Streets of Gold - A Michael Jackson Story

Chapter 25 - Birthday Wishes & Butterfly Kisses, Pt. 1

Michael

Monday April 6th, 1987 – Culver City, California

After finally finishing our session for the day, I open a bottle of water before checking the time.

18:49.

I told Mother I might be late for dinner, so she and the others shouldn't worry if they start without me. I grab the last of my things before closing up my backpack and slinging it over my shoulder.

"Mike!" Jeffrey calls as he rushes up to me.

"Yeah?"

"Man, I just got off the phone with your mother. She says Yonela's in the hospital."

Holy shit.

* * *

Monday April 6th, 1987 – Los Angeles, California

I literally screech to a halt at the main entrance of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

"Please park it, man?" I say to Jeffrey in panic before I get out of the car and run to the front desk. Before I can ask the nurse where Miya is, I hear Janet call out my name. When I turn to her she leaps into my arms, absolutely distraught and crying her poor eyes out.

"She passed out, Mike," her voice is muffled by my shoulder. "She fainted, and I just found her laying there on the floor. She was so still and so pale, Mike. I thought that..." she can't hold the tears back anymore. I let her wail in my arms, comforting her while trying not to break down myself.

"Where is she?" I finally have the courage to ask when she's calmed down.

"She's with Mother and the doctor," she sniffles. "I'll take you to them."

We start down one of the hallways and down a second one before stopping at a door. Janet opens it and everyone inside looks up to see us – everyone except her, that is.

She's laying on the bed with a thin tube around her nose and an IV needle in her arm. Her thick black locks fall beautifully around her defined face, which isn't too pale anymore. Her soft lips are parted ever so slightly. Her closed eyes look tired and stressed, and her chest rises and falls slowly as she breathes.

"Miya," I whisper, heartbroken at the sight of her that way. I hate to see her like this but I can't take my eyes off her.

"Michael, dear," Mother says softly as she comes over to give me a hug.

"Mr. Jackson," the lady in dark blue scrubs says to me. "I'm Doctor Leigh Mavens."

"Hi," I manage to say before accepting the hand Doctor Mavens offers me. "I'm Michael. She's my girlfriend."

"May we talk in private, Michael?" she asks before gesturing to the door. I glance at Mother, who gives a small nod before I make way for the doctor to step out before me.

"Is she alright?" I ask after closing the door behind me.

"She's fine, Michael," Doctor Mavens says. "I do have some news for you."

"You do?" I ask before she nods.

"We ran a few tests to try and find out why she collapsed, and I have the results right here." She hands me a folder to open. I hesitate before accepting it. My eyes scan the page, not knowing what they're searching for.

"What am I looking at?" I ask in confusion.

"We've found traces of chloroform in her bloodstream. It looks like it was ingested orally with something she might've eaten or drank."