The choices we made

Chapter 6.

"Christine... " Erik wanted to say something but I interrupted him

"Can... can I hug you?" I asked awkwardly. The image from my nightmares was still in my mind. Flames that run through my body and I can't do anything. I wanted to hug so I could feel safe for a moment.

I saw obvious hesitation on Erik's face. When I thought he wouldn't agree, he nodded slightly, almost invisibly.

Without waiting any longer, I started to change my pose to hug him. Although I felt pain with every movement of my body, I didn't care about it now. When Erik spread his arms slightly, I immediately clung to him. I placed my head on his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist.

I felt Erik's hands shaking as he slowly hugged me. He hugged me gently, as if he was afraid he would hurt me. He sat stiffly for a while, but after some time I felt his body gradually relax. Once he relaxed, he gently started stroking my hair with one hand.

I closed my eyes, enjoying being in his arms. It was incomprehensible to me. I shouldn't feel this way. I saw what he was capable of. He killed two people, who knows how many have died during the fall of the chandelier. He tried to kill my fiancé and force me to marry him! I should want to be as far away from him as possible. However, I felt an incomprehensible peace and something like happiness when he hugged me like that.

At some point I opened my eyes. Without stopping to hug Erik, I shifted in his arms. My head was now level with his shoulder. I wanted to rest my head against it when I froze.

Behind Erik, a candle was burning on the table. t's flames swayed peacefully, yet I felt fear creeping into my heart. I felt my breathing become shallower. Erik must have sensed the change in my emotions, because I felt him no longer hug me.

"Christine? What happened?" he asked

I didn't answer him. I kept staring at the candle on the table as if the fire was about to spread.

When I didn't answer him, Erik turned his head, following my gaze. When he saw what I was looking at, he turned his head towards me again.

" Candle. On the table...can cause a fire. Please, take it away... the candle, take it away "I started repeating these words like crazy, at one point grabbing his hand.

" Of course... I apologize should have guessed that... I'm sorry, I'll take it from here" Erik got up from the bed "But you can't stay enveloped in complete darkness. Would the light in a kerosene lamp be better for you? "he asked

" Yes... the lamp will be better" I told him

"Then I'll be back in a moment "he promised, took the candlestick in his hand and left the room.

Before I knew it, he came back holding a kerosene lamp in his hand.

" Will you feel safer now? "he asked, putting the kerosene lamp on the table

"Yes... thank you" I said, giving him a small smile

Erik hesitated for a moment until he finally sat down on the chair next to my bed.

" Do you want to talk about this nightmare of yours? Apparently it helps"he said, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand

I was surprised to notice that Erik was wearing a bathrobe. He also didn't have his wig, which meant that I must have woken him up with my nightmare.

"Did I wake you up? If so, I'm sorry " I said, pulling the blanket over me

A flicker of surprise crossed Erik's face.

"It doesn't matter "he waved his hand "I didn't sleep anyway. And it turned out well. When I heard your scream from your room, I immediately came to see what happened."

I saw that he wanted to know what I dreamed about. And although just a moment ago I wanted to keep it to myself, under the influence of his look I decided to tell him. He looked really worried.

" I dreamed that I was trying to get out of the opera. There were flames all around me and I couldn't get out. I came to a dead end, and the flames were getting closer to me with every moment. Then they started burning me, my skin... " I was silent for a moment, trying to collect my thoughts. Erik saw it and waited patiently for me to put it together. "It was so true. I felt like I was experiencing it all over again... I still feel like I can feel those flames on my body "I shuddered just thinking about it.

" Christine, it was just a bad dream. I know it's little consolation, and please forgive me for it, but I've never been very good at consoling... What I mean is that what you went through is now a thing of the past. Yes, various ghosts of the past may haunt you now, but that's what they are, unpleasant memories. These flames won't hurt you anymore. I promise that as long as you are here, under my care, I won't let anything happen to you. I will not allow a situation like this to happen again."

"Thank you, it means a lot to me"I smiled at him "Do you think that... I'm weak? Because of what happened? "I asked, looking down at the hand with which I was gripping the blanket, afraid of the answer.

"Of course not - Erik's eyes widened at my question" I think you're the strongest woman I've ever met."

I gave him an incredulous look.

" What happened to you recently... " this time he started to avoid my eyes in embarrassment " it's normal that you may be afraid of fire now, that you're tormented by nightmares, it's also normal. You experienced great trauma. You cannot expect, nor should anyone expect from you, that everything will be as it was before after these experiences."

"If you want "he started talking again "I can try to help you overcome your fear of fire. Of course, we would start slowly, gradually " he added when he saw my terrified face.

" All right. I agree. I want you to help me overcome this fear" I said after a while.

I was sure of my decision. Despite recent events, I was sure that when things got difficult and I felt that it was too much for me, Erik would respect my decision and would not force me to do anything.

Erik sent me a shy smile

" Okay, I think you should go to sleep. You're certainly tired" he said, and as if on cue, fear sprouted in my heart.

Fear of having another nightmare.

Erik was just about to get up from the chair when I grabbed his hand at the wrist.

"Please wait " I said, letting go of his hand " Could you sing me something and stay here until I fall asleep? I'm afraid that as soon as I close my eyes, that nightmare will come back "I admitted, looking at him with pleading eyes

I saw a trace of disbelief on Erik's face, but then he nodded.

"If that's what you want, then of course, I'll stay until you fall asleep" he said, taking a seat in the chair again

After a moment, his velvety tenor voice rang around the room as he began to sing. It was a composition unknown to me, so I suspected that it was something Erik composed himself. The song he sang was beautiful, I haven't heard such beautiful words for a long time.

Influenced by his voice, I made myself comfortable on the bed. I closed my eyes and fell asleep listening to his voice.

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