Michael Scott is dead.
Jim read and reread the email from David Wallace. He was living in Austin, Texas now and was the CFO of a company he cofounded, Athleap. He still stayed in contact with a few people from Dunder Mifflin, like Dwight and Angela, David, Kevin, Andy, and Darryl. He occasionally crossed paths with the others, if he was in town to visit his parents. Jim had attended Michael’s wedding to Holly, and he spoke to Michael a few other times over the years and they would send each other Christmas cards and the like, but in recent years they had almost completely lost communication. Yet, here he sat reading this email with tears beginning to spill over.
Michael Scott is dead.
He started to have flashbacks of moments in the office. Despite Michael’s often immature and incompetent moments as his boss, he also fondly remembered the moments the two shared where Michael shared advice with him. His mind specifically went back to the advice he had gotten from Michael about Pam. His heart panged at the thought of his ex lover. The one that got away. Once because he missed her, and again at the thought of seeing the tears in her eyes as she also received the news of Michael’s passing.
Jim and Pam had married after just a year of being together. They were inexplicably happy and had plans of having a family and a beautiful life together. However, two years into their marriage, Jim’s friend from college had proposed the idea of opening a sports marketing business like they had talked about as young adults. Pam was extremely supportive of her husband, and would visit him frequently on his days in Philadelphia, as well as never leaving his side when he was in Scranton. However, after a year the business was growing rapidly. Suddenly, they needed Jim to relocate to Austin. But, Pam’s mom had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and her chances of surviving were slim. Jim wanted to go to Austin, but Pam wanted to stay with her mom in Scranton. The two fought for months because they couldn’t come to a mutual decision. Jim knew he was being selfish, but he also knew that this job could lead to amazing things for the couple. But after a particularly serious argument, Jim woke up one morning to Pam’s rings on the dresser and her and most of her things were gone. He made one last attempt to save their marriage, but her response was to have divorce papers drawn up the next day. With that he up and moved to Texas and never looked back.
But he missed Pam. He missed her everyday, and everyday he thought of just picking up the phone and calling her and telling her he loved and missed her and he was stupid for letting her go. But he would talk himself out of it every time. It’s been two years and they haven’t spoken. Sometimes he pictures the life they could’ve had. He imagines Pam with a baby girl in her arms, sitting on their flower covered balcony in Austin, asking Jim to take pictures so she can paint the very scene later that day. He pictures taking their son to meet all of the sports stars that he met through his job. They always wanted children, but didn’t have the chance to have them before their relationship went awry.
Jim is knocked out of his day dream by his phone vibrating.
Dwight Schrute calling...
Jim picked up his phone with a heavy breath. “Dwight.”
“Have you heard the news?” Dwight’s voice trembled but Jim knew better than to draw attention to that.
“Yes,” Jim let out despite the growing lump in his throat. “I can’t believe he’s gone,” Dwight hiccuped. “I feel like I just lost my father. I looked up to him so much.” This time Dwight let out a sob.
“I know, Dwight. I’m so sorry.” Jim felt his warm tears finally make their way down his cheek. “I’m sorry to you too,” Dwight started. “He was important to all of us, not just me.” Dwight’s voice was gravelly with sadness. “Oh, D. Come here,” Jim heard Angela’s voice in the background comforting him. Michael had been Dwight’s best man at his and Angela’s wedding. Jim heard Dwight begin to let out a few more sobs before he spoke into the phone, “I gotta go. I hope to see you at the funeral.” Before Jim could respond, Dwight hung up. He wasn’t one to let anyone see any emotion from him, so it made sense to Jim why he was so quick to get off the phone.
Jim began researching flights to Scranton and booked one for the next morning. He quickly threw together a bag before calling the guys at work to let them know what happened and that he was taking a few days off.
-
Pam began packing her bag, having just finished teaching her last class of the day. She had put the last book in her briefcase, before turning to put her coat on. She heard her phone start to ring.
Angela Schrute calling...
Angela?? Pam and Angela were close friends, but because of their busy schedules they had begun to drift. The last they saw each other was during Philip’s first birthday party. Angela had named Pam as Philip’s god mother a few months before that. Why could she be calling now? Is everything alright? She finally hit the answer button and took a seat at her desk.
“Hey Pam,” Angela sounded shaky, oh god what could possibly be wrong? “Hey Ang, how’s my little guy?” Pam exhaled.
“Oh Philip is great, Dwight is already trying to teach him how to farm and I have to remind him that he’s not even 2! But then he says ‘all the Schrute boys learned how to farm starting at six months old’ like yeah, sure babe, what ever you say.” The women let out lighthearted chuckles. “But I do call with bad news.” Pam’s heart dropped; what could possibly be wrong?
“Michael has passed away.” Angela choked. Pam’s eyes nearly popped out of her head as she let out a loud gasp. “No, no, no! There’s no way, there’s no way Angela! You have got to be making this up. Is this some kind of sick joke Michael is playing on us? Like when he used to pretend I was fired-“ Angela cut off her rambling.
“No, Pam, unfortunately it isn’t a joke. He passed in a car accident last night.” Pam could hear the lump in her best friend’s voice. Pam couldn’t hold it in, she let out one loud sob after the other, finding it hard to believe Michael, someone she loved like family, was actually gone.
She tried to breathe through it and her voice finally spoke up, “Is there already funeral arrangements?”
“Yes, Holly and her family are holding services in Colorado, but he wanted to buried in Scranton so they’re bringing him back here and they’re having a service and burial. Dwight told Holly we would host the wake at the farm.”
“Oh, Ang, that’s so sweet of you guys.” Pam sniffles.
“Soooo guess who Dwight spoke to a little bit ago?” Angela inquired.
Pam’s heart nearly stopped. She knew exactly who Angela was talking about. Jim. Her ex husband. The love of her life. The one who chose his career over her and their relationship. When he went away, her mom was still sick. She thankfully has been cancer free for a little over a year now but once she was in remission the divorce was already finalized. She’s happy she made the decision to stay with her mom, but if she would’ve known she was gonna make it through, she may have stayed with Jim. It just pained her that he could be so selfish and choose to leave her knowing what she was going through. He didn’t even offer the possibility of her coming to visit him in Texas and she could be home during her mom’s treatments. Or, he could come visit her. At least until she was cancer free or if the worst ended up happening, at least until after that. But now her mom was cancer free, and he hasn’t tried to come back, and she hasn’t tried to get him back. The thought of seeing him at the funeral now after no communication for two years sent a chill down her spine.
Pam gulped when Angela finally said, “he talked to Jim.” “Oh.” Pam sighed. She pictured his face, turning from his charming smile to pain when he was told about Michael.
Angela spoke up, “Pam, I know you miss him. You’re both grieving now too. Maybe this will be the thing that brings you two back together. You know Michael adored you two, and loved you two together so it would be what he would’ve wanted.”
Pam bit her lip, “Angela, I don’t think me and him will get back together. I’ve heard he’s been back to Scranton multiple times since the divorce and not once has he tried to contact me. He also has a phone and hasn’t tried to call me from Texas. It’s over. I’ll always love him,” she choked on her words. “But if he wanted me back he would’ve tried by now.”
Pam heard Philip start crying in the background. “Oh, shoot! I’m sorry, Pam, I gotta go! Talk soon?” Pam replied, but she’s pretty sure Angela had already hung up.
She picked up her bag and walked to her car. Once in the driver seat, she put her head down on the steering wheel and started crying.
Jim stepped out into the crisp, cool Philadelphia air after his plane landed. He walked out to find Pete waiting in his car. He got out when he spotted him. “Hey Jimbo, sorry for your loss.” The two men bro hugged. “Thanks,” Jim sighed.
He got into the front seat and watched the cars and buildings they passed by. He thought back to his drive from Philly to Scranton back when he worked in Athleap’s Philadelphia HQ. Except this time it was Pete seated next to him instead of a beautiful red head with green eyes.
As they pulled up to the Halpert household, Betsy ran outside, her arms open wide. “Jimmy! I’m so happy to see my baby!” She kissed both of his cheeks. “I’m sorry under such circumstances.” She glanced at her son, who stood a whole foot taller than her. “Hi mom,” Jim gave her a small smile.
He walked into the house to see his dad sitting on the couch watching an Eagles game. “Hey son,” he glanced over his shoulder. “Hey dad, how are they doing?” Jim pointed at the tv. “You know, just as bad as usual.” He sighed. Jim let out a small chuckle and made his way up the stairs. He reached his old room and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him with a sigh. He opened the closet to put his luggage away and saw some of the boxes he’d left behind in Scranton after he’d moved. He looks up and sees a box labeled “Halpert wedding.” He hesitates before grabbing the box.
Inside he finds 2 tickets to the boat on Niagara, his cut tie, her torn veil, a centerpiece from the reception, the cake serving utensils, a favor, and a handful of photos from the day. He looked at a photo of their kiss on the boat and felt a tear welling in his eye. He closed the box quickly. 5 days. He’d be seeing her in 5 days.
He flopped himself on the bed and put a pillow to his face, letting out an exasperated groan.
-
Pam was sitting at her kitchen table writing out a checklist.
-grade art history essays
-get black dress dry cleaned for funeral
-make a checkup appointment for mom
She taps the blue pen to her chin thinking of what else she has to do this week when her phone rings.
Angela Schrute calling...
Pam puts down her pen and puts her manicured finger on the answer button. “Hey,” she started.
“Hey Pam,” Angela started. “Some of the old crew is getting together tonight at Poor Richard’s. I’d love to see you there, it’s been way too long.”
“Ang, it’s a Monday night. I have class tomorrow.” Pam sighed, nibbling on her thumb nail. “Pam! It’ll be good to see everyone with everything going on. Come on, one drink.”
“Okay, fine. One drink and then I have to leave, my students have an exam next week and I need to finish teaching them the chapter.” “Yay! I’ll see you there.” Angela chirped before hanging up.
Pam sighed, dropping her face into her hands. Moments later, her eyes shot open.
What if Jim shows up?
-
Jim walked into the smoky bar, head already pounding from the blaring stereo. He looked around, before hearing a familiar voice behind him. “Jim! Over here!” Jim turned around to see Darryl, Kevin and Andy surrounding a high top.
“Hey man!” Jim shook Darryl’s hand. “Hey Kev! Andyyy!!” He hugged them both. Next to their table was Dwight and Angela. “Hey guys!” He smiled warmly. They waved, and he realized Dwight was on the phone with the caterer for Friday. He looked around and saw a few other of the gang hanging around other parts of the bar. Kelly and Ryan were over at the claw machines, and of course Kelly was begging him to get her something. Erin, Pete, Clark and Toby were standing at another table a few steps away. Meredith was of course at the bar, and Stanley and Phyllis were drinking margaritas and looking at Stanley’s photos of his house in Florida. Jim thought he saw a figure that resembled Pam on the other side of the bar, but by the time he made his way over there she was gone. He let out a sigh before turning to the bartender and ordering a beer.
-
Pam pulled on her casual red dress in the parking lot, wondering why she chose to wear it. She wanted to turn back around and change, but then she sees Kelly pass by on her way into the building. “Hey Pam, cute dress!” This calms her nerves a bit, and she makes her way into the bar.
She walks in and says hi to everyone before making her way over for a drink. She places her order and taps her fingertips against the bar as she waits. She looks up for a moment and there he was; Jim. She sucks in a breath and thankfully the bartender just dropped off her drink because he looked as though he was headed right towards her. She quickly ducks behind a couple taller men and makes her way over to Dwight and Angela’s table.
After making some small talk with the couple, she notices Jim getting his drink meaning he’d be over their way any second. She quickly downs her drink and hops to her feet. “I should go.” She practically whispers. Angela’s eyes widen, “Pam. You just got here.” “Yup, one drink I said, remember?? Well, here’s that one drink. I gotta go.” She smacks down a ten dollar bill on the table to punctuate her sentence and makes her way to the door.
This was going to be a long week.
-
Jim made his way back into the bedroom and sat on the edge of his bed. He was hoping to see Pam tonight, but to no avail. He thought he saw her for a moment, but he must’ve imagined it.
He remembered Dwight had asked him to look for pictures of Michael to display at the wake. Jim went to his closet and got out his big box of pictures, glancing at the box he opened earlier.
He got through about 200 photos before he couldn’t look anymore. The emotions between seeing photos of Michael and also photos of Pam became too overwhelming. He set aside a stack of photos he found with Michael in them and then put away the box.
He decided it was time to go to bed, even though it really was him tossing and turning for most of the night.