I paced back and forth impatiently behind her mirror. She was late! This was the second time this week and I knew the cause only too well. It was that confounded boy. Cursing to myself, I furiously glanced again into her dressing room. Damn it!

Pacing angrily, I knew I should chastise her for her disobedience. I hated to do so because I was well aware that her damn young admirer was the cause. All at once, she rushed into her dressing room. No sooner had the door slammed shut than she looked toward the mirror guiltily and murmured, "Angel? I am so sorry that I am late. Please do not be angry."

My heart clutched in my chest as my hands clutched into fists. She continued to call me her 'Angel' and each time she did, it twisted my insides. Why did that wretched boy have to bother with Christine? Wouldn't his noble family disown him were he to........to marry her? I closed my eyes against the wave of nausea that followed such a thought.

I must stop this association with her suitor now, before I was forced to kill him. In a icy tone, I replied, "Yes. I have been waiting, Christine."

She started and looked so convicted that my fears were immediately confirmed. "I......I am sorry." she stammered.

Turning the mirror on its pivot, I stood before her a menacing dark cloud with my arms folded inside my cloak. "Did I not make it clear when we began your instruction that you were to focus completely on your lessons?"

Christine swallowed hard. "Yes, you did, Erik. I apologize. Truly, I did try to get away....." her voice faltered.

Imperiously, I reminded her "You were not to have any diversions....any 'social' entanglements. Who is this boy, Christine?"

For a moment, I thought she might faint as she looked up. Apparently, she had not thought me aware of their association. Her hand went over her heart as though to calm it. "HHe is an......old ffamily friend. I knew him from....my childhood."

"So he presumes to escort you about now that you are grown woman? Perhaps my confidence in you was misplaced. Perhaps we should end these lessons now so that you may pursue other...... amusements?" I arched a brow. "I should hate to get in the way of your attachments." My voice was colder than I had ever used with her before. I was wretchedly miserable and this farce was becoming too woven in deceit.

At my words, she looked panic-stricken. "No. No!" she stared up at me wildly. "I will stop seeing him. I swear! I will tell him this evening."

For a fleeting moment, I closed my eyes and wished I had not woven this web of duplicity around us. Despite my thoughts, when I opened my eyes and beheld the only woman I would ever love, I pushed all such honorable introspection from my mind. I would do anything to possess her......absolutely anything.

Turning from her, I sighed in spiritless depletion and walked slowly towards the dark, cold corridor. Feeling like a wounded mole, I only wanted to get back to my lair.

Behind me, I heard Christine ask fretfully, "Erik? Where are you going?" Pausing, I wondered briefly why it would matter to her.

"I am going home, Christine." I replied, finding myself unexpectedly exhausted. 'Just let me leave', I thought wearily.

"But......what about.....my lesson?" she asked timidly.

Turning, I found her directly behind me and I gazed down at her. "No. Not today. You will rest your voice." Smiling faintly, I moved away again and was shocked at her insistent arm that restrained me.

"No! Erik.....please. Don't go. Won't you at least just.......remain for a little while?" Her voice pleaded with me and my confusion must have shown in my expression. She WANTED me to stay?!

"Please......Erik........don't leave." Her eyes filled with tears and I resigned myself that I would not be leaving anytime soon. Her tears undid me and I exhaled loudly as I moved to face her.

Folding my arms under my cloak and feigning indifference, I sighed, "What shall we do then?"

Christine smiled bravely at me through her tears and I had a sudden, almost irrepressible urge to take her in my arms and kiss her. "Why don't we go to the rooftop again? You seemed to enjoy that before....."

I was so fatigued from my emotion that for a moment I almost declined. My heart upbraided me silently, 'Fool! She is initiating contact with you. GO!'. Nodding to her, I entered the corridor, turned and offered her my hand. Swiftly, she grabbed her cloak as though she thought I meant to disappear. Taking my hand, she stepped through the mirror and I closed it.

We were both quiet on the long trek up to the roof of the Opera. Both of us lost in our thoughts. Myself, I was reflecting on the absolute fruitlessness of my obsession with Christine. My hold on her was rapidly diminishing and I knew that she would soon have to choose. I did not need to be reminded of what the inevitable choice would be.

As we reached the rooftop, I opened the latch and the door swung open. The startled doves flew off voicing their displeasure noisily at our intrusion. It was a beautiful morning. I came up here quite often, unbeknownst to Christine. Here, and only here, high above the curious eyes of Paris, could I relax in the outdoors. Long ago, I had placed an ornate wrought iron bench here and I sat on it now heavily. I watched Christine, who had her back to me, as she gazed out over the city in the sunshine. 'She belongs here. Outside with the sun, the flowers and fresh air.' I thought morosely. The knowledge adding to my already depressing outlook, I removed my hat and leaned against the stone behind me. Closing my eyes, I allowed myself a moment's respite from the unrelenting torment of loving Christine.

"You belong here........outside with the sun and fresh air, Erik." I'd not realized she had moved so close to me and opened my eyes to see her standing straight in front of me. Absolutely astounded by what she said, I could only look at her like a mute idiot. She had repeated what I had just thought about her, almost verbatim. I was amazed and sat speechless, drowning in her beautiful blue eyes.

Christine tilted her head and studied me in the sunshine. I was most uncomfortable with her regard, but I could not move or speak. Finally, shaking myself out of my shock, I smiled faintly, "I was just thinking the exact same thing about you, my Christine."

She smiled happily and sat lightly next to me. "Well, then. We belong here together." She closed her eyes and turned her face towards the sunshine like a glorious sunflower. Watching her raptly, I was rocked to the core with her words - 'we belong here......together'. Whatever could she be thinking? Ripping my gaze from her perfect profile, I looked blindly out at the towers of the city.

"We both are quite alone in the world, aren't we, Erik?" I faced her sharply and wondered about this sudden change in her. What was she after? Staring at her warily, I answered "Yes, I suppose we are."

Nodding, still looking upwards towards the sunshine, she said nothing but then proceeded to astound me even further. Without looking at me, she reached out and took my hand in hers entwining our fingers. Staring down in disbelief at our joined hands - jolted by the sheer 'rightness' of our hands together - I immediately stood. Shaking visibly, I placed my hat on my head and walked towards the edge of the rooftop.

"Erik???" Like a morbidly curious child, she followed me. "Erik, did I do something to upset you?"

My arms were folded under my cloak giving me the appearance of an old, irascible crow. "No." I answered tightly, hoping she would take the hint.

Never one for hints, she replied tremulously, "But, Erik....."

"Enough!" I yelled and held up my hand to silence her. Rounding on her, I advanced towards her threateningly. As she walked backwards, I kept progressing towards her. "Christine. You must STOP torturing me. I am merely a man and if you continue to tease and taunt me, I cannot be responsible for my actions." I spat at her through gritted teeth and did not realize my hands were in fists against the agonizing pain.

Having backed her up against a concrete wall, she stared at me in fright. She tried to speak but only stammered, "Erik....I........I am....." Disgusted with myself for scaring her, I went to the door and whispered chillingly, "Let us go." Not looking at her, I waited for her to approach me. When she did not, I looked in irritation back to her. Christine stood leaning against the wall and sobbing. Good Lord.

Returning to her side and showing admirable patience, I said as softly as I could, "Christine, child. I am sorry if I frightened you. Please forgive me. You are an innocent girl and have no idea the effect you have on me. It will not happen again."

She wiped her eyes with her hands and looked at me in confusion. "Erik........I.......I don't know what to do. I feel something for you but I am not certain what it is."

My heart began to race and adrenaline surged through my veins. Stifling the hope rising inside me, I placed a fatherly hand on her shoulder. "Yes?"

By that time, she had looked away and began to unwittingly wring her hands. It was annoying habit that I had been trying to break her of for some time and I took both her hands in mine. I had performed this gesture before in an effort to stop her and always received a guilty, small smile from her. Now, we both stood in the sunshine staring at our joined hands again. The moment was fraught with significant tension and I knew that this might be my only chance to declare myself.

Still looking at our hands, I rasped hoarsely, "I love you, Christine." Having not the courage to glance up into her eyes, I concentrated on our hands.

The only response I received was a slight squeeze of her tiny hands in mine. Swallowing hard, I mustered up the bravery to glimpse up at her face. Her eyes were shut and tears were streaming down her cheeks. For several minutes, we were silent, holding hands and absorbing this unexpected revelation. Finally, she turned her head and breathed deeply. Gazing up at her again, I waited in suspended, patient suffering for her to reply.

Eventually, Christine looked back at me and I saw immediately that something had changed in her eyes. A knowledge or awareness, I could not tell in my agitated frame of mind. Instinctively, I knew that I should not press her for to do so would cause her to retreat from me. She smiled, kissed the back of my hand and walked towards the door. I followed in a confusion suffused with obscene hope.

For if she could return my affection, the anguish would be worth the wait.