Empty Spaces

Epilogue

He hated ties.

And he hated dress shoes.

...And dress shirts.

Generally, he was just hating this whole outfit. It just wasn’t him.

His outfit induced grimace was replaced with a genuine smile as Christine fluttered into the room, her chestnut curls cascading over her shoulders and down to her mid-back. She had on a light pink strapless dress that ruffled gently at the knees, and in her arms she held both of their graduation gowns.

“Oh, great! I have to wear a dress, too.” Erik snickered as he took the robe from her. “This whole graduation thing is way more than I bargained for.”

“Yes, well...you have to go. I mean, you don’t have to…but you're going to.” Christine placed her hands on her hips and looked at him sternly. “This is really important to me, Erik.” She pouted a little, before placing gentle kiss on his lips. Erik melted into it, even if it was only for a moment.

“Okay, Christine. I know. I’ll wear the dress…I mean, grad gown…and I’ll even smile I pretend I’m enjoying myself--but only if you tie this stupid piece of cloth for me.”

He thrust the tangled up tie towards her with a pleading look on his face. “I’ve been trying to do this for the last ten minutes, and so far, the best I’ve been able to do is something that vaguely resembles a pretzel.”

Laughing, Christine took the tie from him. She tied it easily and placed it over his head. “There, it’s not hard at all! I can’t understand why men can never tie ties but women always seem to be able to, without any trouble at all.”

Erik rolled his eyes.

“It’s really not fair, you know. Ties are such a silly things -- we should just show up in pajamas, Christine. With water guns.” Erik grinned devilishly, lips curling up deviously.

“Oh, you wouldn’t dare! We go in, we get our diplomas, we leave…no water guns, and certainly no pajamas. Do I make myself clear?”

Erik leaned down and placed a kiss on her soft lips, and then began to tickle her ruthlessly.

Christine giggled uncontrollably, and fell onto the bed squirming.

“Not fair,” she managed to gasp out, in between writhing around,

“Just…did…my…hair…you're…messing…it…up!”

“It looks better that way!” Erik retorted immediately, tickling her some more.

“Does not!” Christine managed to squirm away from him and grab a pillow. “Beware! I’m armed and dangerous!” She gestured menacingly with the pillow, doing her best to look threatening with a smile tugging at her lips and living in her eyes.

Erik looked at her skeptically.

“Oooh, I’m quaking in my boots, Christine. Please don’t unleash the wrath of the all-mighty pillow on me. Oh, please, have mercy, Christine! I beg of you!”

Just as Christine was preparing to strike, someone rang their doorbell. Erik jumped up and ran for the door.

It was Damek and Meg, both in their grad gowns with smiles on their face. Meg seemed to be trying to suppress laughter, and Damek had knowing little smirk on his face. Behind them, Christine was doing her best to tiptoe in her high heels, holding a pillow above her head. Erik was just about to turn around and see what was so funny, but Damek distracted him, gesturing towards his chest and nodding.

“Hey man, nice tie.” Damek grinned, and then winked at Erik.

“Thanks, it’s kind of like being choked constantly.” Erik said in his most charming voice, putting on cheery little smile, before swinging around and grabbing the pillow from Christine in one incredibly swift and fluid movement.

“Damn, Erik! You are just too good!” Christine laughed a little and pulled him down for a quick kiss. “But we're going to be very late of we don’t leave now.” Christine handed Erik his grad robe again, and then put hers on.

“Go on, Erik…put it on, it won’t bite you. Everyone will be wearing one.” Christine rolled her eyes and tapped her foot loudly on the floor. She turned to Meg, and expressed her frustration. “He’s been like this all day…‘I don’t like ties…this looks like a dress…These shoes make my feet hurt…blah blah blah.’ My ears are starting to ring, Meg.”

“Okay. For one, I haven’t been complaining that much, and two, my voice is in no way, shape, or form, that whiny or high pitched!” Erik retorted, as he begrudgingly put on his grad robe. “At least I don’t have to put the hat on till I get there…”

“You see! You see what I mean, Meg…all day!” Christine sighed exasperatedly. Meg laughed.

“Damek’s been the same way. It took me forever to get him out of his house -- he grumbled the whole way about wearing a ‘dress’ and a tie too.”

Erik and Damek looked at each other, and sighed, as they followed the two bantering girls out of Christine’s apartment.

Graduation went without a hitch. The ceremony had been beautiful, and as much as Erik had hated high school, it was only natural that part of him felt sad to leave it all behind. There had been so many bad times here, but there had also been good ones -- he had met both Damek and Christine here, and he had so many peaceful times in the music room. It was those times, when there was nothing in the world but music and peace, those times of perfection and beauty, which Erik would miss.

Things had been a little better for Erik since, well, since after everything had happened. The students still wouldn’t act friendly to him, but they didn’t show him any hatred, either -- they seemed to avoid him, with a quiet fear, despite their burning curiosities.

It had been hard to go back at first, but Erik had soon fallen into the rhythm of things. The endless procession of days, weeks and months become bearable -- even pleasant -- because of Christine. These last few months had been the best of Erik’s life, without question. There was just something about waking up beside an angel every morning that made life so much more worth living.

Christine had filled his life with beauty, with love, and with music. It seemed as though everything she did, everything they did together, was filled with music. Every movement, every breath, every kiss, was like a beautiful, pure note, reaching to the heavens, and forming a magnificent, celestial melody. The exquisite tones of perfect peace and harmony reverberated through his life, amplified by love.

Things had changed so much since he had found Christine. He had experienced everything the world had always denied him; he finally knew the light of heaven, and his dark soul had been filled with the resonating glow of an angel’s unconditional love.

He found himself looking up at Richmond Hill High School. He had made it through.

He had done it!

Christine came up beside him and took his hand gently into hers, and leaned her head against his shoulder. Things couldn’t have been more perfect. For once, everything felt right, and Erik felt almost as if he belonged here.

They were pulled from their quiet embrace by a voice behind them.

“Erik…?” Erik turned around to see Raoul.

He no longer looked like the perfect football-captain-honor-roll-student he had once been -- instead, he was in jeans and an old t-shirt. He no longer held his shoulders high, but instead seemed to slouch in an attempt to make himself seem smaller, less noticeable. The stance made him a walking apology.

Erik hadn’t seen him since that fateful day when he had pulled the mask off. Raoul had been expelled from school, and truthfully, Erik had been glad. A part of him had felt as though Raoul had finally gotten what he deserved, that life had finally dealt a share of cruelty out to Raoul.

But now, as Erik looked at him, he felt a great pity for Raoul stir inside himself, fighting to break through the dark and intense hatred Erik had always held for the supposedly golden boy. It was no longer Erik who feared Raoul, but Raoul who feared Erik. Erik had been an outcast his whole life, and as much as he wanted to take joy in Raoul becoming what he was, he could not -- he could never wish his life upon anyone else.

Before Erik could say anything, Christine, ever the guardian angel, stepped between them. “Raoul, please….”

The last thing she wanted was a fight -- the day had been going so well.

Erik moved her gently out of the way. He had no intention of hurting Raoul, and from what he could tell, that wasn’t why Raoul had come here, either.

“Hello, Raoul. How have things been?” Erik tried to stay calm, to stay civil. It was hard to speak rationally and politely to someone who you had put so much of your time and energy into hating.

“Erik, I just…I’m here...I’m here to say sorry...and...to thank you.”

Erik looked quizzical.

“For what?” he asked, puzzled.

Christine was now nervously clutching the hem of her dress tightly in her little hands. She could never bring herself to hate Raoul completely, but she could never forgive him for what he had done, either -- she could never forget what he had almost destroyed. And Erik had never forgiven him, she knew. Though he never spoke of it, Christine knew that Erik held a deep-rooted resent and hatred for Raoul.

She found herself holding her breath involuntarily as Raoul began to speak, after he took a deep breath.

“For teaching me about how to live my life. I realized what I had become. I was filled with jealousy and hatred for a person I had never taken the time to get to know. I spent all my time hating you because you weren’t like everybody else, and never even took a second to talk to you, or get to know you, to discover the person I was torturing. I tormented you with a ruthless, blind animosity. I saw you as a monster, but it was you who made me realize that the true monster was me.”

Raoul paused to take a shaky breath. “I don’t know if Christine ever told you, but I came to visit you while you were in the hospital. I knew then that you had deserved so much more then the life you had. And the worst part was...that I had helped make your life a living hell, that the reason you were lying in that hospital was because of the way I had tormented you since you came here. I’m not asking for forgiveness, but I just want you to know that I regret all that I have done to you with all my heart, and that I wish you and Christine a life of happiness. You deserve it so much more than anyone else, so much more than I.” Raoul hung his head, and quickly brushed away the broken tears that had fought their way out of his eyes.

Erik felt his hate for Raoul slowly dissipate. He placed his hand on Raoul’s shoulder, and for once in his life he looked at him without hate or fear.

“You are forgiven, Raoul.”

With that, Erik took Christine’s hand and walked away, but he walked away a different person. Those three words had just lifted an iron weight that had tied down his soul for far too long. The burden of hate that he had carried for Raoul, for the world, the burden that had festered inside him all his life, was gone.

He realized in those few moments that he had spent far too much time hating all the cruel and ugly things this world had bestowed upon him, and had not spent nearly enough time appreciating all the beautiful things he had. He had found God’s greatest gift to man…the gift of forgiveness, and he had opened his heart to it.

He looked at Christine, who was still slightly shaken from what had just happened. But when she saw the look that was on Erik’s face, that look of pure unadulterated joy, she felt her heart lift, and she found herself returning his smile, that smile that could have been an angel’s, it was so full of peace, and of love. Christine no longer saw the bitter hate that had always lurked in those eyes, even when they were filled with love.

Erik took Christine’s hand and led her over to Meg and Damek, who were standing close together, their hands almost touching. Erik shot Christine a look, and then snuck up behind them, and put a hand on both their shoulders, has he leaned in to talk to them.

Meg and Damek both jumped in surprise as Erik spoke.

“Just kiss the girl already, Damek!”

Meg flushed considerably, and Damek opened his mouth to retort, but then seemed to think better of it, and instead grabbed Meg and kissed her. Meg let out a little gasp of surprise, but then found herself returning the kiss willingly.

Erik let out a small laugh before pulling Christine into a tight embrace, and leaning down to kiss her -- but before he could, she pressed a slender finger against his lips.

“Wait,” she said, slightly mischievously, eyes dancing, “I have something to show you first.”

She took Erik’s hand and led him away from Damek and Meg, who were, by now, blissfully oblivious to anybody else’s presence.

She led him back into the school, and once they reached the closed door of the music room, Christine pulled him to whisper to him.

“Close your eyes.” Her voice was soft, and playful in his ear.

Erik looked at her blankly for a second, and then did what she told him to do. He heard her open the door to the music room. After she had guided him into the room, she told him to open his eyes again.

Erik gasped.

In front of him was the most beautiful guitar he had ever seen. The wood was a rich mahogany color, and beautiful engravings ran up and down the back of the neck. On the lower, left side of the body, an angel with its wings spread gloriously had been intricately carved. Underneath it, the words Angel of Music had been beautifully etched into the wood.

He tentatively reached out and touched it, tracing the beautiful carvings with his finger. The wood seemed to flow underneath his hand, flawless and smooth.

Erik turned around and stared at Christine, tears glistening in his eyes. Christine looked at him, almost shyly, a silly little grin tugging at the corners of her lips.

“I…I don’t know what to say, Christine….” He managed to mumble out clumsily, lost for words.

She moved a little closer to him, and met his eyes with her own gorgeous brown ones, before speaking very softly. “Then don’t say anything, my love.”

So, instead, Erik did the first thing that came to mind.

He took her hands in his own; those soft, delicate hands, those hands, which had taught him how to dream, how to hope, and how to love. He gently pulled her close to him, leaned down, placing a grateful kiss on her gently smiling lips.

In that kiss, they both knew, there was a promise that no matter what happened, no matter what challenges or obstacles the world threw at them, they would always have each other. They had both found something incredibly special, something that was only bestowed upon the most deserving -- they had both found an enduring, everlasting love, the kind that could make evil wilt in fear and shame, and angels weep with the purest ecstasy.

Firstly: To my beta-reader, Bina, it’s been a long haul, girl, but its finally done. Thank you for putting up with me, and my silly grammar and spelling mistakes. And thank you for the late night talks on AIM, and for listening to me whenever I needed to talk about something, whether it be about this story or about something else going on in my life. I’m so glad to have met you.

Secondly: To everyone who ever reviewed this little story. I never ever expected to get more than a few reviews. Whether you reviewed once or faithfully reviewed every chapter I’m thankful for your encouragement, constructive criticisms, and comments. To GoldenLyre, Pirate Perian, Claire Starling, phantom-lover72, Daine, Zimmergirl, Daisy Deertree, Chrisitne, naomi, Rowin, JeanMarie, REK, Maeve of the Nile, Toshihiko1, DarkSarcasm, Diana-Lupin, AMLisdabomb, alice-in-wonderland1, forever in a bottle, Meee, The Singing Fox Demon, midnightangel38, The Cure, Fluffy (my beta-reader!), Ali, Orion Maxwell, bHind the mAsk, light barrer, mUsic goDDess 101, Kagome1514, anche, Lost-Girl89, Mademoiselle P, jarethsdragon, MrS. ErIC, Bre, MegChristine, CloudxInxCrimson, Chocolate Covered Icicles, CheshireKit, Number 356, Princess of Rivendell, LittleMe, All That Remains, evilredhead1212, Neon signs at 2AM, ISpeakMyThoughts, greivor of the souls, meXia, km, Lindseys Trachea, Beautiful Screams of Heartache, anonymous, Rydia02, Omega Devin, Dee, RabidGerbil666, Angel2668, Mizamour, hikari-no-tsubasa, TheGreatSporkWielder, Wandering-Phantom, beneathmyskin, Lotharien, DragonHeartRAB, eriksmyhoney, Nameless Waif, to all of you, and any I may have missed, thanks.

Thirdly: To everyone who had me on their favourite stories/authors lists, and to everyone who had me on their author/story alert lists, a big thank you to you too. I’d list your names, but there are just too many of them.

Lastly: All the wonderful people who took the time to do fanart for this story. Thanks so much! Links for fanart done for this story are available on my profile.