Chapter 7

(Erik's Point of View)

As I lied awake in my bed one night, I was thinking about Christine. How happy a man she had made me since she took my ring 3 months ago. And how strong our relationship had grown. Every time her father went out of town, she came to be with me until he returned, but until that time, it was like a dream. Sometimes I would even sneak into her room at night to just hold her as she slept.

Suddenly, noises coming from Christine's room stopped my thoughts about her and made me run to see if she was alright. I flew the door open to see Christine lying in her bed, choking loudly in her sleep.

"Gustave!" I called for her father to come.

I began to pat Christine's back and once she stopped she told me she could barely breathe.

"Don't leave me Erik." she whispered.

"I won't"

Inside the ambulance, the doctors began to check her to see what had caused her choking. They told us that her lungs were filled with fluid, looking like for quite some time. They called it pneumonia and said she would have to be hospitalized for at least 3 days to regain her strength.

"Erik, I'm scared." she said softly.

I bent down and kissed her hand and forehead. As I stroked her hair, I sang to her our favorite song, "All I Ask of You."

"No more talk of darkness, forget these wide eyed fears. I'm here, nothing can harm you, my words will warm and calm you. Let me be your shelter, let me be your light. You're safe, no one will find you, your fears are far behind you."

By the time I had finished that verse, we had arrived at the hospital. As they wheeled her into the room to take tests, Christine didn't want to be separated from me. The doctor's told her that I wasn't allowed to come in with her, but she wouldn't understand. Finally, because of her behavior, they let me go with her to keep her calm.

As they took her tests and let her rest, they asked me what my relationship was to her.

"I am her music teacher."

The doctors nodded and walked off, all except one. He was very old and just stood smiling at me. "You can't hide love young fellow." he said while he patted my back.

"Sir, I..." I began.

"No need for explanation son, I was a music teacher once too."

After hearing that, I smiled at him and nodded to him as he walked away.

After the tests had finished, they took Christine to her room which I had already begun to decorate with things to make it feel more like home. I had ordered dozens of flowers to be delivered, and since it was about 9am now, they came instantly. Also, balloons, and many cards filled her room as well. As they wheeled her in, she was asleep and once the doctor's left, I climbed into the bed with her.

"My dear little, Christine." I whispered into her hair. "How you scared me so."

My hand caressed her face gently and I was so absorbed in her beauty, I didn't see the old doctor standing in the doorway.

As an instinct, I tried to get up, but he just smiled so I stayed where I was.

"Mr. Destler, your Christine has pneumonia and will have to stay here for 3 days. She needs plenty of rest and water when she gets home though, and I trust you will take care of her."

"Of course, I always do."

"Mr. Destler, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"

"Well, I'm 25."

He smiled widely as he walked towards the door.

"That's how old I was too."