Chapter Seven
Marie was sitting my Satine’s colorfully decorated lamp,
and Harold was standing in the middle of her dressing room paid for by the
Duke.
“Hello, Harold…What…what are you doing here?”
Satine was quite a mess. Her hair was a cloud of dusty red,
and her clothes were sloppily falling off, and ripped in some areas. The Duke
had done some of the damage to her clothing, but what looked the most exhausted
to Harold was Satine’s face. There were dried up tears on her rosy cheeks and
petite chin.
“Harold, Christian and I are leaving. We don’t care a-about
anything, about the show, about the Duke…we’re leaving.”
“But, strawberry-”
Satine stopped bustling around her room gathering makeup
and personal items, and stared passionately and confidently into Harold
Zidler’s eyes.
“He loves me, Harold. He really loves me…I…I can’t
even tell you how much we’re in love. We’re going away from you, away f-from
“If that is true, Satine…then, you must listen to what I
have to tell you. If you don’t perform his ending, and go to him when the
curtain falls on opening night…the Duke is going to kill Christian.”
Everything in Satine’s world stopped.
“Wha…killed…no…”
The paths where dry tears lay on Satine’s face soon became
flooded again.
“No…he can’t. There…there must be another way.”
Satine moved towards her bed and sat down, in a state of
confusion, sadness, and hopelessness.
“I was a fool…to…believe…”
Marie sat down
next to her, and put a comforting hand on Satine’s warm shoulder.
“…a fool…to believe. It all…ends today…yes, it all
ends…today…”
Harold told Satine that she was a talented actress, and he
told her what she knew she had to do if she truly loved Christian. She couldn’t
bear it that the Duke would kill Christian…she couldn’t bear how jealous he
was. Satine had to send him away. She knew that she had to hurt him to save
him.
“today’s a day…when dreaming ends.”
“G-go pack your things, darling…and I’ll be here waiting
for you…mmm...ok?”
Christian smiled at his love, as she left his garret with
Chocolat. He was finally happy. He and Satine would leave the Moulin Rouge
forever and live wonderful lives full of bliss and love. Just at that thought,
Christian felt that burning sensation in his throat, and he made his way
towards the bed. A cough forced its way out of Christian’s mouth, and he gasped
a few times, before laying down.
The attack passed quickly, and Christian figured that he and
Satine had a long day ahead of them, and he hadn’t slept in ages. His eyes
slowly closed, and he drifted off into another land. As soon as he was asleep,
Christian began to dream. Songs began trickling through his mind.
“The hills are alive…the greatest thing you’ll ever
learn…love lifts us up…how wonderful life is…I will love you until my dying
day…forever and ever…”
Satine appeared
in front of his eyes, all the songs swirling around her. She looked like an
angel. She was all in white, and her hair fell down, framing her face.
“Christian…Christian, you must know something…”
He smiled in his dream at the beauty that stood before him.
He was interested in what she had to tell him, but her expression soon changed
to saddened one.
“I…I can’t be the one to tell you. Please…listen to someone
who I know you’ll believe…goodbye Christian…”
He wanted to shout, “Wait!” to his love, but she was soon
gone. The songs stayed, however…and grew louder, as Christian turned around in
a full circle to see complete whiteness. A vast, emptiness that he wished was
filled by Satine once again. Soon, another woman stood before Christian, the
songs spinning around her as well.
She was beautiful as well. She had long brown hair that
waved and shined. Her tall, slender figure was one of a young woman, who had a
soft, kind face. Her giving, innocent gray eyes held something that Christian
recognized. When she smiled at him, he knew who she was. Finally, this
beautiful woman spoke to him.
“Christian…my son…”
Christian felt so many emotions within him, that he didn’t
have any words to express them.
“Son…you must know something. And I don’t know if you’ll
want to believe it in the beginning. But you must know. First, I will tell you
what it is. Then, I will tell you everything you need to know to be happy with
your life. Christian, you’re dying.”
The words hit Christian like a thousand knives, piercing
every inch of his soul. But somehow…somehow in the very back corner of his
heart he knew this all along. He still did not know what to do at that pivotal
moment when his mother spoke those words.
“Christian…I know this is something that you didn’t expect,
but I know what you can do. Please, listen closely. Spend the time you have
with Satine. She loves you more than life itself, and I know you feel the same
way. Do not tell her that you can’t grow old together, because it will only
bring more pain to her.”
The words were coming at Christian so slowly, but he felt
as if it were too much to handle. He knew that every word his mother spoke was
true. He forced himself to take in all she said.
“Love, Christian. Just love…and your life will be
complete…”
The image of his mother slowly began to fade, as the songs
grew louder and louder once again.
“The hills are alive…the greatest thing you’ll ever
learn…love lifts us up…how wonderful life is…I will love you until my dying
day…forever and ever…dying day…dying…dying…”
“Satine!!!”
Christian screamed into the darkness. He was panting uncontrollably, and beads
of sweat were everywhere on his body. He put his hand to his racing heart, and
slowly swung his legs over the side of the bed. Christian’s head rested in his
hands, as he wiped the sweat off his face.
In one split second, Christian remembered every second of
his dream. He also believed every second. He didn’t want to, but he knew it was
all true.
“Oh…oh God…” he whispered into his arms, as he stood up and
made his way to his desk. He sat down, and while tears tumbled down his cheeks,
he put a fresh piece of paper into his typewriter. His thoughts turned to
Satine, and everything he wanted her to know. He had a choice. He could die
without her, or he could die with her. Christian needed Satine, and loved her
more than anything the world could give. He began to write. He wrote into the early
hours of the morning, of love and all that he would give to Satine for the rest
of his life. The sun peaked over the horizon, and Christian’s floor was
dispersed mess of crumpled pieces of paper and tissues
His door opened, and Satine stood in the doorway without
any suitcases or bags.
“I’m staying with the Duke.”