This is how a Heart Breaks

Author's note: The heartbreak begins...

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Christmastime 1988

"Amazing! The singers were spectacular and did an excellent job performing!"

Aila threw her hands up and started to belt out The Phantom of the Opera tune at full-blast.

Tomas merely laughed as she twirled around in the sidewalk of New York City and tasted the snowflakes on her tongue.

"This has been the greatest Christmas present ever...besides baby Jesus, of course!", she chided.

"I'm glad that you liked it," he teased.

"How did you ever get tickets? I thought they were booked for the Christmas season?", she asked.

"I reserved them months in advance. In fact, I might have thought of this idea during our honeymoon..."

"Oh, Tomas. You didn't have to do this, but seeing the musical again was just marvelous! It was pure dead brilliant," she declared.

"What?", he must have heard wrong.

"Oops. Sometimes I forget you don't speak Scottish, pure dead brilliant means really good."

"Nice to know. Is there some other slang you can teach me, my angel of music?"

"Stop it, Tomas," she shrieked as he attempted to chase her down the sidewalk. "You're not the Phantom of the Opera you know. I've always pegged you as a Raoul."

"What does that mean for me?", he winked as he placed his hands on her waist.

"You proposed to me singing "All I Ask of You", what do you think it means? Our love will stand the test of time!", she stated as she pumped her fist in the frigid air.

"It's only been what...9 months since we were wed? Isn't it a bit early to call it?", he seemed to be deep in thought, but let out a chuckle once Aila's face turned bright red.

"Tomas! Refrain from playing around and be serious!", she attempted to hit her purse against his frame, but he ducked and chucked a snowball at her.

"I do not know what has gotten into you? You are acting like a child!", she whined.

"So not like you at all?", he questioned.

"That's it! You're sleeping on the couch tonight!", she turned around and stomped off.

"Aila, please forgive me. I meant no harm. I'm so used to being so stoic and...."

"Tightly-wound?", she added.

"Quiet! As I was saying, I'm trying to prepare myself for the role of being a father by loosening up."

A chill in the air seemed to gather around the newlywed couple and the wind seemed to howl against them, yet they did not heed the warning.

"Tomas, is that your fear?", she inquired as she patted his back several times.

"My father died when I was young and Opa...well, he has not been the most supportive father figure. I want our son to have the very best in life."

"You don't have to be so hard on yourself, Tomas. Sure, tragedy stuck you early on and left you an orphan, but that does not mean that you do not have what it takes to be a great dad. I am certain you will be a wonderful father to our son."

"How would you say, if you say so, in Scottish?"

"Tomas! Fine. If you are expressing disbelief in what I say, you can say 'Aye Right' back to me. ok? Can we talk about something else now?'

"Of course, dearest," Tomas responded.

"Is it just me or were the lyrics somewhat altered for Phantom of the Opera musical here in America?"

"I wouldn't know, darling.", he answered.

"Anyway, I found that the musical was superb as always, but I heard some whispers during the interlude that some ladies thought Cris Groenendaal was not a good singer as Michael Crawford who originated the role at West End in London. I disagree with their opinion. His voice was very soft and tender and even though both men's styles are different, one should not compare two artists of equal worth together, that would be shan."

"Shan?"

"Unfair. See, I'm teaching you Scottish slang in everyday conversation already without breaking a sweat. When we travel to Scotland, you'll be a pro at this."

"Aye Right."

Aila clapped as Tomas bowed before an imaginary audience.

Tomas then furrowed his brow and decided to voice the thoughts that had puzzled him this whole evening.

"Don't you think that the Phantom's motivations were at best...", he struggled to come up with the right word to describe the lunacy of that man.

"Misguided?", Aila offered.

"That is kinder than I would put it, yet some theatergoers would defend his actions based on his history," he explained.

"What is it that you are referring to, Tomas?"

"How could the Phantom be led into committing the atrocities he did? I find it difficult to comprehend."

"We cannot control what life dishes out on us, only our reaction to them. He made his choice."

Had they been paying attention to where they were going, the following incident might not have occurred. They had been walking for quite a while without direction, crossing over bridges and strolling by as if they were the only ones left in the world.Alas, they had arrived in a part of New York City plagued by crime and poverty-Upper Manhattan.

"Hey a there. Got any money?", a man asked from the shadows.

"Aila, we must go now," Tomas whispered, his gut feeling told him to run.

"Your boyfriend is right. You should have turned back when ya had the chance.", a man with a knife appeared and ripped Aila away from Tomas's arms.

"Please don't hurt her!", he yelled into the night.

"Tomas, relax.", Aila said.

"Like the lady said, give us your wallet and you'll not be harmed.", the mugger promised.

When the thief's partner let go of her to wipe sweat off his forehead, she twisted his hand, lunged at him and kicked him where the sun doesn't shine. In a blink of an eye, she slammed him unto the side of a building and fended off the leader with an array of kicks and punches.

Tomas just stood there, shocked.

"All done.", Aila wiped her hands off and proceeded to walk towards Tomas.

"Stop. Stop right there."

"Tomas, I..."

"What was that?"

"I may not have told you that I had combat training a while back."

"Why would you have..."

"I've been lying to you Tomas for quite sometime. I'm not who you think I am."

"You what?"

"I'm a spy, Tomas. In fact, there is a mission I'm operating right now in New York City.'

He spoke softly, "That's why you wanted to move here...but if you've always been a spy..."

"Your uncle was originally my target..."

"You used me to get to him! When were you going to tell me?"

"Spies can tell their spouses, but I was afraid..."

"Of what? Of what? That would be furious at you. That I would come to realize that this...our love has all been a game to you! Do you even love me?"

"Yes, I do, Tomas. I chose to marry you because I loved you."

"Go away and leave me alone."

"What?"

"Get out of my sight."

"Tomas, please..."

"GET OUT!"

Aila scurried down the darkened streets, whimpering all the way.

He sat down criss-cross apple sauce near the unconscious robber and moaned,

"What have I done?"

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Author's note: Temper, temper. Jeesh.

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