When Nadir was released to his sister’scare, there was only one person he longed to see. His nephews were allstrangers to him from the five years that he had spent in prison. His sisterseyed him warily; his brother-in-law would not even look at him. He had twoweeks to get out of the country. Two weeks. Which gave him only minutes – maybe hours – to plan. Nadir intended tobear the weight of exile alone but before he could do that, he needed to seethe only person in Persia who could possibly look him in the eye, who knew, whounderstood-

“Master?”

“Darius.”

Nadir stopped his mad rush towards thekitchens and turned to see his former servant, still cherub cheeked, but not asyouthful looking as Nadir remembered. There were lines under his warm, brown eyesthat spoke of some grief. They vanished, though as the two men came towardseach other like crashing waves and embraced. How unseemly it was for a princeto embrace a servant, how scandalous. No more scandalous, Nadir thought, thanan upstanding citizen to hug a treasonous criminal. And yet for all the scandalthey might have caused, Nadir clasped Darius firmly in his arms and could nottell who was crying harder, who felt more relief at the sight, sound, and touchof the other.

“Master-“

“Darius I-“

“Master, please I-“

“I’m so sorry-“

“The bags are packed and I am ready todepart as soon as you are able.”

Nadir fell silent and stared at hisservant – at his brother, his friend – and the tears stopped. His heartstopped.

“I would never ask that of you.”

“I know; that’s why I’m offering. I willnot be parted from you again, Nadir, unless you wish it.”

They departed in the night.

Nadir lived for sunrises, lived for them knowing that eachbrought with it a new day. Each banished not only the darkness of the sky, butthe darkness lingering at the frayed edges of his mind. He stood upon thebalcony and watched as pink and orange glow cascaded over the white buildingsup and down the Rue de Rivioli.

“You haven’t slept since I came to your home,” a musical andmelancholy voice said from the doorway of the balcony. “Perhaps it is best-“

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Nadir snapped. It was a stale,week-old argument; one he was unwilling to have, lest it spoil his perfectsunrise. “I have always enjoyed sunrises.”

The truth was more complicated than that, but the formerDaroga of Mazenederan didn’t dare untangle the knots in his heart. He didn’twant to know which feeling was true and which was false: gratitude that helived to see another day or despair that he knew in his bones that he wouldsoon return to watching dawn rise alone; a love for sunrises or a longing foran eternal and glorious sunset. Nadir looked skyward and waited for Erik toretreat back into the apartment. Instead he heard footsteps approach him –deliberate sound, no doubt, as Erik so easily moved on silent feet – and thenhe felt heavier air and breaths above his left shoulder. Even after all theyears and miles and anger between them, it was amazing that Erik’s presence didnot unnerve Nadir. This was a man who had killed – who had nearly killed Nadirbut a week ago – but whose sins he could not only forgive, but acquit.

“Do you think she enjoys the sunrise as you do, Daroga?”Erik asked.

There was only one unspoken “she” between them. Nadirinhaled sharply and shut his eyes. He imagined Christine Daae upon a hotelbalcony in some foreign land. Perhaps she was Christine de Chagny now, perhapsher husband hovered at her left shoulder. The shuddering exhale shook Nadir’sbody so violently that he gripped the railing for support.

He didn’t have to imagineChristine upon a balcony, waiting for daylight. He’d been doing the same thingfor a number of decades. Erik had the astonishing ability to make one fall morein love with the sun than they ever thought possible.

“I wish you enjoyed the sunrise,” Nadir said instead. Hetwisted his hands around the wrought-iron railing. “Look at it, Erik. Today isa new day – for all of us. For you,too.’

A scoff. A breeze where Erik formerly was. Nadir tore hiseyes from the lightening sky to see that Erik had moved across the balcony, ifonly to languidly drape himself over the rail and stare not at the sky, but atthe roofline of the city.

“I see why you enjoy sunrises alone,” he said. “I always thought you a sentimental fool, butthere’s no need to be maudlin.”

Nadir, usually so peaceful, so skilled at taking Erik’scriticism in stride.

“I hope Christine Daae enjoys the sunrise even more than Ido,” he said venomously. “I hope she enjoys it with her husband at her side and without wondering what’s become of the manwho would have stolen her every sunrise from now until eternity.”

Nadir expected Erik to lunge at him, to throttle him, tothrow him off the roof. But instead, Erik stood straight and looked him in theeyes. In the brilliant sunrise, Erik’s eyes sparkled with ambers and oranges ofthe brightest fires. And yet there was something immeasurably sad and smallabout him – about his spirit – as hit rose up into those eyes in the form oftears.

“I hope so, too,” he murmured. “Believe me, Nadir, I hopefor nothing more now.”