Bravissimo

I'm Okay

I wake up to the smell of rubbing alcohol. I slowly open my eyes and see I'm in the hospital. 

"Ah Christine! Finally awake I see." My kind doctor says sitting next to me and dread sets into my stomach. 

"Finally?" I say groggily. The doctor nods his head. 

"How are you feeling, you're lucky to be alive, being crushed by that plank you only have a few bruised ribs!" I blink hard trying to get my eyes to focus on the room around me, everything was white. "Your fans know you're okay! So does Madame Giry if that's what you're worried about, they were ready to assume the worst." He said with a small smile. I start to get annoyed. Doesn't he see I'm trying to wake up and understand what's going on? Just stop.... talking! "Madame Giry is in the lobby ready for you her and her daughter Meg, they've been waiting for a while. Now before you start your dancing again make sure to-" 

"Hold on, stop... please," I say and he looks shocked. "How long have I been in here?" He nods his head and looks at his chart. 

"We started treating you at 8:27 yesterday." 

"And what time is it now?!" I ask super fast. 

"It's, 7 am, this all happened yesterday and you've been asleep, it's seems you needed it. You were also a little dehydrated." I stare at the wall in front of me. 

"Oh lord." I mumble. 

"What's that dea-" 

"I have to go! Thank you so much for the treatment leave the expense with Miss Giry I'll get it from her later!" I say as I run out of the hospital. 

"Oh, Christine!" Meg says. 

"I can't talk now Meg!" I say as I run into the lobby and grab my clothes my heart pounding out of my chest. Erik is going stir crazy I can feel it. 

"She's gone mad!" I hear the doctor yell before I reach the door. When I got outside there was a crowd. Of reporters. Fantastic. Meg walks out and stands by me. 

"This is another reason why we were going to take you home." She says with a nervous nod to the people. 

"Christine! What of the Phantom? How did you escape?!" "Christine will you return as the Prima Donna ever again?" "Christine!" "Christine!" They chanted with their pencils in their hands awaiting my response. 

"Uhh, all questions can be given to my dear friend Meg, thank you!" I say and grab her shoulders and shove her forward. Sorry Meg but my Phantom needs me. I run and wave down a carriage and they stop and give me a lift. 

"To the Opera Populaire! I forgot something important to me there." I say.   Which wasn't technically a lie, there was indeed something important to me there. The man bought what I said and he snapped the reins. The horses couldn't go fast enough and I was filled with worry. I wouldn't be surprised if Erik was out on the streets looking for me himself. But he knew better to wait at least a few days didn't he? He was the smartest man alive in my eyes. "Don't worry Erik." I say quietly. We finally reach the Opera house and I give the man some money, and sprint out of the carriage. I hear him leave as I run up the steps. I pull open the door and run up the once marble white stairs to the Opera room then down the backstage hallway and into the Prima Donna room. I slam open the mirror and sprint even harder down the dark tunnels, no light needed. I smiled, I'm starting to get used to it, as he is. I finally reach his lair through the broken mirror and I see him. I put my hands on my knees as I pant and look to him, he's down by the water. I can tell he was pacing because his hands are behind his head. He immediately runs to me and I barley got the chance to start walking to him before I fell into his arms, and at the same time he wrapped his arms tightly around me. He lets go of a breath he seemed to have been holding forever. 

"You're okay." He says relieved over my shoulder. 

"I'm okay." I say with a smile still breathing hard. "I'm alright."  We sit on the single step that goes up to his organ and we catch our breath not letting go of each other. When I ease my grip on him he slides his head onto my chest. I rub his shoulder with my left hand and put my right on his cheek though I couldn't see his face. 

"It's all right, I'm back Erik." He starts to tear up a bit but I don't let him know I know. 

"I'm sorry." He says. Sorry? Why was he sorry? I'm the one that didn't come back for a whole day. I'm the one that fell asleep and was irresponsible with my health down here, so much as to make me dehydrated and sleep for an entire day. Oh...oh I see. A small smirk forms on my face. He's sorry he's not being my macho phantom he always has been. 

"Erik, don't be sorry, I would do the exact same thing you are darling. I was irresponsible, I know that now." I say rubbing his shoulder. I should have known! I shouldn't have been so blind! I slowly nod my head and make a mental note of this so it never happens again. I pinch my mouth and eyes shut in shame. I should have known Erik would have anxiety over things like this. The way he's been treated. What a fool I've been. I lift Erik's head off of me and sit him up right. 

"I'm right here." I say and place his hand on my shoulder. "No matter how long I'm gone, I'll always come back to you my Angel." Erik smiles, takes a deep breath and nods. He looks down and sees my hospital attire, my actual clothes in a small bag. 

"So what did they say?" He asks.

"Exhausted and dehydrated." I say shaking my head. "I was only supposed to fall asleep and wake up when I got to the hospital." Erik stood up. 

"I watched you pull that thing over you,  it worried me." Erik says with a small smile.
What else had he seen? I quickly shake the thought after I realize he would have asked about all of it. 

"I am okay. Really I am." I say reassuringly. "I'm wide awake, and back to being hydrated." I say and put my hand on his chest.

"Well in that case..." Erik's looks at me with a devilish grin. I pretend to not notice and walk away but before I do he swings his right arm around my torso and pulls me to him roughly. I smile and yelp. I try to get away but he doesn't budge, he's so much stronger than I am with just one arm! 

"Erik!!" I playfully yell and laugh and he with me. He finally lets me loose and chases me into the bedroom. What we did next could be heard throughout the catacombs.