My Angel of Music

One Year Later

One Year Later

I sat in the small apatrment, coaxing Elsa to say "Mother."

"Yes, Elsa, darling, Mother.  Say Mother."

The child simply stared at me and giggled.  I groaned and pushed a curl out of my face.  "It's been a year, nd you have yet to utter a single sound."  I said to myself, analyzing the frowning child.  She was so quiet and solitary.  She didn't like to be played with, and most of the time preffered to be alone, like Erik.

Annabel, though, was like me.  She had already made many friends in Coney Island, and had no trouble at all talking.  Believe me.  

It had been a year since our sudden flight to America, and Erik had already mastered the language, though I was still having trouble.  I kept to myself and only made one other friend in this whole year.  Her name was Abigail and she lived across the hall.  She was also0 from France, and was a little older than me, only by two years.  

We weren't close, in fact, I was afraid to get close to her.  Once I was, I would be forced to invite her over, and then she would meet Erik, who had  a mask, and was also very unpredictable and, well, insane sometimes.

Luckily, Erik had gotten a job as a piano player at a local concert hall.  I always asked to come and see him, but each time, he would get angry and snap at me.  So, I let the subject drop.  

I heard the piano in the next room over, and smiled to myself as I listened to the pleasant tune.  When it was over I clapped with a grin on my face.  "Brava, Annabel."  I shouted to her.  I heard her bell-like laugh.  "Thank you, Mother!"

Finally, a loud thud from  the door sounded through the cramped home.  "Papa!"  Annabel squealed, and rushed from the piano to the door.  I heard Erik laugh and quickly stood to greet him.  He looked tired and worn, as if he hadn't slept in days.  Purple bags formed under his eyes and his shoulders sagged.  However, he put on a bright smile for his daughter and bent down to scoop her into his arms.  

I smiled and leaned on the doorway, waiting for him to be free.  He twirled the spoiled girl around and set her down before turning his attention to me.  Annabel knew what happened next, and skipped to her room,crying "Ew!" all the way.  

Erik's smile faded, and he let his shoulders relax as he saw me.  I smiled reassuringly before wrapping my arms around his shoulders and pecking his cheek.  "Did you have a hard day at work?"  I asked, my voice slightly muffled by his bony shoulder.  He sighed and I felt him nod.  I pulled away and examined his almost sick looking form.  I led him to the couch where I forced him to lay down and let his head rest on my chest.  I stroked his hair back, humming softly.

"Darling, if this work is too much stress on you, then I want you to resign."  I said, suddenly, not even thinking of the words before they spurted from my lips.  He stiffened, but didn't pull away.  "No, Christine.  We need the money."  He grunted.

I sighed.  "No amount of money is worth seeing you like this."

He shook his head and I saw his eyes flutter closed as if he had a head ache.

"I can get a job, then.  Maybe sing somewhere.  Or maybe I don't have to sing.  i could work at a bar or-"  Erik cut me off by sitting up and glaring at me with his fiery, angry eyes.  He gripped my shoulder with a tight, bony hand.  I tried to flinch away, but he held me fast.  

"Christine,"  He uttered my name like a terrible thing that hid under a bed.  "You are not working.  I am.  And I will not quit my job."  He growled, the Phantom of the Opera returning for a brief moment, before the fire left his eyes, and just like that, he was my Erik again.  He laid his head once more on my chest, and commanded that I sing, which I obeyed willingly until he fell asleep.

***

After that night, Erik would come home, looking worse than before.  I worried in silence, though, as he had told me to do.  A month later,, though, I was at my breaking point.

I had just sent the children to bed, Erik had not come home yet, and I was prepared to go look for him.  Just as I dawned my cloak, the door flung open, and Erik stumbled in, his face deathly pale, and his body shaking violently.  I ran to his side and guided his half limp body to the water room where he puked several times.  I could only rub his back in comfort as he groaned.  

When he was finished, I helped him to the bed, where I prepared a wet cloth and placed it on his forehead.  I climbed into bed beside him as he huddled with his knees to his chest, still shaking.  I had never seen him this scared or pained before.  I touched his knee, and he flinched away from me, as if I would hurt him.  

"Angel, what happened?"  I cried softly, tears brimming in my eyes as I saw his fear.  He stared at me, and opened his mouth to speak, but closed it as he thought better of it.  I sighed and quickly pulled him to me.  I laid down and let his head rest on my chest as I petted his hair and kissed his forehead.  

"I love you.  I love you."  I mumbled, hoping he would relax and tell me.  

"Angel, speak."  I ordered gently.  He shook his head against my chest and began shaking again.  

"Just stay with me."  He murmured, his voice cracking.  I nodded. "I won't leave.  I promise."