A New Beginning

Chapter 28

(Christine's POV)

Later in the afternoon, Erik came back and as soon as he did, he collapsed on a chair. He looked more tired than I had ever seen him, and he also looked hurt. I walked over to him and kissed his forehead. He held sadness in his eyer, and fear, too.

"Erik, I don't like this," I started. "What have you been doing that has you like this?"

He shook his head, so I got an idea. I placed his hand on my stomach and said, "We are worried about you, please don't put yourself in danger. For him," I smiled faintly.

He gave a loud sigh. "I cannot lie to you," he said. "I am guessing you remember me telling you I would be opening a freak show," I gave the smallest of nods before he continued. "I found no freaks but myself, and so I found myself forced to be the attraction." By this point, he had his back facing me.

I placed my hand on his shoulder and slowly turned him to face me, but he refused to look at me, as he had his gaze locked on his feet. I pulled him to a hug and stroked his head as he cried into my shoulder. He did so quietly so I wouldn't notice, but I felt his tears on me. After a few minutes I led him to a chair and sat him down. I kneeled before him and took both of his hands in mine. "I am okay," he protested, but I shook my head.

"Erik, I do not want you doing this. You are hurt," I said softly.

"You do not understand," he told me, letting go of my hands and standing up. He walked to the other side of the room. "This is my job, I must keep the park visitors entertained and bring money to the house," he said.

I walked over to him and again, helped him sit down. "This is not the way, and I don't need you to give me any money, I'm happy with just spending time with you."

He shook his head and looked at his watch. "I must go," he said.

"Where are you going?" I asked him curiously. "You said no work today," I continued, but he was already heading out the door at he put his jacket on.

"It's two shows a day," he stated simply and left as I stood in our bedroom alone with my thoughts.

"Erik," I started to say and follow, only to find he had locked me in.

I dropped to the floor, crying, but after a few seconds I realized that I had to be strong for my baby, our baby. I stroked my stomach and tried to calm myself down by talking to him. "Shh, it's going to be okay. Daddy will be okay, I promise," I kept whispering over and over.

I soon grew tired so I changed into my nightgown and lay down on the bed. I couldn't fall asleep because of how worried I was, so I stayed in that same position, lying down with my hand on my stomach and a blank look in my eyes.

Finally, after a few hours, the door slowly opened and my tired-looking husband came in. I sighed rather loudly and looked at him pleadingly. He looked tired and, judging y the way he walked, sore. He smiled rather sadly at me and went into the bathroom to change into his nightgown, and he came back.

Then he spoke up, his voice shaky, "Do you mind me sleeping with my mask on tonight?" I shook my head, letting him do as he wanted as I thought that it was about that day's events that could make him feel safe with the white porcelain scrap on his face.

He got in the bed with me and held me close to him, but no words would come from my mouth. He held me close to him and kissed my forehead, so I cuddled closer to him, against his chest.

In the middle of the night, he woke me up with a loud scream. I sat up and turned on the lamp that lay on my bedside table.

"Erik," I called for him as I tried to shake him awake, and he did.

I stroked his head and held him down with a hand on his chest as he tried to abruptly sit up. I kissed his sweaty forehead and then proceeded to wipe it. "You are sweating too much, I should take off your mask," I said. He immediately shook his head. I did not know he could be so scared. "Erik, it is alright, I promise," I repeated and snatched the mask off his face. I was instantly shocked by what my eyes saw, and my eyes filled with tears, but he turned his head to keep me from seeing.