With Michael

Chapter 24 - Bucharest

1st of October, 1992
Brooklyn is 26, Michael is 34

Brooklyn: We entered yet another orphanage. Michael said he had to see these children before going onstage in Bucharest.

He excitedly greeted the bigger children, laughing at something one of them said.

I loved seeing him with children. He was always happy around them.

I felt a little hand tug on the bottom of my shirt; a little girl held it in her small hand. She looked young, maybe five years old.

"Play?" she asked, and pointed towards some toys in the corner of the room.

I smiled, "Of course."

Reading her name tag, it said her name was Adelina.

"You have a beautiful name." I said as I watched her quietly build a castle from a few blocks.

I was hoping she'd understand me.

Adelina was a very beautiful. She had dirty blonde hair that was pulled back in a neat ponytail, a set of shiny blue eyes, and a smile that made you fall in love.

I noticed the orphanage's owner walk towards our direction.

"What's her story?" I asked her.

"Her mother left her here when she was three. That's all we really know. The mother didn't give us any information. She just begged us to take her. I never understood why, Adelina here is the sweetest girl."

It broke my heart.

"I wish we could adopt her. I wish we could adopt each one of these children." I admitted.

The owner looked at me curiously, "Why don't you?"

"We suffered a loss that still hasn't healed."

Her eyes traveled to my stomach and I instantly knew she has heard about the miscarriage.

Just like every person in this world.

I saw Brandon walk towards me, "We'll be late to the show if we don't leave now."

I nodded slightly and stood up.

"Goodbye, Adelina." I waved to the little girl.

She wrapped her arms around me and I blinked away the tears.

~

"Do you mind if I don't go on tonight?" I asked Michael.

He turned his head from the car window to look at me, "And why is that?"

"I'm just not in the mood to perform tonight." I lied.

Truth was, guilt was starting to creep into my head again. The visit at the orphanage made me a bit too emotional, and I couldn't get the thought of what could have been with Destiny out.

The cute little Adelina made my heart flutter. And seeing Michael hold the little children effected me.

He was going to be such a great dad.

I quickly looked away so he wouldn't see me shed a few tears. I hurried to wipe them off before he could realize I was crying.

"We all have days when we're not in the mood to perform, but we gotta do what we gotta do. The boss said everyone's performing." my husband chuckled.

"I'm married to the boss."

"Well, he also said you need to perform tonight because he knows you'll regret it if you don't."