I stayed in a hotel in Los Angeles for the next couple of days. It was very hard for me to adjust to the normal life again, because I got used to living in Michael's beautiful ranch. It made me anxious to go outside and see the streets with all the busy people, the traffic and the chaos. I didn't know anyone, there was nothing to look forward to from this point on. I had waited so long for Michael's return, built up so much excitement, only to be shocked when he came home and I had to leave.

I didn't know what to do next. After I had lost my job last year, I never though I had to work again, because Michael had told me over and over again that he wanted me here with him every waking hour.

But now, everything had changed. I couldn't stay any longer in the hotel room, like I did for the last couple of days, I knew I had to go out and live a normal life again, as hard as it was. Even if it seemed so unreal, I had lived for nearly a year with Michael and it had impacted my life so much. It was like a trip to paradise, and when I came back to earth, it seemed like this was hell. I missed him so much.

On my 4th day in the hotel I couldn't take it any longer, so I went outside. I had no plan as of what to do, but I knew I needed entertainment, something to forget reality for a while. I walked towards a park where some kids were playing and a group of people my age hung out. I sat down on a bench and watched them, talking and laughing together. Everyone seemed so happy and free and I just sat there, unable to focus on what was going on. My mind was buzzing constantly with one thought. I had left him. We were broken up! Even after a couple of days had gone by, I still hadn't accepted it. That last half year when Michael was on tour, I didn't see him, but I always knew that he would come back. That I could see him again, wrap my arms around him, rub his back and kiss his cheeks.

I though about the promise we had made over the phone. A hug we wouldn't break for an hour. But when he came back, I couldn't even look into his eyes for more than a couple of seconds. Siedah...Siedah had destoried everything! How big of a coincidence would it be that he would return with a new girlfriend right after he had made up his mind that I wasn't good for him? Was he like that?

No he wasn't. I suddenly realized that tears were rolling down my cheeks and I quickly wiped them away. No, I couldn't think about this anymore now! It wouldn't change anything and it just made me sad. I quickly looked around if anyone had seen me crying, and saw the group of boys and girls gathering together, looking at me. A boy made his way out of the group and walked over to me. He had short brown hair and looked at me a little worried.

"Hey, is everything ok? We saw you were crying and thought maybe you need some help?" He sat down beside me on the bench.

"Uhm, that's alright thank you. I'm better now." I tried to smile and glanced over at him with tears in my eyes. He smiled at me.

"Well good, some things just need time. My name is Jason, and these are my friends Jessica, Ronald, Sue ton, Gordy and Veronica. All of them are together, so that leaves me as the loner" He laughed. "I'm the 7th wheel I guess."

"Nice" I chuckled. "I'm Susan. I'm not from around here though, just staying in a hotel for the moment."

"Really? Does that have anything to do with your crying? What happened to you?" He asked concerned.

"Yeah it does have something to do with that, but I'd rather not talk about it. I guess... I just lost a..I lost a good friend." I said and tears came up again. It was half the truth, but I didn't want to talk about my relationship with strangers. Jason put his arm around my shoulder.

"Hey, you know what, come with us, we were just about to get some coffee, typical LA" He smirked. I shrug my shoulders and decided to go with them. His friends were all talking to me, telling me about their crazy friend group. It was the first time I was happy after these lonely days in my hotel room. Jason walked right beside me and spoke the most and I loved listening to him.

As we passed by a little store that sold newspaper, my eyes fell upon a big picture on the front page.

"Wait a minute please" I just said and took a look at the magazine. I was right, it was Michael and Siedah on the picture that was taken during the dangerous tour. They were kissing on stage, in the spotlight. It was heartbreaking to see this picture, but as I read the headline of the article I nearly gasped. It was too much, just too much. This couldn't be true!

Siedah Garret pregnant, expecting Michael Jackson's first child

I took a step backwards.

"Susan, are you alright?" Jason asked, holding an arm around my waist. "I don't want you to fall" Then he saw what I was staring at.

"Is that true?" I asked and my voice broke. Jason wrapped one arm around my shoulder, but I pushed it away. "Is that true?" I asked again and stared at the paper. He wouldn't know why I was asking that, so it was fine.

"Well, sure is, it's all over the news. But who cares what that dude is up to, let's have some fun" He took me by the hand and this time I let him do. I had to forget about it all, I needed to forget. Michael Jackson had become a star again, I started to realize again that he was a celebrity. I was supposed to see him in the news, not coming home and sitting on the couch next to me. I was just a normal girl...

We went into a bar full of people and Jason paid for my drink. I drunk it all and then another one and a third one. It made me feel better, lighter and happier. I didn't think about the news anymore, the past or the future. There was just the present. And now, I had friends, at least for one night. Someone turned the music up and everyone started dancing. And for the first time in a long time I just had fun. I danced, wrapped my arms around somebody's body, maybe Jason's, and just danced....