8th of May, 2008
Michael is 49, Angela is 44

Angela: Another boring day.

Frustrated, I groaned and changed my position on the bed. Even the book I started reading bored me to death.

I hated not being able to walk around. Even when going to the bathroom a nurse was told to help me. But mostly I was tired of being cooped up in this room.

A nurse did take me a couple times to see Michael, and still, I needed out. And I was missing my kids like crazy. I couldn't wait for this week to be over already.

Javon knocked on the door. He came in, holding a bag sent from Katherine, filled with more things I needed from home.

He placed everything neatly close to me then took out some snacks from the bottom.

"Katherine said you might want these." he handed me some chips.

"Thanks," I smiled and opened the bag, offering him some. "I really need these right now."

He declined politely. "Can't be ruining this body. I've been working hard lately. When I have time, of course."

"About that, how are you still single with that kind of body?"

"I had a girlfriend six months ago... But I got too busy with everything happening to Mr. Jackson so I ended it. She didn't deserve being tossed to the side."

"Great, now you made me feel bad." I rolled my eyes.

"Don't, it wasn't meant to be. She didn't like Mr. Jackson's music. That was a deal breaker." he joked.

I chuckled, "I'm still not that big of a fan, to be honest..."

"Seriously?"

Shrugging, I went back to eating my chips.

"But how can you not? He's the King of Pop for Christ's sake!" Javon said.

"He has some good songs, I guess... I don't know, I'm not a big music fan when I think about it."

The bodyguard shook his head, "Wow..."

An idea popped in my head.

"Hey, Javon, you think you could take me to breathe some fresh air? I really need it..." I begged.

"I don't think your doctor would like that, Mrs. Jackson."

"Please, I won't get up. You can wheel me out." I nodded at the wheelchair in the corner of the room.

"Fine. Ten minutes. But if I get in trouble... I'm quitting." he winked.

I squealed happily and he offered to pick me up. I wrapped my arms around his neck then he placed me down on the wheelchair.

"Thanks." I smiled.

He opened the door, making sure no one was around, and took me to the nearest balcony.

Once the sun hit my skin and the fresh air filled my lungs I felt like myself again.

"Thank you," I leaned back, closing my eyes. "I really needed this..."

But of course all good things had to end. The baby started kicking, hard.

"No..." I sighed.

"What? Are you okay?" Javon asked worriedly.

"They're kicking."

He glanced at my stomach.

"You want to feel it?" I offered.

"I don't know if I should-"

I took his hand and placed it where he could feel the baby's feet.

"Does it hurt?"

I laughed at how clueless he was. "No, it's a bit uncomfortable, but I like feeling them kick most of the time. Lets me know they're really there."

He grinned, moving his hand up a little.

"Woah..."

"Mrs. Jackson." we suddenly heard from behind us.

Javon hurried to remove his hand. A nurse stood at the balcony door, her hands placed on her hips.

"What are you doing out of bed?" she questioned.

"I needed some fresh air..." I answered. "I'm going crazy in my room."

"If Dr. Holden finds out, we're all dead. Let's take you back."

I pouted and let her wheel me back to the room.

When we reached the door, I was surprised to find Dr. Moore waiting for me.

"Dr. Moore?" I called. "What are you doing here?"

"Mrs. Jackson! I have news..."

"You need to get back in bed." the nurse ordered.

"This is more important," I shot her a look, then turned to the doctor. "Well?"

"Your husband, we believe he's about to wake up... I thought you should be there when it happens. There's new brain activity, a lot of it."

The tears were already running down my cheeks. "Really?"

He nodded.

I looked at the nurse, "Can I go? Please..."

"I'm going to have to ask her doctor..." she told Dr. Moore.

"You know he won't agree. Please. This is my husband we're taking about... I won't get up from the wheelchair, I swear!"

"Alright... But I want you back here for lunch and your afternoon checkups."

I nodded. "Thank you..."

Javon pushed the wheelchair through the hospital halls, the smile on his face never disappearing.

He squeezed my shoulder, "I knew he'd come back."

~

It's been a few hours. And except for a few movements here and there, nothing about Michael changed.

"He's not waking up..." I sighed.

"It takes time. I'm sure it'll happen soon," Dr. Moore told me. "Look, he's dreaming again..."

I saw Michael's eyes move from underneath his lids. I held his hand tighter and kissed it.

"Come on, wake up..."

My back was starting to hurt. Maybe leaving my room wasn't the best idea.

Javon cleared his throat, "I should take you back. This isn't good for you."

"I'm not leaving him, Javon."

"Maybe I should get Dr. Holden, then..."

He sounded... Jealous? What the hell?

Just then, Michael squeezed my hand. I looked back at him.

"Mike," I whispered in his ear. "Wake up, please. It's me, Angela... You're almost there... Come on."

I drew small circles on his bare shoulder.

Just wake up...

~

I had to go back to the room for my afternoon checkups.

Dr. Holden raised his eyebrows. "Your blood pressure is low again. Have you felt any kind of tiredness?"

"No, and I'm sure it's nothing." I said, avoiding his eyes.

"It's just... Very strange. Everything was okay this morning."

I waved him off. "I feel fine, Dr. Holden. Really. Do you think I could go be with my husband? His doctor thinks he's going to wake up..."

"Did you have any bleeding?" he completely ignored my questioned.

"Nope."

The doctor had his hands over my belly, "May I?"

I hissed when he pressed a sensitive spot.

"I don't like this..." he sighed. "Does this hurt?"

He pressed another spot. I winced and nodded when the pain increased.

"Okay, you're staying in bed. And lay on your left side. I don't even want you sitting up, it's too much pressure on the placenta."

I scoffed but did as he instructed.

Great, how am I supposed to be with Michael now?

~

I stared at the white ceiling and sighed.

My brother and dad came in earlier for a visit, but other than that I was back to doing nothing.

It was almost midnight and I knew I should've been sleeping but I couldn't.

I closed my eyes and prayed. For Michael, for my baby... I just wanted something good to happen, for once.

~

9th of May, 2008
Michael is 49, Angela is 44

Angela: "Mrs. Jackson!" someone shook me awake, and when I opened my eyes, Javon was smiling from ear to ear. "It's Mr. Jackson... He- he woke up."

And in that moment nothing else mattered.

Javon was hesitant when I told him to take me there. He knew what my doctor ordered.

"Please..." I clutched his arm. "Please, Javon. I've been waiting for this moment for so long..."

He gave in eventually and picked me up, walking fast to Michael's room.

Dr. Moore met us at the door.

"Wait, Mrs. Jackson, before you go in... You husband, he doesn't-"

I didn't want to hear anything. I stood up from the wheelchair and opened the door.

And there he was. Still in his hospital robe, very much awake. A nurse stood by his side and checked his IV.

She looked at me, making Michael look up as well.

"Angela?" he asked, his eyebrows scrunched.

"Michael..." I sighed in relief and ran to hug him.

But he didn't hug me back. I pulled away, confused.

"What's wrong?"

"Why are you hugging me?"

"What do you mean...?" I said. "I'm-"

Dr. Moore cut me off, "We should talk alone..."

I was sat back down on the wheelchair.

"Wait," Michael stopped the doctor before he wheeled me out. "Angela, you're pregnant? That's weird, I don't remember Jake saying anything... Where is he, anyway? He should be here..."

That's when Dr. Moore quickly took me to his private office.

"What did you do to him?" I demanded answers.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Jackson..." he rubbed his face. "When he woke up, I asked him if he knew what year it was... He said it's 2003... It's not something I've never seen before, but it's definitely amnesia. Did something traumatic happen in 2003? Because he remembers everything to the point where he was being charged with child molestation... And he keeps asking about Jake."

So he doesn't remember anything about us?

I whimpered, "Yeah, Jake... My, um, last husband. He died at the end of 2003... They were best friends."

"That explains a lot. I believe his brain erased the last few years due to that trauma. It was probably hard for him."

"What can we do?" I asked.

"First, we have to tell him what happened, then start refreshing his memory. Tell him it's 2008, and slowly ease him to the idea that Jake died," he answered. "Then help him put some pieces together, like how you got married, or why."

Suddenly, a pain shot up my back. Oh, no...

"Are you okay, Mrs. Jackson?"

I shook my head violently. "Something's wrong."

He hurried to crouch down in front of me and asked what my doctor ordered.

"I'm not supposed to be out of bed..."

I moaned as the pain increased.

"Deep breaths," Dr. Moore cooed. "We should take you back to your room. Now."

The entire way back I was panting loudly. Everything hurt so much.

I was placed on the bed immediately and Dr. Holden quickly injected something into my arm.

"W- what's happening?"

"It's just a tranquilizer, Mrs. Jackson, to calm you down," he said, then I felt his hands on my stomach again. I went a little dizzy from the pain. "I want to do an ultrasound, somebody get me a machine, please!"

I just lay there as he checked everything, my tears never stopping.

Michael really doesn't remember anything, and I stupidly put my baby in risk.

"Everything's okay, Mrs. Jackson." the doctor assured but I wasn't listening to him anymore.

~

When I woke up, it was already morning.

My head was pounding. I hoped everything that happened last night was a dream. But obviously, it wasn't.

Two scanners were placed on my big bump while I was laying down flat on my back.

I rubbed my eyes tiredly as Javon walked in.

"Hey," he whispered. "How are you feeling?"

"Please tell me I dreamed about last night..." I begged.

He shook his head and sat next to me. "I told Me. Jackson about Jake... He didn't take it very well. Then I explained why you were here and he seemed very surprised. I'm sorry, Mrs. Jackson, but he really doesn't remember anything..."

"It's not fair."

"I wish there was something I could do," he took my hand. "You don't deserve this."

I smiled weakly at him as the tears started, making him rub the back of my hand with his thumb.

I sniffled, "What did Dr. Holden say about my baby?"

"The baby's fine, but it's you he's worried about. He said your blood pressure was too low again. You really shouldn't get out of bed, Mrs. Jackson."

"But Michael..."

"I'll bring him here. Later, though. You need to eat and rest before that." Javon promised.

"I just want to disappear." I confessed.

Javon looked straight into my eyes, "He woke up, Mrs. Jackson. That's all that matters. And your baby is perfectly fine. Be thankful for that."

I nodded, but still felt like shit. I asked him to leave because all I could do was cry. And I did, until Dr. Holden payed me a visit.

~

I shifted uncomfortably when the doctor check me for then last time. It was awfully quiet and I hated it.

"I heard about your husband," he broke the silence. "And I get it, Mrs. Jackson. It's hard. But you can't keep putting yourself and the baby in danger."

I turned my gaze away from him. He was right, but nothing was more important than Michael.

"I really don't want to end up delivering your baby prior to their planned due date. So please, don't make this harder for me."

"You don't get it," I rolled my eyes. "How old are you, again? Thirty? I don't see a ring on you finger so I'm guessing you're not married. I've been married twice. Once to a man I loved and lost, and the second time it was a long, agonizing, process. I love my husband with all my heart and he doesn't even remember how to love me. So don't tell me you get it."

He scoffed, warning me he's about to check if I have any dilation. "Okay, maybe you're right and I don't get it. But you can't keep risking your baby. You're both my patients and I will not tolerate this kind of behavior anymore, Mrs. Jackson. If you keep this up I'll be giving you a list of of amazing doctors I know and I'll quit."

I flinched when he put his fingers inside me. Dr. Holden widened his eyes.

"What is it?"

"You're two centimeters dilated."

Great, another reason for him to keep me in bed.

"It's weird, you're not showing any signs of labor. You are definitely staying here, for at least two more weeks." he said.

He proceeded to squirt gel on my stomach before starting an ultrasound.

I groaned but I knew I couldn't argue with him, because I wanted my baby healthy. I just wished their father would remember our relationship.