The Affair

Chapter 15

"I have been unfaithful to you, my wife. For this, I apologize. Deep down, I know you still love me. I know you don't want to admit it yet, but I am for certain that you do. I also know, that you are trying to get rid of me, forget me." Vicomte stated calmly, "Before you do that, I want to tell you that I have stopped drinking. I have been doing a lot of thinking and I really think we can work this all out, but-"

"What are you saying, Raoul?" Christine smiled sadly, she looked to the ground momentarily, "Are you asking for me to come back because- because I would have to give that some thought before I make any permanent decisions and- I- I..."

"I am asking you to come back to me, at- at least try, Christine-" Vicomte gently took her hands and guided her to a seat and sat with her, "Christine I am willing to try if you are. You can't throw everything we have away, please think about this."

Christine looked at him with a concerning look, "I need to think about this, and there is something I need to tell you that- that might change your mind about all of this, but I don't feel comfortable saying anything until I am sure that you're completely sober and- and you won't go crazy. Raoul, you're right, I still have feelings for you, but I am not sure that this is the right thing to do. I'll think about it, I swear." she looked down again, "I'm sorry... Raoul, I am, truly." 

"If you're going to leave now, Christine-" Vicomte tipped her chin up, he leaned closer and kissed her gently. He breathed in deeply and pulled her close to him. Slowly, he laid the both back onto the sofa.

"Raoul-" Christine said as soon as she got a chance, trying not to show how hesitant she was towards him. She breathed in deeply and pulled away slowly, she panted as she looked at him, for a second, she could almost see the old him. Not knowing what to do, she just laid there with him, looking at him so confused and helpless.

"It's alright, Christine." Vicomte mumbled, kissing her one last time before he let her go, "I'll see you soon, my love."

"Right." Christine said breathlessly, "I- um... I have to go." she moved off of him and fixed her dress, "Goodbye, R-Raoul." she cleared her throat and walked out the door. 

Vicomte frowned, "I love you, Christine." he sighed quietly and looked over at the door as she shut it behind her. 

Christine flagged down a carriage and returned to the Opera House. She thanked the cab driver and made her way inside. She leaned against the door and sighed, "This is just fantastic." she mumbled.

"What is, Christine." Erik's voice seeped through the walls, startling Christine. 

Christine quickly turned around, she momentarily panicked, "I-" she shook her head and walked away, "No." she went straight to her room and closed and the door behind her. She slid down against it and buried her face in her knees, "What am I going to do." she started to cry quietly.

Erik huffed and looked around, "W-What?" he frowned and found his way to her room. He didn't go in at first, but he stood there and watched her, he didn't understand what was happening. After standing for just a few moments, he reached his hand over to the mirror and started to slide it open.

"Stay out." Christine's voice muffled through her dress. She sniffled and her breathing stuttered.

"No, Christine, what's the matter?" Erik quickly shut the mirror and sat by her. He pulled her closely and kissed the top of her head, "Talk to me, my love."

Christine slowly pushed him away and lifted her head, she wiped her tears and looked over at him, "I need my space. I need to be alone right now, and I don't need you here. Eleven years ago, you left me. Why should let you back into my life now? Why do you think you deserve that!" Christine started to shout, she grabbed the door hand and pulled herself up, breaking the handle on the way. She looked at the handle hopelessly and threw it at the mirror, breaking it.

Erik looked at Christine with wide eyes, and shook his head slowly, confused, "W-What are you saying?" he asked as he stood up.

"Can you not see that I just want to be left alone!" Christine grabbed the nearest vase and threw it at the mirror, shattering the glass even more than she did before, "I don't want you here! I don't want anyone here! Leave me be!" she screamed at him.

Erik looked at Christine, starting to become frightened, "You need to stop, Christine! Please!" he begged.

"No! Leave me be!" Christine threw anything she could possibly find at the mirror, trying to make it so Erik wasn't able to barge in unnoticed again, "I don't want to be with you!" she cried.

Madame Giry came out of her room, hearing all the commotion and ran to Christine's room, "Christine!" she pushed the door open and grabbed her, wrapping her arms tightly around Christine's so she couldn't move them. She slowly slid her to the floor.

Christine looked at Erik with tears streaming down her face, "I-I'm so sorry!" she wailed and cried into Madame Giry's dress.

Erik looked down at Christine, then over at the mirror and shattered glass on the floor, "This is all my fault." he swallowed and shook his head, "I-I will leave, I am terribly sorry for all of this." he made his way through an opened part of the mirror and stood on the other side of the wall, just staring at the ground.

"Christine, shh... Shh..." Madame Giry frowned and squeezed her closer, "Shh. What happened? What's wrong?"

"M-M-" Christine's breathing continued to stuttered, "R-Raoul wants m-m-me... he want me t-to- b-but I don't know! I-I'm sorry!" she started to wail again.

"Christine you need to calm down, please, please, please."Madame Giry begged, "Just go to sleep, we can talk in the morning." she looked over at the broken mirror, seeing Erik's reflection in the broken pieces. She frowned, "Are you and Erik together?" she asked, trying to change the subject.

"No, h-how could he love me?" Christine sniffled, "I am so a-awful." she tried to calm herself down, "All I am going to do i-is hurt him... I don't deserve someone so g-great." 

"Christine, how could you say that?" Madame Giry asked, "He is in love with you. What's the change of heart all of a sudden?"

Christine took a few moments to calm herself down and then looked up, "I-I'm done talking. Erik you can stop eaves d-dropping now. I have nothing left t-to say." she moved away from Madame Giry and walked out of her room.

Erik looked down, his eyes filled with sadness and tears, he had never been more confused. 

"I'm really sorry, Erik." Madame Giry muttered and stared at the door. 

"Is this because of what she needed to tell me?" Erik asked quietly, "She acted weird after you left us alone... Why is she hiding things from me?"

"Oh, Erik. I am so sorry." Madame Giry frowned.