The Man Behind the Monster: Phantom of the Opera Story

35: Help Me Say Goodbye

"Elizabeth!?", Raph said, louder than usual. I stopped pacing and looked up to meet his gaze. "Will you please stop pacing? You are making me dizzy."

"Raph, what am I going to do?", I said, as my lip started quivering.

"Lizzie, please... you need to remain calm."

"Remain calm? You want me to remain calm? Raphael, I'm carrying his child!," I shouted, as tears spilled from my eyes. "Christine and Raoul and everyone else I know is going to think I'm a whore. Erik is dead and ... and..."

I was unable to finish my sentence because my sobs wouldn't allow it. I was finding it harder and harder to catch my breath. My legs began to feel like noodles and, before I knew it, I fell to the floor.

I was instantly wrapped in Raph's embrace. I sobbed into his chest as he held me close.

"He's dead Raph... he's dead" I sobbed.

"I'm so sorry Elizabeth! I wish I could take away your pain", Raph said, stroking my hair.

He sat there and held me, for how long, I couldn't tell. I sobbed uncontrollably into his chest. I cried until I couldn't cry anymore.

But, Raphael just sat there holding me tight: rubbing my back, playing with my hair, kissing my forehead.

"Raph, what am I going to to?", I mumbled, as my head was still buried in his chest.

"We will figure everything out, Lizzie. I promise you everything will be okay.", he said, placing a kiss to my head. "I promise you I will let nothing happen to you. I will protect you until my dying breath. No one will harm you."

"What if I am with child?", I mumbled, finally lifting my head up. "What then?"

"Lizzie, we need not to worry about that right now. Okay? The doctor could be wrong.", he softly said, cupping my cheek in his hand. "Look at me.". He placed his hand up my chin and lifted my head up so I could look in his eyes. "I will take care of you."

I felt my lip start to quiver hearing Raphael's words. He doesn't deserve to have to deal with the mess I got myself into. I threw my arms around his neck and buried my face in his neck as I started to sob once more. Everything just felt too much.

"I don't deserve you", I quietly sobbed into him.

"Elizabeth, I love you.", he whispered back. "I would do anything for you."

We sat there again, in each other's embrace. Raph doing whatever it took to comfort me, to hold me, to make me feel protected in such a vulnerable state. He's occasionally rubbed my back or play with the ends of my hair. His soft, little caresses soothed me.

"Lizzie?", he finally spoke, breaking the silence.

"Hmm?", I muttered in response.

"We need to go claim his body. Give him a proper burial.", he soft spoke.

"I know.", I spoke. "I don't know if I'm ready to say goodbye."

—-

Raph opened the door to the carriage and hopped out before me. He extended his hand and helped me out of the carriage. He closed the door behind me.

There were stood, in front of the coroner's office. His body... his lifeless body was in there...

"Raph, I don't know if I can do this. I feel sick.", I said, gripping his hand tightly in mine.

"You are strong, Lizzie. So incredibly strong.", he whispered to me. "I will be here with you every step of the way."

He tugged my hand forward and led me up the few steps to the door. There was a bell that rung once the door was opened. There was a chill that ran down my spine once I stepped inside of the building.