I Remember {MJ FANFICTION}

Prologue

July 13th 1988 | London GB

I remember.

I'd been standing on the executive suite balcony of the Jumeriah Carlton Tower Hotel in London.

I could recall this hotel specifically because I'd spend most of my evening there leaning over the bedroom balcony and interacting with my fans while they swarmed like ants below me. I could still recollect the incandescent glow of the hotel logo that was stapled to the building, creating a hazy afterglow against my irises while I looked down, endeared by the potentiality of descending down and joining in with the commotion along the street.

I knew my yearning was a fantasy.

There was an age-old love-hate relationship I felt for the luxurious, spacious suite I had received for the portion of my stay here, in anticipation of my tour dates in the city. It's charm didn't meet my eye half as much with my back turned to it, standing out in the breeze and gazing out at the rather ugly, glum streets of London. It was a beautiful room really, but inside of me was the lingering throb of loneliness and lasting urge to climb over the balcony and be among regular society.

"God bless 'em" I mumbled as the rain began to grow increasingly heavy and portions of the crowd began to disperse and run for cover. Others clung fast to their umbrellas, caught in the thick of the impending storm that was brewing overhead. Every so often the howling wind would sweep up under them and scarves, hair and the occasional inverted umbrella would be tossed upward with the gust.

The front portion of my curls began to drip down over my face and I'd quickly retreated as the winds became increasingly violent and leaves stirred chaotically in the air.

In my sorrow at being unable to withstand the bitter atmosphere for much longer I flicked my hair back with one defiant hand and grabbed a conveniently placed sharpie off of the hotel desk beside a pad of sticky notes that read 'To Michael Jackson. For every sudden moment of inspiration'.

They knew me so well.

"Marvin, pass me that pillow" I pointed to the bed. My bodyguard Marvin Butts retrieved the plumped-up cushion for me and hurled it my way as if it were a football. I caught it and instantly began scribbling my name all over it. "And the other one too." I requested. Seconds later I was tossing both of my bed pillows over the side to the screaming group below. It was my hope that somebody would take home with them the damp pillowcases which commended them for their devout loyalty despite the weather as well as advised them to find shelter, written of course, just above the reminder that I love them.

I reluctantly closed the doors out to the balcony and pulled the curtains shut.

"I'm glad you finally decided to close that door sir." Marvin said filing his large hands against each other.

"I can't believe it, they've been out there for hours." I picked up the note pad and rolled up my sleeves.

I got to work sticking the top note from the hotel on the TV screen, then jotted down in bold letters. 'I AM BORED' and stuck that one to the wall. Leon was standing a small way away.

'BIG BEAR' I described him on the paper, peeled off the note and searched for a great place to put it. I settled for the back of the desk chair. He paid me no mind as he loitered over by the door, his head bent over the open book in his hands. I might have let his preoccupation with it slide, however he'd already told me of his detest for reading months ago, it was one of the first things I came to know about him once he was hired.

"What's that L?" I probed. His eyes lifted to meet mine.

"Oh." He brought the book up and turned the cover over, presenting it to me. The cover had read 'Inked Through the Ages'. Behind the title, an array of visually intricate pictures lay in view. I scanned over them briefly with my eyes.