Nighttime had become Erik's favorite time of day. More specifically the time just before it was completely dark when the sun had not yet set, but it was dark enough that no one was out.

The shadows gave everything a near paradisical glow, he could only hope it did the same for him. Making him seem near perfect, but perhaps that was hoping too much.

His favorite place to be during this time was atop the Opera House, it was the place that he found to be the most peaceful during these times. During all times, if he was being truthful with himself.

Up here, he could watch as the people of Paris go about their day, imagining what his life could be like if he was one of them.

Oh! To be able to be like them and have a wife that he could take to the park on Sundays, to be able to hold her hand whenever he wanted, to be like all the other men wandering around below him.

Of course, this was a learned behavior with him. Hide your face, don't let them see it. No one will accept him. No place in society.

Freak. Devil's Child. Half Man. Angel of Death. Opera Ghost. Le Fant?me.

All he truly wanted to be was just Erik. Erik the lover. Erik the poet. Erik the husband. Just Erik.

It was a fragile dream, no one could ever love him. Not even the birth giver. So he had accepted his fate. If his own Mother couldn't look at his face how could subject another to it?

He glanced out once again at Paris, the sun had nearly set by now, it was losing its magic by now. Dark shadows were covering everything, creeping closer to him.

The darkness was nearly suffocating him at this point. Reminding him all he had in this world was the darkness, emptiness. His own personal hell.

A life living alone.

All he could do was sob quietly in the dark.

((A/N: What? You thought I wouldn't update and add a Phantom story or two? Please R&R!))