From Present to Past (Phantom of the Opera)

Epilogue

(Erik's POV)

I walked up the cellars, feeling tears in my eyes, but I didn't go back. She deserved better. A lot better. I made it to the last door and walked out, the cold air hitting my body immediately.

I walked down the street, not caring were I was going. I just wanted to put as much distance between the opera house and I.

"Erik!" I heard Sarah shouting. The streets were completely deserted and in the cold and her voice carried very well.

I ignored her voice. I didn't turn around. I just picked up my pace.

"Wait!" She shouted as she ran after me. "Please!" She begged.

I instantly stopped. I looked down and sighed.

She caught up with me and stood a few yards away. "Erik, I'm sorry. I'm selfish. I know I should let you go to find some better than me. You deserve a lot better. But, I can't." She said as she looked at me.

"You're the one that deserves better." I whispered. "Look at me, I have a wife and child, and yet, I treat as if they mean nothing to me."

"I've not been doing much better. I keep forcing you to take off your mask without even wondering why you don't want it off." She hung my head.

I sighed, "You need a new husband." I whispered softly. "Someone who will love you like you deserved to be loved. Someone who will care for the baby and love him."

"I don't need a new husband. I need you." She whispered as she walked up to me and took my hand. "You love me very much and you'll learn to love our son."

I looked down at her and nodded, "I love you more than anything in the world. I-I just don't know how to raise a child. I didn't have a father there to raise me."

"We'll learn." She said as she smiled up at me. "We'll learn together. Besides, you had Giovanni. He was like a father."

"I don't even think he'll let me call him that any more. Not after how I spoke to him." I whispered.

"He'll forgive you." She said as she stepped closer to me and hugged me.

I slowly wrapped my arms around her. "I hope he will."

"I know he will." She said as she smiled and shivered. "I'm freezing. Can we go back to the house?" She asked.

I nodded. "Yes, a child shouldn't be left alone for too long."

"Especially one as young as our Mike." She said as she led me back towards the Opera House. I nodded again and followed her.

We walked back to our house beneath the Opera House and Mike was just where Sarah had left him, on the couch, waving a fist around.

"He could have fallen." I whispered.

She nodded and scooped him up. "I shouldn't have left him." She whispered as she kissed his forehead. I nodded and watched her.

She looked over at me. "Would you like to hold him?" She asked.

"Does he want me too?" I asked.

"I'm sure he does." She said as she handed Mike to Erik. "He was happy in your arms until he was hungry, right?"

"I guess he was." I said as I carefully held the child. I was afraid that I was going to drop him.

She adjusted the boy a tiny bit in my arms. "You're doing great." She whispered.

I nodded and began to sway from side to side. "What do babies eat?" I asked.

"Milk until they are about eight months old." She said as she lightly tapped her chest. "He's going to be stuck to me for a while."