Motion (Sequel to "Collide")

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

May 19th, 1993

Dear Diary,

I have mixed feelings about being back home. I love Neverland more than any other place on the planet, but I do miss France already. It felt like we were in a kind of love bubble there. Being back in the states is like going back to reality and I don't know if I'm ready just yet to deal with, well... everything.

Today's a big day for me and for Michael.

Michael is receiving the Guinness World Records Lifetime Achievement Award for his unprecedented world records in the world of entertainment. He's used to receiving awards, but this one honors and acknowledges his entire career so it's extra prestigious. I couldn't be prouder of my husband.

But today's also my interview with Doctors Without Borders. I have been waiting on this for a while now, and I am just a nervous wreck. I know that, if they do hire me, my position will be compromised after John's revelations, but I need to do this anyway. I need to prove myself I am ready to go back to work, and to push myself to become the surgeon mom and dad wanted me to be. Above all, I want to show Faraji that no matter the hardships life throws at you, that it is important to never give up on your dreams.

Speaking about my son, he got to meet Mickey, and the memory of his little face lighting up at the sight of his idol will stay in my mind for the rest of my days. He was so happy, so amazed by his surroundings. That alone made this whole trip unforgettable.

That and the date Michael took me on.

He promised me he would show me that Disneyland can be a romantic place, and he did not lie. He prepared a candlelit picnic for the both of us in the most magical spot of the park. Nobody was around, not even his security crew. We felt like teenagers who snuck out of their room to see each other and illegally trespass in the park. Of course, what we did wasn't illegal. Michael did ask the park owner to privatize this area for us so that we could be safe.

"Tickles?" I heard my husband's sleepy voice call, which tore me away from my writing. "Is everything okay?" he asked, propping himself on his elbows.

"I'm alright," I reassured, closing my journal. I stood up from the window seat and put it down. "Go back to sleep, honey. It's only seven," I encouraged as I crawled back under the covers.

"How come are you already up?" Michael asked, and I could hear the worry in his voice. I snuggled close to him, and he didn't waste a second to take me in his arms.

"Jet lag is kicking my ass, that's all," I said in a reassuring manner, before I laid a kiss on his cheek. "Go back to sleep, you need some rest."

"I had a bad dream," he let me know, which drew my attention right away. I pulled away from his chest to look at him through the dimmed light of the room. "I'm not sure I'll be able to go back to sleep."

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked, concerned at that point. He seemed pretty upset about it.

Michael sighed and switched the beside lamp on. He leaned on the headboard as he watched his hands that were on his lap. "You were gone," he almost whispered, as if he was scared of his own words. "You died trying to save me."

"W—What?" I muttered, grabbing his hands in mine. "Michael, you know this won't happen. It was all a bad dream."

"You nearly died doing so," he pointed out, and as much as I wanted to, I couldn't go against that statement. "I know the visions aren't as bad as they used to be, but...," he sighed, and I could see he was anxious.