From Shadows to Starlight

When One Door Closes, Another Opens

Chapter Five

When God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window-- The Sound of Music

When One Door Closes, Another Opens

When Alana finally awoke, her first thought when she opened her eyes was that she was alone in the house, until she looked down at the floor. She had to smile at what she saw.

Her rescuer was lying on the floor sound asleep, with a troubled expression on his face, tightly holding something that was on a chain around his neck. Instantly her hands went to the gold locket she wore around her own neck--she’d put it on before she’d tried to go to bed…was it last night? She had lost track of time, not knowing how long she’d been asleep. She looked closer, and saw that Erik was holding a little diamond ring. It looked exactly like the one in the painting of the dark-haired girl on the wall behind him. He must have been the one who painted that picture. And he must have loved that girl very much. It was her ring.

What happened to her? Alana wondered. Maybe she was the reason he was so sad.

Her gaze fell upon the mask that obscured half of his face, and she couldn’t help but wonder why he wore it. Curiosity tempted to take it off while he slept so she could see what was underneath. But she didn’t. She figured that he wouldn‘t want her to. Why else would he be wearing a mask anyway? It was as simple as that. It would be better to wait and see if Erik said something about it first, rather than do something that might upset him for all she knew.

She realized now that her back still hurt, but she was feeling better than she had before. Slowly, Alana got out of bed and stepped carefully around Erik’s sleeping figure. She wanted to get a breath of fresh air, so she made her way to the door. She turned the knob, and a brilliant ray of warm sunlight lit up the whole house.

“SHUT THE DOOR!”

Alana jumped. Erik, suddenly awake, was crouched in a corner, his hands over his eyes.

“SHUT THE DOOR!” he screamed again. His voice shook the house.

With shaking hands, Alana closed the door. The house grew dark again. She stood, frozen but trembling, her heart pounding. His shouting had frightened her more than anything she had ever heard before. Nothing that is, except her father.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Erik lowed his hands from his eyes and blinked. The light had been so bright. Blinding. It terrified him, seeming to burn through him, right into his soul. He glanced over at the girl. Alana. She was frightened too. But not because of the sunlight. Because of him…he’d frightened her. He cursed himself silently.

He looked over at her again. She was still standing by the door, shaking with fear, like she had been the night he‘d rescued her from her drunk, crazed father. He was no better to her than her father was. He had to do something…he hadn’t meant to make her afraid. He opened his mouth and found himself saying something he’d never said before.

“I’m…sorry.”

Alana no longer trembled, but she still stood like a statue by the door.

Erik rose slowly to his feet and moved toward her. “Forgive me,” he said softly. “Please, forgive me.” He stretched out his hand to her. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

His heart soared for a moment as he saw the fear leave Alana’s deep hazel eyes. She took his hand gently.

“I forgive you.” She smiled.

Erik just stared at her small hand in his for a moment, then suddenly pulled his hand back. She flinched and took a step away. Wonderful. He’d startled her again. “Sorry,” he said pathetically, searching for other words. “Is…there anything you need?”