My Angel of Music

Distractions

A moment of silence passed between the two of us.  Maybe she was mourning for Luke.  Or maybe her freedom.  I was mourning the loss of my innocent, happy sister.  But no matter what happened, nothing that we had lost would ever come back.  I heard Meg snivel beside me, and I straightned my spine, and lifted my chin.  "Alright.  Enough of this pity party.  What are we going to do next?"  I asked confidently, squeezing Meg's clammy hand.  She wiped away a stray tear and raised herself.

"Listen, all you need to do is go be with Erik."  She ordered.  I crossed my brows in confusion.  "Wait.  You're not planning on doing this today are you?"  I asked.  She smiled, though it wasn't bright and cheery like normal.  "Of course I am."  She replied, cold confidence in her tone.  I sighed and shook my head.  "And you don't want me with you?"  I cried.  She looked away.  "Erik will notice something is happening if neither of us are there."  

I nodded.  "Alright then."  I stood and smiled down at my poor broken bird.  Though she was putting on a very convincing brave mask.  She stood up with me and gazed into my eyes with her icy blue ones.  "I'll go find Dr. Huntsley and arrange things with him, while you go be with Erik."  She ordered gently.  I nodded, looking down so I wouldn't have to look into her sad eyes.  

I looked up as she looked away, and for a moment a surge of pity and gratitude washed over me.  I quickly pulled her into a tight embrace.  She didn't respond for a moment, but slowly, she lifted her hands to my shoulders.  "Thank you so much, Meg."  I whispered as my tears welled up once more.  She sniffed and hugged me tighter.  "There's no need to thank me, Christine.  I know that without him, you wouldn't be you.  Just like without Luke, I'm not me.  So really, everyone is winning."  She gushed back.  She tried to keep her tone light, but her voice cracked at the end of her sentence.

She suddenly pulled away, wiping away at the tears that spilled over her lids.  I smiled reassuringly at her.  "I'll come to see you every day, I promise."  I whispered.  She nodded and smiled through her tears.  I pressed a quick kiss on her cheek and fled the room before I bursted into tears and begged her to stay.  Once I shut the door, and was out of her sight, I ran as fast as I could, down the stairs, and out of the door.  When the cool air hit my face, I let out the sob I had been holding in and stopped to catch my breath.  

I stood there, sobbing and holding my torso together as if I would fall apart if I let go.  I knew Meg would take a minute to say goodbye to everything, and to gather her things, so I took my time gathering my wits.  As soon as my cries stopped, I slowly began to walk to the stable to fetch my horse.

***

 The horse ride back to the hospital was great, but unfortunatley fast.  As the steed glided through the dark trail, I was allowed to cry as hard as I wanted and no one would hear me.  I didn't have to hold back the fustrated screams that built up in my throat.  I didn't have to hide the tears that flew behind me and blinded my eyes.  I was free.  But all too soon it ended.  The moon shone overhead, letting me see the white glow of the small house-like hospital.  I slowed the steed down and called for the stable boy.

As I walked back inside, I made it a point to reposition my dress and tame my wild hair and wipe away the dried trail of salty tears from  my flushed face.  I plastered a smile on my lips as I approached Erik's door.  But it faded as I began to hear shouts and commotion coming from the room.  My steps quickened until  I was at a full speed run.  Finally, I reached the door, and without thinking, I flung it open.

Erik was standing, though he was leaning on the back of a chair.  He had his fist raised in the air threateningly, and the look on his face was that of rage and worry.  John and Tyler stood in the back, their hands raised in defense.  No one noticed my presence.