For some reason, Krista never really appreciated the sound of her alarm on Tuesday mornings. Waking up on Tuesdays was never quite as exciting as it was on Mondays. But this Tuesday morning was so much worse than any before. Although she was already awake, and had been all night, she slapped the snooze button as if those extra couple of minutes would make a difference.

Her eyes were like tiny deserts, which was unfortunate because all she wanted to do was cry. She felt small. When her alarm went off again, she sat up and noticed how much bigger everything seemed to be. She tossed her legs over the side of her bed but her feet just dangled in the air above the floor. She reached out to turn off her alarm and her clock was the size of a microwave compared to her tiny hand.

As Krista caught her reflection in her vanity she screamed out loud. She didn't just feel small, she was small! Practically half the size she remembered being the day before--not to mention every day since she was fifteen years old.

"This can't be happening!" Krista slammed back down onto her mattress and pulled her sheet over her head. Her entire body vibrated as she spoke to herself. "This can't be happening. You are a regular sized person. Okay, maybe you're a little short, but you are NOT a munchkin, God dammit! You're just emotional right now. Pull yourself together!"

As Krista began to breathe deeply through her nose, she felt her body stretch and extend. When she was convinced she was calm she tossed off the sheet and looked around her room. Everything was back to its regular size again. She looked in the mirror and tried to smile.

"See," she said as she watched her eyes finally glaze over with tears. "You're fine. Just fine." A small drop broke free and she wiped it away. "You're not hurt, he didn't hurt you, you're fine."

With one last breath, Krista got up out of bed and moved to the bathroom. She turned on the shower and climbed in, but found the water to be too cold. She reached down and twisted the tap marked with a red H, and then again and again. When she felt like her skin was starting to blister and peel away she sank to her knees and cried.

She cried until all the hot water was gone, then curled up in the freezing torrent and rocked back and forth. Eventually, she turned off the shower and shivered in the damp air.

"See, you're fine. You're out of bed, you're clean...ish. One step at a time."

When her phone rang, Krista considered leaving it be. By the third ring she climbed out of the tub and shuffled slowly towards it, still dripping and naked.

"Yo, K-money, you're late." Her boss said over the phone.

"I am?"

"Not by much but... You left the door unlocked last night. Also, you didn't mop. What up? You feeling okay?"

Krista thought about the question. "I'm fine."

"You sure, man? It's not like you to fuck up. If you're chakras are clogged or somethin, I want you to stay home today. We don't need anything messing with our karma, ya know?"

"I'm fine."

"If you insist."

"Just... Gimme an hour. I'll be there."

"You promise you're gonna smile? I don't want my loyal regulars picking up this stank vibe you're givin off."

"Yeah, I'll smile." Krista hung up the phone and continued with her morning. As she left her apartment she just barely avoided bumping into a woman she'd never seen before. "Sorry."

"No problem," the woman said with a smile but Krista was already gone.

Without paying any attention to her surroundings, Krista walked to work at a pace that was much quicker than her usual. She mustered her most genuine feeling smile and burst into the cafe, instantly becoming overwhelmed with memories of Martu.

"Forty five minutes, not bad."

"Told you I'd be here, with a smile no less."

"Yeah, right." Her boss filled a paper cup with hot coffee and passed it over the counter. "You look like you need this."

"Yeah, I guess I do."

"What happened with that dude from yesterday, anyway? He had some bad ass ink! Damn. That guy was just COVERED. Wonder where he got those done..."

"I didn't think his tattoos were that cool. Besides, why would something happen? Nothing happened." She knew she was speaking too quickly.

"Yeah..." The guy played an imaginary drum solo on the counter. "Well, I'm out. Gotta see a guy about a thing."

"I'm sure what you meant to say was 'there's some killer surf out there so I'm leaving you in charge, again.'"

"You hear what you hear, I guess."

When Krista was left alone, she pulled her sweater in close around her body and closed her eyes. "You're fine," she said, "just fine."

The bell above the front door jingled and Krista opened her eyes as a woman approached the counter.

"Could I get a long shot cappuccino? With soy, please, and can you get it real foamy for me? Nobody in this town knows how to steam soy milk, you know? It's all in the angle really, if you hold your wrist like this then it works way better. Actually, could you get a new carton? One from the fridge? It's better if--"

"Would you like to just do it yourself?" There was that bad karma Krista's boss was worried about.

"No, I... I'm sorry."

"Do I know you?"

"I don't know, do you?"

Krista shook her head and went about making the drink. She dropped it on the counter and the woman said, "oh, sorry. I wanted that to stay."

"Well, that's what the tables are for."

"No I meant... couldn't you have put it in a mug? Espresso tastes way better from ceramic..."

Krista knew her facial expression was probably the reason why the woman trailed off. "We don't have mugs."

"Oh... really? I mean... they're way more environmentally friendly..."

"Maybe you could get your coffee down the street next time? You know, since we don't quite live up to your standards."

"Right..." The woman held on to her cappuccino with one hand as she dug around in her pocket with the other. "I think I just changed my mind. Maybe I don't want to stay. How much do I owe you?"

"Oh God." Krista shook her head and closed her eyes. "Don't worry about it. It's on the house."

"No, that's okay, I'd like to pay for it."

"No, don't, really." Krista tried to smile but it felt lopsided. "It's my apology, you know, for being such a bitch."

The woman smiled back and Krista thought it made her feel better. 

"I was kind of a bitch too, I guess."

"No, you weren't. You're the costumer, I'm the employee. Are you really going to force me to drag out the old cliche about who's right here?"

"Yeah... Me, I guess." The woman remained at the counter, forcing an awkwardly long silence over the both of them. "I'm Rosa."

"Oh yeah?" Krista didn't quite know how to respond. She didn't feel close enough with the woman to introduce herself.

"I don't mean to pry but... you seem like you're having a rough day."

Krista laughed. "Yeah, kinda."

"Well... I mean if you need to talk..."

"No, I don't."

"Okay, that's fine." The woman sipped her drink and smiled. "Mmm, that's good. Maybe I was wrong about the wrist angle thing."

Krista nodded and tried not to roll her eyes.

"Okay... Well I don't know about you, but I got some work to do!" The woman sounded more cheerful now. She turned around and walked back and forth between the only three tables in the tiny coffee shop. She touched each one, then finally chose to sit at the one closest to the cash register.

Of course she chooses that one... Krista tried not to think about her memories from the night before. Tried not to think about being forced over that very table.

As it turned out, the woman was one of the few costumers who actually bothered Krista that day. When she was left alone again, only two more caffeine fiends showed up before she closed up for the evening. The air was crisp as she went outside, making sure to lock the door so her boss wouldn't get upset with her.

Krista thought about going home, but she didn't like the idea of being alone. Instead, she meandered down the street towards a seedy looking pub. At least the sound of strangers mingling around her might help her feel safe. As she walked towards the bartender, however, Krista noticed a familiar face smiling back at her from one of the tall stools.

"Hey, Krista!"

"Rosa... hi."

"You remembered my name! I'm impressed."

"Well, you left an impression I guess."

"Yeah, I have that effect..." Rosa watched as Krista ordered a beer. "So... I'm sorry about this afternoon."

"Don't be, I'm used to pushy costumers."

"No, not about that. About prying. I just... I'm really perceptive, you know?"

Krista took a swig of her beer and before slamming it back down on the bar she froze. She looked At Rosa and said, "how did you know my name?"

"Cause we introduced ourselves, remember?"

"No, you introduced yourself. I specifically did not tell you my name."

Rosa just smiled as she sipped her martini. "I told you, I'm perceptive."

"I recognize you now!" Krista felt herself getting nervous. "You were in my building this morning, weren't you?"

"You got me." Rosa put her hands in the air.

"Why?"

"I was looking for you, isn't that obvious?"

"I don't like this game. Did my ex put you up to this? Tell that dick he can have his shit back when he grows the balls to come get it himself."

"No, your ex has nothing to do with this. I've never met... Patrick is it?"

"So then how the fuck do you know his name too? How long have you been following me?"

"I haven't really been following you. I mean, if anything you followed me here."

"I don't like this. What ever games you're playing, I don't want any part of them." Krista turned to walk away. She saw Rosa reach out but the woman's hand passed through Krista's arm, which scattered like sand caught in a swift current before reforming. "How did you do that?"

"I didn't, you did."

"Look, just leave me alone, okay? I've been dealing with enough shit, I don't need you shovelling more onto the pile."

"Sometimes I know things I shouldn't." Rosa's voice raised as Krista walked away. "You're not the only one who can do things that are unexplainable."

Krista didn't even hesitate as she pushed through the door onto the street. Her feet slammed against the pavement and her lungs screamed for air. It wasn't until she was inside that she realized she was crying.

In the shared hallway of her apartment building, Krista pressed her hands over her face and struggled to breathe. What am I doing here? she thought, She's already been here.

As Krista walked slowly up the stairs she let loose a bitter chuckle. I guess if she's telling the truth she could probably find me anywhere I go, really.

She shuffled towards her apartment, trying not to imagine Rosa doing the same thing hours earlier. She unlocked her door and swung it open, bracing herself for a confrontation but nobody was there. Sitting on the floor in front of her, however, was a rectangle of white cardboard. Against her better judgement, she bent over and picked it up. She inspected the embossed black writing and sighed. 

There was a phone number on the card, coupled with the words "Rosa Lopez, Slipstream Investigations."