You Are My Life

Chapter 4: Numb

Michaels P.O.V.

I heard the roaring crowds as I wiped the sweat from my face, “Thank you! I Love You More!” I chimed at my wonderful fans. I blew them one last kiss as I exited the stage. “Wow you did great,” Frank said as he always does. “Thanks Frank! Everything ready to head back?” I asked while walking towards my dressing room. “Yup, it’s all ready whenever you are Mike!” Frank replied. “Thanks again Frank,” I said while walking into my dressing room. I closed the door and walked into my closet, I found the comfiest clothes I could. I slid out of my buckled pants, shiny black boots, black shirt, and my heavy black leather jacket into simple slacks, my loafers, and a buttoned down shirt. I grabbed my jacket and headed for the backstage door. Because my fans demand so much of me I can’t use front doors to any place, I usually go through backstage doors of arenas and kitchen doors of hotels. I opened the door and stepped out, but I didn’t get very far because I was stopped dead in my tracks in shock. At my feet was a girl……and she looked so hurt. She was bruised up and down her arms and face. Her jeans were ripped all the way down the side of one leg, her shirt was pretty much in shreds coving very little of her upper half. It was clear that this girl was beaten and raped by the looks of her clothing. She was shaking and sobbing silently. I knelt down and began to check for a steady pulse, she was still breathing a constant pace just seemed a little out of it. I began to try to help her up. I called to her, “miss? Are you okay? Can you hear me? Can you tell me your name?” I wasn’t getting anything from her so I called to the limo driver. “Yes Mr. Jackson what can I do for you?” he said as if he wasn’t even aware there was a beaten, half-dead girl at my feet! “Go call frank and tell him that I will explain everything later, but to book an extra room, and to schedule a doctor to come to the hotel as soon as possible tomorrow.” I ordered of him quickly. “Yes sir, anything else?” he asked. “No that will be all.” As he went back to the limo to call my manager I began to pick up what I assumed were the contents of her purse scattered everywhere. I picked up her jacket, a purse, keys, and a wallet with an I.D. hanging out…. Her name was so beautiful, Saria Hart. I stood back up while looking at her I.D., she’s so beautiful, and her name is so different. Out of the corner of my eye something caught my attention; I walked over and picked up a slender piece of paper. I felt my knees go weak as I realized what I was looking at. It was…it was a ticket…for my concert, she had come here to see me, and instead of enjoying the show like everyone else, she was beat and….raped. I felt my throat go dry and tears form in the inner corner of my eye. As I heard the car door slam shut I held back the tears. I turned around to see the driver standing outside the door, “It’s all taken care of sir,” He said. “Okay thanks, could you open the door please?” I asked as I picked up her stuff and put it all back into her purse. I then picked her up and carried her to the limo and sat her down and climbed in myself. “To the hotel?” the chauffeur asked. “Yes please,” I said as I looked down at her.  She drooped to the side kind of leaning on me, it was actually really sweet. I began to fight back the tears again as I stroked the hair out of her face and ran the side of my hand down her distinct jaw line. We finally made it to the hotel and I carried her into the kitchen door in a haste to avoid the paparazzi that would be waiting for me. I made it into the hotel and up to my room; I turned on the lights and made my way to the bed. I sat her down gently, she was really out of it other than the occasional flinching and gasps she let out. I laid her head gently on the pillow and unlaced her shoes, and then I tucked her under the covers and went into the other room. I was looking through the paperwork I had received from the contractors when I heard the phone ring. “Hello?” I answered cautiously. “Hey what’s this whole ‘there’s no time to explain, just take care of it’ business?” I heard Frank’s concerned voice on the other end of the phone. “You know what I walked out to Frank? I walked out the door to see one of my own fans beaten to death and…..” I could barely get the horrible words out of my mouth “raped. And you know what? She was left to die in that alley way Frank!” I was upset now and he could tell. “Mike take it easy! I’ve got the other room you asked for on hold and I booked your doctor to come and visit your friend tomorrow, it’ll be okay.” He said in an easy tone. “Actually Frank you can cancel that other room; I’m going to keep her in my room so I can check up on her, and good thank you Frank.” I said a little more relaxed. “Mike? Are you sure you should keep her in your room? I think the press will have a field day with that.” He implied in a more concerned tone now. “You know what Frank? They can say all they want, I could care less, I’m going to take care of her, and it’s my fault it even happened. So that will be all, thank you,” I said as I put down the receiver. I was still a little upset. I tried to focus on the contracts and blueprints lying in front of me, I just couldn’t get her out of my mind. I finally gave up on focusing and went to take a shower to calm me down. I turned on the shower and let it warm up a little, and then I climbed in. I began washing my hair while singing ‘baby be mine’, and then suddenly my mind raced back to picking up her I.D. and that ticket. How could this of happened? I felt so bad, it was entirely my fault! None of this would of happened it if wouldn’t have been for me! How do you make it up to someone who was….taken advantage of like that, because they were there to see you? I began to feel a sharp pain in my head as I felt the room spin around me. I finished washing myself and turned off the shower. I wrapped a towel around my waist and walked out of the bathroom. I stopped to notice she wasn’t shaking or flinching anymore; no more whimpers or sobs, she was sleeping peacefully and beautifully. She's a very beatiful girl, even with the busted lip and bruises. I walked over to her and bent down to wipe away a piece of her bangs that escaped behind her ear, I looked at her a little while longer than kissed her on her forehead. ‘I don’t know how, but I’m going to make all of this up to you….. I promise’ I said softly as I stood up and headed towards the living area of the suite.