Meg didn't know how long she had been holding this broken and fallen angel. She knew her mother would be looking for her soon, but Meg didn't care, this man needed her more than anyone had ever needed Meg. As they continue to just sit there holding on to each other as if they were afraid to let go and wake up from this dream, Meg began to wonder about this phantom. What had happen to him in the past? Surely these tears he cried were not only for Christine.
After about another hour of just holding onto each other, Meg knew she needed to get back otherwise her mother would come looking for her. She looked deep into his eyes, then brushed away a few tears and tucked a few strands of hair behind his ear. It was like a knife stabbing her in the heart when she began to get up slowly. He looked at Meg terribly confused like a child who didn't know what he had done wrong. Meg smiled at this angel of music. She could never be mad at him for lying to her about being some sort of angel. She understood his loneliness, she shared his emptiness, she understood his fears of being neglected, forgotten, and she understood almost all of his torment and his tears. "I must go," she said smiling sadly at him. "They'll wonder where I am."
"Please come back to me." He asked desperately taking her hand. She smiled again making her look irresistible to any man who ever laid eyes on her. The Phantom's shattered heart fluttered for an instant.
"Of coarse I will come back, I promise," Meg said barely above a whisper. They held onto each others hands for as long as they could until finally Meg returned to the world that she had been masquerading almost her entire life.
When Erik had returned home he began to play his music furiously. He couldn't concentrate, he couldn't think right. Erik slammed his hands on the keys making a horrible sound. Erik could still feel the warmth of Meg on his entire body; he could still smell her scent as if she was sitting right next to him. Erik sat up and walked towards the shore of the vast, glassy, lake. Meg had comforted when he felt that his entire world had shattered. He wished now that he never laid eyes on Christine. She had hurt him more than he thought possible, but Meg had been there to wipe away his tears, to hold him in her arms when he need someone more than anything. No one would have listen to him crying, they would have all wrinkled their nose and run away or try and kill him, not Meg she had listen to his cries for someone to show him some compassion. No one would listen no one, but her. Only the outcast could here these cries like she did and that's what they were, two outcasts who had no, but each other.
Erik played with the murky water trying to think properly. Suddenly a song entered his head a song that was not about his precious Christine, but a little ballerina whose heart fell into darkness:
No
one would listen
No one but her
Heard as the outcast hears.
Shamed into solitude
Shunned by the multitude
I
learned to listen
In my dark, my heart heard music.
Erik stood up and walked over to where all of his pictures he had either sketched or painted of Christine hung.
I longed to teach
the world
Rise up and reach the world
No one would listen
I
alone could feel the music
He looked through a pile of sketches to fine a one of Meg dancing in the moonlight on the roof looking like the Angel of the Night. He smiled at the thought of Meg dancing.
Then
at last, a voice in the gloom
Seemed to cry "I hear you;
I
hear your fears,
Your torment and your tears."
He walked over to his mini stage version of Opera Populaire; playing with the little dolls. Erik then took a red rose from a nearby vase, smelling its sweet fragrance. He sat down thinking of the little ballerina who inspired this gloomy, yet beautiful song.
She
saw my loneliness
Shared in my emptiness
No one would listen
No one but her
Heard as the outcast hears
No one
would listen
No one but her
Heard as the outcast hears...
Meg hurried back to the stage in hopes that she wasn't missed. She didn't know what time it was, but people were still out with a look on their face that Meg would never forget. The police were all around searching for the Phantom hoping to track down this murderer and kill him. As Meg was running down a dark hallway, a hand snatched her wrist. Meg screamed.
"Hush, child," her mother whispered harshly.
"Oh, Mama, it's only you," Meg said breathing heavily.
"Where have you been, Meg? I haven't seen you since the performance." Madame Giry said in a low voice.
"I was on the roof, Mama. I had to get away from that horrible sight," Meg shuddered.
"Don't you dare do that to me again, Marguerite Giry! Do you understand?"
"Yes, Mama," Meg bowed her head. They walked back to the ballet dormitories neither one of them speaking to one another. Finally we arrived at the dormitories. We said goodnight and that practice would be at the same time the next day.
I slowly crept into my room hoping that I wasn't waking Christine. I slipped off my costume and put on my nightgown. I quickly brushed my hair and tied it back into a ponytail. I slipped into bed thinking about what had happen tonight. I had just made a promise to a wanted murderer to visit him again. I was about to fall asleep when I heard a whisper, "Meg." I opened my eyes. It was Christine tiptoeing to my bed and sitting down.
"What is it Christine? Is everything all right?" I asked worriedly.
"I'm fine and tonight was the most wonderful night!" She exclaimed taking my hands. I knew what she was talking about, but I had to play the innocent ballerina who was always cheerful, happy, and a good friend.
"Christine what are you talking about? Joseph Buquet is dead and you are having a good night. Christine your face was pale when we all heard the Phantom during the performance."
"I know Meg, but after the…incident Raoul and I went to the roof. I realized right then that I was in love with him. He came to my dressing room after the performance to ask me out for dinner, I wanted to go, but I had to stay for singing lessons. I should have gone with him, Meg. I should have never stayed otherwise I wouldn't have witnessed what I had witnessed."
"But when we were on the roof I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. Anywhere he goes I want to go too. We declared our love right there on the roof where he kissed me."
"Christine don't you think you are going a little to fast. I mean you've only seen each other for the first time in years." Meg said trying to hold back tears. She hated Christine for loving Raoul. Not because she was jealous, but because she was so irresponsible for her actions and didn't care who she hurt. She knew the Phantom loved her more than any man could love a woman and yet she let his heart shatter into a thousand pieces.
"Promise me right now Meg that you won't get mad." Christine suddenly said.
"What?" Meg asked confused.
"Promise me Meg please. I need you to please. You're my best friend Meg and I can't keep this inside of me without telling someone." She pleaded.
"I promise." Meg whispered.
"Meg, Raoul and I are secretly engaged! We shall be married hopefully soon. He proposed to me after taking me back here. Oh isn't this exciting, Meg? You will be my maid of honor and we shall have white roses everywhere, I know how it is your favorite." Meg couldn't respond. Christine was going to be…married? This wasn't good, she wasn't thinking, Meg thought.
"What are you thinking Christine? You can't marry Raoul it isn't safe. The Phantom will find out about this and will try to hurt you or Raoul, maybe even the both of you. Mark my words Christine it isn't safe." Meg said looking at her shocked.
"Meg you promised me you wouldn't be mad at me. I know what I am doing. I'm not a little girl anymore. Raoul and I love each other and he has promised me that nothing will ever happen to me." Christine cried.
Didn't she know that this could turn into catastrophe? Meg asked herself. "I'm sorry Christine. I was just startled by this news. I'm so happy for you Christine," Meg gave a small smile.
"Oh thank you, Meg. I knew I could count on you." Christine hugged Meg tightly.
"Of coarse Christine." Meg said
The next three months Meg would sneak up to the roof to visit the Phantom. She would leave at exactly 11:30 and stay till almost one. They would talk about many different subjects and Erik would have Meg sing for him to hear her soft, sweet, voice. Erik would try to give her some suggestions to help her improve her voice, but it pained him for it reminded him of Christine.
Meg's worst fear came true. He had heard the entire conversation when Meg had returned to her ballet dormitories. He had cried even harder and wished to have Meg to hold him in her arms. The two became friends very quickly. They had searched for so long for someone to understand them and that day came when Meg had first heard Erik in Christine's dressing room.
"Tomorrow is the Masquerade Ball," Meg said cheerfully. "Will you be there?"
He laughed, "Surely you know by now that I am always there, watching. Nothing goes on in this opera without me knowing." Meg shivered. He was right, he knew everything.
Meg realized it was time that she should return. Tomorrow would be an eventful day not knowing that her prediction was exactly correct. She sang:
I must go
It is getting late
See you tomorrow my angel.
He laughed again. She loved to make him laugh. It was rare moments, but was very special to Meg.
"Goodnight my little ballerina," he cried out.
