The Things That I Know || George Michael

two - you're doing amazing

George silently peeps his head around the doorframe leading to Gemma's bedroom; she is sound asleep, like her brother in the next room. For a moment, he forgets all the hardships he is enduring; simply by looking at the innocent, beautiful little bundle of life he has been blessed with. He heaves a soft sigh, saddened that within the hour, Gemma and Kieran's worlds could come crashing down; once they've learnt of their grandmother's passing.

"Have you rang the school to tell them they're not going in today?" Levi whispers from the top of the stairs.

"Yeah," George responds, at the same volume. "I just can't bring myself to wake them up. I don't want to tell them."

"You have to, my darling." Levi ventures closer to his husband, resting a hand against George's back to suggest a combination of love, and of encouragement. "The sooner it's done, the sooner they can process everything."

"I suppose you're right," George evaluates; he swallows nervously, before moving further into the little girl's room. He approaches the sleeping child, ever-so-gently shaking her, to provoke her to stir. Her eyes flicker as she rolls over; in her slumbering state, she rubs at her eyelids with her knuckles, before her consciousness starts to fade her in to reality. "Good morning, my little Gem."

"Hi Daddy," Gemma answers, the typical breakage in her voice from fatigue.

"Listen," Levi chimes in softly. "You and Kieran don't have school today. I know it's a your first day back after the holidays, but we've called your school to tell the teachers that you can't go today."

"Am I poorly, Daddy?" she panics, lifting herself up off the bed in a tired-yet-frenzied manner. "Do I need to go to the hospital?"

"No, sweetheart," George reassures her, placing a fatherly hand against her tiny fingers to hold her still. "But we didn't want you to go to school, because we need to tell you and your brother something."

"Kieran?" Levi calls into the next room. "Can you come to Gemma's room please, mate?"

"Okay, Daddy," Kieran shouts back; moments later, he appears, with his sweet blue dressing gown on. "When is school?"

"You don't have to go for today," George informs him; he then pats an empty space on Gemma's bed, inviting his son to sit with them. "Come here. Your father and I have something to tell you both."

The young boy bounds over to the bed, leaping onto the mattress in the usual childlike way. He gets himself comfortable, then, he looks up at George; it's clear to see the subtle admiration he feels for his dad, and it's enough to thaw even the coldest of hearts. Once Kieran has settled, Levi and George start to talk to the pair.

"So," Levi begins. "We still aren't really sure how to tell you this, but—"

"—But, we didn't want to hide it from you, because that wouldn't be fair on you both. So," George intervenes, deeming it suitable to explain the situation for himself. "So yesterday, me and Daddy went down to London to see Grandma. B-But she um—she told me something very important; and it's important that I tell you too." He continues to stutter, having not planned the wording of his news. "B-Because it's very important." He can barely bring himself to look at his children, though he knows he must; his eyes flit between the two pairs of bright eyes as he continues. "A-And she told me that she got a special invitation from the angels in the sky. And the invitation was for a party in Heaven!" His enthusiasm is difficult to maintain, but he tries to keep it up for their sakes. "And so she decided that she would go to the party. But, um, that means that ... " George starts to lose his composure; frantic throat-clearing is only just able to save face as he concludes his divulgence, "It means that you won't be able to see Grandma any more. But you need to remember, she loves you so much! And if you ever want to talk to her, all you have to do is look up at the sky. A-And if it's day time, you have to find the fluffiest cloud; because that's where she will be sitting. If it's night time, you have to find the brightest star; because that's the one she's lighting up with her magic. And then, all you have to do is tell her whatever you want to tell her. Do you both understand?"