No Backward Glances

Chapter 5: Changes

December 20th, 1882
{Erik's P.O.V}

"Erik, could you help me please?" Christine asks from across the bedroom.

I turn around & see Christine in nothing but a slip. She holds out her corsett to me. I find it humorous that she expects me not to react to the fact that she is wearing nothing but a thin piece of fabric.

"Um, yes." I say shakily. She giggles at me then blushes. I am almost never at a loss for words. Christine was really the only person who could make me speechless.

I tie her corsett with ease. The urge to touch her is so strong. We haven't laid together since the night she returned to me. I wasn't sure if she ever wanted to be intimate again. She was very affectionate but I highly doubt she would engage in sexual activities with me again.

"Done." I tell her.

"Thank you." she says as she reaches up to kiss me. She pecks my deformed cheek. I want more. But I will never, ever force her into doing anything ever again.

We finish dressing & we head into the kitchen to eat breakfast.

"Erik, I believe I'm due for a check-up right about now. Could you take me to the doctor's office today?" she asks me.

"Of course, my love. I believe there is a French doctor at the office on Croxley Street." I tell her.

"Thank you." she says as she reaches up to kiss my nose.

I feel my ears turn red as she does this. She laughs at me & kisses my lips. I've noticed a major change in her lately. She's happy. Christine is living with me & she's happy. I never thought I would ever say that. With every passing day I feel myself falling more & more in love with her.

After we eat breakfast, we leave to go to the doctor's office.

"Erik would you mind if we walked to the doctor's?" she asks me as I lock the door behind us.

"No, not at all, dear. Might I ask why you'd like to walk?"

"I've been in England for almost three weeks now & I haven't really seen all that much of it." she explains as we walk out the building.

I have my prosthetic mask on. I feel so confident with it on. Although Christine insists all the time that I look handsome, with this mask I feel very handsome. I feel normal.

As we walk through the small town, I look down & see Christine's arm linked onto mine. This gives me a warm, lovely feeling inside. I still cannot believe she's mine.

I see Christine's beautiful green eyes light up with a youthful joy as we pass the houses & storefronts of the town. She's so beautiful. She catches me staring & I look down at my feet, embarrased. She chuckles & gives my normal cheek a soft kiss.

"Thank you." I tell her.

"I will kiss you every chance I get, Erik." she says falshing that breathtaking smile of hers.

After a short ten minute walk we get to the doctor's office.

I walk up to the desk in the waiting room. "Exuse me, Miss." I adress the woman in English who is sitting at the desk.

She looks up at me. "Yes, how may I help you?" she asks rather kindly.

"My friend, Felicite would like a check-up but she doesn't speak much English." I say, gesturing at Christine. "I understand that a French doctor works here, correct?"

"Yes. Doctor Bernard is from France & speaks the language fluently. He should be here in about ten minutes. You can wait in the second room to the right with your companion while you wait for him. & can I have her last name, please?"