Slipping Away

Chapter 20

March 6th, 1994

Janet stepped into the door and hugged Michael.

"Hey Dunk." He said. "What's up?"

Janet took a deep breath, signalling to Michael something was wrong. 

"Mike, I know you don't want to hear about this-"

Michael cut her off. "What is it, Dunk?"

"I saw Mariah at the Grammy's-"

"You're right, I don't want to hear about her." He started walking away towards the kitchen.

Janet followed him. "Mike, don't be like that. I really think-"

Michael turned back to Janet, speaking lowly. "I don't want to hear about her, not after what she did to me."

"Michael, I don't think it was her idea." Janet replied. "I'm scared for her."

Janet's words softened him a bit. Michael never wished anything bad on Mariah, but he couldn't let go of the anger in his heart. She had hurt him, basically abandoned him when he needed her most and now Janet was expecting him to care.

"Mariah's a strong woman, nobody can make her do anything she doesn't want to." Michael reasoned.

That much was true about Mariah. He couldn't get her to do anything when they had been together, Mariah had been hardheaded since he had known her.

Janet frowned. "I think he's hitting her. She had a bruise on her face and she couldn't stop crying, Mike I'm really worried about her."

Michael shook his head. "I doubt it, she'd-"

"Michael, she's not the same. There's really something wrong." Janet said. "Call her."

"Janet, I think you're overreacting-"

"Overreacting? Michael, I know you're mad at her, but does she deserve to be beaten?"

Michael fell silent and looked at Janet's worried expression. "You know? It's weird that you're more concerned for Mariah than our own sister."

She rolled her eyes. "Our sister? The same one who publicly accused you of being a child molester? That's not our sister."

"Janet, you and I both know that Latoya would never say that on her own." Michael pointed out. "Jack Gordon is controlling her."

"Like Tommy is controlling Mariah." Janet countered.

Michael shrugged. "I can't save her.  She's not with me anymore, she's not my problem. If she wants to leave Tommy she will."

Janet groaned loudly. "Michael..."

"Dunk, there's literally nothing I can do if you're right."

"If?" Janet scoffed.

"Janet, Mariah will be fine."

March 27th, 1994

Mariah felt like she was looking into a mirror, but there was something different about the eyes. They were wider, more expressive like Michael's.

"Mom, can you tell dad that I'm old enough to learn how to drive?" Monroe rolled her eyes.

Michael came from the living room, wearing a concerned expression. "Mariah, talk some sense into your daughter."

"Michael," She found herself saying. "She is sixteen now. Let her learn."

Monroe hugged her. "Thanks mom."