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"Look at you. Regal like a queen. You know some women might be a little more upset when their husbands leave them but not you. You look even more beautiful than the day I saw you. Ten years, Christine and not so much as a word for your best friend, Meg."
"Meg, I had no idea that you had left for America. How could I have known that?"
"Did you even try to find out? No. You had your Vicomte and your life was set. Who cares if the Opera House burned to the ground? What did it matter that Meg lost not just her livelihood and home but her will to live. Dancing was my life and I couldn't even share my misery with my best friend."
"Meg, I was broken back then and lost. It was as if I was in a fog during those first few months after I left." She closed her eyes. "I know I hurt so many people but you must believe me when I tell you that I never meant to hurt anyone, least of all you."
"You didn't even invite me to the wedding! Was I really considered trash back then? Now I know the answer, but back then you and I were the same. I still remember when your Vicomte didn't even remember your name. He never would have either if it hadn't been for Erik and your lessons." She laughed. "I wonder if Erik ever things about that? Why not? He's thought only of you these past 10 years. I suppose a million 'what if' thoughts crossed his mind. God knows, he never voiced his thoughts to me."
Meg moved closer to Christine as Christine eyed the door.
"You say you were broken?" Meg rolled her eyes. "You had a new life! I had nothing! I was forced to leave the only home I have ever known and follow Mother and the Phantom killer to this land. I was so alone on that ship. Mother never spoke to me, unless she had to and Erik…. He truly was a ghost to me." She stared out into the air.
"Meg, I know I made mistakes….."
"Yet you did them anyway. I did what I had to do when I first came here. I learned the language and I tried to get them to notice me. At first, I barely even noticed him, he kept himself hidden so often but he was unlike anyone else I had ever known…. Mysterious…Graceful…. And a real person. I remember how he performed on that stage and I couldn't stop myself from being…..Affected by it. He looked as lost as I was."
She shook her head. "I would try to get up enough courage to talk to him only to be shunned by either Mother or he would disappear. Then I realized I could get him to listen to me, if I showed him I was working with him… For his purpose. His approval was all I wanted. Surely, you could understand that."
Christine nodded. "Meg, I don't blame you for falling in love with him." She inched closer to the door.
"I knew it was crazy. I knew he was in love with you but I thought in time, he would see that you were gone and I was here. I remained. I was there with him, day and night. Hoping that he would just offer one word of encouragement or return one glance."
She wiped her eyes. "He never did. I thought him such a fool. I thought that once he saw what I could do for the park, he would have to notice me. He would have to talk to me. He would have to….Love me."
Christine shook her head. "Meg, you can't blame yourself. You can't make a heart love someone. Love is as magical as it is cruel."
"Says the women who gets everyone to love her." Meg scoffed. "When I found out that he got you here to sing….. That he was writing songs for you and not me….I knew it was over. I knew that I could never do enough, never be enough. Even if I got him a new face, he would still only love you."
She then looked at Christine. "So when your husband offered me a chance to escape, I said yes. I knew it was wrong but out of all the sins I committed, it wasn't so terrible. At least I was doing it for me and me alone."
"Are you happy?"
Meg's high piercing laughter frightened Christine. "Happy being a whore? Raoul may not have paid me but that's what I was. Once again a substitute for the lovely, Christine Daae. He loves you too. Granted, he isn't as devoted as Erik but Raoul loves you. In fact, I think all you have to do is tell him you would take him back and he'd come running. That is, if you dare leave the lights of Phantasma and the arms of the man who built it."
"Meg….."
"I left him. I couldn't do it anymore. It's one thing to degrade yourself for love but it's quite another to do it, knowing there is no love to speak of. What's the point?"
Christine realized something. "Raoul didn't come back?"
She shrugged. "Not with me. I left him in a goodbye note when he was at the casino. I am not even sure when he came back to the room to find me gone. He can spend days just throwing away money he doesn't have. He told me that they were going to contact his family for funds if he didn't start paying his debts. That is another reason why I decided to leave. I wasn't going to be thrown out into the streets."
"Meg, I know you think my life was perfect but if you only knew. I think you have a fraction of an idea of how my life was like just by being with Raoul these past few months."
"Poor Christine. Can you not see anyone else's suffering without comparing it to your own? At least I stand by my choices. You blame your choices on the actions of others. All decisions have consequences, Christine! Even yours!"
"I have paid for my sins a hundred times over and I will never forgive myself for the hurt I caused so many people because of my actions but you will not stand there and judge me!"
"Why not? You and Erik play judge and jury, or have you forgotten that you have thrown my mother to the wolves! She's an old woman. She took you in when you were without parents or guardians. You had nothing and she saved you and this is how you replay her?"
"Meg, Antoinette had to go. Her actions were unforgiveable. She stood by and did nothing to help any of us. All she cared about was herself."
"As you only care about yourself, Christine. Maybe your boy….. Maybe your Angel of Music. Although I wonder what happens when he really needs you. What will you do? He may be all business and the model of a proper gentleman now but we both know who he still is down deep inside. We both know what a monster he can be. What happens then? Will you stand by his side? Will you do all you can for him or will you run away?"
"He's not a monster and if you ever loved him, you would never call him such a name! As far as his past goes, he has changed and he has rebuilt his life."
"That's not what I asked you. I asked whether or not you would run if he shows his true self. You are very good at running, aren't you? First to your Angel, then to Raoul, then back to your Angel. As soon as the perfect world isn't so perfect, you find a way to run."
"You're wrong. I know who Erik really is and I love him. I always have and I always will. He is good and he is what I want."
"Would you still say that if you were living in the sewers of Paris, wearing a faded rag as opposed to a beaded gown? Would you say that if you were on the Phantom's arm as opposed to Mr. Y's? See I would, because I love them both. I always said yes. You on the other hand, have always said no."
Christine swallowed hard. She wanted to rage at Meg and tell her that she knew nothing. She had no idea how she wanted to swear her love to Erik years ago in the abandoned cabin, only to find she couldn't because he was gone. She loved Erik, all of him. His broken parts, his moments of rage, his fierce passion, his heart, his soul and above all else, his very best; their son. Only she couldn't. Erik told her that no one could know about Gustave, it was too risky for her and the boy. Suddenly, she understood exactly how right he was. Meg and her mother would do anything to hurt her and Erik. Seeing them now, she could never put Gustave in that kind of danger. So she closed her eyes and let the tears fall.
Meg took Christine's silence as her victory. "I'll leave you with that."
