It had not been the easiest of weeks for Christine. Having to continue the performances with all her heart and soul whilst she felt broken had not been easy but she had managed it with the professionalism she had within her. She would not let him down despite, if she was honest, knowing that he had let her down. She had heard the whispers of the other members of the cast and had caught the glimpses they gave her but never let it show how it hurt her. Erik had carved her into a stronger woman than she had every been before and she kept her head held high until the moment her bedroom door closed. Their bedroom door. Their empty bedroom.
She cried herself to sleep almost every night.
It did not feel right sleeping alone after so long sharing a bed with her husband. She lived every day on automatic and once the performances had finally closed she threw herself into rehearsals for the next production. She arrived at the Opera House early and left late, working on each little detail with incredible precision. Of course, part of her was very glad to be dancing again. It was not something she had let slip out of her grasp but she was required to do far more than she had to in the operas previously. Her delicate, white outfit clung enough to her upper body to allow movement and then flowed once it reached her hips, settling at her thighs. Of course, she kept her legs covered with tights suitable for dancers and in the same shade of white.
The rehearsal had been tough. Her hair was beginning to cling to her where it had come loose from the confines of the tight ribbon she had used to bring it up earlier in the day. But as she sat and sipped her water alone, trying to take a moment to catch her breath, she heard that name. That glorious name. He was back! She took a moment to shoot an apologetic look to those she had to and was soon leaving the room, not even bothering to remove her ballet slippers. It took her no time to reach his office, where she assumed he would be, and for once she ignored all thoughts of propriety and flung his door open.
"Erik..." she breathed out, eyes wide and showing a mix of emotions. Joy. Upset. Excitement. Even a touch of anger. She knew she must look incredibly out of sorts with her curls everywhere and her face a slight tinge of red but she did not care. She had to see him.