Human Nature

Chapter 43

March 15th, 1993

She could see him in the distance, but he seemed to be looking through her. They were on a dark street in New York and she tried to call out to him, but her lips refused to move. She found herself rooted to the ground while Michael turned away and began to walk away. Then she saw June walking behind him and they embraced like lovers as the bile rose in her throat. That's when she saw the knife in June's hands glitter in the weak light of the moon. She wanted to scream and warn Michael, but she couldn't as June plunged the knife deep in his back and he fell to the ground. June walked off, fading into the darkness.

"Michael, we want to sleep in your room."

Mariah jolted awake, squinting against the light from the TV. She shook her head, realizing she had dozed off on the movie she was watching with Michael and the boys. She was sleeping in the bed, while Michael was on the floor with them.

"You can't sleep in here, guys. Sorry." Michael said.

She sat up and Michael turned around. "Baby, are you okay?"

She shook her head and he got in the bed with her, pushing her hair out of her face. "What's wrong?"

She threw her arms around him. "I just wanted a hug."

He gave her a squeeze while she clung to his waist. "You want me to take them back to their parents?"

She glanced over at the boys intently watching the movie that was playing on the TV and she shook her head. "Let them finish their movie."

Michael nodded, keeping an arm around her waist. "When the movie is over you guys are going to go back to your parents, okay?"

Eddie Cascio looked back and frowned. "Do we have to? You usually let us sleep in here."

Michael nodded. "Yeah, you have to."

The boys went back to watching the movie while Mariah rested her head on Michael's chest. She wiped the tears forming in her eyes, though she couldn't figure out why she was crying in the first place. Then she remembered her dream and looked up at Michael, whose eyes were fixed firmly on the TV. She then glanced down at Jordan and she could feel the fear creeping back into her. Jordan brought June and June...she shook her head to clear her thoughts.

"What's wrong?" Michael asked.

She shrugged. "Hormones."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Nothing you want to talk about?"

"Nope."

March 15th, 1993  

 When he returned from taking the boys to the guest houses, Mariah was waiting for him in bed.

"You're not tired?" He asked.

She frowned. "No, I want you to do me a favor."

"What's that, babe?"

She covered her face and looked back at him with a small smile. "Can you get me some ice cream?"

"We don't have any." 

"I know." She covered her face again, peeking through her fingers.

It was two in the morning, but he figured there had to be a convenience store open.

"What flavor do you want?"

She put her hands in her lap, looking distraught. "I don't know."

Seven more months of this? Don't worry, it'll be worth it. Mimi's going through a lot.