Bravissimo

Imagine

I didn't ask Annabel what happened last night, and I won't ask. All I need to know is she came back with her glove removed, and was made to walk through the cold. And that is enough for me. Before I left this morning I made sure she was sound asleep, as the day before was so rough on her. The letter I wrote I already gave to Antoinette, all that must be done is to wait until they read it. 

Now watching from the rafters my mind wanders to Christine, how heartbroken I know she was when she saw Annabel's face last night. We know she means well but some people don't get second chances, though Annabel nor I would ever blame her for wanting to try, Christine and her kind heart. However Annabel knows better, which is why she did what she had with her old gloves. Many ballerinas along with their partners practice together to the sound of the orchestra who also practice older pieces of mine. Antoinette looks at the letter with the blood red stamp and takes a deep breath in, ready to give the news that the Opera Ghost is disgusted with them. I see young Alexandra and the thought to cut the rope above her creeps into my mind, Christine would beg me not to, while Annabel would tell me to "Wait".

"Durand, if you please?" I hear Antoinette say and he walks over to her with Alexandra to follow. "We... have a letter." she says and Durand crosses his arms and looks around while Alexandra nervously looks at the floor, knowing exactly what they have done. "From whom?" Alexandra whispers. 

"Well, the Opera Ghost. I can't imagine he would be pleased." she says and hands the letter to Durand, all the dancers and musicians have stopped at her mentioning the Opera Ghost. "This is ridiculous! I am not opening this letter." he says and waves it in the air. "I would open it monsieur, It will only do you more harm to ignore it." Antoinette says as many heads look to the right as does mine at the sound of boots on the floor vastly approaching. 

"She's right." the voice says and I quickly recognize it. "Now what would you have to be afraid of?" Annabel says with a bright sarcastic smile and walks across the stage towards the group. I shake my head as she clearly does not, and may never know or understand the power she holds over these people. All of them watching her every movement as she walks across the stage.

"Annabel! Lovely to see you this morning dear, how did you get here?" Antoinette asks. "Oh, we all simply must enjoy a good walk once and a while." Annabel answers with her eyes closed and a deep annoyed inhale. Alexandra looks to her uncle then darts her eyes away just as fast, and I think that perhaps Durand does not know what happened last night. 

"If you wish for us to open it so bad, then you do it Destler." Durand says and Annabel shrugs. "The one who opens the letter will not change the words inside, the letter still remains for whoever our sender wrote it for." she says with crossed arms. "I won't, besides he seems to have you in his favor, take the burden." he says and Annabel takes it from him. 

"I can't see why anyone would favor you." Alexandra says starring daggers into Annabel. I walk over the rafters to where she stands, ready to allow the same background fall onto her that I dropped onto Carlotta fourteen years ago. "Oh, I'm not so sure why anyone would like me either." she answers with a wink to the male dancers who bask in the shred of attention she's given them, though they do try to hide it. Sliding her thumb under the paper and removing the stamp, she pulls out the letter. "Let's see what our "employer" asks of us this morning." she says making me smile to myself. Annabel looks up once more seeing the dangerous position of Alexandra and casually walks next to her. I realize now she knew I would do something like this, and that is the reason for her putting herself there. I can not understand why she would want those two here and around her anymore, as disgusting as they act.

Annabel takes out the paper and flips it up to read it, her eyes scanning it left to right. Everyone is absolutely silent, especially Durand and Alexandra. Annabel looks up at the two and narrows her eyes, thinking, the gears in her head almost visible. She continues to read and takes a deep breath with wide eyes as she finishes the letter. After she's read it herself, she reads it out loud.