The Miserable Lives in His Past (on hiatus for awhile)

Chapitre Sept

Angel of Music, Guide and Guardian, Grant to me your Glory! Angel of Music, hide no longer, come to me strange Angel!

    -France, 1870 ~ Erik's P.O.V.-

    It was the summertime in 1870, less than 6 months away from Christine's 17th birthday when it happened: when we finally met each other in the flesh. Christine was so insistent that she see me, since she figured out I wasn't an angel. The exact date was August 18th, 1870. Everything leading up to the meeting was absolutely normal, just everyday nonchalance. Everything was completely normal all day. Then, when it came time for our lesson, Christine entered her room looking bothered by something.
    She stormed in, fuming. "UGGH! He's such an idiot!" She huffed. She hastily wrote out a note and attached it to the mirror. "I hope he sees this." She muttered. She then went over to her desk and picked up her book and began to read.
    I looked closer at the note she left. It read:

    Angel,
I know that you aren't really an angel, and I wish to talk to you face to face. I stuck this note to the mirror because it was the only thing I could think of. I don't even know who you are or where you have access to my room. Please, let me see you in person.
    -Your Dearest Christine

    I read the note three times over. So Christine figured it out. It was very clever of her to attach the note to the mirror. I peeked over at her desk and saw her looking even more stressed than before. Softly, I said, "Christine?"
    She instantly looked up and her eyes darted all around. "Angel? Where are you?" She asked hastily. I cleverly ignored her. "First, I have to apologize to you. I only said I was an angel when you were younger to protect you. It kept you happy and I felt like I had to. It was my duty to protect you like I should have been when I was a child. Second, before I reveal myself to you, I want you to tell me what's distressing you." I told her. She let out an audible sigh and then proceeded to talk. "Well, today, I saw my old friend, Raoul from when I was little. He didn't recognize me and it was very distressing. When he saw me and I said hello, he looked at me blankly and said 'Do I know you?' Yes! Yes you know me!" Christine ranted.
    I frowned. Raoul did not sound like a good thing at all. That was probably the first moment I realized I was falling in love with Christine. "Well, it seems as though this guy isn't worth thinking about if he isn't thinking about you." I replied as nonchalantly as possible. Tears streamed down her face. "Oh Angel. I feel as though you are the only one who understands me. Even Meg looks at me like I'm a stranger sometimes." Christine cried.
    I smiled at her sadly. "Christine, you are probably the only person who will ever understand me, and even you might not completely understand." I murmured with melancholy in my tone. Christine smiled softly. "I guess we were destined to find and comfort each other." She murmured back. She closed her eyes for just a second and I decided to take the opportunity to open the mirror. I did it silently and stealthily. Christine heard nothing.
    "Here I am Christine. In the flesh." I announced and extended my arms. Christine gasped slightly. Then, without warning, she ran to me and embraced me tightly. It was my turn to gasp. I embraced her back. "I've been wanting to do this since I was 7." She murmured. I softly caressed her head. "Me too." I replied.
    We stood in our embrace for a long while. Finally, I loosened my grip and Christine reluctantly did the same. She gazed into my golden eyes with her warm, brown ones. "Angel, why do you wear a mask?" She asked innocently. I sighed heavily. "There are many things I'm not ready to admit out loud yet, and the mask is one of them. It represents something that I am, or something that my mother believed I am. By the way, Christine, you are the only person to look at me as a person worthwhile. Everyone else looks at me as a monster. All because of the mask." I told her.
    She cocked her head at me. "Why don't you take the mask off then? If it causes problems, it doesn't make sense to wear it." She said matter-of-factly. I sighed. "Because what's under the mask is worse and would cause even more problems." I replied. She nodded. She was speechless for awhile, but she finally replied; "Well, that's very unfortunate." She spoke softly, as if there was something more she wanted to say, she just couldn't say it. There was something I wanted to say, but I couldn't.

Author's Note: Honestly, rereading this just makes me cringe. I wrote this so long ago and I don't have the energy to change it. I hope you enjoy it regardless!