Christine dans Deux
An Alternate Multiverse - A Phantom of the Opera Story
Nyasia A. Maire
© 2006
DISCLAIMER: See Chapter One
Chapter Forty-Eight – Layover
I awake to darkness and find I am alone. My hands do not find Erik in the small bed. I sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes. And there he is. He stands naked at the window looking out into the night.
"Erik? Dearest?"
"Yes, my beloved."
"Why are you at the window?"
"I awoke and did not wish to disturb you, so I came here to think."
"And what do you think about, my husband?"
"I think about consequences."
"Consequences? Consequences of what?"
"Our love, ma chére cœur."
"You make our love seem ominous."
"No, but there may be a consequence and I am unsure of my ability to handle it."
"What consequence concerns you?"
"We have loved one another freely, without restraint."
"Yes. Is there any other way to love?"
I feel his soft smile in my mind even though I cannot see it with my eyes.
"Beloved, you are young again. What if we have made a child?"
"And this troubles you. Why?"
"I do not wish to share you."
"Erik, I do not wish to share you either."
"No?"
"No. My world has precautions and I use one of them. We have not made a child with our love. I have loved you for the pure joy of it as I always will."
"Christine?"
"Yes, Erik?"
"Am I wrong to not want a child?"
"No."
"You do not think me selfish?"
"No more selfish than I."
He turns away from the window and returns to the bed. He sits down on the edge and takes my hand in his.
"I do not believe you to be selfish. You are the most giving person I have ever met. You are kind to everyone even those who are cruel to you. I watched you take away Christine's pain. You took it onto yourself. You felt it. You did this for her even though she acted as if she hated you. And I know that what you did for Christine is not the first time."
"Stop! I am no saint. I do what I must."
We sit quietly.