Slipping Away

Chapter 12

November 12th, 1993

Michael was bundled up in a coat to fight off the chill of the London air. Mariah and Elizabeth were on either side of him with Bill bringing up the rear as they walked towards a tall building. He was gripping tightly to Mariah's hand for comfort as she had been more than supportive of him. 

"Here we are." Elizabeth said quietly.

Michael nodded. "Yep. Here we are."

Mariah remained quiet, squeezing his hand for encouragement. They stepped inside of the building and an older woman peered over her glasses at them.

"Can I help you three?"

Mariah stepped forward. "Hi, we're trying to enroll him in a 12 step program."

The woman shrugged and handed Mariah a clipboard. "Fill that out."

They sat down in the lobby and Mariah started filling out the paperwork.

"She was rude." Elizabeth frowned.

Michael sighed. "I'm not too sure about this."

"You're doing this." Mariah said. "Now what's your weight?"

Michael closed his eyes. "I don't remember."

"You don't remember?" 

He shook his head. "No, with everything else going on with the Chandlers and the lawsuit-"

"You better watch your tone. I'm trying to help you." Mariah shot back. 

"Sorry." He mumbled.

Mariah continued to fill out the paperwork and flipped to the back. "When was the last time you had pills?"

"This morning." 

Mariah glared at him, but wrote down his answer. "And how many did you take?"

"Don't remember." He mumbled. "I think I took seven."

"Seven?" Elizabeth was aghast.

Mariah wrote down the answer.

He was beginning to feel uncomfortable under Elizabeth's worried gaze. The alarm that seemed to surround Mariah didn't make him feel any better. They were trying to help, but he felt as though they were judging him in the process.

"Sign this." She handed him the clipboard and pen. 

He signed his name and went with her to the counter to give it back to the nurse. The nurse looked it over and nodded.

"Alright, give me a few minutes and we'll get you settled in. Have a seat."

They went back over to Elizabeth and Bill and sat down. Mariah put her hand on his knee, but she wouldn't look at him. He placed his hand over hers, knowing it would be a while before he saw her again.

"Jackson."

He glanced at Mariah and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I love you."

She didn't respond and he sighed, grabbing his bag. He started walking towards the back.

"Michael, wait."

He stopped and Mariah was running towards him, taking off the gold heart necklace that she had worn nearly everyday since he met her. She clasped it together and put it in his hand.

"I love you too. Get better, that's all I ask." She whispered.

He pulled her into her arms and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm sorry for this. I'm going to get better okay?"