Okay, here is the chapter, sorry for making you all wait so long!

"Your art is incredibly beautiful," Said one man. I smiled and shook his hand.

"Thank you, sir." I looked over to my side where Gabriel stood. I smiled at him also.

I was at the premiere of my art show at a local gallery in New York. The original idea was to get a couple of my pieces into the gallery but the director of the gallery had liked my art so much that he gave me my own show.

I had been in New York around six months now and I had experienced so many new things, I'd seen new cultures, eaten new foods, felt a new fast-paced lifestyle.

And all throughout Gabriel had been by my side, teaching me about New York and all the things that I needed to know.

When I wasn't selling my art or meeting people who wanted to buy my art, I was exploring the city with Gabriel.

But don't think I had forgotten my love, my Erik. Of course not. Everyday I thought of him and I wished I was with him. The only reason I went was because he wanted me to. There was no other reason in the world. Indeed, I did like my art being appreciated, but I could live without it.

What I wanted more than anything was to be with him, to hold him. To feel his being close to mine. To have our unity.

After the premiere was over, Gabriel invited me to come to dinner with him.

"This late? But it's nearly 11."

"Please, won't you come with me?" He really was a nice man and I trusted him more than I trusted Monsieur Ames. So in the end, I gave in.

We stepped out of the gallery and began walking. The city was still very much awake. I liked it.

The strong breeze ripped my hair loose from where I had secured it with pins. I stopped walking in an attempt to catch my stray hair. Strong but gentle hands tamed it and put it behind my ears. I looked up at Gabriel. He smiled at me. I was a little uncomfortable but I smiled back.

When we got to the restaurant we were led to a booth. I ordered a salad and water and Gabriel ordered chicken.

"Waiter, a bottle of white Zinfandel for the table please."

"Yes sir."

I found eating in front of him a bit awkward. It was funny, I never felt that way around Erik. Erik. Once he was on my mind I found that he refused to leave. I must have had a melancholy look on my face because he noticed something was off.

"Roxanne? Are you alright?" He asked after he finished a bite of chicken. I was jolted out of my thoughts.

"What? Oh, yes, I'm fine. Sorry, I was just thinking." I smiled trying to cover up my sadness.

I think it worked because he didn't say anything more about it that night. On the walk home, we were silent. The night air was warm. It was around mid-summer.

When we got to my apartment, he spoke. "Tomorrow, will you join me for a day in the city? We can walk in the park, see things, are you up for it?"

I wasn't sure if I really wanted to, I agreed. He took my hand and kissed it. "Goodnight, Roxanne. I'll come tomorrow around 10:30." He left me and I walked into my apartment and locked the door.

I changed into my nightgown and brushed my hair but I wasn't ready to sleep. So instead I went to the window. I looked up, but unlike Paris or New Orleans, I couldn't see the stars. I closed my eyes and tried to remember the stars, the sparkling dots of light which littered a black sky. The very thought made me remember one night Erik and I had spent together.

It was the same story that night, I couldn't sleep so I left the broken house to go outside and look at the stars. Of course, they were as beautiful as always. I didn't even hear Erik coming up behind me and before I knew it he was next to me.

I looked at him, not too surprised. I smiled at him, one of the truest smiles I felt I had ever given anyone. And I was almost positive he was smiling back.

Slowly I walked toward him and I put my body as close as possible to his. He had wrapped his arms around me engulfing me in his black cloak.

The night had been a chilly one, but when I was with him I felt so warm. And we stood there for awhile, just enjoying the feel of each other.

I wiped the tears that came to my eyes as I remembered that night. I wondered what he was doing at this exact moment. I wondered where he was. I wondered if he ever thought of me. And that last night that we shared together. Because I did. I could still almost recall the soft pressure of his lips on mine.

And I remembered the night time when he cleaned my wounds that my father had given me. His touch was so gentle, almost as if with the slightest wrong movement I would break.

He had always been so gentle with me. I knew he was a murderer and I knew he was dangerous but I also knew that he was caring. I never felt frightened around him.

I couldn't help it. I was crying. Right now, I couldn't remember why I had left him. He was all the things I had ever wanted. Kindness, affection, love. He didn't treat me like I was crazy.

I took one more look at the sky and then I went to bed. But I couldn't sleep. All I could think about was him. My pillow was getting wet from my tears so I figured it wouldn't matter. I turned my face into my pillow and sobbed, trying my best to muffle whatever noises I made.

Eventually I calmed down. I closed my eyes and I could almost feel his arms around me. Almost.

The next morning when I woke up I was incredibly groggy. I fixed myself up with my normal morning routine. I put on a simple dress, one good for walking although dresses themselves weren't that great for walking anyway.

I was fixing my hair just as I heard a knock at the door. I looked at my reflection. I was supposed to be a child but I wasn't anymore. I was 18 and I was a woman. An old woman. I sighed then called that I would only be a minute more. I practiced having a pleasant look on my face. Once I was satisfied with the result, I made my way to the door and found Gabriel standing there smiling.

"Are you ready?" He asked.

"Yes." I answered and he offered me his arm. I took it and we headed out.

We stepped out into the warm air and started walking.

"How about a walk in the park first?" He offered.

"Alright." We went in the direction of the park.

"How did you sleep last night?" He said.

"Fine." I lied.

"Good. Good." A pause. "The opening went well last night, don't you think?"

"Yes." I wasn't really listening. I was hearing and I was understanding and automatically answering the questions with what I thought he wanted to hear.

We reached the park. It was a warm day already and many people were swarming around.

Surprisingly throughout all my time in New York, I was able to ward off any talk about my family. But not today.

"So, Roxanne, you've never told me much about you. I know you come from France, but that is it. Roxanne Dautry, I want to know you." He then stopped and turned to face me. "Tell me about you."

So I told myself this: Roxanne, now you have to lie like you've never lied before.

"Well…" I started and began walking again. He followed. "I was born a little outside Paris. We were middle class. My father worked as a baker in a local bakery and my mother worked a bit as a seamstress. I also had a little sister. So anyway, when I was younger I always used to paint and I sold them locally but my parents knew that wasn't what I wanted, that I didn't want to live in Paris and live my life out simply. So they put together a lot of their money and surprised me with a ticket to New Orleans. But sadly, a little while after I left I got news that both of my parents had fallen ill. Soon after they both died, both of them within two months. I was sad, yes, but I got over it.

"Then I started selling my art in New Orleans. And then I met you." I smiled in a fake way. But I was sure he couldn't tell.

"Roxanne, you are an amazing person."

"Thank you…why?"

"You can still live your life and remain optimistic despite having your parents deceased."

"We were never really close." I said quietly. I stopped walking and so did he.

"They must have loved you though, they cared enough to buy you that ticket." He started walking again.

"Yes…they must have." I sighed, knowing that it wasn't true in the least.

After the day was over, Gabriel escorted me back home. The night air was just as warm as it had been a day ago. We walked up the steps that led me to the door of my apartment. I was tired. After a day of walking I was ready to go to bed.

I stopped in front of my door and reached into my purse to pull out my key.

"Roxanne," He said. I stopped searching and looked up at him. Slowly he reached up a hand and tentatively put it to the side of my face. I stood there frozen. "You're so beautiful." His thumb stroked my cheek. I was staring intently at him, wondering what he would do next. He moved his face closer to mine but at the last second I turned my head so his lips made contact with my cheek.

"I'm sorry…" He said. "I just….forget it. I'm sorry." He started to walk away.

"Gabriel wait!" I called after him, but he was practically gone. So I just stood there, the key in my hand, totally confused.
I hope you all liked it!