FINISHING THE OPERA May-December 1882
Erik and I began working on the opera. I finished writing the songs and the story now we could together write the music. For I had mostly the final say.
"What about this?"
He played a piece on his organ and I would sing an excerpt in normal style.
"You are not a horrible singer," Erik said one day, "You just not an opera singer."
"It was something I did train in until I left my home."
"I know what you're feeling,
Erin. My mother did not do anything to help me-she just tried to hurt
me. She hid me away. And your talent is rare."
"Especially in
women," I added.
One day, I told Erik,
"We're out of parchment and paper to write on for our opera. I am going to get some."
"Will you…come back?"
"Erik, you are helping me complete an opera. How would leave my partner?"
"People have left me before."
"Christine?"
"You know about Christine?"
"Yes, and I knew her. Long ago when Madame Giry first started teaching ballet at the Opera House."
"Oh."
(To the tune of All I
ask of you)
"I promise you, Erik, Phantom of the Opera that I shall come back and we'll finish our opera."
I was led out and I walked to the parchment store. I bought my parchment for Erik and I. And then, a voice from behind said,
"Erin. So you are working with Erik."
"Madame Giry."
"Yes, you do know. Living your life with Erik in the catacombs. I know you're there. Promise me you will not let Erik kill again and make sure you will not, either. I think you are keeping Erik from going insane. You are helping him and he's doing the same. Do you feel any attraction to him?"
"No, I do not. We are partners and nothing else."
"Very well. Good-luck and I hope you and him finish that opera."
Arriving back to the lair, Erik, walked toward me and said,
"You came back. And now I know for sure that you can keep a promise. That you will not leave me. And you will help me, too."
It was now August and even though I was the partner of Erik, I had ot tell him of the meeting with Madame Giry while getting the parchment.
"Erik, do you know Madame Giry?"
"Yes, I do. You saw her? What did she say to you?"
"She said that she knew I had been living down here and…she made me promise…. that you and I…. will not…kill or hurt anyone."
"You made that promise for me as well?"
"Yes, and Erik, I want you to promise me you
won't hurt anyone. I don't want anyone to get hurt for my
opera."
"All right," he said, "I promise you."
"We're almost finished with the opera and when will we announce the completion?"
"At the Masque Ball. As you know it is annual and we'll be ready."
"I have nothing to wear to it, though. And I have never been to the Masque."
"Do not worry about it," Erik replied, "for everything will be ready."
As the days went on, he and I continued to work on the final song of the opera.
By November, we had everything we needed to finish the opera.
"Erin, we just need the final touch to make this perfect."
One day in December, I had a title for the Opera.
Passion
Not "The Passion"
Just "Passion."
Erik and I wrote this because we were doing something that we were passionate about. I decided the title and Erik agreed. A week later, we finished.
I have said little of Erik's mask-the item he was known for-I did not ask nor did it come up in conversation. I had always heard the stories, but for the most part, ignored them. It was rude and disrespectful to ask of someone's "problem" when it was none of my concern. If he wanted me to see him without it, he will show it to me. But for now, I was content. Content to not know about Erik's face.
But a few days later, he asked about that without me saying anything. I had thought it, but never said it.
"You are the first person who is not afraid of me. You and I talk normally. You treat me like I'm human, unlike other people who treated me with fear or no respect. Except for Christine."
"Erik, there is more to you than your mask. You have blinded yourself and others. And I'm not blinded by it. I do not know how I am not. Because you are not ready to show me and nor do I think I am."
I did not laugh or joke at my words.
"Come with me, Erin. I have something to ask of
you. At the Masque, I have designed a dress for you. You said
yourself you've never been and you worked hard for this amazing
opera."
He brought me a dress and said,
"Wear it at the Masque."
It was not too much as hung on the manikin-it was not a dress that I could not move in. It had a small petticoat and it was beautiful-made of silk and chiffon. He asked,
"Is it right for you?"
"Yes, it is."
Erin and Erik walked toward the organ and he said,
"You will see me without the mask."
"I do not think I am ready to see it. It is not time."
"Erin…" he said, "you have shown you respect me and do not fear me. You show what we can accomplish if we work together."
Erik slowly pulled off his mask. I saw the nervousness he had and I had never seen him nervous before.
When I saw his face, it was just disfigured to me. I did not see a "creature", "someone ugly" or "loathsome." I saw him as someone that murdered because no one bothered to know him and that is why he killed. The killing of good was false-he killed for the sake that he didn't anyone or anything to fear him.
To the tune of "Angel of Music-Cemetery scene"
I began to sing to him, even though I wasn't much of one.
Who was the face looking at me?
Who was the face in the mask?
Who is staring
at me?
Erik: Can you even look at me?
Erik, do not worry
I do not care
Just speak to me, please
Both: Why do we work each day?
To obey our soul
Erik: Writer of Operas, do not ignore me
Come to me now, please.
Come to me, writer.
Both: We have finished the opera…we have finished…