dump me the minute you meet some young handsome boy who isn't cursed with this face" he shouted removing his mask.

For the first time ever, Kimberlee saw a dark side to him and it frightened her.

"Erik you are the only man I want…please come with me?"

"Get up and go, begging doesn't become you my dear" he said harshly turning from her.

Kimberlee felt her heart break into a million pieces at his cold words. She managed to lift herself up and crying left him there. The sounds of her crying tore Erik's heart into a million pieces and it took every ounce of strength he had not to turn back to her and take her into his arms begging for forgiveness. He knew she had intended to ask him to go with her again but he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to leave the only home he had ever known, to face the people and have them mock and torment him as he had been as a child. He hadn't meant to hurt her so much, but when he saw her looking at his drawings of Christine he had been upset and the words just came pouring out. He turned to where she had run but deciding that it was truly for the best he sat down in the chair he had made for her and cried. In her room, Kimberlee cried into her pillow trying to muffle the sounds her sobs made. They both cried till they could cry no longer, giving into exhaustion.

Two days later Kimberlee stood at the international departures terminal at the airport with her father and uncle with her. She looked pale and very tired but she tried to put on a brave face for her father's sake. He went to check her luggage leaving her alone with Michael.

"What happened between you two?" he asked pulling her into a hug

"It's over between us, his wish not mine."

"You will get over this, losing your first love is always the hardest but just remember all the good times you had together" he said looking her in they eyes.

"I don't know how, how am I supposed to get over it?" she asked starting to cry

"It will take time but time heals all wounds."

"And that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger" she replied.

"That's right, now off to University with you. I want you to be the best student you can be and if you pledge I'll love you even more than I already do" he said smiling.

"Delta Lamda Nu, yeah right Uncle Michael."

"Just try it on for size, you never know, you might like it. Here comes your father."

Kimberlee dried her eyes and turned to her father.

"Well you are all set. Here's your ticket, when do classes start?"

"February 6, so this way I will be able to find a place to live, get a job hopefully and get all my books for school."

"Good, now when you arrive at LAX, your cousin Scott will be there to pick you up and take you home. He does have a roommate that I know nothing about, but Scott says he's a good guy, a pre-law student if I remember correctly."

"Don't worry dad, I'll be fine. Now give me a hug good bye, they are calling my flight."

Jonathon Shaw hugged his daughter good bye and then watched as she made her way to the gate. He turned to his best friend and dried the tears in his eyes, after all real men don't cry.

"Well Michael, my little girl is all grown up and off to University. Now who will I torment?"

"You've always got me."

"Too easy, I need someone young and gullible."

"Well, there's always Meg Giry and Christine Daae."

"Excellent," he said rubbing his hands together. "I am going to miss her though."

"I know you will, I will too."

As Kimberlee boarded the plane she felt a shiver run down her spine, the sensation she was not alone; stronger than ever in that moment. She subconsciously placed her hand over her abdomen as she walked down the lane to the door of the plane. Once Kimberlee was seated, she stared out the window; and as the plane took off she looked down upon the city that had been her home, where she had fallen in love for the first time.

"Good bye Erik, I'll see you again one day."