Settling In

I cupped my throat,focused on gulping down air and stifling the reflexive coughing.Glob walked past me and my eyes followed him inexorably,as if he was a magnet and I was iron.Keanu lay sprawled on the floor,with his chair now on it's side, where he had been thrown.Glob offered him a hand and he looked at it like it was something he wanted to kill (I'm surprised it didn't shrivel up,turn black and fall off) for a moment,then rose to his feet unassisted and came to my side.

"Are you ok?" He pulled my hand gently from my throat and rubbed my back while examining the bruise that had no doubt formed.

Logan advanced in my periphery,clutching a napkin.

"I've never seen anyone choke like that," she almost whispered,reaching out a hand as if to stroke my face,then snatching it back when she became aware of the action.