{Bad era – 1989 (but set in 2016)}

His eyes quickly read the messages he had missed out on whilst he had been asleep. His friends had been sending endless messages to their group chat; they all had different time zones, so it was difficult to talk to everyone at the same time. Either, someone was out, or someone was busy, or someone was sleeping. There was never a time when every member was there at the same time.

He then quickly typed a message on his iPhone keyboard which said: "Morning from America guys. How are you all?", before pressing "send". It was about a minute later that someone else messaged the group chat. Their username was "XLoveXLivesXForeverX", and their profile picture was of a beautiful girl with bright blue eyes and a gorgeous smile.

Her message read: "Hey! I'm from America too! I'm good thank you. How are you?".

His reply to this was: "Neat! I'm good too, thanx. What's your name?".

It took a few moments for the person to reply, but when they did, they revealed that their name was Genie. Along with this, Genie asked for the name of the person she was talking to, to which she received the reply: "I'm Michael. It's great to meet you".

Michael sat on his bed, watching, as he saw "Genie is typing ... " flash up on the screen. He smiled to himself, pressing the back of his head against his cushions, before looking back at his phone to see she had replied.

Genie: It's real great to meet you too! :)

Michael: So, how old are you, Genie? :)

Genie: I'm 26. You?

Michael: I'm 30 – but nearly 31! I feel so old ...

Genie: That's not old! You're still young Michael

Michael: Hehe thanx I guess. Wanna PM instead? Don't wanna give everyone else a million notifications

Genie: For sure!

Michael then clicked her profile picture, wondering to himself if that was really what Genie looked like. He opened a new chat, before typing a message to her.

Michael: Hello again ;)

It took her a few moments, but Genie eventually replied, and their conversation went on. In fact, it went on for hours on end, and only came to its end when Michael had to go to bed.

Michael: I'm getting tired now. Gonna go to bed! It was lovely chatting with you. Goodnight :)

Genie: Night Michael. Hope we can talk again tomorrow! :)

With that, he finally came off Kik, setting his phone down by his bed before lying back properly and closing his eyes.

* * *

When Michael opened his eyes the following morning, the first thing he did was check his Kik account. He found that Genie had written a message whilst he was sleeping, for him to read when he awoke.

Genie: Morning lazy! Hope you slept good. Hope we can talk again today. x3

Michael simply laughed at his new friend's use of emoticons, quickly typing a reply to her.

Michael: Morning Genie. I slept good. How'd you sleep? I hope we can talk too :)

It was about ten minutes later that she replied, and once again, their conversation started, stretching out until bedtime once again. In that time, Michael came to learn many things about her – her interests, her favourite colour, her lucky number, her relationship status – some more personal than others.

There was one thing, however, that he still didn't know, so he messaged her to ask.

Michael: Your profile picture ... is that you?

He waited for a reply, but he didn't appear to receive one. He sighed, waiting patiently for her answer – he must have waited ten minutes before he gave up and came off Kik to make himself breakfast. Once he had eaten, he came back to find a notification from Genie, so he unlocked his phone and read the message she had sent.

Genie: Um ... no, it's not me.

Michael raised his brows at this answer, then began to type again.

Michael: Why don't you have yourself as the profile picture?

Genie: Because ... I don't like the way I look.

Michael frowned when he read the reply; surely she was a beautiful girl, if her personality was beautiful?

Michael: Send a photo of yourself. I wanna see you :)

Genie: Michael ... please ...

Michael: Please? I promise I won't show anyone

Genie: Uh ... fine. Hold on.

Michael: Okay! :3

And so he did hold on. He waited on his sofa downstairs, clutching his phone in his hands impatiently. He was looking forward to seeing Genie's real appearance, for some reason.

It was about five minutes later that Genie sent the photo. Michael clicked on the photo, to find a young woman, with pale skin, shallow blue eyes and a defined jawline.

As for her hair ... she had none.

Michael sat and looked at the picture for a minute, understanding now why she had no confidence in her appearance. Before he could reply, Genie sent another message.

Genie: Yeah ... I have cancer, Michael.

Michael froze at this. After their two days of conversing, she seemed like a happy, normal girl. And now he found out she had cancer? This came as a shock to him.

Michael: Oh God ... I'm sorry, Genie. Really I am ...

To his surprise, she answered instantly.

Genie: It's cool. It isn't your fault. Life obviously wanted to teach me that it's a bitch. Lesson learnt.

At her choice of wording, Michael found himself tearing up. The latter two sentences got under his skin in a way that even "I have cancer" didn't manage to achieve. Not everyone can relate to cancer, he thought, but everyone can relate to the fact that life is tough. Perhaps that's why he was taken aback by her choice of wording.

Michael: I really wish you all the luck in the world ... you'll get through it. I know it. :)

The smile emoticon he sent with the message didn't match his real face. In reality his heart was aching for her, but he wanted to keep positive so that she would raise her spirits, too.

Genie: I don't think it's that simple. But thanks. :)

Whilst Genie typed this message, her brows furrowed sadly; she was overcome with grief and pain. She hadn't told Michael her cancer was terminal. She didn't want to lower the spirits any further than she already had.

Michael: That's okay. And besides ... you're beautiful :)

Genie's heart missed a beat, so to speak. Since losing all her hair from treatments, she had never been perceived as the same Genie as before. It hurt her ... but Michael was making her happy.

Genie: Thank you ... you don't know how much that means to me ... <3

And as she wrote that, a tear of happiness slid down her cheek.

* * *

Michael: I'm gonna go to bed now, I think. I've really enjoyed talking to you again :) Goodnight, Genie!

Genie is tying ...

Genie is typing ...

Genie is typing ...

Genie: Goodnight, Michael. And thank you for accepting me for who I am. :)

Michael: It's really no worry! Gn ;)

Michael closed down his Kik app, before locking his phone. He sat up in his bed, thinking about the conversation between himself and Genie. And yet, after everything that they had spoken about today, he was still eager to know her more. With this simple wish in his mind, he turned out the light, and settled down to sleep.

* * *

Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. Michael and Genie still spoke every single day. Their conversations were growing deeper and more personal, and they felt as if they knew one another personally.

However, Genie still failed to tell Michael that her cancer was terminal.

As the hour drew close to 2:00am, Michael decided to conclude yet another conversation.

Michael: Well ... it's that time again. I'd better be off to sleep xD Goodnight, Genie! :)

Genie: Goodnight Michael! :) Sleep well! :)

Before he turned Kik off, he sent another message.

Michael: Wait ...

Genie is typing ...

Genie: What is it?

Michael: I want to see you.

Genie: You've already seen my picture ... xD

Michael: No. I mean I wanna meet you. In real life.

Genie hesitated at this. If they met, he'd realise how sick she really was. Did she really want to give that part away? Were they close enough?

She decided they were.

Genie: Uh ... sure. :) When though?

Michael: I was thinking ... Friday?

Friday, Genie thought to herself. That's only three days away.

Genie: I can do Friday, sure. Where? And what time?

Michael: You know Gary? Indiana?

Genie: Yeah. That's close by to me. I can come there for sure. Place?

Michael: Meet me at Jackson Street. It's my old home's road.

Genie: Okay! I'll be there. Say ... 12:00pm lunch time?

Michael: Sounds like a plan. I can't wait! I'll see you then. Goodnight :)

Genie: Goodnight. :)

As they both locked their phones, one sat in their bed smiling uncontrollably, whilst the other was thinking of ways to break the news of their terminal cancer to their new friend.

* * *

Friday soon came; Michael was on his way to Jackson Street. As he arrived there, he looked left and right to check for any signs of Genie. There were none. He thought nothing of it; after all, it was only 11:30am. He was a half hour early. So he sat on the edge of the curb, waiting patiently.

12:00pm came, and there were still no signs of Genie. Perhaps she liked being fashionably late? Or maybe she was nervous about this? Either way, Michael was curious. But yet, he continued to wait.

It went to 12:30pm, then 1:00pm, and 1:30pm. Still nothing. He had been waiting for two hours by now. Residents of Jackson Street had been coming out of their houses to ask what he was doing. All Michael had replied with was: "Waiting for a friend."

They all eventually went back inside, so Michael brought out his phone and opened up Kik.

Michael: Where are you? I've been waiting for two hours :(

A "read" receipt showed, which brought a small smile to his face.

Genie is typing ...

Genie is typing ...

Genie is typing ...

Genie is typing ...

Genie is typing ...

Genie is typing ...

Michael's expression grew confused. What was taking her so long to type? She was typically a fast replier; her answers normally came within ten seconds of reading the message.

A message came from Genie.

Genie: Are you the Michael Jackson person my daughter spoke about?

If Michael wasn't confused before, he certainly was now. Why was Genie's parent talking to him, rather than Genie herself?

Michael: Yes I am. Am I speaking to the mother or father of Genie? And could you please tell me where she is? Much appreciated :)

Genie is typing ...

Genie is typing ...

Genie is typing ...

Genie: It's her mother. And ... Genie died this morning, sweetheart. She was on her way to you, in my car, and she suddenly started complaining that she was in pain. I called an ambulance and did everything I could, but ... she died because help didn't come in time. We knew it was going to happen, sweetie, because of her terminal cancer, but we didn't think it would be so soon ...

Michael's breath caught in his throat.

"Genie had terminal cancer?" he spoke out loud, but barely audible even to himself. "Oh m-my God ... "

Michael: I'm so sorry ... I hope you're all coping well. She never told me about her cancer being terminal ... My God, I'm so sorry ... I send my condolences to you all <3

Genie is typing ...

Genie is typing ...

As Michael watched the phrase "Genie is typing ... " flash up on the top panel of the screen, his heart shattered. He knew this would be the last time he ever saw that phrase.

Genie is typing ...

Genie: Thank you Michael. I'd better go and comfort the family now. I wish you all the best.

Michael: Thank you. And you too, of course ...

He couldn't even lock the phone before the grief made it slip carelessly from his hands; it clattered against the floor, luckily not smashing. But even if the screen had have broken, it would have been nothing compared to the feeling of brokenness within his heart. He choked on his tears as they slipped down from his cheeks, to the floor, and his sobs echoed down the empty street.

And the flowers he had planned to give her were sat by his side, whilst the pink teddy remained in his arms as he cried into its fluffy stomach.

And the feelings he had planned to reveal to her were locked in his heart now, with no way to ever escape.

Unless ...

He shakily uncovered his face, reaching down to grab his iPhone from the ground. He opened Kik – which was difficult to do due to the number of tears in his eyes – before opening the chat between himself and Genie.

Michael is typing ...

Michael: Genie, I never told you this, but ...

Michael is typing ...

Michael: I love you ...

~~

I've been planning this story for a while but never got around to writing it. xD
Kinda sad. :( I guess sad endings are my speciality, right? xD
I hope you enjoyed it. :)