I walked for three days. I forced myself to live outside and I realized I had to find a job. Anything that pays.
I went to a bakery and noticed a man working. I had to find any job. It seemed like he needed help. He was busily serving customers and I needed to ask to help him.
After he finished with his customers, he said,
"I would like a job. I would like you to hire me."
The baker looked at me and said,
"I suppose I could use some help around here. I will pay you six francs a day. We do not open on Sundays-for church."
"All right," I began, "that's fine."
"And I will give you two loaves of bread a week."
He asked me,
"Do you have a place to stay?"
"No, I do not."
"Well, I keep an extra cot in the attic. I live next door. You can stay there."
And so I started make a little money to live. I started saving a little for other purposes. The rest I used on food, quills, a candle or two, and paper.
I must say I did not enjoy my work, but it would work for now.
I continued writing, but I was determined to find the skill to write each day. I felt like I needed it like I needed water.
I worked for the baker three years and he was planning to move out of the city. I did not want to leave Paris, for I felt I needed to be here.
When I left, I had money saved to buy a ticket to see the Opera. Even though I could not perform in an opera show, I could still see one. My family knew operas and we grew well together until I had left. I had only seen one opera and that was because my teacher told me to see it.
I knew that I still had a connection with the opera. But not for singing or ballet. I was going to write the songs, the lyrics, and the story.
Every opera has a story and it's my job to write one. But since that kind of job was not in demand often, I had to find another job.
Another seven years passed and I worked several jobs-a servants, an assistant of seamstress shop (though I do not sew well), two more bakeries, and even watching a child.
But I knew my jobs were temporary. I had written half an opera. The story, the songs. It is difficult not knowing how to play piano. Or any kind of music.
Yes, I had to.
I heard of the opera house being severely damaged and was currently under repair. Several people had died during the opera Don Juan Triumphant-the opera the Phantom had written.
I hear these stories, and for the most part, I ignore them, but if he had written an opera, he must exist. He disappeared and was never heard from again. But I do not know much.
It was a topic that last for three months. It was now April and I wanted to finish my opera by the end of this year.
Dear readers, I know the early stuff is boring; we need to hear Erin's life before she meets the Phantom/Erik. Well, we're going to interesting in the next part. Enjoy!