Love will still remain

Chapter 1

Christine's POV

It's a dark night and I'm currently sitting at my desk staring at the letter that just arrive from America. I've been invited to sing at Phantasma by a Mister Y. Raoul thinks it's a good idea, but only because of the amount of money we have been offered. He had spent all our money on alcohol and gambling. I however, am very hesitant. This whole set up has one name written all over it... Erik.

I can't believe that after 13 years he is trying to claim me once again. I shudder as I remember how I willingly gave myself to him. I loved him, and I would have followed him anywhere, but he left me. I've been dying for 13 years without him. The only thing that keeps me alive is the one thing he left me. My daughter, Gwen. She has his entrancing golden eyes. She has a very petit body, but is already growing into beautiful curves. Her hair is curly, just like mine, however her hair is a very light brown that shines and is exceptionally beautiful in the sunlight. She has a soft beautiful smile and her eyes are full of longing. Longing for something greater, just like her father. I know she is Erik's because of her musical abilities. Her voice soars and is magnificent, especially because she has had no training and is still young. She is very antisocial and is outcasted by everyone. No one has excepted her, because of the way she sees the world. I loved her more than anything. I was the only one who would except her. Raoul thought she was "special" because of the way she thought about life. She had ideas trapped in her head that she had no way to express, so she taught herself how to play piano. That's how she found her escape. Just like her father. She didn't talk much, not even to me. She kept to herself, and that's the way she liked it. Every once and a while she would have a breakdown because of the music or the darkness swirling around in her head, consuming all her thoughts. I wanted so desperately for her to meet her real father, for he would understand her, but over the years I decided that they could never meet. He had left Gwen with scars running down the back of her neck and some on her back. The same scars that are on Erik's face. Erik wasn't there for her when she needed him. He wasn't there for me when I needed him either, so he had no right to her or me.

Keeping the fact that Gwen wasn't Raoul's was not an easy task. I always made sure her clothes or hair covered her scars, and told him that my grandfather had those golden hazel eyes. I had to make sure she didn't play music or sing when he was around. I hated myself for doing that to her, but I had to. I didn't want her to have to hide like Erik did, but I had no choice but to make her. She was always trying to talk to Raoul, to explain to him what she saw. He would just ignore her and call her "special" and not in a good way. I like to listen to the way she talks. She is intelligent beyond her years and when she can put what she feels into words (which is rare) it makes you look at the world a whole different way, and for a mere moment you can see the beauty underneath clearly. It never lasts long however.

I've wanted Raoul to change so much. He is always drunk, and never pays any attention to Gwen. He is never home, and when he is, he is heavily intoxicated. I beg him to stop drinking, but he just abuses me. He would beat me and hurt me. One night he was so drunk and angry that he smashed a beer bottle into Gwen's forehead, leaving another scar on her hairline. She was only 8 years old and now She covers the scar with hair, and keeps it a secret from everyone, along with her scarred neck. After that incident I tried to run from Raoul but he found me and beat me again. He threatened to hurt Gwen if I ever ran again, so I never did. Over the past two years the abuse has stopped, and he doesn't drink as much. He still spends lots of money, but at least he doesn't hurt us anymore. Gwen says that she can see the hurt in his eyes, and that something is causing him to be the way he is, but she still loves him. She never ceases to amaze me.

As for me, I'm still dying inside. Every time I hear Gwen playing the piano I hear him. There is so much raw talent and the melodies are entrancing. My heart never feels whole without him by my side. Why did he have to leave? We could have been so happy together. I know he would love Gwen, I just wished he loved me. If he really did love me then he wouldn't have left me. There wasn't a night that went by when I didn't think of him, and wish I would wake up beside him, or that he would save me and Gwen. I would always cry at memories of him. Oh how I wish he was here! I need him to live. I can't give into him now though. He thinks he can just claim me after leaving me 13 years ago, and expect me to just submit to him once again. I can't have that.

"Christine!" Raoul shouts at me, and I open my bedroom door( I refused to share a room with him) to see what he wanted. "Get packed the boat leaves in the morning." He says then walks away to get packed himself. I sigh and quickly pack, then go to Gwen's room. I open the door and it is pitch black in there. She is so much like Erik.

"Gwen?" I call into the darkness

"I'm over here" her soft voice whispers.

"Sweetie I can't see." I say groping in the darkness.

"Oh" she says before coming and softly taking my hand and leading me to the bed where she was sitting.

"You need to pack your things, we are taking a trip to America." I say

"Oh?" She says again, but this time there is excitement in her voice.

" Gwen can you please put on a light or something, I really can't see." I say looking around. Moments later she lights some candles and I gasp at all the drawings scattered across the floor. They are all expertly done and life like. Most of them are of the flower garden she lives that's behind the house. You can tell that she drew them while looking out her window. She never went outside unless she had to, because people shunned her.

"well I guess I should pack." she states.

"Yes you should." I so desperately wanted to stay and talk with her. I hated when she pushed me away. I wanted to help her pack like any mother would with her daughter. She sighed and I knew she knew what I wanted.

"Would you like to help me?" She asks. I smile and nod then get up and start pulling out clothes for her. While I pack clothes she packs up drawing supplies. We pack in silence until she begins picking up all of her drawings.

"those are beautiful." I say helping her pick them up off the floor. She flashed a rate smile. She opened her mouth to speak but then furrowed her brows, the light in her eyes faded. I know she wanted to explain to me what the drawings meant and why she drew them, but she just couldn't put her thoughts into words. She finally just shook her head and muttered a "thanks" I felt so bad for her. I couldn't imagine what it must be like to have all those amazing thoughts and not being able to share them with others. We finished packing and Gwen sat at her desk and began sketching. "Darling it's late, why don't you go to bed. We have a big day tomorrow."

"I'm not tired." Was her simple reply. I knew not to argue with Gwen when she was in her creative mode. Besides she could go days without sleep or food, which of course scared me. Damn Erik for leaving her like this. It was a blessing and a curse. I sigh. "Alright darling, I'll see you in the morning. I love you."

"love you too"