The fire destroyed so much, my head spinsto think of it all. It took days for the Opera House to smoulder and cease burning. So many, patrons and cast, lost their lives. I remember attending Piangi's funeral. I saw Carlotta sobbing, dressed in black, but still as opulent as ever. I saw something in her had changed. She had thanked all of us so sincerely for attending. Even me.
I was leaving the service with Raoul when she sought me out and took my hand. "Christine," She had chocked, her smile both sad and thankful. Her eyes shone with tears and she clutched at my hand tightly. "Christine, I don't ever want to know what happened to cause it all..but I know you did a wonderful thing and spared more than was lost. Piangi...Piangi admired you, you should know. He was always on my side but he knew you were a suitable rival in voice alone. And I..." She sighed and smiled gently. "I am sorry for being so harsh to you. I wish I could have been a better charechter, both off and on the stage. Losing Piangi made me see what a fool I was."
Her admittence shocked me, but I was too numb to do anything but nod and whisper condolences in reply before leaning into Raoul so he might take me away. We went back to the room he had let further down in the city for me, away from the Opera house.
"Raoul, she sure has changed. Everything has changed." I muttered as he sat me down and handed me a mug of hot tea silently. Outside winter went on, grey and dull. I felt stuck in winter...even if my love and I were together.
"My dear, you were brave today. As was she. Things are changing, indeed. I am lucky that we are together now. That is a good change. And it will last." He said softly, sitting beside me and squeezing my hand, with the simple band around it. My engagement ring for now, a simple ring. The other...had been lost. Thats what I told Raoul anyway. He hadn't fought my insistance on a simple one as a replacement. To think of one like...like the lost one...on my finger made me cold. To think of him made me uneasy. It isn't hard to know whom I think of...though I try so hard to not think of it, any of it, at all. I act as though that nothing had happened in the dungeon that night. Only Raoul knows half...and I am keeping it that way.
"Yes," I murmmered. "Soon love, I will be ready. But I want to leave here first. I want to leave France. I cannot stand it any longer."
He nodded, frowning. "I know my dear. But...where shall we go?"
"Anywhere but here." I whispered. "Anywhere but this place of darkness that still lingers."
