The Aftermath(Phantom Of The Opera)

Chapter 4- He Is Watching.

     "Please, Christine, do try to be excited! Today is your wedding day!" The giddy voice of Christine's best friend, Meg,  should have calmed her down, but it didn't. She tried to stop herself from looking around the room, but every little noise made Christine terrified.

     "I trust that everything is set up," Christine said, trying to focus on something else.

     "Of course. Raoul wouldn't have it any other way. Shall I go get her now? She wanted to be in charge of every detail above your shoulders," Meg laughed. Colette's daughter, Marguerite, had been very, very demanding when it came to her doing Christine's hair and make up. Meg was allowed to help a little bit, of course, but it was mostly Marguerite's job.

"Go on and get her, dear! I must finish tying Mademoiselle's corset!" Another string was tightly pulled. Christine felt light headed. She wondered how she hadn't grown accustom to the feeling of her ribs being crushed.

In a matter of minutes, Marguerite was back with Meg, smiling from ear to ear. Marguerite, in her petite and squeaky voice, smiled sadly and said, "You are much more beautiful than I had remembered. You won't need much on your face. Fortunately, that gives us more time for your curls. I believe an up do would look quite proper."

Christine held in her sigh. She knew that as a married woman, she would have to get used to a different hair style sooner or later. Still, though, the thought of her hair never being loosely thrown about on her shoulders made her sad. She began to feel more and more like a bird in a cage than a bird flying in the sky.

Meg could see this. She turned to Marguerite and said, "That sounds lovely Margot, but perhaps Christine would feel more comfortable with her hair down for the occasion. We could braid a strand there and there, and then tie it all together with something! You can change it however you like, of course."

Marguerite, better known as Margot, thought for a moment. Then, she smiled. "I can leave her hair down. My job is to make the bride happy. It is her wedding after all."

"Thank you so much, Margot. I think Raoul would like it too. Don't you think he would, Christine?" Christine jumped. She had not been paying much attention. She had been thinking about what Erik would do if he knew she was marrying someone. She promised herself to him. He let her go, did he not? Her memory was so fuzzy sometimes. She got lost in her memory more than once a day.

"Yes. He would," Christine whispered mindlessly. Her mind was still elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Raoul was pacing back and forth. He wasn't nervous, no. He was incredibly excited. He had no best man, considering his brother was gone and he had been too absorbed with Christine as a child to make any other real friends. Most of the workers at his home were female now, so he really just gave up on the idea of it.

"I do," he whispered. It sounded so strange coming out of his mouth. If it weren't for the occasion, he wouldn't had thought twice about it. "I do! No, that doesn't seem to sound right either."

He gave up again, assuming it would come naturally in the moment. Instead he waited as minutes ticked by. He waited for the time where he could call Christine his.

Christine, however, was not thinking about Raoul. She was happy too, obviously, but she had this feeling that Erik was watching somewhere, somehow. She wanted to be able to call Raoul hers, but she could only imagine what Erik would do if he knew. Perhaps he did know. Perhaps he was waiting for her to say the words.

This thought drove Christine insane. She would not cry though. She should not cry on her wedding day. Still, the lump in her throat was very much there. She ignored it and let Margot continue on her makeup.

     "Christine, are you alright?" Colette asked, bringing Christine's shoes to her.

      "I am just a little nervous. These nerves will no doubt go away soon," Christine lied. She had always been a terrible liar, but Colette chose to believe her.

     "All right, Madame. I will come get you when it is time."

      "All right." Christine thought about the wedding. She remembered the fact that she would be walking down the aisle alone. She had requested it. She would not have been comfortable walking with anyone but her father, and her father was long gone in heaven with the angels and, perhaps, her angel.

     Erik had been in her mind all day. She gave up on trying to not think about him. It was no use. When he was there, there was no getting him out. She hoped that she wouldn't have an incident, as she had heard Madame Giry put it, while walking to Raoul. That, Christine thought, would surely embarrass him, and I can not have that happen.

    Raoul was worried, too, that Christine would become upset. He was not worried for his reputation, though. He was worried for her. He knew she would be ashamed of herself, though she had not one reason to be ashamed. This is not her fault, Raoul thought, these things do happen.

    "These things do happen," Raoul chuckled. "Where have I heard that before?"

     "These things do happen all the time. For the past three years, these things do happen," Meg, who had been passing by to get Christine some water, mocked the former primma donna of the opera house. He laughed with her.

      "Oh yes. Quite a dramatic one, was she not, Megan?"

      "Dramatic does not begin to describe the woman," Meg groaned, annoyed at the very thought of Carlotta.

       "Fair enough. How is Christine?"

       "Nervous. And you?"

     "Happy to be marrying the woman I love."

      "Is it time, Raoul?"

       "I believe so, yes. Have her out in ten minutes if you could. I assume she is ready?"

       "Of course. Margot is putting the finishing touches on her. Prepare yourself, Monsieur. She looks quite radiant tonight."

"I will never be prepared for the beauty that Christine beholds."

"How silly you are, Raoul! Go now! You must wait for her. The wedding cannot start even a second late." Little did Meg know that Raoul was being quite serious. He frowned, but he went on his way, taking one last glance at himself to make sure he looked well for the occasion.

Christine knew the walk drew closer. Her heart pounded in her chest so loud that she was sure Margot could hear it. Margot could not, but Christine thought otherwise. The door started to creak open. Christine's breath hitched.

"Madame? It is time," Colette smiled. Christine felt dizzy. Margot helped her up, placing a small strand of hair back into place. Meg's head peeped in. She smiled and took a long look at Christine.

Christine felt rather overdressed. She would never get used to being the bride. She always was attending weddings. She didn't like being the center of attention this way. She tried to think of it as a stage, but that only brought her more memories of the opera ghost.

Christine looked dazzling. Her eyes were bold, yet soft, and her hair sparkled in the soft glow of candles. Her dress complimented her body type incredibly well. Margot liked to think this was all her doing, but Christine's beauty really needed little to no addition.

"Here comes the bride," Meg squealed. Christine smiled weakly and took a deep breath.

Here comes the bride, indeed.