Slipping Away

Chapter 10

October 27th, 1993

Mariah suppressed a yawn as she was escorted to Michael's room. It was late at night, but Mexico was only an hour behind New York so she wouldn't suffer too bad from jetlag. Once they reached the top floor, she saw Bill.

"I think he's asleep. I haven't seen him since this afternoon."

She nodded and slipped the key card into the slot and dropped her bag by the door. She could faintly hear the TV on in the bedroom and figured that Michael was probably awake. 

Quietly, she poked her head in the door to see Michael staring up at the ceiling. She could just make out the whites of his eyes, showing that they were open.

"Whatcha doing?" She asked, stepping into the room.

Michael looked up before getting off the bed, picking her up and spinning her around. "God, I missed you."

She giggled as he set her down. "I missed you too, babe."

"No, I don't think you understand how much I missed you." He said shaking his head. "Please, tell me you're not going to leave again."

Mariah raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay?"

"No, not really." He rubbed the back of his neck. "but, first how was your flight?"

"It was fine," She sat on the bed and patted a seat for him. "Now tell me what's going on with you."

He laid his head in her lap and she instinctively started running her finger through the loose curls on his head. 

"I've been...I don't want to say depressed, but..." He sighed.

Mariah frowned. "If you're depressed, say that."

"I don't want-"

Mariah clamped her hand over his mouth. "Michael, I swear if you say anything about not wanting to bother me or worry me I'm going to choke you."

She moved her hand. "Go ahead. Talk."

"I'm afraid to now." He chuckled weakly. "I heard your song by the way."

"Don't try to change the subject." Mariah said.

He sighed. "I'm just happy you're back, Mimi."

October 30th, 1993

Michael was coming back into his hotel room from the show as Mariah had gotten food poisoning from the food she had eaten. 

He was starting to feel guilty about hiding the painkillers from her, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her either. He didn't even know why he was still taking them, it was almost instinctive. They made his problems disappear for a while, allowing him to relax. 

They're anxiety medications, that's what they're supposed to do.

He sighed, wishing that he could find the courage to tell Mariah what he was doing. He wasn't doing anything wrong, so he had no reason to be afraid of Mariah, but he was.

When he came back to their room, Mariah was on the couch wrapped in a blanket giggling with Elizabeth Taylor, who had come to see him on tour. 

He kissed Mariah on the forehead. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah, I am. How was the show?" She asked.

Michael grinned and hugged Elizabeth. "It was great."

Elizabeth smirked. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"Not since the wedding." Michael agreed.

Elizabeth had married her husband at Neverland after a few unexpected complications with the original venue.