Motion (Sequel to "Collide")

CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN

December 13th, 1993
Neverland

Dear Diary,

It's been a month since we've been back from the tour, and I haven't been able to fully adjust to being back home. Life on tour was intense, and I never expected to miss it with everything that's happened, but here I am. I think I miss the frenzy that came with my job, where everyday was full of surprises.

Canceling the rest of the tour was mandatory, though. Michael was exhausted, and we needed to focus on more important matters. The first thing we did when we got back was to find a rehabilitation program for Michael. Thanks to Liz, we found one that reached our expectations.

Before he left for the rehabilitation center, Michael set his condition. To leave serenely and to be able to focus on getting better, he asked me to get checked at the fertility clinic for any sign of uterine or ovarian cancer.

Ever since I got that vision of me being sick, Michael's been frightened that something would happen to me at any time. I tried to reassure him, getting into medical specifics, but it wasn't enough, so I got checked and everything returned clear.

He agreed on leaving as soon as the results were in.

Michael's been away for a couple of weeks now, and the program keeps him from having visitors, so that he can stay focused on getting his addiction under control. The only person who's allowed to pay him visit is Hayden, as he kind of became his sponsor through it all. I couldn't be happier that Michael trusted my brother enough to support him through something as difficult as this. He was aware that Hayden's advice on the situation was precious, as he had been through this for the majority of his life.

Michael was reluctant to go to rehab at first, because he hated to feel isolated. I felt his pain through his letters. Some days he wanted to leave, some others he felt empty and didn't see his way out of his addictions. Hayden told me he had to convince him to stay a few times, and he always came to reason, no matter how hard it was for him to be away from us.

I miss my husband. I've been holding on to the letters he's been giving to Hayden for me for the past couple of weeks, but today's the day he's finally coming home. Just writing this makes my heart flutter.

Faraji misses him a lot, too. He can't wait for his daddy to come home, although he doesn't know the exact reason his father is away. We told him Michael needed to rest, and that he needed to be surrounded with specific doctors to do so. He didn't question it any further, though. I believe being back to school helps him keep his mind off of it for a bit.

A knock on the door interrupted my writing. I lifted my head up from my journal, and went to open the library's door. A chill ran down my spine when I came face to face with John Branca.

Since Michael had been away, I had to deal with him on several occasions. Although I wasn't pleased with it, I did it for Michael. Considering my previous visions about his attorney, he didn't trust him with his business, so he asked me to overlook everything that needed to be done. I could tell Branca wasn't too fond of this idea, but he dealt with it because he didn't have a choice. Michael was his boss, and he didn't hesitate to remind him that.

After my husband announced the cancellation of the remaining dates of the tour, he asked me to come up with a statement to update his fans on his health, as his doctor. He also asked me to overlook the refund system for the fans that bought tickets for the cancelled dates, and though I knew Branca didn't like me looking over his shoulder through it all, I did it anyway.

This time, though, I knew why Branca was here, and it wasn't for another statement.

"Mrs. Jackson," he greeted me, giving me a curt nod. "I was told you were here. I hope I'm not intruding?"