She's Invincible (sequel to Give In To Me)

Chapter 26

Michael's POV

I think I dozed off. Because suddenly somebody is shaking me to wake me up. I rub my hands over my face and jump right up. The doctor is standing in front of me. He still has that apron thing they are wearing in surgery and I cringe seeing blood on it...Belinda's blood.

"We have finished the surgery on your wife and it was partially successful."

Partially? What does he mean partially?

"We got most of the blood clot out...we have partially straightened the spine towards its natural position...However a part of the clot was embedded into the spine itself, and we could not remove it due to unreasonably high risks. We will put your wife on medication helping reduce the blood clot from the inside. We expect that, with her age and good physical condition, in maximum 6-8 months the clot will be gone."

I nod. Well...she'll stay at home, will be taken care of...I have her back...they saved her.

"Thank you....thank you, doctor!"

I feel tears in my eyes, I was inches close from disaster, from total doom, and now I feel safe and secure. I look for my children to give them then good news, but the doctor puts a hand on my arm, stopping me.

"There is more...While the clot is still there...it is exercising pressure on the spine...I don't know how to say it but straight as it is: your wife will be temporarily paralyzed from the waist down, until the blood clot is resorbed. And even after it's gone, she will need special therapy to repair the damaged spine cells...It will be a longer process, and it will required highly specialized medical care."

I feel like I'm spinning...over and over and over...I fall back in the chair, staring up into the doctor's eyes...What does he mean? Paralyzed....my Belinda....paralyzed.

"Mr. Jackson, I know this comes as a shock to you...but I repeat...this is temporary."

"Temporary...temporary...How long is this temporary? 6 months? One year????"

"Around 10 months to one year I would say...even less if she responds well to the treatment."

"How...how do I tell my kids, doctor? How do I tell Belinda when she wakes up? How do I tell her she'll be in a wheelchair for nearly a year????"

"Mr. Jackson...it is a miracle that we managed to save her life. If you'd see the first MRI once she was brought here....we've seen it all, but it was horrific. You should be grateful she is alive."

I nod hard.

"I am...I am!"

I remember how I begged and prayed to have Belinda back, no matter what. And I have her...and I will be grateful...I will! Just after I can accept this blow befalling us. I need some time. I go to the restroom and lock myself in a cubicle. Belinda...temporarily paralyzed. The world as I knew it is over...I have to change and accept...I have to make all preparations for her care...Good Lord, I have to shop for a wheelchair for my wife!

I take in a shivery breath. Sometime it feels like my whole life is an example of how to have everything and nothing at the same time. What good are all the Grammy Awards? Can they make Belinda walk? The only thing that fame brought me was pain. Humiliation, pain and stupid jokes made about how I look and how I walk and how I talk. I didn't get the best things in life from fame. I didn't get Belinda because I'm the King of Pop. I got her because I showed her true love. And I will keep doing it. No matter what!

I dry my tears and fix myself a little in the mirror. My heart may be breaking right now, but my brain needs to stay clear and take the right decisions for my family. But first I need to see her. They can't keep me away.