3 months ago...

Erik.

I had been married for a month and it was the most prefect month of my life up to that point. Christine was mine and mine alone. She was, and still is, the most wonderful wife a man could ask for. She was kind, attentive, gentle and paeshent with me. I do not know how or why but she seemed to genuinely want to be around me.

We spent almost every evening after her rehearsals together. Some times she would sit with me on the sofa and rest her head on my shoulder while we read. Other times I would read to her until she was asleep. It never failed to amaze me that she felt safe enough with me to fall asleep in my arms. That all paled in comparison, for every night before she retired to her room, we did not share one, she'd stand on her toes and kiss my forehead before saying, "Good night my dearest one."

We lived in this blissful routine for a short time. Sadly our happiness was short lived.

The night it happened was just like the last five in a row. After dinner Christine and I would go on a walk to the small park a short distance from the Opera. At first I was hesitant to leave the Opera, but I can deny Christine nothing. I soon found that on those walks I felt any other man on a stroll with his wife.

Like many a night before, we were sitting in the dining room drinking tea after our meal. I was chomping at the bit waiting for Christine to ask to go on our walk. This may sound odd to some of you, but my pried would not let me ask to do what I had fought to avoid.

Christine stood up from her chair, walked up to me and knelt down on the floor next to my chair. She set her hands over of mine on the arm rest of my chair.

"Erik. " She said looking up at me with her prefect blue eyes.

I set my free hand on her head, and threaded my fingers through her hair. She melted into my touch. I took a moment to savor the feel of her hair as well as the privilege of such contact.

"Yes, my love"

She leaned in to my touch and asked "May we go to the park for a walk? Please?" She gave me a hopeful smile as I stroked her soft yellow curls.

"If you wish it, Angel" I said and her face lit up. She stood up and grabbed my hands then started to gently pull me to the door. I could not contain a smile at her egresses.

I grabbed my mask off my desk as she drew me through the study. Before we married, she made it clear that I could not where my mask when we were alone. She even threatened not to sing if I wore my mask. Needless to say I complied with her demand.

At the door I took her cloak off the peg and set it on her shoulders. I then began to don my own cloak. Before I could clasp the heavy woolen garment, Christine's hands pushed mine out of the way. I was about to protest when I felt her fingertips on the back of my neck. She straitened my shirt collar; after she finished with my collar she tightened my cravat and smoothed my lapels. She gave me one more look over before clasping on my cloak.

'There much better." She said with a smile before taking my hand and pulling me out the door.

The park was beautiful that night. The moon was reflecting off the small pond and illuminating the trees that grew at its banks. We walked hand in hand, down a secluded path next to the water.

"La Triaviata. I know it's sad, but I love it so."

"Christine, you cry whenever you sing the finale. I admit that it makes your performance very convincing, but I hate to see you so upset. "She squeezed my hand and smiled at me.

"You are such a thoughtful husband for worrying about me." she cooed.

We lapsed into companionable silence, wile I savored her complement. Even in the minimal light from the moon, I could see she was getting tired. So I lead her to the bench where we sat down and watched the water.

After a few moments of just sitting next to me and holding my hand, she slid into my lap and wrapped her arms around my waist. I quickly returned the embrace enjoying every moment.

"Erik, I'm cold. " She said with a shiver.

It was not very cold out and there was no breeze. I was about to question her when I felt a blinding pain in the back of my head and then all was darkness.