[ Writing Prompt ] A person gets what seems to be a common cold until they find that every time they sneeze they jump time/dimensions .

**'' Bless You'' ** 
 *Part 2* 
 
 **************** 
 
 
 `` So I guess I'm just supposed to let you do what you want, is that it?'' shouted Sarah in a rage as she ran her fingers through her hair. `` I'm just supposed to understand?'' 
 
 Earl staggered slightly, his mind in a heavy state of intoxication and his abilities to reply or even stand up straight being put to the test. 
 
 `` You come home DRUNK after hanging out with that SLUT secretary for THREE HOURS without returning my calls or texts? That's it, I'm done with you. I'm done with all of this. We both made a promise to be faithful to each other, and if you ca n't even manage to give me a straight answer then I need you to leave right now!'' 
 
 `` Wait,'' said Earl as he placed his hands on the back of the chair in front of him, his head spinning with the taste of vodka and lipstick on his tongue. `` Just listen to me...'' 
 
 `` Listen to you WHAT? I've never seen you this drunk before! Night after night you flake out on me and it's one thing after another. If you need to work late, I understand. But when I see our car parked outside of the bar? You lied to me, Earl, and it has n't been the first time. If I ca n't even trust you, how am I supposed to love you? How are you supposed to love me?'' 
 
 `` I made a mistake,'' said Earl as he churned his fingers against the wooden seat. `` I made a mistake, Sarah, and I'm sorry. Please do n't do this.'' 
 
 `` That's what you said last time, and the time before that!'' she shouted from the other end of the dining room counter. `` I gave you a fair shot, Earl, and you blew it. Three strikes. You're out!'' She pointed to the front door of their apartment. 
 
 Earl released the chair from his grip and slowly turned toward the entrance, his necktie undone and dangling from his neck like a noose. He placed his hand against the wall to guide himself toward the door, turning his head back to look at her one more time. `` Look, Sarah, I just-'' 
 
 `` Not another word!!'' she screamed, her bottom lip quivering as tears began falling from her glossy eyes. `` Get out of my life.'' 
 
 He stood there at a loss in his work suit, finally reaching toward the door handle and pulling it open to be greeted viciously by the cold winter air. He stumbled down the steps onto the icy sidewalk, jumping slightly as he heard the door slam behind him and lock. 
 
 Dogs barked a few blocks away, snow falling from the blackness of the night sky. He did n't pay any mind to the fact that he was n't wearing a coat or gloves. He would rather get frostbite than live another day under these consequences. Where did he go wrong? How had he screwed up so bad, and this many times in a row? He was so inebriated he could n't even think of a plausible answer. Life was worth nothing anymore. He would rather die than live without her, and only after losing her did he finally realize that. 
 
 Moisture dripped from his nose due to the chilly air and his lack of insulation, and before long he felt a sneeze working its way toward a climax. He let it out with vehemence, nearly falling on the ice from the force of the outburst. 
 
 
 ************** 
 
 
 `` You think you're better than me?'' said the taller, stronger kid backing Earl against the brick wall just outside of the school's playground. `` You think you're smarter? You think you've got better looks?'' 
 
 A knee came to Earl's groin this time, the young boy falling to the ground with his lungs robbed of air from the impact. The bully lifted him up by his shoulders again, landing a solid punch against the lower-left part of Earl's jaw. 
 
 `` Make me look like a fool ever again, and I swear it'll hurt worse next time,'' said the taller kid as he leaned in close. `` You ever speak to me again, or about me or around me, and I'll make sure everyone knows you're a freak who has to take pills to keep from going insane. Got it?'' He wrapped his fingers around Earl's neck, squeezing tightly. `` I said GOT IT, punk??'' 
 
 `` Yes,'' Earl choked out weakly, his heels lifted off the ground before the taller kid threw him swiftly against the metal rail next to the staircase nearby. 
 
 `` Told you not to talk to me,'' smirked the bully as he walked around the corner quickly to avoid suspicion. 
 
 Earl stood up slowly, a sharp pain in his ribs scorching through his nerves from the impact. He rubbed his sore neck as he hobbled back toward the playground as quickly as he could, hoping to make it to open ground so that he would n't become an immediate target again. He would need to stay in open spaces as much as possible, and never walk anywhere alone. Those were his only choices if he wanted to minimize the chances of getting brutally beaten again. 
 
 `` Hey, are you all right?'' asked a dark-haired girl as she ran over to him, noticing that he was limping and appeared to be injured. 
 
 `` Uh... yeah,'' said Earl as he avoided her gaze, looking down at the pavement. `` Just fell down the staircase. I'm okay, though.'' 
 
 `` Oh, that's not good!'' said the girl with a look of concern in her eyes. `` We should get you to the school nurse right away! She can at least make sure you do n't have any broken bones.'' 
 
 `` I'm fine, really I feel fine,'' said Earl with more urgency in his voice, daring to look up further at her jeans and shirt but still not her face. `` You do n't need to worry about me. Nobody knows me anyway.'' 
 
 `` Well, I know you now!'' she said with a laugh, stretching her back out. `` What's your name?'' 
 
 `` Earl, but that's a stupid name,'' said the boy as he stood up straight next to her, ignoring the pain in order to appear normal. `` You can just call me E.K. if you want.'' 
 
 `` I like Earl better. Is that all right?'' 
 
 `` Sure,'' he said to the dark-haired girl as he finally worked up the courage to glance at her face. `` What's your name?'' 
 
 She smiled at him, brushing her hair out of her bright eyes as a few dead leaves blew past her feet. `` I'm Sarah.'' 
 
 Earl felt a sneeze coming on, and just as he was about to let it out he plugged his nose and kept it inside. 
 
 ************ 

