Hiroshi walked into his mother's room. That medicine smell hit him straight away like it always did. Then the machines. A typical hospital.
Emiko was sitting up. The tube was still in her neck but she looked better than yesterday. Less pale in her face. A little color was coming back.
She smiled when she saw him come in.
"You look tired," she said.
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
He pulled a chair up and sat next to her. He took her hand. Her fingers were thin and cold like always.
"How are you feeling?"
"Better. The doctor said my lungs are starting to clear."
"Good."
She gave him that look. The one she'd been giving him his whole life when she was about to say something he didn't want to hear. "You don't have to sit here all day you know. I know you've got things to deal with."
"I
