𝔒𝔭𝔢𝔫 𝔘𝔭 𝔜𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔐𝔦𝔫𝔡 {ON HOLD}

Chapter V

~Mary~

I stand on the sidelines, holding a handkerchief close to my chest as I smile at my sister performing her aria.

Clad in a beautiful white gown that glitters with each movement and beaming light, Christine stands tall, her curly brunette hair pinned back with star-shaped diamond pins, a pair of matching earrings swaying gently at her neck.

"We never said our love was evergreen,
Or as unchanging as the sea.
But if you can still remember,
Stop and think of me.
Think of all the things
We've shared and seen
Don't think about the way
Things might have been..."

I look to Madame Giry who smiles at Meg, pulling a strand of her daughter's hair behind her shoulder. Meg seems as captivated of Christine's singing as I am. Madame Giry glances at me, then nods to Box Five, and I follow her eyes to see Raoul sitting in it.

She tugs on my hand, and tells me to follow her. I sneak past the crowd of stage hands and chorus singers and dancers, following Madame Giry as she leads me down a couple corridors. I can still hear Christine singing, her angelic voice echoing throughout the entire opera house.

"Think of me,
Think of me waking
Silent and resigned
Imagine me, trying too hard to
Put you from my mind.
Recall those days,
look back on all those times
Think of the things we'll never do
There will never be a day
When I won't think of you."

Madame Giry stops right behind a curtain, and I can hear Raoul's voice. Why have she brought me here? I wonder.

Raoul asks in a quiet murmur, "Can it be... Can it be Christine?"

A proud cheer erupts from the audience, as does clapping from Raoul. He praises, "Bravo!"

I see him stride past, and my heart sinks as I realize that he has fallen for Christine once more. He sighs, "It seem so long ago... Oh, how young and innocent we were! She may not remember me, but I remember her."

My heart sinks, and I look at Madame Giry. "What does this mean for Christine?"

She gives me a saddened look, and murmurs, "Her teacher."

I furrow my brow, confused by her short answer. Before I could as another word, she walks away, heading down to the dormitories.

I decide to watch Raoul leave the hall, and I can see him heading for the backstage entrance as well.

Christine begins to sing again, and I step into Box Five curiously, sitting down in the single seat. Tears prick my eyes, both of pride and pain.

"Flowers fade
The fruits of summer fade
They have the season
So do we
But please promise me that sometimes
You will think..."

She pauses, and I wipe my eyes, watching her closely as I slowly forget the pain I felt moments ago from Raoul's epiphanic love.

She sings a gentle arpeggio, settling on a low note. In a mere second, she takes a breath, then hits the low note, hitting the highest note of the song with ease.

"Of me!"

I stand up, clapping and crying tears of joy. She nailed each and every note. I whisper, "Father would be proud of you."