Love Will Continue - Sequel to Phantom Child

17. Reunions pt. 3 & 4

We found a place to sit - in a square, opposite from the bar, not far from the castle stood a bench - and began our long anticipated conversation. There wasn't a topic we would not want to cover. We talked of everything and nothing; from political views to books, to the newest operas and fresh inventions and other accomplishments of humanity. I had never seen Erik talk so much. The Phantom himself also seemed surprised at his own talkativeness.

Then we moved on to reminiscing (an unavoidable part if you hadn't seen one another for a decade, really). We talked of times gone by; that well known "ancient history" that we had created together long ago. It seemed like yesterday! Getting to talk about it with Erik was completely different than with Christine. He had actually been there, knew the motives and could turn everything into a joke. He also laughed at my references that no one, but him would understand.

"One time, when they were rehearsing your opera" I said, before I even managed to cease my uncontrollable laughs "I hid inside the piano and scared the life out of them! They thought the instrument was haunted!"

Erik grinned, before responding:

"How can I not remember it?!"

"Ah, you probably were roaming around the dungeons at the time. But it was so funny! They couldn't get the melody right and then I suddenly started playing it from the inside and everyone went completely silent and then they started to sing right. But they were all shivering like leaves!" I replied and laughed even more.

"You knew how the melody goes? You could never understand my sheet music!" He asked, visibly amused by my story.

"I've been hearing you play it for six months straight." I explained "Whether I liked it or not, it got engraved inside my mind." I tapped my finger on the side of my head.

"...Inside your mind!" Erik repeated after me, adding his famous melody to it and we both burst out laughing once again.

Once we were able to regain our breaths, I leaned on the back of the bench and looked up at the stars. Erik's eyes seemed to have followed mine and for a moment we were silently gazing upwards.

"I have missed this." I sighed. "When I would talk to Christine, she would rather avoid certain topics. Talking to you is like reliving the history once again!"

"I never talked to Giry about it either." He added quieter. "I have missed having you close, my little company." He smiled and looked at me.

I turned to him and suddenly remembered one thing. I had one question lurking somewhere in the depths of my mind. This might have been a hard topic to bring up, but this was the one thing that I had to find out.

"Erik, I need to ask you a question." I reached to one of my pockets and took out a note of his, the one from his alleged funeral "Why did you leave? What is this note about? I have read it every evening since the day I've gotten it and that makes about 3650 times or even more and I still don't understand!"

Erik hesitantly took the piece of paper from my hands and unfolded it to scan its contents and see what we were to talk about.

"Ahh the biggest lie I have ever told to anyone..." he handed me back the letter "Believe me, I didn't want to go. But I needed to go."

"But why? Why couldn't you stay and why couldn't I stay with you?" I raised my voice, demanding explanation.

"Well, try to guess. You're smart." He retorted.

For a moment there was silence between us. I frowned, but within a second an answer, capable of being close to truth, appeared.

"You thought you were dangerous..." I whispered disappointed, locking my eyes on some spot in space in front of my face "You considered yourself a threat to me..."