Chapter Seven

Diana was so shocked. She couldn't think straight, or anything. She had to lean against the wall, to try to calm herself.

She felt like she needed to go back, but was very afraid to.

"Please God, give me wisdom of what to do! Lord God, may your wisdom be poured upon me, I pray!", she prayed, desperately.

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Erik felt horrible for his previous actions.

"At least, she shouldn't be around again", he thought, trying to soothe his already broken heart.

He stepped inside, and went to his chair. He sat down, and leaned forward, placing his forehead in the palms of his hands.

"Why must these things always happen to me? What did I ever do to deserve this?!", he yelled.

Angrily, he walked over to the place he kept his music. He sat down, and picked up a piece of music, he had been working on.

It seemed to relax every nerve in his body. He could feel the relaxation flow over him, like a blanket being placed around his body.

He let out a long sigh, and began to write.

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Diana knelt, praying harder than she had ever before, it seemed.

Though no answer came, she still continued.

Then all of the sudden, she stood up, and began to walk straight back.

As she was walking, she had no idea what she was doing, or why. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, as she walked.

"God, I don't know what I am doing, but, I pray, that whatever I am doing, You will guide me and protect me, in Your name I pray."

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When she reached His door, she walked up to it, ever so slowly, but with confidence.

She drew her hand up to knock, but, it seemed to not want to move, it seemed as if someone was holding it back, and she knew it was her fear.

"No, I will not be afraid!", she thought, and with that she knocked on the door.

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Erik was so into his music, that he hardly realized the knock from the door.

"No, go away! It can't be!", he thought.

Filled with anger, he walked up to the door, and not opening it, yelled, " Go away! Leave me be, I want nothing to do with you!".

Feeling weak and fragile, she almost ran away, but then remembered she had God on her side.

"Sir, I don't know why I am hear, or bothering you, but I feel like the Lord is leading me here, to help you, with whatever it is you are going through, even if you aren't going through anything."

Erik rolled his eyes, hearing her say "God".

"There is no God, for he would not have put me through this life I have lived, this life of misery, solitude, shame!" he yelled with great volume.

"It may seem like He couldn't exist, for I do know what it is like to live a life of sadness, though it may not be as sad as yours. I know what it is like to feel alone, despised, shunned. But, God sees things from a whole different point of view. What seems like punishment to us, can actually be a blessing."

"You know nothing of sadness! You have no idea how I have lived my whole life, what I have been through!"

"Yes, you are correct. But, you can help me understand, you have no idea how relieving it can be to tell someone about the troubles in your life. It takes so much of the burden off of your shoulders."

"I don't think so", he said, more calmly.

"Well, if you ever come to the decision that you need or want to talk to someone, I am always here. Anytime."

"This is completely absurd! I must get rid of her now, before I regret this", he thought.

He tried to think of a way to solve this problem, and thought of it quite quickly.

He let it be silent for a while, and then, suddenly, burst through the door, and tore off his' mask, and yelled, "Yes, you know nothing of misery!", expecting her to run off in fear.

Diana almost fell backwards, suddenly having the door fly open, almost knocking her in the face.

After her shock, she looked up, and wanted to gasp, but decided not to.

She saw the distorted face, with veins bulging out, and then saw a glimpse of the sorrow in this man's life. She saw the sadness in his eyes, and felt such deep sorrow for him.

Erik was shocked to see her unmoved, not even scared, just staring.

"Aren't you scared, of the beast?!" He yelled.

She answered, "No".

Something about the tone of her voice, the look in her eyes, the look of such deep compassion when she said that, made Erik's anger, just seem to melt away.

He looked at her with deep confusion, and she looked at him with deep sorrow, imagining the life he must have lived, the deep loneliness he has felt. She felt her eyes begin to fill.

It was then, that Erik realized, that she must actually want to help him.

"You were right," she said, with a shaky voice, "I don't know what you have been through, but, I am here, here to help you, the best that I can."

After saying that, she tried to think of some way to show how she wanted to comfort him.

She then embraced him in a hug.

Erik was startled at first, not knowing what to think.

She then pulled away, and looked him in the eyes.

"Th, thank , you," he said, unsteadily.

"If you ever want to talk to me, or anything, you can send me a letter to this address," she replied, handing him a slip of paper.

"I, I must be going. It was a pleasure to meet you, Erik, and I hope to see you again," she said with a faint smile.

She then walked away.

Erik stood there, for a very long time, recalling everything that had just happened.

After some time, he slowly walked back inside, closed the door, and sat down.

He stared at the piece of paper Diana had handed him, then pulled out a piece of paper, and began to write.