Whisper Three Words

You Needed Me... Bad

Michael's POV

"Hey fellas, what brings you two over?" I open the door to Tito and Jackie, noticing them looking around at the mess of a house I'm in now. "Sorry about the mess, I usually have the cleaning crew come in the day before the kids get here.." I mumble.

"We came to check on you.. nobody's heard from you in a few weeks.. have you even showered? You've still got on pajamas" Tito says.

"Rayne hears from me. I'm fine. I wish people would stop worrying about me all the time.. I'm a grown man." Diverting from his question on if I've showered, because I hadn't.

"A grown man with a drug problem, man even Joseph's worried.." Jackie says bluntly.

I sigh loudly, "tell everyone I'm fine.. tell Joseph, tell the media, tell the tabloids, tell the fans.. I don't care.." I sit on the chair nearest me, by my kitchen, resting my head on the countertop.

"Listen Mike, we just wanted to make sure you were alive alright.. it's been two months.. Do you know if Rayne is coming home soon?" Tito asks.

I nod cautiously, "I don't know when but... we've been talking about it. I'm still clean just.. depressed." I look at the dishes piled in the sink from the few meals I attempted to eat and decided I should just start on the dishes. "Guys, I've got a lot of cleaning to do.." I clue them to leave.

They nod and walk out, "just.. take care mike."

"Yeah.." I mumble. I knew, in reality, my life was a complete mess. I could barely sleep, and even when my kids were with me I couldn't spend time with them because I was working on this album. There would be days I'd go to my dance studio and try to dance out my frustrations, but most of the time I never had the ambition to get out of bed. I honestly don't have the energy to do the dishes, so I walked off, leaving them to soak in sudsy water.

I knew people were worried because I hadn't been answering any calls from my office phone or my cell, unless it was Ray or the kids. I had honestly become a recluse.

***

I belted one final note into the microphone in front of me, clutching my headphones closer to my ears to make sure I was in tune. "I love you.." I ended softly, finishing my song "Speechless"

"How was that?" I ask over the mic, scratching my chin hairs.

"Sounded great Mike.." the producer replied, flipping the switch to stop recording. I came and sat next to him. He observed me quietly, "is everything alright?" He asked, his face filled with concern.

"What?.. yeah I'm fine. I just haven't shaved." I chuckle awkwardly.

"Ok..." he frowns. I knew things were looking bad if my producer was starting to see the problems on my face.

That night was a night I actually thought I would get a good nights sleep. I was so tired, I fell asleep rather quickly only to wake up at 4.
I stared at the ceiling until the sun came back to greet me. I kept hearing a rustling from downstairs causing me to jolt forward. It's way too early for my cleaning crew to be here, they weren't due to be here for another two days.

I head downstairs to check quietly, and sure enough my living area was spotless. I frown, "Carmen, the kids don't come until Thursday.. you're here early." I call out, my mood couldn't have lifted any further when I looked in the kitchen to see Rayne placing another plate in the drying rack.