June 25th, 2009
"Mom!"
My daughter yelled out loud from downstairs and I immediately trudged these footsteps to figure out why she even screamed in the living room to begin with.
I had spent the last few hours trying to unpack my bedroom on the second floor. Only just few more cardboard boxes still piled up and I could finally see the carpet flooring that laid out underneath my feet. Knick knacks and framed photos would line up here soon.
We had moved into this brand-new house during one of the hottest summer days in history not that long ago and she had just graduated from college. I had never felt so proud of my princess. She studied music for years, learning to sing as early as the second grade. No matter what, she was my miracle child, through and through.
"What's wrong, Baby?" I crossed both arms as my only child frantically picked up the television remote turned up the volume for me.
I sat down right beside her on the couch, trying to process what had just headlined on screen. My heart dropped. My mouth fell agape. She reached out to squeeze my hand, knowing how much this kind of news we mean to me and of course everyone else around the world.
"My brother, the legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson, passed away on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 2:26 PM..."
Jermaine Jackson tearfully announced the death of his own brother. Tears streamed right down my own face. My daughter sobbed out loud, finally grasp the concept of her idol begin gone from Earth.
This is the story of how Michael changed my life.
