AT Demeter

“Erik was filled with contentment and joy, yet a part of him wondered how Mellie could look upon his face and still love him. Months ago, when he had first unburdened his soul to her, she had not fled in fear. Her acceptance of him, despite his murderous past, never failed to astound him.
Whenever plagued with these doubts, Erik had only to gather her in his arms and kiss her. She always responded with ardour; within the limpid depths of her eyes, he could see the love shining back at him.
Though uncertain whether he deserved such devotion, Erik grabbed at it with both hands. And like a spoiled child, he held it with fierce possessiveness, for she was his and his alone.”
― Shirley Yoshinaka, Deception: A Phantom Of The Opera Novel: A Phantom of the Opera Novel

“Friendship ... is born at the moment when one man says to another "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .”
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

“Erik was certain of one thing: the devastation of losing Christine had nearly driven him insane with rage and despair; to lose Melodie would be a sentence to death, for the next time insanity lured him to the edge, there would be no one to stop him from tumbling into the abyss.”
― Shirley Yoshinaka, Deception: A Phantom Of The Opera Novel: A Phantom of the Opera Novel

“Each morning, Erik held his breath until he was sure she hadn’t fled during the night. The fact that she remained after seeing his face and looking into his past was miraculous to him.
I’m not going anywhere.
After hearing those words, Erik had wanted to kiss her hands, her feet, every inch of her. Instead, he’d wept, clinging to her like a distraught child. In her arms, a sweet calmness had washed over him. It was a feeling he’d never experienced before, and one he hadn’t been able to name until days later.
Peace”
― Shirley Yoshinaka, Deception: A Phantom Of The Opera Novel: A Phantom of the Opera Novel