I found Christine sitting by her dressing table, with an aura of tranquility and happiness around her. She gave me a lovely smile seeing me at her threshold, standing up to embrace me.
Christine was beautiful that night! She was already a very pretty girl, but there was something about this glow in her face that accentuated it more.
She had her curly dark hair carefully tied on the top of her head, with a few locks falling on the sides of her face, as a frame to her pale and delicate face. A dark trace of make up complimented her brown eyes, making them look even bigger. A shade of green, matching her gorgeous dress, softened her already sweet look.
It made me happy to see Christine like that, after knowing her for so long as a humble chorus girl. She deserved acheiving this, for she was an enchanting person, with a strong wish for conquering her dreams. But...wasn’t she only a chorus girl again, after her big night?
“Eh, Christine! What is the occasion?”
She smiled shyly, “Nothing special, Meg. Sit here, please! There is so much I need to tell you!”
I felt very glad that Christine was finally trusting me enough to consider me a good friend, and share things with me. I gave her a broad smile, thinking that there was no reason for me to not tell her what was in my heart, either.
“Me too! By the way, Raoul came...”
“Raoul said he loves me, Meg!” she interrupted me. She had a serious expression on her face, as if waiting for my reaction, but her eyes were shining with excitement. I didn’t say anything, and I felt her savouring my surprise.
“He went to Perros-Guirec to meet me!“
“How nice! But how did he...”
“I sent him a message before leaving, explaining I was going to visit my dad’s graveyard.”
Christine was exultant, her legs moving nervously under the dress, in a girlish excitement. I must admit that I felt a little disconfort inside of me, which I would call envy. What was I going to tell her? That I met someone that made me fall head over heels in love with him, the same one who “rejected” me completely even before knowing what was going on? And that this person, as a bonus, was the Phantom of the Opera? I busted out laughing bitterly.
“What did I say, Meg?”
Christine took hold of my hands, and her genuine concern made me feel awful for disliking her happiness a while ago. I built my best smile, “Nevermind. So, he went to Perros and...?“
She forgot about my strange attitude and resumed, her eyes always lit with joy. “And we spent a nice afternoon together, and he told me he also had heard...” she stopped for a moment, ”Oh, Meg, my angel was there, too!“
“Really?” I said, with no irony.
“And just like he promised me, he played in his violine The Resurection of Lazarus, a sad song my dad used to play...and my Angel played it at my dad’s grave, as a homenage to the anniversary of his death! Oh, Meg, the Angel played heavenly, as one would expect, and the night was so beautiful.” She closed her eyes. “The moon was bright, reflecting its glow everywhere, and his music came, as a blessing from all the angels above! I know Papa was there at that moment, thankful to this wonderful Angel who guides and protects me now.”
“And did Raoul hear him, too?”
“Raoul? Well, he had heard him before...” She looked up, as if trying to remember exactly what happened.“ Raoul had a strange accident that night, Meg. He was found unconscious the next morning, outside a little church...but...yes, he heard the Angel before that.“
“Is he alright now?” I suddenly found myself concerned about that sweet boy.
“I think so. Well, it’s been a while since I left Perros-Guirec, and only his brother has looked for me...”
“What did he say?”
She bent her head, avoiding my look, “I asked the maid to dismiss him...”
“The Count?! Are you crazy, Christine? Do you know how much influence he has in the Opera?“
Her head still down, she said almost in a whisper, “The Angel is very strict with my visitors, I told you. And yet...he seems so...absent...lately...”
“You mean, you haven’t heard him?”
“Oh, no! No, he would never miss one lesson! He says I have the most beautiful voice he ever heard, and that it is an honor being my teacher!” she said proudly.
I looked down, having that not-so-noble feeling again.
“He sounds very commending.”
“Er...quite. He can be very demanding, and extremely severe, too. But he seems to have changed a little bit...I don’t know how to explain.”
I was not all that interested in this angel story to ask much further about his changes.
“How did Raoul manage to listen to him? Does he take singing lessons, too?“
My joke was more bitter than funny. I was getting tired of her nonsensical stories with happy endings. She laughed, saying friendly and gently, “No, you silly! That naughty young man was listening behind my door, when my Angel came to me, inside my dressing room. Raoul heard him talking to me.”
“And what was he saying?”
“Among other things, that I must love him. That made Raoul mad with jealousy! It took all my energy to convince him I didn’t have a suitor.”
“I would imagine...”
But I was not imagining anything. I was feeling worse than I was before coming to Christine. And it was not her fault at all!
At no moment was Christine bragging, she was only sharing with me how happy she was. If that displeased me so much, it was because I couldn’t bear to see people content when I felt so miserable. And realizing that made me dislike myself even more.
I excused myself, suddenly remembering an appointment I had with another friend.
“I’m sorry you have to go, Meg! Please stop here later and tell me about your story.”
With a grimace, I said I would, and left her room.
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