He took a deep breath before knocking on the door.
"Come in." Her voice was faint.
He cleared his throat as he opened the door and watched the smile on her pale face drop.
"That alone tells me all I need to know, but Mr. Y informed me you wanted to see me," Vicomte de Chagny sat down in the leather chair beside Christine's bed.
The Diva was propped up against a pile of pillows, her brown curls down and all around, just how she used to wear them. The linen of her nightgown was thin and he could see the bandage wrapped around her abdomen.
"Are you in any pain?"
"The doctor gives me opium when I need it, but it's been getting better. Daily washes to keep it from getting infected." Christine pulled on the lace on her sleeve. "Thank you for your concern, Raoul."
"So what did you want to see me about?"
"You left us, Raoul. If Gustave had not gone and got you from the station you would not have known what happened to me."
The Vicomte sighed and leaned back in the chair, "I thought it was clear you made your choice. I left you a note."
"You should have had the gall to tell me in person. I am tired of the men in my life not being able to confront me. We wouldn't be here today if Erik would haven't left me that morning…"
"The morning of that night you betrayed me and built our whole marriage on a lie?" Raoul crossed his arms and looked out the balcony window doors.
"Yes, Raoul, I too brought trouble to our marriage. And I am sorry for that. I did love you though as you did love me but maybe this was for the better? So much of our relationship was built on what we used to be and fantasy. We were foolish to think love could conquer the divide between our social standings." Christine pulled the covers up higher over her body.
"Oh Lotte, don't say such things," Raoul turned back to her. "It wasn't all bad."
"Just as this isn't goodbye," The Soprano reached over and took The Vicomte's hand. "I want a divorce, Raoul. Though with what you've discovered you can probably get a complete an annulment. I am sure your family will appreciate that; be able to dismiss everything you did these past ten years on the Opera Tart and her bastard child."
"Christine, no!" Raoul's eyes widen as he cupped his other hand over hers. "The divorce I will grant and Gustave full custody to you. I am sure Mr. Y wishes to claim what is biologically his. I cannot and will not blame the sins and failures of our marriage all on you, when we were both at fault." He let go of her hand, "I am going to go now. For real this time. I have passage for France tomorrow morning."
"Please see Gustave before you leave," Tears formed in The Diva's eyes.
"I will."
Christine took a deep breath and despite the pain of the position, leaned over and let her lips meet The Vicomte's. It was short and sweet and when she pulled away his eyes were wide, his brow furrowed in perplexation.
"What was that for? I thought this wasn't goodbye?"
"It's not. We'll always be in each other's heart."