For the past month, he'd a lingering cough that just wouldn't go away. It broke his laughter, interrupted his practice, and kept him up at night. Over time, it only grew worse, eventually taking away his breath and hurting his chest. He'd been able to feel something deep within his lungs, rattling and shaking loose with each cough. And then it happened.
He'd thought it was blood but after looking at his hand, he saw it was only a flower's petal. Strange. There was no explanation for it, and he'd tossed it, wrapping it up and throwing it away or chucking it into the garden. But it happened again. And again and again, more and more filling his mouth.
He started to isolate himself, trying to keep his condition to himself. He breaks away from the group during chores one day, laughing off his assignment and making some excuse about him being old or their task being boring. Alone, he breaks into another fit and looks down at his hand.
Well, this is a surprise, he thinks, looking at the red spider lily in his palm.
It's the first time he's ever coughed up a whole flower. Crumbling it in his hands, he tucks it into his kimono sleeve. He'll get rid of it later-- bury it in the garden or hide it under the flooring. He's old enough that he's heard stories and poems about what this is. To think that it would be real, though! How annoying. )
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For the past month, he'd a lingering cough that just wouldn't go away. It broke his laughter, interrupted his practice, and kept him up at night. Over time, it only grew worse, eventually taking away his breath and hurting his chest. He'd been able to feel something deep within his lungs, rattling and shaking loose with each cough. And then it happened.
He'd thought it was blood but after looking at his hand, he saw it was only a flower's petal. Strange. There was no explanation for it, and he'd tossed it, wrapping it up and throwing it away or chucking it into the garden. But it happened again. And again and again, more and more filling his mouth.
He started to isolate himself, trying to keep his condition to himself. He breaks away from the group during chores one day, laughing off his assignment and making some excuse about him being old or their task being boring. Alone, he breaks into another fit and looks down at his hand.
Well, this is a surprise, he thinks, looking at the red spider lily in his palm.
It's the first time he's ever coughed up a whole flower. Crumbling it in his hands, he tucks it into his kimono sleeve. He'll get rid of it later-- bury it in the garden or hide it under the flooring. He's old enough that he's heard stories and poems about what this is. To think that it would be real, though! How annoying. )