Little Lia sat in front of the vanity in her moms bedroom. Her legs, that didn't reach the floor, swung back and forth. She hummed a song that she had heard her mom sing countless times before. Reaching her little hand out, she touched her moms jewelry box. It wasn't beautiful or perfect, the box had scratches and flaws. Yet, something about its imperfection made it seem all the more perfect.
Lia caressed the brown box, and kept humming as her mom brushed her long black hair. She looked at her mom through the mirror and smiled at her. She believed her mom was the prettiest mom to ever exist. With her black hair and golden eyes, no one could compare to her. Not only that, but she also believed her mom was the strongest.
"Mommy, when can I open this box?" Little Lia asked.
Naria, Lia's mom, said, "When you're all grown up, pumpkin."
"Oh, so I can't open it because I'm only a baby pumpkin?"
Lia's mom laughed softly. "Yes, that's correct."
"Then how do I grow up quickly?" Lia looked curious.
Naria placed the hair brush down on the vanity and put her finger on her chin, as if deep in thought. A mischievous light flashed across her eyes and she quickly started to tickle little Lia. Lia burst out in giggles and she tried escaping to no avail.
"Mommy, stooooooop," She gasped out in between bouts of laughter.
"Okay, okay, but pumpkin, happiness makes you grow up faster. You have to be happy, alright? Sadness makes time seem endless." Naria said with rare seriousness.
"Okay, mommy." Lia only understood that happiness was the key to what she wanted, and she wanted to grow up and open that box.
Naria caressed little Lia's hair with gentle hands. Love deep in her eyes and all of it was for Lia. She thought that Lia, at the age of eight, should not be asking about growing up. Naria knew all kids wanted to grow up quickly, though. They did not know that their childhood were the best years. Especially, if they were protected and happy.
Lia let out a small yawn and Naria nudged her to the bed. Sometimes, she'd let Lia sleep with her. She could almost fool herself, telling herself she was doing it for Lia. A part of her was doing it for her daughter, but another part was doing it for herself, too. She didn't want to feel lonely.
Lia hopped to the bed like a little bunny and scurried her way under the covers.
Naria shook her head with a small smile on her face and got under the covers too.
They both went to sleep after saying goodnight.
Suddenly, little Lia's body trembled. She opened her amber eyes and looked around. The air was cold, clouds of mist appeared in front of her every time she exhaled. She stood in a meadow, the grass frosted slightly. She looked down and realized she was wearing the same nightgown she had gone to sleep in, her feet were bare. She looked up and realized that at the edge of the meadow a forest surrounded it.
Lia shivered and crossed her arms in an attempt to warm herself.
"Mommy?" She cried out.
The whistling of the wind between the trees answered her.
She started walking and with every step she took, the grass beneath her crunched. Her heartbeat fluttered and she kept walking. Maybe she could find her way out and go back home.
Lia wondered how she got to a meadow while she was sleeping. Maybe she had walked in her sleep. Mommy could be scared if she couldn't find her. She had to find her way back home to her mom before she woke up.
Lia paused when she reached the edge of the meadow. Where the grass stopped and the trees began. The trees were so tall they loomed over her tiny form. She almost took a step back, but no, she had to make it back to her mom. Her hands clenched her nightgown and she started walking.
The rustling of the the trees and the shadow cast by the moon scared her. She looked back and she thought she saw one particular shadow following her. Lila hurried her steps and glanced back, only to notice the shadow seemed to be getting closer to her.
Lia looked around but could not find anywhere to hide, so she started running. Her pace slowly increasing the farther she ran. Small gasps of air escaped from her lungs. Small rocks dug into the soles of her feet and branches scraped at her arms. Her eyes watered with pain and fear.
Her heart tried to beat its way out of her chest, but she only ran faster. She glanced back only to see the shadow had turned into three shadows. She tripped on a fallen branch and her hand was cut open by a sharp rock. Lila felt a chill on her back and goosebumps broke out on her arms. She saw a tree with a small space in the trunk in front of her, and she crawled her way into it.
Her once white nightgown was now filthy with dirt and blood. Except, the blood was a shimmery golden color instead of red. She looked out of the opening and saw the shadows standing in front of the tree, seemingly staring at her.
"Ahhhhh," Lila let out a scream and covered her eyes with her blood stained hands. Drops of tears fell from her eyes. She waited for a hint that the shadows had left and after a few minutes, she removed her hands from her eyes.
Nothing but trees greeted her and her eyes closed sleepily as her adrenaline crashed. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Hours passed and once her eyes fluttered open, she realized she was back in her moms bedroom. She was laying on the bed, clean and uninjured.
Looking around, the only thing that was missing was her mom.