In a distant land a long time ago, before there was hand sanitizer and
antibiotics, there lived a young couple in love and in despair.
It was a quiet Sunday morning when trouble visited the living quarters of Daizo and Emi. The wife was ill and near term in her first pregnancy. Up to this point the pregnancy had been healthy and uneventful.
Emi was struck down by fever. Daizo was beside himself with worry. His adored wife was so weak she could not lift her head from the pillows.
Every hour his strong hands would turn her fragile head to gaze at the leafy kaku tree beyond the pane of glass from her bedroom window. Husband fed his wife droplets of tea through parched lips while he prayed to the Gods to remove the evil spirits who brought sickness upon his wife and unborn child.
The Gods had help in a young physician. Kenji-san recently returned from seven years of study across the sea. There he learned about medicinal herbs known
for healing qualities. There he learned about yin-yang, the elements of balance between man and nature.
Daizo sent a messenger to alert the good doctor of Emi’s illness. As he patiently waited he performed his nursing routine, comforted his ailing wife and he prayed.
Kenji-san arrived in a fortnight. Emi’s condition had only worsened. After a thorough examination of body, mind, and spirit, the doctor spoke to
Daizo outside of the bedchamber.
“Your wife’s heartbeat is holding on by a thin strand, but can be fortified with medicine. Her mind is still active, churning with thoughts and worry, she believes her end has come. Her spirit is sagging, lost with no sliver of hope. The baby is in distress and is fighting with tiny fists to be saved."
Daizo was encouraged by the physician’s report. Surely with a stronger body fortified by the latest modern
medicine, Emi’s mind and spirit would come around and his wife and child would be saved.
Ah, but the human spirit feeds on hope, and without it no medicine in the world will fix an ailing heart. One week later there was no change, in fact Emi's condition worsened. She used her failing breaths to whisper to Daizo.
"dear husband...I love you...my season is soon over...READ MORE
