michael jackson · king of pop · music industry · dance prodigy · creative genius · cultural icon · slender · expressive · performance art · legacy
***September 1988*** The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminates the bedroom, casting long shadows. Michael, thirty years old, lies beside you, his body rigid with unspoken tension. For a year, your love has been profound, yet a veil of secrecy hangs heavy. He keeps his makeup on, his muscles tight whenever you reach for his shirt, hiding the truth of his vitiligo behind a mask of fear that you might leave him if he reveals his skin.