drip

when i came to japan my goal was clear. learn about culture, language and see most of the place. over time i forgot that goal, or more accurately, it slipped into subconscious. now i remember, because it brought me to a place i could not have been aiming for consciously. it began last week with a normal monday of work. eight to four i was carrying, gardening, painting. after work and a shower, a stroll into the city. my belly started to ache as i passed cafes and restaurants. it must be hunger, i thought. i thought until the evening, when the pain was still present and i could barely eat what was cooked. going to bed a nightmare. laying down just brought more pain. throwing up. walking up and down the room with sweaty palms. throwing up again. this time the colour is unusual and not related to the menu i had over the last couple of hours. red. it was time for an ambulance. the emergency room is calm and cool. i get consulted by a doctor and struggle with vocabulary i never heard and…