Ever Victorious (A Michael Jackson Tale)

Rumours

Michael's P.O.V

When I arrived, I was immediately swarmed with paparazzi:

"MR JACKSON, IS IT TRUE YOU'RE CANCELLING YOUR TOUR?"
"WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT YOUR BROTHERS POSSIBLY GOING ON TOUR WITHOUT YOU?"
"WILL YOU BE RESTARTING YOUR CONCERT?"
"WHY DID YOU CANCEL TONIGHT'S SHOW?"
"WHAT IS YOUR OBSESSION WITH THIS HOSPITAL? IS SOMEONE YOU KNOW BEING TREATED HERE?"
"ARE YOU REALLY SUFFERING FROM DEHYDRATION OR IS IT JUST A COVER UP?"

I refused to answer any questions, and pushed through the swarm to the main entrance, I really wasn't in the mood for their rumours.

A male nurse met me at reception, he said he was a friend of Maria's and she had sent him down to meet me.

"She hasn't left that girl's side since she got here, she's had three fits already, I don't know if she's even going to remember who you are, it's affecting her brain quicker than we predicted."

My heart dropped. "It doesn't matter, she asked me to be here, so I'm going to be here. I would never deny a child's wishes" He ushered me to the intensive care ward in silence.

The atmosphere of the place shifted as we neared the ward, it was sad and oppressive, the place where life ended on a regular basis.
This wasn't a place for children, I thought, they should be outside playing, being happy and most of all, living.
I mentally prepared myself before we pushed through the double doors into a place I could only describe as the saddest on the earth.

The ward was spacious and quiet, beautiful art covered the walls, the only speck of joy in this place.
There were too many children in here, lying on beds, wired up to different machines, like ghosts.
At one end of the ward I spotted Maria sitting on a chair at the bottom of a bed, obviously Destiny's.

Suddenly I heard a loud bleeping sound and a cluster of nurses rushed past us towards the writhing bed sheets.

I felt a hand on my shoulder "I'm sorry about this Mr Jackson, I guess she's having another episode" I couldn't voice a reply, I watched Maria help restrain the girl, glued to the spot.

The movement slowed and the mass of bodies retreated from the small figure, and were adjusting her monitors before they left again. As I got closer, I saw her.

Her face was pale but sweaty, she looked tiny and vulnerable. My mind flicked to the memory of Maria's face when I had found her in her apartment.

There was a middle aged couple seated beside Destiny, I guessed they were her parents, and I couldn't help but feel their pain. I heard the father whisper "The sooner we get her in surgery, the better" The woman beside him nodded.

I turned to my escort. "I don't think this is a good time" The couple then looked up at me, and the woman started to cry.
"Oh! We're so glad to see you Mr Jackson sir, she has been asking for you for hours, we were convinced that you wouldn't come" I smiled at her and she rose out of her seat. I hugged her then, I could only imagine what she was going through.

"It's not a problem, Mrs..?"
"Tate. But you can call me Mary. And this is my husband, Joe." I shook his hand and he patted me on the back.
"We are really grateful for what you have done for our daughter. She hadn't been able to leave the hospital for months until you invited her and those other children to see you. She hasn't stopped talking about you since, we thought it would be the thing that would help her get back on her feet, but things suddenly took a turn for the worse..."
He looked down at his daughter, who with each hour, was deteriorating.
I looked at Maria, who was holding her hand, our eyes met but she didn't say anything.