Raoul sat in favorite chair in the study. He told the help to take the night off. He needed to think. What was that story all about? Was Christine telling the truth? The more he thought about it the more it actually made sense! Everyone in that opera house was obsessed with that dreadful "opera ghost". He decided that tomorrow he would go to Christine and beg for forgiveness. After all he did love her. He heard a knock at the door. Who would be calling at this hour it was one in the morning. He looked through the keyhole…
"Christine? What are you doing here?" She was in tears.
"Oh Raoul! It's horrible! Erik attacked me! He grabbed me and wouldn't let go! I was so scared! What am I going to do?"
"What? What do you mean he attacked you? Did he hurt you badly? Here come in and sit."
After about ten minutes Raoul was able to calm Christine down.
"Now Christine what exactly happened?"
"Well, as you know I was furious with you because you didn't believe me about Erik. So I went to Erik this night. He knew about us and was upset with me because…now Raoul I told Erik that night that I…loved him."
"You did? I knew you did. The way you talked about him. Only someone in love could talk about that person like that. Do you still love him?"
"No! I hate him! Oh, but I must tell you what happened next! Next we had a little fight about how and why I told you about him. Then he asked me if I loved him and I asked him not to talk about that right now. Then he started yelling at me saying that you brainwashed me into falling in love with you and out of love with him. Then I told him that I didn't want to be with either of you and tried to leave. Then he came out of the mirror and grabbed me! I told him to let go but he wouldn't! I finally got free and ran all the way here. I don't know what to do."
"Well Christine I see what you could do but first you must answer this question."
"Yes?"
"Do you love me?"
"I…yes. Yes! I do! I love you Raoul!"
They embraced each other. Then Raoul got down on his knees and said,
"Then marry me! Come away to the north with me! Escape from this world of darkness!"
She looked at the ring. It was beautiful! It was in the shape of a rose. It had white diamonds and rubies. A rose…she remembered the roses that came with each letter saying when her and Erik would meet again. She looked at Raoul.
"I can't. I'm so sorry."
"What? Why?"
"I'm sorry Raoul but I can't betray Erik.'
"But he attacked you! He can't love you if he did something like that!'
"He doesn't know how to love! He's been locked away all of his life! He doesn't know how to love someone like you and I!"
"But if we are in love then nothing should keep us apart! Please Christine I beseech you! Marry me…please."
"Alright then I will! But you must do something for me."
"Anything my love."
"You can't tell anyone that we are engaged. And you must wait until the end of this month to even think about telling anyone. Understand?"
"Perfectly. But why must we wait?'
"I have to see Erik one last time at the end of this month. Just to say good-bye. Don't argue! I must do it. If you love me as much as you claim then you will understand."
"Alright, I understand."