Frank has been down my neck about that night in Germany all day. He’s starting to annoy me and make me anxious, but I won’t let it show. That’s what he wants so he can get the answers he wants. If I tell him where I was he’d flip out and question me until I finally give in and have to tell him the whole truth. Then, that will put him in danger.

I could never do that.

“Now, Michael, are you sure?” he asked for the umpteenth time.

“Yes,” I sighed. “I’m sure.” He shrugged, like he did for the umpteenth time, making me try and think he was done asking. Frank was using police tactics, trying to make the suspect crack under the pressure and repetition. I had more self control than most people, I wouldn’t crack.

He leaned in again after a few minutes for the umpteenth time, ready to ask again. I sighed, and faced him, taking off my sunglasses, but the limo stopped. When I looked out the window, I could see fans screaming and behind them was Neverland.

Thank God. I was home.

“Michael—“

“Oh, look Frank, I’m home.” I cut him off. He looked out the window and seemed a bit defeat that he couldn’t ask again. He leaned back in his seat and nodded. “Alright then, Michael. I’ll see you next week when we start rehearsals.” I was about to open the door, but stopped when I heard him finish.

“Wait, a whole week?”

“Yeah, I know. We all need this break and—“

“No! That’s too long, Frank!”

He looked a little surprised by my words, but I couldn’t wait that long. I don’t think I could avoid them for so long—especially in my own home where everyone knows where I live. If I stayed long enough, which I did one time, they could anticipate my every move and thought. They would be able to locate me and do whatever they wanted with me and that included hypnotizing, lying… they could even kill me. I didn’t want that, especially not the killing part, there’s still so much I have to do.

“But Mike, everyone’s been complaining about working so hard—even you did one time! What are you talking about? A week probably isn’t enough for most of the staff, but with the tour coming up soon, it’s all we can afford. Why don’t you want a week?”

“I-it’s too long! They might slack off or forget their work or something might happen that’ll ruin the tour!”

“Like what? It’s just a week, Michael! I think you’re overreacting.”

“Can’t we just make it 5 days or something less?”

“No, Michael. Most of the staff is already home and looking forward to it. I’m sorry, there’s nothing else we can do.”

---

I sat in my home, listening to the people having fun outside. I allowed my fans inside to play and have fun in the park, but I didn’t join. Sometimes it was because they might mob me and get too hyper, but right now, I just didn’t want to play. A week.

A whole week’s break.

It isn’t a lot, but it’s enough for them to get to me. I love the way my life is now, it’s fun, it’s exciting, it makes me happy, but with every good thing comes something bad. My privacy is invaded, things are made up about me, and people try and bring me down. I liked my life before as well. Being in Gary with my family, having friends and neighbors who you knew you could trust. Now all of that seems distant to me. I can never get that life back—at least not in a way I know.

“Michael?” I looked up and saw one of the zoo keepers come in through the door. “I noticed you came back and so did Bubbles. He’s been signing to see you ever since you left.” I chuckled at the little chimp who ran over to me and climbed into my lap. “Thank you, I’ve missed him.”

“No problem.” She said as she left me alone. Bubbles started playing with my hair and clothes and I laughed. “Well, hello to you too.”

He looked at me and smiled wide, showing all of his teeth. ‘How was your meeting?’ he signed to me. “It was okay, but it’s boring as always.” I replied. ‘Can I come next time?’ I bit my tongue as I tried to hold in laughter. He was just like a little kid, always wanting to have something new to do.

“But it’s boring. You wouldn’t like it.”

‘Please?’

“…hm….” I looked at him and he seemed pretty serious. I shrugged with a smile. “Well, if you really want to, I’m not gonna stop you. But you have to promise to behave and listen.”

‘Okay.’ He smiled again and I sat on the floor with him, playing. That’s how I spent the rest of the day before I felt extremely tired. I noticed that the shouts of people outside playing in my amusement park had stopped. I think it stopped a long time ago, but I was too busy playing to notice.

I decided it was time to go to sleep when Bubbles started yawning and nodding off. I picked him up and walked to the zoo where his zoo keeper was ready and waiting for him. “I thought you two would never come back.” I laughed.

“Sorry. We were having so much fun.” I tried to hand Bubbles to her, but he was still awake enough to hold a tight grip around my neck. “Come on, buddy. You have to go to bed.”

“If you want, he can sleep with you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, sure, why not? I don’t see what could happen.” I flashed her a smile and told her goodnight before headed back to the house. I went inside and out Bubbles down on my bed and changed into my pajamas.

As I turned off the light, I could have sworn I saw a shadow move in the corner. My suspicions were corrected when Bubbles suddenly woke up and started making small noises.

“What was—“

I face palmed myself, remembering them. Bubbles had completely taken my mind off of the whole “week off break” thing, and I love him for that. It hasn’t even been a day I was here, and they were already prepared. I looked back at Bubbles and smiled at how he had automatically turned into a watch dog, looking under and over everything, sniffing.

“Would you like to sleep and protect me for the night?” I asked him as I went back to the bed and sat on the edge. He sat next to me and nodded. I chuckled. I was serious, it didn’t seem like a bad idea. I’ve stopped seeing the shadows after he woke up and before I saw the shadow, he was already up. I rubbed his head, and laid down on the bed.

“Thank you. Goodnight Bubbles.” I said to him. He signed ‘goodnight’ to me before pulling the covers up to his neck and falling asleep. Again I looked out the window to the moon and stars and said a silent prayer for the both of us before finally feeling safe enough to sleep.