Motion (Sequel to "Collide")

CHAPTER FORTY SIX

A/N: Guys I'm so sorry for the wait! I had this chapter ready for a few days but I didn't find the time to edit it. Here's chapter 46 for you! The next ones should be more eventful. A lot is coming, so brace yourselves! <3

July 29th, 1993

Dear Diary,

I haven't seen time fly by since we got back from Tibet a couple of months ago. Between Michael's rehearsals and meetings for the tour that's just around the corner, me juggling between my papers for school and my meetings with the Foundation, it feels like we barely have time to be a family. Things just started to slow down, and Michael seized this opportunity to have a family day as we didn't get to celebrate my 30th birthday on July 1st. I honestly didn't mind, but my husband wouldn't take no for an answer. Since I introduced him to birthdays, Michael made his mission to always make sure this date was celebrated in the best way possible. I know mom is happy about that, as she was always worked hard to give me unforgettable birthdays.

I am happy, though. I know I'm going to have a blast. For the first time since I met Michael, the entire Jackson family is going to be there. Faraji couldn't be happier about it. He knows he'll have a blast with all his cousins. Of course, my family is going to be there as well, although Carl said he would be late. Since he started a new job as a Pediatric attending at Cedar-Sinai last month, his schedule has been hectic. It took him some time to adjust to going back to work, but he's cut to be a surgeon as well as a father.

Michael and I are finally going to blow off some steam, as we're leaving for London bright and early tomorrow for Prince's gig in London. Even though London brings painful memories, we're thankful for the break away from our busy schedule.

While in Europe, I made sure to book an appointment to the clinic in the Netherlands for Michael's scalp — the one Carl's friend told him about. Michael has been in a great deal of pain lately, and I can barely stand it. For the past few weeks, we found a way to conceal his use of painkillers responsibly and the meditation tricks Sangye taught him to keep the pain from consuming him. Even though it is working, the pain is still present, it has just become bearable — he still needs something more sustainable that will keep the pain away for good. After every vision I've had in the past about Michael's use of painkillers, I'm determined to make sure none of them come true.

I put my pen down as I heard voices from down the hall, coming to the kitchen where I was seated. When I looked up, a smile instantly spread across my face at the sight of my husband carrying our son in his arms. Michael's hair was all over the place and he was still in his pajamas — he looked like he had just fallen out of bed, which made me chuckle. Faraji, on the other hand, was already full of energy and determined to get this day started. He was asking his father about the moon, wondering where it went during daytime.

"Don't worry, the moon doesn't go away," my husband giggled, placing a little kiss on our son's cheek. "We can't see it during the day because the sun is awake. And when the sun is awake, it shines so bright that the moon hides a little."

"Is the moon scared of the sun?" Faraji asked, his eyes widening a bit.

"It's not, it just rests during the day to shine better at night," Michael answered softly, a smile touching his lips.

Faraji was on summer break, and I could tell he was missing school already. He loved to be there and being taught new things, but I knew Michael would make sure to stimulate his curiosity by telling him stories about science and history. We made sure to hire a private teacher for the duration of the tour, so that he doesn't miss on too much. Mary agreed to tag along as well, which was a relief. Faraji and his nanny bonded quite effortlessly, and we we were glad she accepted to put her life on hold for eight months to come with us.