Konnichi wa!
He lay in bed, the only occupant of the house that wasn't asleep. Next to him lay his wife, a fiery-haired woman with a temper to match. Down the hall were their two children, a boy of twelve and a girl of seven, both sleeping blissfully and unaware that their father was worried. It had been a week since he had received the call that all people dread when their parents are living alone.
It was just a normal day at the League when the phone rang on his private line. Only family or those close enough to be considered family had the number. Ash picked it up. "Hello. Ash Ketchum speaking."
"Ash, honey, your mother and the Professor are in the hospital. Mom fell down the stairs and broke her hip. I've sent the kids to Tracey and Daisy's and I'm on my way to pick up you. Professor Oak needs both you and Gary. He's worried, Ash." Misty's voice kept breaking. Ash knew she was doing everything she could to keep from crying.
"Mist, I'll be ready when you get here. Which hospital is she in?" Ash felt like he was near tears. Never had he felt so helpless when someone he loved was in the hands of fate.
"Viridian General. They were talking about trasfering her to Celadon Regional. I'll be there in about fifteen minutes. I love you, Ash."
"Love you too, Mist." Ash hung up. He buzzed his secretary. "Kimi, could you tell the others that I have to cancel my meeting. My mother fell and broke her hip and is in the hospital. My wife's on the way here to pick me up."
"Sure Mr. Ketchum. They know how important family is to you. I'll send Misty in when she gets here."
Ash rolled over to face his wife and noticed that she was awake. "Hey Mist."
"Still worried, huh?" The red-haired woman smiled. "Everything's gonna be fine. She'll just have to take it easy around the house for a few months, that's all."
"I know Mist. I'm just so…I dunno. I feel kinda useless. I shoulda known that Mom was gonna be fine, but still…"
"Ash, honey, it's okay. Where do you think you got your knack for surviving anything life throws at you?" Misty grinned. Ash blushed. "Besides, Ketchums are tough. They refuse to die before their time has come."
The raven-haired man nodded. "Trust me Mist, I know. Besides, it comes in handy with our knack for trouble too." Both adults giggled. Ash leaned over and kissed his wife on the lips. "Mist, how come you know what to say to make me feel better?"
"Woman's intuition and a mother's instincts. C'mon, we need to get some sleep so we can bring your mother home tomorrow and make sure she's settled in comfortably." Misty cuddled into her husband's arms. "Night Ash."
"Night Mist." The two lay there for a while before falling asleep.
Hey guys. I wrote this one because I've had a similar feeling twice within a year now, only with my grandmother. My grandmother isn't totally alone where she live 'cause there's family that lives in the same town she does. Currently, I'm home alone while my parents and younger sister are headed up to the hospital she's in. Someone's gotta play phone-tag with the doctors and family, and I'm not really big on hospitals and nursing homes. My grandmother knows that, so she understands.
Ja'ne!
KasumiSatoshi
afternote My grandmother passed away two days after I wrote this. And call it weird thoughts or a premonition, but when I did go up to see her, I had a feeling that she'd only live 'til a certain time and it was correct to the exact minute.