Chapter 23

After my frightening ordeal in the hospital, Erik helped me through a very fast recovery. He spent so much extra time with me, especially to make sure that I was safe.

Raoul on the other hand suffered very major trauma to his head from falling out of my two story window, leaving him with a slight mental disorder. So instead of taking him to jail, they took him to an institution. I would have felt sorry for him, but not after what he did to me.

While recuperating upstairs in my room, Erik never left my side. He would always still to just talk, read, or sing to me. He really was a very sweet man. I still feel very guilty though of all the horrible things I told him before he left. He said he understood that I did it in order to save him, but I just still can't forgive myself to succumb to that.

"Christine, do you need anything?"

I took my attentions off the window to see the outside world I hadn't see in days.

"No, Erik, I'm fine." I said with a smile.

He brushed the hair from my face and kissed my forehead.

"Would you like a story?"

"I would love one." I answered with a laugh.

I sat up with Erik's help and put my head on my arms to listen intently to his fascinating tale.

"Well, this won't be one of my many times in Persia."

"Oh, but Erik, those are my favorites!"

He laughed with a coy smile.

"I know, but I think this one you will like."

"Alright, go ahead, tell me then."

"Once upon a time..."

"Erik, don't you think I'm a little too old for 'once upon a time?" I said with a laugh.

Erik gave me a smile and nodded.

"Many years ago, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had wealth, he did not have happiness. The only thing that kept him from obtaining such a wonderful treasure as that was his wickedly ugly face that was distorted. So because of his repulsion, he turned to a mask to hide away his shame. 20 years passed and the same prince began to grow old and thought he would never find true love until one day a fair maiden passed by his castle in need of help because her horse threw her off and ran away from her. He took her in and as he helped her recover, he fell in love with her. Time passed by and soon they became friends. She stayed with him to help take of his large estate and they kept each other company. The prince wanted so much to ask her hand in marriage, but he was too afraid of the rejection. But one dreadful day, the fair maiden walked into the prince's room when he was unmasked. As he turned around quickly, she saw his face which was...

Suddenly, I took hold of the story.

"...which was incredibly beautiful without any trace of distortion. As she walked closer, he shuttered and turned away, but she placed a hand on his face and asked him why he wore the mask because there was nothing to hide. He looked at her and then in his mirror to see that in his eyes, there was a distortion. But in her eyes, the eyes of true love, she only saw his inner beauty."

Erik bent his head and kissed me gently.

"Sweet dreams my fair maiden."