Sabine

The woman fled the house after making this statement, "I will be back, Erik. I understand now that you may need to think this through. I have never been rejected in my life and I won't start now. You need me, monsieur and you know that."

After overcoming the preliminary shock, Erik let out what appeared to be a long breath, which he had been holding in ever since he laid eyes on that woman. I knew her, and he knew that I knew her. Erik had talked about her often enough for me to know that she was Christine Daae, the woman who had been his first and last love until he met me. I had often expressed my fear to Erik that this woman may come back into our lives and try to take him away from me, but he always replied by saying, "Now my love, you know that will never happen. Even if she does come back into my life, I will not take her. I love you and only you now."

I glanced at him now, my future husband, and tried to read his face. He only smiled weakly and led me over to the couch where we sat down. I gazed straight ahead into the fire and tried to imagine what would become of me. After my parents died, I came to live with my aunt here in Paris. Erik and I had met that way and after we fell in love, life couldn't have been better. Now it might be torn apart by a woman who had her chance once before but wanted it again.

"What are your thoughts, my love?" Erik suddenly asked.

I snapped back into reality after his remark and noticed that we were both alone in the living room. My aunt had gone to the kitchen to clean up the dinner plates and start the dishes. I looked deep into Erik's eyes as I tried to think of a reasonable response to his question.

"Whom will you chose?" I asked.

"What do you mean, darling?" he asked. "I never thought this day would come. I've dreamed about this for a long time now and finally she wants to become my wife. Only times have changed and I'm not the same man I was five years ago. I love you now. You know that. If I didn't love you as much as I do, I would not have asked you to be my bride. Come now, dear. You know I want to spend the rest of my days with you and you alone."

"You say that," I answered. "But do you really mean that? If we had not met, would you now become Christine's husband?"

"Why tempt fate, my love?" There was a slight pause and then he continued. "No, I do not think I would. Even before you came into my life, I realized I do not need Christine. She had her chance and many of them. It is you that I love and cherish now. I want to wake up every morning and see you lying beside me, not her. How could I ever trust her again?"

He looked at me long and hard and then kissed me. His lips felt so soft and moist against mine and when we broke apart, his face stayed close to mine and gazed into my eyes. He brought his hand to the side of my face and let it rest there.

"You are mine now and I am yours," he whispered and then gently kissed me again. When we parted, he continued. "I don't know what I would do without you. I love you more than words can ever express."

He kissed me again and I felt his warm moist tongue enter my mouth. His hand was now on the back of my head, pressing my lips to his, and my arms were locked around his neck. My hand then made its way to land on his mask. Slowly, I slid it from his face and let it fall to the floor. I had seen him without his mask before and honestly it did not bother me. I cannot see how people scream at the sight of him. I did not find his face bad at all.

When we broke apart, he immediately lowered his head in shame. I cupped my hand under his chin and brought his eyes to look into mine. I smiled and kissed his deformed cheek.

"I am going to bed," my aunt exclaimed as she walked past us to her bedroom. "Good night."

"Good night," we answered as she quietly shut her bedroom door.

Erik turned to look at me and smiled.

"Are you tired?" he asked.

"Not really," I answered.

"The fire is burning low. We should go to bed. It will be cold in here soon.

"You are right," I answered and kissed him once more. "I think I shall go to bed and get some sleep. Good night darling."

We stood up and he walked me to the edge of the stairs where my soft bed awaited me upstairs.

"I love you," he whispered as he stroked my face.

"I love you too," I answered.

He kissed me once more, letting his tongue slide into my mouth, and pressed me against his body. I felt him harden, even though I had layers of clothes on underneath my dress. When we broke apart, he let out a sigh.

"You felt that?" he asked.

I nodded.

"I am sorry. I cannot help it."

"I know, dear," I answered. "It's all right. We will be married in a month and then I will relieve you of that."

He nodded, kissed me gently, and then without a word, headed to his room.