Spotlight || MJ/Prince

Spotlight || Chapter 7

1986

Angela "Angie" Powell

Prince released his brand new film entitled "Under The Cherry Moon." Even an album named "Parade" hit the record store shelves for rabid fans. I'd called my friend to rave and, as usual, we spent all night talking again. To be honest, our longtime friendship deepened, especially after my mother passed away last year.

Yet, we still knew so much better than to mention the idea of love. I still wasn't ready for romance. Even though Prince kept his feelings for me apparent time and time again. I still heard rumors of his multiple dates and held back taking chances with him. We both understood that I would never act like his average groupies.

"How are you holding up?" Prince lowered his trademark voice on that other line and finally addressed my elephant in the room. We hadn't spoken in quite some time for obvious reasons, but at least this man didn't jump out the gate with invasive questions about my mother. I always respected him for sympathy.

"It's a process. I already figured out how to split everything up in her will with family members. You how it is." I sighed. On the other line, Prince mumbled, probably trying to hide his own type of sadness away from me. For protection.

"I wish I could do more. What do you need?" Prince offered his kindness to me once more. I nearly wanted to cry all over again. Even after all these years on Earth, I'd never cried this much, not even after Dad passed away during Vietnam service.

"I don't need you to do anything. Just focus on that tour." I tried to offer my advice to Prince without breaking down about Mom once more again. There was no other choice, otherwise Prince would have flown all the way over here just to see me.

"I'll feel a lot better if you tell the truth." Prince read my bluff without hesitation. This moment took place all because we had known each other for five years. Regardless of our two different genders, our friendship still meant everything.

"I miss her more than you'll understand, but I can't sulk around the house for the rest of my life, Prince. She would've wanted me to keep going. You know that better than anyone else." I explained my truth and knew that Prince wouldn't allow me to lie, even if we weren't in person. He wasn't some fool. Not now. Not ever.

"I know, but working on autopilot isn't healthy, either. Even I have had to learn about slowing down." Prince told me right back. I nodded again despite the fact that we talked during this phone and still couldn't see each other. Another habit.

"You have the luxury of slowing down, but I don't." I snipped without yelling towards the other line at Prince. Too much heartbreak had taken place recently. Even then, I didn't know how to channel my anger beyond music and this conversation. To be honest, therapy was never one of the options for me, either. I hardly trusted my peers, so how could I ever believe in professional strangers?

"You're gonna make yourself sick one day, Ang. Please try something. Anything. Vent to me if you need it. I don't care." It wasn't long before Prince sighed once more. I had listened, but somehow remained stubborn at the same exact time.

Yet, his words had turned on the light in my own mind.

"Wait. Can you hold for just a second? Let me grab my journal. I'll be back." My voice whispered to Prince seconds later. He understood and I dropped the phone onto my nightstand. My swift hand then opened this drawer to snatch a notebook.

"You're back?" Prince asked me as if on cue after I picked up my landline phone again. Silence had fallen here before I cleared my throat to speak once more. Uncapping my pen, I started to write some unusual notes as time moved on.

"Holy shit! Prince, I just wrote something new." For the first time in the past few minutes, Prince cheered up his own voice again. Honestly, I actually couldn't wait to tell my longtime friend what could've happened with me writing in this notebook.

"What, a song? A poem about your mother?" It wasn't long before Prince seemed to laugh between his own words this evening. Just seconds later, I almost blushed here, even though he still couldn't see me again. I'd turned into some little girl.

"I think it's an autobiography." I revealed this so-called discovery.

____

For the first time in quite a while, I even started recording music again. Even Michael left messages on my answering machine. While I'd never say that everything returned to normal, I actually began to feel much better than before.

Unfortunately, The Revolution finished touring with "Parade" and broke up after three years. Prince told me his reasons in private, but I still took moments to yell with disappointment. Times changed, but that group still meant the world to me.

"Are you still working on the project?" Prince asked me one night. He had visited me in the studio from habit again. Within seconds, I knew exactly what he meant, even that phrasing could've seemed vague to anyone else. We were still alone here.

"I scribbled during my lunch break." I handed over the notebook. His rare grin showed up to make me happy. We both blushed while trading the journal back and forth. Once again, I hadn't seen him so joyful about anything beyond his music.

By the following week, Prince's team had even screened several editors.