[The Phantom of the Opera] Boundary Bridge

The auditorium was silent for a moment, and suddenly there was a fierce and enthusiastic applause at the moment the curtain closed!

They were completely intoxicated, completely moved by the infinite light and happiness.Although some people may have doubts in the days to come, doubt whether the little mermaid's going to heaven after the sacrifice of love is a dream or a reality.But at this moment, they were surrounded by magnificent music, gorgeous and splendid scenes, and countless applause of joy and happiness.

Someone is yelling "Bra|vo! Bra|vo!", someone is wiping tears and applauding desperately, and someone is desperately taking off jewelry earrings, lace gloves, or other things that can be obtained, Throwing vigorously to the stage - they were all moved and conquered by the movement of the sea and heaven.There is no doubt that this is an unprecedented great success!

The whole of Paris is sensational for this!

The curtain was opened again, and the actors appeared one by one to call the curtain.First, the sailors and fishermen ran up in high spirits, smiled and blew kisses and bowed, and then retreated to both sides.Then the guards, maids and slaves of the royal palace stepped forward together, bowed deeply, and lined up separately.After that, friends such as flounder, shrimp and crab on the bottom of the sea, as well as Neptune and the old grandmother, with loving smiles hidden in every wrinkle, came forward in gorgeous and exquisite costumes.

The mermaid sisters, their six young and beautiful girls laughed and jumped and glided with a very light step, as if they were still swimming under the sea.The old witch, the black hood always covered her eyes and nose during the performance, but now when she laughed and lifted it, everyone discovered that the actor also had a pair of kind and kind eyes.

Then came the handsome and young prince. His appearance was modified to be very youthful and handsome, but his smile was a bit shy, which made his elegant charm even more prominent.He is holding a beautiful and gentle princess. Kristen Daye's brown curly hair is embellished with glittering diamonds, her smile is sweet and happy, and her light pink skirt is lifted slightly, revealing a pair of slender and nimble legs and feet.The couple in the story walked to the front of the stage arm in arm. The prince bowed to pay tribute while the princess raised her skirt and bowed her knees. They followed the classical and elegant etiquette.

The prince and princess also got cheers, and they smiled and gave up their places in the center of the stage.Finally, the character everyone had been waiting for appeared - and they couldn't help but hold their breath.

The same is true of Eric in the audience.

The light and beautiful Ariel came out from behind the scenes. She was still wearing the mermaid dress she appeared on stage, but her footsteps were already light and elegant that belonged to human beings. There was golden glitter on her unearthly face.Her lips are fresh, her eyes are blue, her fair face and small hands and feet seem to be conveying such a message to people—the Little Mermaid’s substitute or representation in the world, and she herself is happy and innocent. Worried!

This made the audience's applause more sincere and enthusiastic, and the cheers almost overturned the dome of the theater.

Enid walked to the stage with flowers in her hands, and when the lights illuminated the entire stage without preference, she still made people feel the beauty of her peerless beauty.Like the goddess Aphrodite who was born in the ocean, and like the beautiful and pure Ariel herself.The gemstones on her neck were shining brightly, but as if she couldn't bear the weight, her neck drooped slightly.She leaned down slowly, and the audience burst into loud and prolonged cheers and applause.

"She's so beautiful! She's so beautiful! How can she be so beautiful...after leaving this story?"

Commenters were dumbfounded, while similar sighs echoed from every corner.The actor who played The Little Mermaid stood there with a smile, already unparalleled in the world.

"This night, all the beauty of Paris gathered in her eyes."

All cheered for her, cheered for her beauty, health and happiness.At this moment, they had no other thoughts in their minds, they just hoped that this woman whom they loved so much could have the happiness that Ariel never had before!And their dreams are realized together at this moment. With the unprecedented power of beauty, how can they not be overjoyed?

Everyone, everyone is mesmerized by her beauty!Infected by the atmosphere of joy and ecstasy!Even Christine, who had always been worried before, forgot everything in this cheerful and festive atmosphere, and felt that she was so happy and joyful.She thought she had been worrying too much, how good Enid looked, how beautiful she was--she was.How could she think she was dying because of the inexplicable heart palpitations?Which dying person can have such a clear and full beauty!

This beauty moved everyone to tears and pushed the atmosphere to the highest point.On the stage, Enid had a gentle smile on her face. Her body was full of long-lost health and freedom. Even though it was just a one-night fantasy, it was enough to fulfill her last wish.She knew that under the beautiful appearance, the white rose was withering, but at this moment she could still bid farewell to her lover with such beauty.

"Eternal happiness and joy." She sighed softly.A tear dripped from her right eye and hit the floor.

All Paris saw this tear, but they didn't pay attention to it at the time, and just let out a sigh of happiness and contentment, thinking that it was the natural outflow of too full of joy and sorrow.

In the days to come, they will reminisce about this teardrop countless times, and they will keep the floor that sucked away the tears no matter what kind of reconstruction.In the several fires and chaos after Paris, some people even ran away with this board in their arms.

They called the tear that vanished: Mermaid's Tears.

"And that is the last memory of all of us, of this radiant opera, of the actresses who radiated with it. No one ever saw a mermaid, no one ever saw Ariel, no more No one has seen Enid."

"Some people say that they have heard the same beautiful singing in the suburbs of Paris, but most think it is just a dream."

The opera finally ended in an unprecedented joyful and bright atmosphere, but who could have imagined that the audience, after watching the whole tragedy with pain and pity, actually got real happiness with tears in their eyes at the last moment.

The actors had called the curtain call five times, and the excited audience was still reluctant to leave.They kept cheering the names of the characters and actors, looking forward to seeing them again, looking at them again-hence the sixth and seventh curtain calls.It wasn't until after the seventh curtain call that the actors couldn't be summoned by applause for 10 minutes in a row, and the audience realized with regret that the feast of the night was over.

They were still unwilling to leave, and they discussed and communicated with other audiences, acquainted or not, about the feelings gushing out of their hearts, about the good times left in their memories, about the subtlety of the opera and the miracles of the actors.You may feel that their language is very poor, because the real beauty is to return to the basics, so that people can't think of other words except "beauty".Any modification, on the contrary, damages and despises beauty.

Nothing like it has ever been seen in Paris, and it is astonishing that opera has achieved this level.

Two obese ex-garbage managers who now run theaters—Andrew and Fomin—have a smug look on their sweaty faces.Although insensitive to musical art, they knew from the audience's violent reaction that the opera was a great victory.At this moment, they thought of the golden coins and the glorious reputation, and they couldn't help but look at each other, exchanging pride.

Although they are shallow people, they are not completely unintentional.He was also moved by the opera just now, but now he is full of money interests.But their ecstasy was tinged with apprehension: The much-loved heroine, Enid, would only be at the premiere, not any subsequent events.This weird contract made them very dissatisfied from the very beginning, but they reluctantly accepted it only after the composer Eric insisted and the investor Shani expressed his support.Later, they also believed in the fit of Enid and the Little Mermaid, but were dissatisfied with her weird performance in only the first scene.

But at no moment have they been more worried about this damn "first show only" than they are now!Although they were proud of themselves in the past, they did not dare to hope that an unprecedented scene beyond their dreams would appear in front of them. The victory of "Daughter of the Sea" far exceeded all the glory of opera in their poor brains, which made them ecstatic but overwhelmed.Will audiences who love Enid be satisfied with Kristen's Ariel at the beginning of the second scene?This is already the number one problem.

concern!concern!These people are still happy without knowing anything, but they start to worry about the problems behind them.But this worry is happiness after all. In any case, today's "Daughter of the Sea"-after all, is a victory for the theater!They laughed even more obsequiously and complacently, and shouted: "Please come and see again! Please come and see again!"

"Please come to our celebration performance later! The celebration performance!"

The response they received was so unbelievably intense and enthusiastic that the audience swarmed and almost squeezed into the backstage.They cheered and said: "Come again! Celebrate the performance!" Then the two short-sighted managers were attracted by the benefits in front of them again, and greeted them with smiles on their faces.Unexpectedly, there will be an absence of important roles at the celebration banquet.

The investor of this opera, Viscount Charny.His brilliant blond hair and sunny smile, as well as his graceful and tall figure, make him just like the Prince Lucio in the play.Right now, he is also deeply moved by art, and even temporarily faded away his disgust and worries about Eric.He is proud of his sweetheart Christine!But I have to admit that all the characters in this show are just to set off the glory of the mermaid.

He also stood up, smiling excitedly but not too much, socializing in the upper class and connecting with the relationship more properly than the two managers.Affectionate without being over the top, courteous and skilled.His handsomeness and smile have won the favor of many people, and the fact that he has just been moved by the same opera has deepened their intimacy.Shani throws loving glances behind the scenes where his sweetheart disappears, and throws himself back into socializing.It can be predicted that this is also the victory of Viscount Shani.

And what about Eric?Where is Eric, who should feel the joy of victory the most?

He was overwhelmed by the sea of ​​pain, trapped in his own position, unable to move, let alone get up.

Yes, he is still sitting in his original position.Erik opened his green eyes and stared for a long time at the crimson curtain where Enid had vanished.The curtain seemed to separate two worlds, one was real and the other was illusory.He felt like he was about to explode between the tearing of two worlds, his brain screaming in pain while his soul was bound and motionless.

Suddenly the last scene from just now appeared before his eyes again, a teardrop fell from Enid's eye, and her lips were even smiling.She raised her head slowly, bent her knees gracefully, turned around lightly, and left the stage forever with a light, beautiful and decisive gesture.

...to leave his world.

Eric wanted to stop her, every cell in his body was screaming to keep her, even trap her!But another will did not allow him to do this, it imprisoned him in place, and that was what he believed to be love.Or maybe it's just a cowardly and dull self-esteem, which is ridiculous but extremely strong, gaining the power of firm belief from blindness.Eric had to believe that he loved Christine, and that was the whole point of his life so far.So he must not go to keep Enid, must not compromise with her.

But you want to watch her leave like this?asked another voice, a female voice, pained and sad.Something like Enid's, but more ethereal and unreal, floating in the seas of his mind.You think of her singing!Think of her listening to your singing!

However, Eric thought: This is not love, what can be more precious than love?

Listen to her singing again!Listen to her singing again!listen……

Eric suddenly trembled with severe pain.He kept twitching, choking, and speaking some crazy and meaningless words, as if something was burning his soul.Yes, soul.He remembered how Enid stared with clear and clear eyes in the whole opera, and remembered the brilliant brilliance when she combined herself with the whole opera.How could he not be moved by this singing?How could Eric, whose mind is hundreds of times richer and more sensitive than ordinary people, fail to hear the silent words inside?

He just kept being patient.

Eric suddenly lowered his head, tears falling from his dry eye sockets.He convulsed and wept silently and violently.

With the first tear he shed, the soul-burning pain was gone.Eric no longer felt a force tearing at the remaining half of his soul, because that was already gone.He just felt sad as if the ocean had flooded his head, he could no longer breathe, he could no longer feel, his body and mind were floating in this sea of ​​pain, the bitter salt tasted like his tears.

Eric thought to himself, how could he not be crazy about the singing?How could he not be deeply moved and weep?Even if he deceived himself countless times, it was just Ariel's singing voice and Ariel's story, but didn't he know?It is the little mermaid's soul that makes the little mermaid's song beautiful, but it must be her own soul that makes Enid's song shine.A witch can give her the vocal chords and throat of a mermaid, but she can't replace her soul alone!And it was her soul that dazzled him, so intoxicated that he couldn't take his eyes off him.

It was that soul, as clear and full and pure as when he first saw it.Eric was surprised to find that he could still clearly recall every detail of the first time he met her.How his boots rustled on the snow on the ground, and how her blond hair was given a warm halo by the warm winter sun.This is almost like love, but it is definitely not the love that Eric can believe and admit.His heart is not shaken all the time, but he denies himself all the time, which brings deep pain and self-loathing.

Yes, a long time ago, when the witch gave the mermaid's song seed to the young princess, so that she could nourish and nurture it with the soil of her own heart, it is doomed where the ultimate beauty will come from .The first thing they attracted to each other was the soul, and the so-called ability to listen was just a reason-it was indeed of great help to relieve Eric's confusion and pain, but this matter was only placed on Enid. Only the body can have meaning, and that is only one of the helpers for them to communicate with the soul.

Now, Eric can finally understand how that soul once nourished and enriched his ugly and extraordinary mind.He was leaning on the seat of the opera house dazedly and tiredly, surrounded by people and songs, but he stared at the place where the figure disappeared and remained silent.The back was chilled by the great horror and horror, as if knowing that this was the last side.

It was her singing that called out to his soul and made him see for a moment what was real.Her emotional performance is like the dagger thrown by the little mermaid to the sea, piercing directly into his hideous vile soul and immobilizing him.Enid knew him so well, and loved him so much.She was like another him in this world - a better him.She gazed at him with pity, and called to him in a voice of tender heartbreak, begging him to come to her side, to the world of heaven.

She was given up and died because she was too beautiful, but he lived in the world because he was too despicable.

In an instant, in a flash, Eric was fully aware of the truth he had long evaded.He knew that this sane courage would soon be gone, so he must go to her at once, and make the inescapable vow before he could break it.Even his own incalculable vileness can be turned into incantation magic.He had to find him, but he was stuck in this seat, unable to move.The power of fate overwhelmed him, and he heard someone sighing in his ear, was it the wind?

"Enid, don't go," he murmured, "Enid, let's talk."

Nothing would work out, he knew.He is like a rotten dead body in the ditch, deep in his soul there is inseparable despicability, weakness, cowardice and shrinking, he wants to wear a brilliant feather coat, and wants to ignore these unremovable ugliness, so there is no approach to draw and her results.Unless he suffers a fatal blow, or a painful lesson, he may improve.And this lesson must be bloody and irreparable, and it must be fulfilled where he dare not love!

"Christine, Christine." He began to say the name again, closing his eyes tightly and weeping, as if uttering some spell he no longer believed in, because he really didn't know anything else, "Kr. Christine, my love... help me."

"No, Enid, let's talk..." A burning pain passed through his soul, and Eric woke up again like a dream.He wanted to stand up and shout, but he just shrank powerlessly on the seat, dripping with cold sweat.

On the isolated island I called out to love for help, but there was no answer.

"It's going to be light, it's going to be light," he repeated nervously, "I'm going to die, I'm going to die."

She's going, I'm dying, I'm giving up my last hope.

"Kristen..." he whispered mournfully.

He seemed to be crying even harder, someone in the depths of his soul was coughing heart-piercingly, but he couldn't hear clearly, he was getting tired, his eyes couldn't open and he felt drowsy, wanting to sink into dark sweet and forgotten dreams.In it he is safe.

No... please don't go!

With a great exhaustion of spirit, he fell asleep extremely tired.

When he wakes up he forgets everything, when he wakes up he doesn't struggle anymore.When he woke up he might have gone mad again, but he must have called another name.Eric once had an unprecedented drowsy sleep, which was comparable to today.

That was the day he tied a black ribbon around his neck.

……

The celebration banquet finally started.

It is undoubtedly grand.The toasts are staggered, and the clothes are fragrant and the temples are shadowed.Countless guests held golden champagne, caressed their gorgeous skirts, chatted and laughed with each other.It is undoubtedly not grand enough, because no matter how rich the preliminary preparations are, it is impossible to predict the unprecedented victory of "The Daughter of the Sea"-naturally, there is no celebration banquet that is large enough to accommodate people's fanatical love for it!It should be said that no amount of celebration is enough!

What's more, everyone was dazzled by the joyful atmosphere, and everyone was intoxicated by the intense joy.They pour in with drunken footsteps, eager to share their emotions or strike up a conversation with the crew.Even the champagne-serving waiter has a sassy and comical gait, with a lively gaiety.This is a very lively and grand celebration banquet.

Andre and Fomin were overjoyed!They desperately greeted these big shots who were rarely able to talk to each other on weekdays.But embarrassment soon appeared on their fat faces, because everyone was asking them: "Where is our heroine?"

"I can't wait to see her!" said a young man briskly.

"Well..." Andre desperately wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, "Please be patient. Miss Enid is actually... oh, she's not feeling well, so she's leaving first. This... "He originally wanted to explain to Enid that Enid would only perform in the first show, but now he was frightened by this group of fanatical audiences, so he had no choice but to remain silent.

His small, round eyeballs rolled around, flickering anxiously, thinking of ways to fool the audience.Suddenly, his eyes lit up.Andre exclaimed in an exaggerated tone: "However, our talented playwright is here!"

He enthusiastically pointed to the man in the corner with gestures: "Look, that's Eric, the creator of "The Daughter of the Sea"!" He introduced attentively but timidly: "I think, if half of "The Daughter of the Sea" The glory belongs to Enid, then the remaining half must belong to the playwright Eric!"

"Besides, Eric is not only the playwright of this work, he also provided a lot of support for the stage set, lighting, and mechanism. The unprecedented spectacle you have seen is exactly the creativity of Eric." Ming added.

Apparently, he and Andre had the same thought, and decided to use Eric first to divert the audience's eagerness to praise, and to relieve Enid's disappearance.The dissatisfaction that is easy to be felt in their hearts was born in their hearts, and they were displeased with this rare singer: even if they only wanted to sing the first performance, wouldn't they even refuse to attend the celebration banquet?If she could take the arm of one of them, how many smiling greats would come to know them!

But no matter what thoughts popped up in their hearts, at least at the moment they were still full of praise for Enid, and at the same time desperately recommended Eric to the fanatical audience.When these drama fans were finally convinced that Miss Enid could not be squeezed out of their mouths, and were greatly disappointed, they finally rushed towards the composer Eric who was meditating alone in the corner like a tide.

Andre and Fomin, behind them, heaved a long sigh in the manner of the buffoons so often seen in comedies.

"Dear Andre, I don't want that to happen to me again."

"My dear Fomin, who isn't?"

They stuck out their tongues and laughed mischievously.

"By the way, my friend Andre." Foming seemed to suddenly remember something, "Tell me, where did the heroine Enid go?" He really couldn't figure it out, "Even if she is indifferent to fame and fortune, You don’t have to directly resign from all subsequent scenes.”

Andre couldn't understand this point, and he deeply regretted it.

"Foming, my friend, I don't know." He shrugged, "Maybe she's already left here, I always think we'll never see her again." After he finished speaking, he shook his head and laughed again .

"Come on, cheers!" "Come on, cheers!" they said with a smile.

And what about Eric?

The crowd overwhelmed him.

He had been there alone, lost in thought.The mind is tired and fuzzy, as if omitting some irrelevant things.He should look for Christine, because it was the most fitting thing for a composer to congratulate an actress on his victory.And he admires the other party deeply, so he should do everything possible to find an opportunity to strike up a conversation.But his feet seemed to have taken root, and he was willing to stay in the corner without moving.

This is not because he is afraid of many occasions.Do not.He had overcome his fear of crowds with Enid's help before, and now he can say hello to those mediocre people calmly, even if he feels a little uncomfortable.No, he doesn't do it just because he doesn't want to do it, he's tired of doing it.Although this reason is naive and willful, it is not impossible to use it as a little indulgence after mingling with the crowd for a long time.

Eric frowned.

He was just about to continue diving into the deeper waters of his thoughts, to salvage the name that should have been shining.Suddenly, many people with stupid but warm smiles rushed over - boundless - surrounded him.These secular people, whom he always looked down upon but secretly envied, now gathered around him, warmly congratulating him and complimenting him.Tell him that this is an unprecedented book, this is an unprecedented victory!

is he happyAmidst the surging crowd, Eric asked himself blankly, probably.Isn't that what he longed for?The recognition of the world, the normal life, the sunshine of life, and the love of Christine.Yes, his love has been exposed, only Christine can make it complete.But the recognition of the world, a normal life, and the sunshine of life, he has all of them now!Ordinarily he should be crazy with joy.But why at this moment, surrounded by countless people praising his musical talent, what Eric felt was a deep loss and loneliness?

"The Daughter of the Sea" was a huge success, and he got what he once dreamed of at an unexpected moment, but it was dull.And another name, he finally remembered, a name that should never be forgotten.

She had left Paris that night.

left his world.

The crowd was clamoring. Not far away, Christine was smiling and dancing with Viscount Shani, and the little dancers ran around.Among the joyful crowd, at the noisy and extravagant banquet, Eric, the composer who became famous overnight, suddenly covered his face and burst into tears like a child.His tears slid down his cheeks drop by drop, falling into the painful and silent Dead Sea.

There is no hope, there is no hope anymore.

He can only ask for that... Huayi.

A grotesque and painful cry that was not like ordinary people came out of Eric's throat, but others praised him one after another——

"Look, this is a keen artist." They relished, "He must have thought of his beloved Little Mermaid again, so he burst into tears regardless of the occasion."

The author has something to say: *The next chapter will be more special.