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Charlie was driving, at 2 am to be exact. It was revealed one minute ago that Michael Jackson was having a meet and greet, and he HAD to be there.
So that’s why, he woke up, threw something on that he can’t seem to remember—he refuses to look anywhere but the road—and now he is here.
Charlie zoned out, and suddenly he was already parking. They had the courage to look down, and saw the space pajamas with the Michael Jackson shirt he had on, sneakers with mismatched socks, and his sunglasses.
To be honest, he could do worse.
Well, this was rock bottom, but Charlie doubts anyone would care, although maybe he’ll get kicked out on the spot for even trying to see The King of Pop in such state.
He walked with confidence—they read somewhere confidence is key—and avoided any stares coming his way, although not many, barely any people were arriving, only some were camping outside the entrance to a fancy building.
Charlie had his letter ready, safe in his warm hands. He might look a mess, and he might’ve forgot to try to look decent, but he’ll never forget the one thing he has wished to give to Michael Jackson for so long.
This was his opportunity, maybe if he did a good first impression—Michael Jackson would want to be his friend, and then he would get to hang out with him, and Charlie will finally get the chance to ask if Annie was okay.
Charlie’s train of thought was interrupted by a ringtone, and noticed the sound was coming from his own pockets. He was surprised these pajamas even had pockets, but whatever.
“What’s up?” Charlie said, cheerily. “Where the hell are you?” Elle—his best friend and one of his 3 roommates—asked, in a tone reminiscent to an angry mother. “Michael Jackson has a meet and greet, I needed to come.” Charlie whined into the phone, keeping his voice low enough.
Charlie heard a sigh coming from the phone. “I got work tomorrow, I wish I could come. Please let us know when you come home. Be careful.” The line clicked, and Charlie put his phone away.
Luckily, he brought some snacks for the morning in his mini backpack, so he was set for whatever was coming.
Charlie knew he had to take a nap if he wanted to at least act decent infront of Michael Jackson.
Charlie had woken up 4 hours ago, it was about 10 AM by now, the meet and greet would start any minute now, and he was the third in line. Anyone would kill for this spot, he knew he was lucky.
One by one, the two people before him entered, and it finally was his turn.
Charlie passed security, and he was finally in line to possibly meet his biggest inspiration, and possibly first love.
Silence was suddenly the loudest thing Charlie has ever heard as he realized it was his turn. Michael Jackson looked at him, with his gorgeous eyes, expectantly. He looked even more beautiful up close, an angel.
He flinched as he realized he needed to actually talk and get close. “Sorry!” Charlie muttered a quick apology, only to receive a soft ‘it’s okay’ and a smile that could light the entire universe in return.
“Oh—I don’t even know what to say… This is—“ Charlie had ran out of words, he was a mess, he looked a mess, but he couldn’t care less. This was amazing, he was so close to Michael Jackson, it was heaven.
Michael chuckled in such a cute way that made Charlie want to spin in bliss.
Michael looked down and noticed the envelope, which he assumed correctly that it was for him, Charlie hoped he didn’t notice his ridiculous outfit, but judging by his expression—Michael Jackson did notice.
“Is that for me?” Michael’s impossibly handsome eyes flickered between the envelope and Charlie’s face, a soft and patient smile on his face.
Charlie adjusted his sunglasses, hoping the other couldn’t see his apparent blush. “Yes! Please, take your time to read it.” Charlie gave the letter to Michael Jackson, and he took it with both hands, as if it was something precious.
“Oh, thank you. This is very nice of you.” Michael carefully opened the envelope, meanwhile Charlie felt like he was going to melt very soon.
As he read it, Charlie noticed the change of expressions, the way he read it over carefully, glasses making his doe eyes way bigger than they were, which made him seem ethereal. He was glad he had his sunglasses on.
“Oh wow… this is one of the nicest things a person has ever sent me.” Michael Jackson smiled so sweetly, truly grateful. It made Charlie want to just hug him, cry within his arms and thank him for just existing.
“Thank you, Charlie.”
“Can I please hug you?” Charlie asked, ignoring the way his voice trembled, the sting around his eyes, the warmth on his face. Michael chuckled and nodded, getting up from his seat and going around the small table to embrace him.
He cradled Charlie’s head, like he truly mattered, like he was something precious. His warm body was everywhere, surrounding him. Like a pleasant sunny evening.
Of course, Charlie hugged Michael back like there was no tomorrow, and he felt Michael’s hand softly rub his back in absent movements, like he was used to this, like they have done this before.
Charlie tried to hold in his ridiculous sobs, but he couldn’t rub his eyes, or take off his sunglasses that probably made him look more stupid than cool. His hands were busy embracing the most beautiful being in the whole universe.
After a long while, Michael pulled away, his hands at Charlie’s forearms, not quite pulling away fully. Charlie wanted to chase him, and steal him.
Michael of course noticed the sunglasses were out of place—considering Charlie was crying like a little kid—he reached to take them off, gently, and Charlie’s breath hitched, looking up at him with red eyes, tears still coming.
“I’m—“ another sob, “—sorry.” Charlie sniffled, reaching up to wipe away any evidence of him crying at all. Michael held onto the sunglasses, while keeping his hand on the other’s shoulder, waiting patiently.
“It’s fine, please don’t apologize.” He offered the sunglasses, and Charlie took them after muttering a quick thank you. He put them on again, and smiled in pure happiness.
Charlie was trembling in excitement, and as Michael ‘s hand left his shoulder, he knew it was time to go. “Please keep the letter.” He said, and Michael nodded, a soft and affectionate smile on his face.
Charlie stepped closer—and gave him a small peck on his cheek, and adjusted his sunglasses after, looking down in embarrassment. He didn’t know why he did it, but it felt necessary.
Michael looked surprised, and flustered, but he quickly recovered and smiled.
Michael then leaned down, and returned the kiss, which made Charlie almost melt away. His face was flushed, and he did everything to not run away, keeping his feet planted perfectly on the floor.
“Oh wow.” Charlie muttered, staring at Michael. “I love you.” He said, and Michael nodded, and hugged Charlie again, tighter this time, cradling his head gently. “I love you too.” Another kiss on Charlie’s cheek.
Charlie realized that, this was the most beautiful man he has ever met. An angel.
But he knew it was time for Michael to go.
He didn’t want to, he didn’t want to let go. He didn’t want to be left alone.
“I’ll always live forever in your heart.” He heard him whisper, a soft mutter, a soft reassurance. “You’ll never be alone.”
Charlie then realized, that this whole time, he had always known Michael.
There was no need to meet him, if Michael lived in Charlie’s heart. In everyone’s heart.
The letter was in Michael’s hand, and he had read it only once, but maybe a second time would not hurt.
Dear Michael,
Today marks the day. 06/25/09.
we all miss you Michael, I hope you are okay wherever you are. I am already listening to your music, to grasp anything that is yours. Even if they have sold everything in your possession, your house, your clothes, your belongings, your image, your life. They could never sell you, your soul, your kindness, your irreplaceable determination.
Even if you never knew most of your fans today, I hope one day you can see them. I don’t believe in heaven, nor hell, but i believe you’re one of the few people who deserve heaven and more. You are truly an angel, but it’s not to put you on a pedestal, or treat you less like a human. You are a human, you are not perfect, and that’s okay. You shouldn’t be expected to do anything less than what you’re capable of doing, and you already did so much for this world, even if the world wasn’t doing anything for you.
Even if I don’t know you truly, I believe that you have the kindest soul I have ever seen. You are innocent, and that’s the truth. The truth always wins before the lie, even if you yourself begin to doubt.
You were the light in dark lives for many, including mine. You are one of a kind. You didn’t deserve anything that happened to you, but you still pushed through. You pushed through like no other, and made an effort to be a better person.
Even if many betrayed your trust, you still gave all of you to others, or tried to. That’s an amazing accomplishment. You still tried to love, respect, and never judge. You should be the example of how to act, or that’s what at least billions think.
The date you died, the world stopped spinning. The world stopped breathing, Mother Nature felt how one of the prettiest flowers had already begun to wilt. The heavens cried, the animals mourned, and we screamed. I can’t begin to describe how I feel, how my heart feels. You were one of the few who always tried to make the world a better place, a humanitarian. A great person, a friend to many, a parent to few.
If I could trade my life just so you could live, I would do it in a heartbeat. I appreciate my life, but I don’t think I would accomplish anything half worth of what you did. Michael, you deserve everything.
Even if you are finally resting—and yes, you deserve it—it breaks my heart to see billions of fans mourn you personally, your family missing and reminiscing on the good times, regretting the decisions they made when you were still here.
I have so much to tell you, so much to express, my admiration meets no bounds. And it’s beyond of what you do, it’s your motivation. You simply do these things because you feel like you need to do so, even if no one told you to do anything. You wanted to do it, because you saw something was wrong and wanted to fix it.
You tried, and that’s enough. You didn’t need to do anything else. Of course, more problems came, and maybe if you were still here you would’ve done everything in your power to help.
Maybe the world would be a better place if you were here.
Michael, I miss you. More than you could ever know. We all do, we all need you here.
You are a beacon of beautiful light in dark times, the darkest. The darkest of times. You are something to hold on to, someone to hold onto while the world moves so fast in a tiring pace. But I don’t choose and I don’t tell what you are or can be, that’s always up to you. It has always been.
You are your own person, you are not just your name, you are not just the King of Pop, you are not just “Moonwalk Man”, you are beyond what any of the tabloids say. You are beyond what people say. You are You.
I hope, that maybe, just maybe, you can see this letter. It may be cheesy, or I may have been too vulnerable for anyone’s taste, but I couldn’t care less.
You always stood up for what’s right, you always recognized the flaws and tried to fix them when everyone ignored it and continued. You always did what was necessary.
I forget what I want to say, because it’s truly too much. I hope you can see this, travel through dimensions to see what your fans have wrote, gifted, made for you. The world has not spun since you left, and has never moved since. No one has moved on, the world still misses you.
Before your death, you were made fun of. You were a clown, people were bullied for being a fan of you. The world can’t see what it had until it left.
No one truly saw what you were until you died. And yet some people still think and believe what envious rats have said about you.
I want you to know, that I never believed anything they have said. Not once, since I was born, I was called by your music, something about it.
I still can’t figure out what it is, but something tells me it’s your energy, your passion, your love. Your love, your love.
Love is your message. You’re the definition of love, you truly loved everyone. I can’t fathom how anyone like you, who has suffered so much, hurt so much by the world, still loving, still caring. An amazing father.
This is personal, but I wish you were my father. I wish you were the one that raised me. Not because of fame or money, but because I know you wouldn’t hurt me. I know you wouldn’t do anything to me, I know you would care.
Or maybe a best friend, one that is so caring, funny, and kind. Someone you can hold on to, but also help carry your burden, as you carry mine with me. A shoulder to lean against, a warm hug to receive every time we saw each other, a warm smile.
Either way, even if I will never know you truly, im satisfied. Because I know you will always live in my heart, I will always know you. I’ll never forget you, because you’re too great to forget
I realized immortality isn’t of physically living forever, but to be always be remembered, to make a change in the world, to still be loved by so many, to still live in so many people’s hearts.
You are everyone’s family, a friend, a parent, or a figure of reason. I love you, I’ll always love you. With my whole soul.
With love,
Charlie
Michael smiled, looking down at the letter with affection. One of many, his family was so loving.