Christine trudged up the stairs, she didn't want to go back the other girls. She wanted her father, but he wasn't here, he was gone. He had left her, Christine bit her lip trying not to cry. She opened the door to the dormitory and walked in with her head down, Meg ran up and threw her arms around Christine.
"Where were you?" Meg cried.
"I got lost," Christine whimpered, "I got lost."
"Maman, says we're not supposed to leave the dormitory now, so come let me braid your hair." Meg said.
She pulled Christine to her bed and grabbed a brush. Meg slowly worked her brush through Christine's hair as she talked about life at the Opera. Christine sat patiently as Meg tried to braid her hair and then usually ripped it out.
Madame Giry came upstairs after a few hours and told them that they should stretch and go to bed. She called to talk to Christine privately. Christine got up as the other girls hissed insults from under their breath.
"A friend told me you wanted to go to the chapel." Christine nodded.
"Go borrow a shawl from Meg, and I will show you where it is."
Christine's face brightened and she hurried back to Meg and asked for a shawl. Christine wrapped it around her as she and Madame Giry descended down the stairs. They navigated their way through the props and scenes and down another stair case. Madame Giry pointed at some letters above a door way?
"Can you read, child?" she asked.
"Not very well," Christine said as she looked down in shame.
"This says chapel, this is how you know you are here." Madame Giry said.
Christine looked up and tried to take in the letters, but it meant nothing.
"Do you know your way back to the dormitory?"
"I think so," Christine said.
"Do you know your way back? This is important, there are monsters out there who will take advantage of you, do you know how to get back to the dormitory?" Madame Giry said.
Christine nodded.
"Good. I will see you tomorrow." Madame Giry walked away, the noise of her shoes slowly fading into the distance.
Christine looked at the letters again and slowly descended once more into the chapel. It was dusty and only a small candle burned. A few soft beams of light fell through the stained glass. Christine saw that it was an angel, she hoped her Papa would send her an angel like he promised. There were a few candles lined up, some with photos in front of them. Christine noticed there were no extra candles, so she removed one from it's holder and whispered sorry to its owner. She lit the candle and sat down on the floor. She began sobbing uncontrollably.
"Papa, why did you leave me? Why did you have to go? I do not like it here, the girls are mean to me, there... please send me your angel of music, please." Christine choked out the words between sobs. She eventually laid down on the floor, it was too hard to sit. She was whimpering to herself when she heard the singing.
It was faint at first, but grew louder. Christine sat up, shocked. "Papa?"
"Child, stop your crying, I am the angel that your father has sent."