Julien''s Auctions/Splash

Long before Michael Jackson's use of the anesthesia Propofol as a sleep aid became known, he wrote a desperate letter to his then wife Lisa Marie Presley lamenting his need for sleep.

The letter, written in the singer's childlike scrawl, reads:  "Lisa I truly need this rest I haven't slept litterally in 4 days now. I need to be away from phones and Business people. I must take care of my health first Im' [sic] crazy for you." It's signed, "love Turd," Jackson's apparent nickname. At the top is a box next to the words "smell here."

Written sometime between 1993 and 1996, the letter had been slated for auction and had been expected to fetch up to $1,200. But Presley reportedly complained to Julien's Auctions, the company selling it, and the letter was taken off the auction block.

Owner Darren Julien told TMZ, "I'm assuming it's a personal nature, and we wanted to honor the request and continue our good relationship with Ms. Presley."

Presley was married to Jackson from 1994 to 1996.