Meg pinned up her hair, her arms felt like lead and her chest ached dully. Daily life had become a chore but she went through the motions anyway; eating, dressing, and caring for her mother. But it all felt wrong and hollow.

She had thought that Erik would come to her after a couple of days; she had stayed late at the theatre every night, watching the two way mirror for any sign that he was there waiting. The most recent ballet had closed and Meg found herself at home in the evenings, sitting by her bedroom window, staring into the midwinter darkness.

As one week turned into two and then three weeks, Meg had started to give up hope and the good memories of their midnight picnic in the Bois were beginning to fade.

"How would I find him again?" she asked her reflection. He had likely been living in his former home beneath the Opera, but Meg only assumed, she had never asked. "I need to see him."

Meg wandered listlessly through the flat. She paused at the window overlooking the street, momentarily contemplating the yellow streetlights. The clock ticking and her mother's breathing were the only accompaniment to the world below. What was she still doing here?

She sighed. What was the point? Erik was likely halfway across the Atlantic by now and she would never see him again.

"You don't know that for certain. You should go to him."

Yes, perhaps she could make her way to him and then shout uselessly across the lake.

"Even if he were there, why would he even come out, except to maybe kill me."

"Hush now." She admonished. "Think positive."

It couldn't hurt her anymore than it already had. She would go. Moving with a renewed sense of purpose, Meg dressed for the cold night, donning her sturdiest footwear and taking her mother's winter cloak, heavy and warmly lined. Enveloped by the perfume of her maman, Meg crept to the front door. Her hand hesitated over the knob, afraid her mother may wake and catch her, or worse, wake and find her missing.

"Come on Marguerite, you are a bold woman. So be bold."

She took a deep breath and slipped out into the night; quickly swept into the river of business minded men, and sharply dressed fops with warmly dressed ladies on their arms.

If he would not come to her, then she would go to him.

A/N: I'm really really sorry it has been so long and that this installment is so short. I've been working through some serious medical issues and also my beloved kitty died. So I've had nothing in me to give. I hope I can finish this story, it's so old now lol.