She awoke from a long sleep. Laying still, she stared straight up. It wasn't home. She began turning her head to the left, a sore proposition since she hadn't moved in days. She saw only a picture on a wall. Then, she turned to the right. An empty chair and medical equipment were next to her. In her right arm was an I.V. drip.
She wasn't in pain, only slightly uncomfortable. Her chest felt.......strange. She could breathe normally but felt a bit of a tickle if she tried taking a deep breath. If tired was all she felt then she had little to complain about.
"My kids" she thought as she started going back to sleep, "how are they?"
She awoke and began to panic. Her heart rate rose and she began to cough as she started taking deeper breaths. The monitor sent a signal to the nurse's station. With seconds, a doctor arrived.
"Shhhh," said the young man, "Relax, it's OK" he told her as he took her hand.
She began to settle down as the young man in doctor's whites began checking her over, his stethoscope on her chest.
"You sound much better," he told her.
She lay silent as he checked her over. Finally, she spoke.
"My children," she asked weakly.
"You're children are well," he told her, "your oldest, Emiko, has sat vigil with your husband once." He chuckled and smiled, "she's quite the talker!"
"That she is," answered Midori, "I.......I must......" She then fell back to sleep.
The young doctor then met with his supervisor, telling her that Mrs. Holliday was doing much better and all signs were normal.
Married to Ambassador John Henry "Doc" Holliday