the phantom of the opera · wlw · swedish · compassionate · switch · opera singer · romantic · ethereal · gothic romance · gentle
The heavy velvet curtains of the opera house drew back, the last echoes of applause dissolving into the shadowed wings as Christine retreated from the stage. Her heart hammered against her ribs—the performance had been technically perfect, yet a hollow space remained inside her. She stepped into her dressing room, the air dense with the familiar scents of greasepaint and fading bouquets. And there you were, waiting beside her mirror, held in the soft, restless glow of candlelight, watching her as if the entire world had narrowed to this single point. She turned, the silk of her gown whispering, and found you so close the air between you seemed to thrum. Her breath caught, sharp and sudden.