The Things That I Know || George Michael

thirty-six - life, twice

"Morning, Stacey."

George enters the building of his workplace, smiling at one of the younger employees who works there. The young lady returns the smile to her colleague, momentarily pausing what she's working on to talk to him.

"Morning, George. Did you have a good Christmas?" she asks.

"It was lovely, thanks," George answers. "How was your Christmas?"

"Yeah, it was great," she chuckles, before showing off a pretty silver ring upon her fourth finger. "My boyfriend proposed to me."

"Well, that's fantastic," George grins. "Congratulations, darling."

"Thank you," Stacey says, before voicing an opinion she may have been holding off from until now. "I have to say, George — and please take it as a compliment — but you're looking a lot happier lately."

"I'm glad you've noticed that." George leans his back, covered with a pristine white button-up, against a wall as he converses with her. "Since my mum died, I've been in therapy. You wouldn't believe the world of difference it's made. Did you know, a couple of months back, I tried to end things?"

"Really?" Stacey frowns, sympathy evident in her facial expression. "I'm so sorry you went through that. I'm glad you're feeling happier now."

"Thank you," George answers. "Things have definitely improved." He glances at his phone, in order to check the time, before he looks back at his colleague. "Well, it's almost time for me to start my shift. I'll catch up with you later."

Stacey nods, understanding all too well. "Alright, my lovely. Have a good day!"

As George heads towards the clocking machine to punch in the start of his shift, he bumps into another colleague of his. "Good morning, Marzia. How are we this morning?"

"Not so great, to be honest," the woman, in her mid-thirties, admits. "But I don't want to burden anybody about it all."

"Now, that's not what I like to hear," George asserts, giving her a reassuring look. "You can talk to me about it, if you want to. I may not be the most significant person in your life, but I'm somebody who can listen."

Just these kind words are enough to encourage Marzia to divulge what's on her mind. "Well, uh, my dad died over Christmas. I've not really been taking it well, to be honest with you."

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that," George apologises, relating to the concept of losing a parent far too familiarly. "I lost my mum back in late August. I know how shit it all is."

"It just feels as though things will never get better," Marzia explains. "I know it's only been three or four days since he passed, but ... I just don't know how you get on with life as well as you do, George."

"To be honest with you, Marzia ... I haven't gotten on with it very well at all," George confesses. "See, I don't know if you noticed at all ... but I hadn't been myself for a long time after my mum died. A couple of months ago, I tried to end my life, because I just couldn't handle the grief at all."

"Are you serious?" Although Marzia is concerned for her friend, her tone doesn't quite emphasise this due to how dejected she is. "That's horrible. But ... how did you start to feel better again?"

"To tell you the truth, there was a few different things that helped me along the way," George informs her. "First of all, I eventually started therapy. And the therapist referred me to bereavement counselling. It worked wonders, I tell you. But really, it wasn't just the professional help that did it — I had the most brilliant set of family and friends a man could ask for. I would have been dead right now if it weren't for my husband and my kids; and my family and my friends. They all really saved my life. I went private for the therapy, but it was worth every penny. But if you don't fancy facing the therapy yourself, I can always give you the tips and coping mechanisms I was taught, to deal with the grief in a healthier way. And you'll have my word, as well, that you'll always have me as a friend to talk to about it."