"Sing my angel!"
Rose continued the note until her voice could no longer hold.
"Very Good Rose I'm impressed with how far you have come."

"Thank you..."
Rose suddenly didn't know what to call him.
"Excuse me but what is your name?"

His head suddenly snapped up from his music to her.
"M-My n-name?"
He said nervously.

Rose has never seen this side of him, he looked worried and even a little afraid like a young child.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have.."

"Don't be ridiculous my dear it's normal to be curious. My n-name,"
He said stuttering again.
"My name is Erik Destler."

"Well thank you very much Erik."
Rose said with a smile.

Erik never felt his heart skip at the sound of someone saying his name. She was beautiful and had a wonderful personality. It amazed him that she was not already married, as she was almost the same age as Erik.

"Rose, may I ask you a question?"

"Yes."

"Why have you stayed with me down here instead of returning back up to your dressing room?"
Rose paused.

"W-What do you mean?"

"I mean why have you not left me and live your life beyond this opera house."

"Well I would like to get better as an artist so that's why I haven't left the Opera House, but I have stayed down here with you because every time I look in to your eyes I see a man begging for joy and happiness. The only time I see you with joy is when I'm singing and when you are writing. I guess I have stayed because I feel a connection with you that I haven't felt before with a man, not a sexual desire but a musical and passionate drive."

"Rose you don't have to feel pity for me, I have lived through my emptiness and horrific past. I don't wish for you to do the same because I have felt what it's like."

"Then your warning is to late."

Erik's face showed confusion.
"What do you mean?"

"I have lost my entire family. I came here to find a way to leave the awful past behind and focus on a career."

"I'm sorry Rose."

"It's alright somethings happen that you can't control in this unforgiving world."
Erik nodded and chuckled a little.

"Yes I know."
He said pointing to his mask.

Rose looked at him in confusion.
"What happened?"

"I was born with half of my face disfigured. To make matters worse my mother gave me away to a freak show and they treated me like an animal. I escaped with the help of Madam Giry and came here to live. After I fell in love with music I started to write this opera."

"How long have you been writing this?"

"15 years."

Rose gasped.
"If I may ask, how old are you? Not meaning any disrespect at all I'm just Curious."

Erik paused at her use of words. Curious the word that describes her entire personality.
"I'm 35."

"That's not much of an age difference, I'm 33."

"Are you courting anyone? A woman of your age should be married by now."

"I haven't had the time or the heart to court anyone. After my father died I left and came to France. Plus no one really likes me due to my past."

"Don't be ridiculous, I like you. As a matter of fact I can't help but love it when you are around helping me with making my opera better."

"I like to be around you too, hoping one day we could share the stage together."
They both smiled.

"Rose don't ever think that no one loves you. There is always someone who does."

"Then who loves me?"

"Me."