Dimension Jumpers

Part 1.

Lia's POV
7 years in the past.

"I told you I'm done talking about it!"

"We are not finished until you start explaining!"

"I didn't buy it!"

"Sure, sure. Big purchases like this just happen, now? Have another man or maybe even another woman who buys it all for you huh?! It wouldn't surprise me if you were seeing other people!"

"Richard, I already told you, no!"

Hi. My name's Lia. This isn't really where I'd like to start a story, but I'm not sure I have a choice...

I stand by the stairs and lean my head against the wall. Behind the inclosed stairwell, I'm pretty sure I'm safely hidden from my screaming parents who will get the neighbors curious if they're not careful...

Out in public, they both acted like a normal mommy and daddy.

Back at home, all they did was argue...

They usually only fight about money, and I hope that's the only thing they'll fight about from now on... But who knows anymore. All I know is I'm sick of listening to it. But what can I do? They just want me to stay clear of it, so I do... Most of the time.

I pull my blonde hair to the opposite side of my head and run my shaky fingers through it. About one hour each day of listening to them bicker. And sometimes I got to happened twice. My parents find anything and everything to fight about... That little rip or stain on your shirt? They'll turn it into one of those "president-debate-thingys" daddy watches on TV.

"I'm leaving for work..." My mother let out a heavy sigh.

"Good. Maybe they'll let you move in there so I never have to your face ever again."

Even though I couldn't see her, I could tell my mother wasn't happy by that. "You don't mean that..." My mother practically whispers. I have to lean over the stairwell to hear her.

"Why would I say it, if I just wanted to take it back? I know your job involves a lot of paperwork, but how 'bout you take a look at this one, hm? I think you'll like it better than anything at the office." The sound of paper sliding across the counter makes me curious, but if I peek I'll get in trouble... So I don't.

There's a long silence where neither mommy or daddy speak. But when mommy does speak up, I start to shake. "Divorce papers?"

My tongue runs dry as well. No, no, no... This can't be happening... I didn't like when my parents fought, but I didn't want them to separate... The only reason I knew what divorce was, was from accidentally watching mommy's cop shows. They'd file a claim and go to court. But the people who did it weren't happy. Where my parents not happy?

"We've both had to have thought about it." By the sounds of it, since I'm too far back to see them, I think daddy gives her a pen. "Just think about it some more... I'm tired of all this. I know couples' fight but these keep getting too far. Now get out of here or you'll be late. I'll see you in the morning." He hesitated before kissing her forehead, I'm sure of it.

My mom didn't say a single word as she left. I don't know if she's taken the papers or left them on the table but...

This is the first time mommy and daddy have ever talked about divorce with each other.

I run upstairs and slam my bedroom door behind me.

I was confused.

I was angry.

But most of all, I was sad...

I crumpled onto my bed and just let myself cry. I tried to let out all my emotions. My life has been in the same place for so long and it's... It's too much... And now they talk about divorce!

I don't know how long I'm laying in my bed. Two hours. Four hours. All night, maybe. But when I wake up in the morning—unaware I'd even dozed off—I'm really, really, really tired...

I go into the bathroom and take a nice, long shower and thank the Lord above it's a Saturday. I'm only eight years old, but I've learned how to do things myself since both mommy and daddy work. I reach the handles and turn on warm water.

My parents... Didn't love each other anymore..? I mean, when I was even littler than I am now, they never fought... They loved each other and they acted like they loved me.

Now... Each person in this house seemed more distant than anything I've seen on TV or from my friends' houses...

Why can't I have a close family? Was it something I did? Because, before I was born, I'm sure they loved each other. They'd even said it before... What did I do? Could I fix it?

I dry myself off after I wash out my hair and put on a good pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I go over to my mirror in the bathroom, covered in most. After drawing several little shapes, animals, and a whole lot of smiley faces into the mirror, I clear a section of the glass enough to see myself. My brown eyes are as dim as always and what mommy calls 'bags under my eyes'. My hair doesn't look bad, the wet and wavy blonde hair sitting on my shoulders.

I'd rather do anything else than go downstairs and risk a glance at my parents, but I skipped dinner and I'm hungry.

I nab a bag of my favorite toaster pastries and stand on my tippy-toes to reach the toaster. Curse my smallness; I can't reach it!

I pull my body onto the counter, my feet off of the floor. Now if I just—

"What are you doing?" My mom almost scares me to death. I fall off the counter, landing on the floor with my crumbling toaster pastries. I frown.

"Trying to make breakfast. It's not going so well."

My mom's laugh twists into a yawn. "I see that.. I'll make you breakfast, sweetheart. Can you go wake daddy for me? He's got work in..." She lifts her watch to her eyes. "About an hour, I think.. You know how much dad likes his showers..."

"Okay, mommy." I stand up and push the chair back, looking around for any reason why I couldn't do it... But everything's fine.

It's just the family that's broken...

I hear mom start sizzling some Saturday bacon as I go into the bear's very dark, very scary den. I walk over to the bed. My father's stubbiness is laying across the blankets. His snore is loud.

Very loud.

"D-Dad?" I shake his body slightly. "It's time to wake up—"

I don't even know what happened next. The only thing I know is my cheek feels like it's on fire and Daddy has his hand pressed down on my neck while we're both on the floor.

"I thought I told you to stay out of this house, Lin—" He stops short. "L-Lia?"

"Hi Dad..." Tears start running down my face. "Mommy's making bacon..."