December 1993

"I don't understand! Why on Earth would you even consider doing this?"

"Look, I know it is your job to protect Mr. Jackson but if he does not comply the court will have to declare him as guilty!"

Maria was suddenly in front of two men arguing. One was clad in a police uniform and the other was wearing a formal attire.

The guy who was wearing a formal attire appeared to be Michael's bodyguard and he sighed. "Do you have a warrant?"

"Of course!"

Maria was surrounded by policemen and men with cameras in hand. In front of her, Michael was standing on a platform, wearing a bathrobe. He was trembling and terribly confused.

"Can't you make them go away?" He whispered to his bodyguard.

The bodyguard looked away in shame. "I'm sorry, Sir but I can't. You heard them. If you don't submit, they'll declare you as guilty."

Michael closed his eyes and his face contorted in fear. "Oh God. Does it have to be this way?"

He wrapped the bathrobe tighter around him, afraid someone will come and steal it away.

"Sir, we have to see if Jordan's description is accurate. And therefore, we must examine you." The policeman stepped closer.

"I told you I didn't do it! I will never be capable of doing such a dreadful thing! How can you believe all those lies?" Michael's face was hot with anger.

The officer raised his hands and tried to calm Michael down. "Sir, please. If you truly want to prove your innocence you will have no choice but to submit. Now, can we get this over with?"

Michael's breath became rapid. He was shaking far worse than before.

"A-All right. Please, make it quick."

"Could you please remove your robe, Sir?"

Michael's hands were trembling as he slid off the robe from his body. "This is ridiculous."

Maria looked away but was relieved to find Michael wearing swimming shorts.

The man who spoke earlier shook his head. "You need to remove those too, Sir. Absolutely everything."

Tears were brimming in Michael's eyes. He glanced at Elizabeth Taylor's painting on the wall and slowly removed his shorts.

"Does that look circumcised to you?" a man pointed at Michael's sensitive part.

I can't believe this. The 1993 strip search.

Michael clenched his teeth in anger. "Oh my God."

The men started taking countless pictures of Michael.

The poor angel had no choice but to stand, fully exposed and vulnerable. Soon enough, he began to sob. Maria had to hold onto a piece of furniture to harbor enough strength. Her heart mourned for Michael.

"Can we please stop this? Please? I think it's enough," he pleaded.

"Turn to the side please and raise it up a bit."

Michael's breath hitched as he obeyed. He saw Maria in the corner of his eye. No one noticed her but him.

"Be brave," she mouthed.

"And now just your back," the cop ordered.

"Please, enough."

"All right. You took enough pictures. Move along!" Michael's bodyguard began urging the cops to leave.

"We appreciate your cooperation, Mister Jack--"

But before he could finish, Michael was already heading towards the bathroom. His clothes remained on the floor as his guard picked it up. He ran after Michael who slammed the bathroom door shut.

"Mister Jackson, please open up."

Maria could hear Michael sobbing. His cries echoing throughout the house as the cops stood baffled.

"Just leave me alone! Leave me alone!" His voice cracked.

Maria waited for the right moment until no one was visible. Michael remained locked inside the bathroom for hours now. His cries did not stop. Trying not to make any noise, Maria fetched some clothes for Michael and knocked at the bathroom door.

"Michael, it's me," she whispered.

After a few moments, Michael opened the door. His face was stricken with tears and his eyes were swollen.

"Maria."

"I brought you some clothes."

Michael took them and closed the door. A few minutes passed before he allowed Maria inside. He locked the door again and sat inside the empty tub. He stared into empty space. He was completely quiet and emotionless.

Maria was troubled. She could not utter any words to comfort Michael. Hesitating, she slowly wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close to her. She could feel her shirt being drenched with Michael's new tears.

"Remember the children, Michael. If you feel weak, remember the children."

Michael stared up at her and a sad smile formed on his face. "Yes, the children. It's all for the children."

May 2019

"Damn it! I'm back here again."

"I told you there's a consequence for every action." Kathy was reading one of Maria's favorite books– Interview with the Vampire­.

"Just like bloody Lestat here who did not even have second thoughts of turning Claudia into a vampire against Louis' judgement.

"It can't end like that."

"Duh. Louis leaves Lestat and–"

"I need to go back!"

Kathy slammed the book shut. "For what?"

"I'm going to stop his death."

"I thought we talked about this deliberately."

"You can't stop me."

Maria paced her room while frustratingly tugging at her hair. Kathy watched from her usual post, clearly against Maria's new idea.

"There has to be some other way. There has to be!"

Maria quickly opened her laptop and searched a picture of Conrad Murray-- the infamous doctor who caused Michael's death. She grimaced in disgust but printed the picture anyway.

She held the printed photo in her hands and began to focus. Travelling through photos wasn't much painful anymore.

"You're the only one who can alter my destiny. Please, Maria." she heard Michael's voice in her head.

She remembered the terrible things she witnessed just a few moments ago. It wasn't fair. How could the world be so cruel to this man who gave nothing but love and happiness? How could the world treat him with so much hatred and misunderstanding when he did nothing wrong against them?

Conrad's face sharpen and blurred until it finally came into a halt.

Maria started to fade and that's when Kathy decided to put an end to her preposterous escapades but Maria was quick. Maria was a skilled and quick learner.

"Maria, wa–"