My Angel of Music

One Lifetime

My eyes fluttered open, and light flooded into my vision.  I saw Erik fighting against the guards to get to me, and I saw a woman over me.  My head was in her lap and she was saying something to the guards.  "Just let him see her!"  She ordered.  She was about my age, and seemed to be very important, because the guards obeyed her.  Erik was freed, though he was still chained in those horrid cuffs.  I blinked and remember the events of the day.  Of Erik's planned death.

I whimpered, and suddenly he was right beside me, kneeling down and gazing into my eyes.  His eyes were wild with worry.  "Christine, my Angel, are you alright?" He asked, worridely.  I shook my head, raising myself from the lady's lap and grabbing onto his shoulders.  "No, I am not alright, Erik."  I sobbed as I buried my face into his shoulder.  He tried to soothe me with his voice but that wasn't enough.  

"Shhhh.  My Christine, it's alright."  He whispered.  I ignored his futile attempts to soothe me.  But just as quickly as he had come, he was pulled away by a guard.  He struggled against him, trying to reach me.  I collpased on the ground, still weak from my fainting spell.  "Christine!"  He yelled.  I reached my hand out to him.  "Angel!"  I cried.  But just like that he was gone.  

I fell to the ground in a heap of sobs.  My Angel was going to die, and it was all my fault.  I killed him!  I was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace by the sweet woman who had helped me.  I tried to stop my crying while in her weak arms, but I could not help it.  She helped me up and led me out of the dreadful court house and into the busy bright street.  "Come on, Madame Daae.  I'll take you wherever you need to go."  She reassured as she helped me into her carriage.

Once I was finally composed enough to speak, I looked up at her.  She had on a pale pink dress and her hair was light blonde.  She was thin, and she looked about my age.  She was obviously wealthy and very important.  "Who...Who are you?"  I stuttered.  She smiled and patted my hand.  "I saw you in Hannibal a long time ago."  She explained.  I nodded.  "My name is Countess Emily Herber.  But you can call me Emily."  She answered sweetly.  I smiled softly and nodded.

"Now, let me guess.  The jail house is where you wish to go?"  She asked.  I sniveled and nodded. "Thank you."  I whispered as the carriage began to roll.

I looked out the window and sighed.  It was almost dark.  Erik's favorite time.  This thought made another wave of tears roll over me.  Emily though, was right beside me, patting my back and whispering things that didn't even begin to comfort me, but I was grateful for the gesture.  "I'm so sorry this happened."  She soothed.  I sniveled and turned to face her.  "Why do you care so much?"  I asked, my voice cracking.  She smiled and stroked a loose hair from my face. 

"You were my role model for months after I saw you in Hannibal.  When I heard you would be the lead for Don Juan, I begged my parents to let me see you.  So, when I saw you and the man in the mask on stage, I knew something wasn't right.  I saw the look of fear in your eyes at first, but then you started to relax at the sound of his voice.  And then you completly went into the song.  Whatever you were doing, I could tell it wasn't acting."  She explained softly.  I smiled at the memory.

"Whatever you and that man had is what I wanted when I married a man, was what I vowed to myself.  Without that vow, I would have married the first rich man to come along.  But instead, I waited for someone to look at me like that.  And finally I found it.  Without you and the Phantom, I would not be so happy right now."  She continued.  This comforted me greatly.  

I was glad to know we did something to impact someone else's life in a positive way.  Erik always thought he did nothing but bad.  And I always thought I had no purpose at all.  But hearing this proved us both wrong.