Skip to playerSkip to main content
1
MSA Creation
#animatedstories #lifeexperiences #personaldrama #emotionalanimation #inspirationaltales #teenstruggles #familyconflicts #relationshipissues #comingofage #highschooldrama #friendshipstories #lifelessons #personalgrowth #selfdiscovery #uniquestories #animatedlife #reallifeevents #motivationalstories #lovestories #betrayaltales #overcomingchallenges #animatedconfessions #familydynamics #socialissues #mentalhealth #identitycrisis #animatednarratives #dramafilledstories #relatablecontent #animatedvlogs #viewersubmissions

MSA, formerly known as "My Story Animated," is a dynamic YouTube channel that brings real-life stories to life through engaging and visually captivating animations. Specializing in personal drama, emotional journeys, and life-changing experiences, MSA transforms viewers' submissions into powerful animated narratives that resonate deeply with its audience. Each video tackles a wide range of topics, including relationship struggles, overcoming adversity, and self-discovery, making it a platform where real-life events are depicted with creativity and authenticity.

The channel's content is crafted to be relatable and inspirational, offering viewers a blend of entertainment and life lessons. Through animated storytelling, MSA explores complex social dynamics, personal growth, and the challenges of everyday life, providing viewers with stories that are not only entertaining but also thought-provoking and emotionally engaging.

**Disclaimer:** The stories presented on this channel are based on personal submissions and are animated for entertainment purposes. While the narratives are inspired by real events, the characters and specific details may be fictionalized to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The opinions and experiences expressed in the videos are those of the individuals submitting the stories and do not necessarily reflect the views of MSA. Viewer discretion is advised.
Transcript
00:00Hi, my name is Rose.
00:02When I was 10, I found out that the woman I called mom was actually my aunt.
00:08My biological mother had given me to her as an act of charity,
00:11since my aunt couldn't have children and my mom already had three.
00:15Ever since then, I haven't stopped wondering,
00:18was I an act of kindness or just an act of neglect?
00:23People always said I had a unique look,
00:26olive skin, this odd shade of green eyes.
00:30I started wearing glasses at six, so maybe that ruined the effect.
00:33Doesn't matter.
00:35Let me just tell you up front, my life wasn't some wild adventure.
00:39Just me, drifting through school with a weirdly decent sense of humor,
00:44and a family situation no one could explain in one sentence.
00:48Now, my dad, God bless his midlife crisis,
00:51decided he wanted to be the next Steve Irwin.
00:54Not in a cute, let's volunteer at the zoo kind of way,
00:57but full-blown obsessed.
01:00Animal documentaries, snake facts at dinner,
01:03backyard traps to train my instincts.
01:06By the time I was seven,
01:08I could name more venomous reptiles than I could types of candy,
01:11which honestly explains a lot.
01:14So when Christmas rolled around,
01:17I didn't ask for Barbies or ponies or whatever other kids were crying about.
01:21I had one very specific, very non-negotiable wish.
01:26A snake.
01:27A real one.
01:29A snake?
01:30Absolutely not.
01:31But not just any snake.
01:33He's educational.
01:35So is watching a nature show.
01:37Why don't you print out a picture and hang it on your wall?
01:40His name is Feno.
01:42I already made a tank out of the rice cooker box.
01:46I'm not feeding it.
01:47I'm not touching it.
01:49And if it escapes,
01:50you're sleeping outside.
01:52I was that weird kid in school.
01:54Obsessed with snakes, reptiles,
01:56and obscure animal facts.
01:57So no,
01:59I didn't have many friends.
02:00And honestly,
02:01I was fine with that.
02:03Apparently,
02:04not everyone else was.
02:06So,
02:06as you both know,
02:07Rose is different.
02:09And I think we should work together to help her make some friends.
02:12Well,
02:13you're saying it like there's something wrong with my daughter.
02:16Maybe all her classmates are just weird and stupid.
02:19And she doesn't want to be their friend.
02:21Dumbed.
02:22Honey.
02:23Mrs. McGill,
02:24I understand your frustration.
02:26But your daughter brought a snake to school.
02:29And she threw it.
02:30Threw it!
02:31At another student.
02:33Do you understand how dangerous that is?
02:35She threw it at Jessica?
02:37The little bully brat you should have suspended years ago?
02:39But no,
02:41let's go after the quiet,
02:42weird kid
02:42who minds her business
02:44and likes snakes.
02:45Look,
02:46I get what you're saying.
02:47I do.
02:48But this is our daughter.
02:50She'll stay like this
02:51until she
02:51grows out of it.
02:53Hopefully.
02:54So please,
02:54don't call us in for these
02:56Dr. Phil meetings again.
02:58Come on, honey.
03:01That night,
03:03I did the only logical thing
03:04a lonely,
03:05misunderstood 11-year-old could do.
03:07I sneaked out to get a tattoo of Venno.
03:10But the guy at the shop called my parents
03:12before the needle even touched my skin.
03:14And yes,
03:15I got an earful the entire way home.
03:19Things stayed the same
03:20until I turned 17.
03:21And then,
03:23everything changed.
03:24I stumbled across this online ad
03:26for something called
03:27The Reptile Lover's Retreat.
03:30It was this once-a-year,
03:32deep-in-the-jungle kind of event.
03:33A snake-nerd paradise
03:35where people from all over the world
03:37camped out and swapped stories
03:39about their pet snakes and lizards.
03:41Next thing I knew,
03:43I was on a private jet
03:44for the first time in my life.
03:47Turns out,
03:48the whole retreat was organized
03:49by Matthew,
03:51a teenage billionaire
03:52with a thing for snakes,
03:54drama,
03:54and five-star everything.
03:57He was the kind of guy
03:58who could throw a party mid-air
04:00like it was just another Saturday.
04:02And somehow,
04:03make everyone feel like
04:05they belonged there.
04:06Nice tattoo.
04:08Thanks, bro.
04:09Got it last week.
04:10Finally.
04:11Been trying to get it for years.
04:13You look familiar.
04:14Have we met before?
04:15Oh, come on.
04:16Are guys still using that line?
04:19Is that, like,
04:19still a thing?
04:21What?
04:21You've been eyeing me
04:22since the party started.
04:24Well, yeah.
04:25You looked familiar.
04:26Ha-ha.
04:27See?
04:28Classic move.
04:29Old but gold.
04:30Ha-ha.
04:31Ha-ha-ha.
04:32Babe, what's so funny?
04:34Jessica?
04:35What the heck
04:36are you doing here?
04:37Um, existing?
04:39I'm here on a trip
04:40with my boyfriend.
04:41I'm not some weirdo snake girl
04:43who flies across the world
04:44just to hang out with reptiles.
04:46Take it easy, babe.
04:48Anyway,
04:49nice to meet you...
04:51Ro-ser.
04:52Ro-ser?
04:53She means loser.
04:55But yeah,
04:56that's me.
04:56I barely had time
04:57to process what was happening
04:59before the world
05:00tilted sideways.
05:02Like, literally.
05:03We were falling
05:04fast.
05:06Then crash.
05:08Everything went black.
05:12Where am I?
05:14The world around me
05:15was buzzing.
05:17But somehow,
05:18we all survived.
05:20We were bruised,
05:21shaken,
05:22and freaked out,
05:23for sure.
05:24But no one
05:24was seriously hurt.
05:26Just a lot of
05:26stunned faces
05:27and a growing sense
05:28that we were officially
05:29in the middle of nowhere.
05:32My vision was a blur
05:33without my glasses,
05:34but I tried to keep
05:35my head in the game.
05:37Come on, come on!
05:38Where's the signal?
05:40I don't think
05:40there's any service out here.
05:42What do you mean,
05:43no service,
05:44you stupid losers?
05:45How are we supposed to?
05:46All right.
05:47First things first.
05:49We need water.
05:50I'll look for a stream
05:51or anything nearby.
05:52Just stay here,
05:54don't panic,
05:55and for the love of snakes,
05:57don't wander off.
05:59We need to keep track
06:00of everyone
06:00and conserve energy
06:01until we know
06:02what we're dealing with.
06:03I'll come with you.
06:04Babe, it's so humid out here.
06:07You mean dangerous, yeah?
06:09Fine.
06:10I'll come with you.
06:11No way I'm letting you
06:13wander off alone
06:13with that ogre.
06:15I rolled my eyes,
06:17and the three of us
06:18started walking.
06:19My eyes started itching,
06:20and Matthew told me
06:22they looked red.
06:23For hours,
06:25Jessica kept making
06:26snide comments
06:27whenever she could
06:27squeeze them in,
06:29but I was too focused
06:30to give her the reaction
06:31she wanted.
06:32Oh, it's so humid.
06:34I swear,
06:35I just felt a bug
06:36crawl into my shoe.
06:37Welcome to the wilderness,
06:39babe.
06:40Why are you even
06:40on this trip, Matthew?
06:42You look like someone
06:43who's never even
06:43been outside a spa.
06:45Excuse you?
06:46I'm very outdoorsy.
06:48My family made me
06:49do survival camps
06:50every summer.
06:52You know,
06:52learn grit.
06:53Apparently,
06:54being born rich
06:55means you have to
06:55earn your personality.
06:57Hey, Rose,
06:58remember in fifth grade
06:59when you brought
07:00that snake to school?
07:01You were running
07:02to the bathroom,
07:02and it got out of your bag,
07:04and you turned around
07:04to grab it,
07:05then peed your pants?
07:07I'm sure that didn't happen.
07:08Come on, Jess.
07:09Yes, it did.
07:11I remember because
07:11it was my 12th birthday
07:13that day.
07:14Wait,
07:14why were you 12
07:15in fifth grade?
07:17Were you held back?
07:18I saw your passport.
07:19You're older than us.
07:20She wasn't held back.
07:22Some people just
07:23start school
07:24later than others.
07:25Why are you
07:25defending her?
07:26Because she's
07:27a helpless little weirdo
07:28who will jump
07:29at any chance
07:29to be my friend.
07:31And fine,
07:32yes,
07:32I was held back.
07:34There,
07:34I said it.
07:35What now?
07:35You gonna break up with me?
07:37No, babe,
07:37I was just...
07:38Save it.
07:39I'd rather walk alone
07:40and get eaten by a wolf
07:41than spend another second
07:42with you
07:43and that snake perv.
07:45Whoa!
07:46Just then,
07:47Jessica fell into a trap.
07:49A rope whipped
07:50around her ankle
07:51and yanked her up,
07:52leaving her dangling
07:53upside down midair.
07:54Help!
07:55Help!
07:56What are you two idiots doing?
07:58Sorry, babe.
07:59Not you.
08:00Her!
08:00Say sorry to Rose first.
08:03Matthew,
08:04listen.
08:05The fact that there's
08:05a trap here
08:06suggests there might
08:07be hunters nearby.
08:09Maybe we finally
08:09found someone.
08:11Wait,
08:11I hear footsteps.
08:13I'll be with you,
08:14Rose,
08:14after Jessica apologizes.
08:17Come on,
08:18Jess.
08:18I heard the footsteps
08:19getting closer.
08:21Fast.
08:22So I climbed up
08:22a fallen tree trunk,
08:24crawled along the branch
08:27hanging above Jessica
08:28and started cutting the rope,
08:29barehanded,
08:31then with my teeth.
08:32Matthew,
08:33behind you!
08:34I looked up.
08:35A group of people
08:36stood there,
08:37dressed in what looked like
08:38traditional tribal gear.
08:40They were watching us.
08:42Their leader,
08:42a tall,
08:43stone-faced man,
08:44stepped forward.
08:45Everyone went silent.
08:47I awkwardly
08:48bit the rope
08:48one last time
08:49and Jessica fell
08:50head first
08:51onto the ground
08:52with a thud.
08:53Ouch!
08:55And who are these people?
08:57Are they gonna save us
08:58or eat us for dinner?
08:59They didn't speak
09:00any English.
09:01And while Matthew
09:02tried to communicate
09:03with them,
09:04I noticed their leader
09:05staring at me.
09:06Then he took
09:07a step closer.
09:07And just like that,
09:09the whole group
09:10went still.
09:14He's looking
09:15at my snake tattoo.
09:17Then he turned
09:17to his people
09:18and said something
09:19in a language
09:20I didn't recognize.
09:21Suddenly,
09:22they bowed to me.
09:24Like,
09:25full-on prostrated.
09:27The leader
09:27gave a signal.
09:29Two of them
09:30came over,
09:31lifted me
09:32onto their shoulders
09:32and started chanting
09:34something as they
09:35carried me away.
09:36Matthew and Jessica
09:37followed
09:38in shocked silence.
09:40What are they saying?
09:41Sheikbokomayonkoslakifi.
09:44I think he said,
09:45I like the cut
09:47of your jib, kid.
09:48You got guts?
09:51We were taken
09:52to the center
09:53of the tribe
09:53where dozens of teepees
09:55circled around
09:56in open space.
09:57The leader
09:57climbed onto a rock
09:58and gave what
09:59felt like a
10:00heartwarming speech.
10:01I mean,
10:02it sounded
10:03heartwarming.
10:04Then again,
10:05I had no idea
10:06what he was actually
10:07saying.
10:08Once again,
10:09the entire tribe
10:10bowed down.
10:12A few of them
10:12stepped forward
10:13carrying a wooden chair,
10:15decorated with ribbons
10:16and colorful fabrics.
10:17They set it down,
10:19motioned for me to sit,
10:20and then lifted it up,
10:22carrying me like
10:23I was royalty.
10:24Why are they treating
10:25her like she's
10:26their god?
10:26They do think
10:28she's their god,
10:29Jesse.
10:29All hail
10:30our goddess Rose.
10:32I looked down
10:33at all these people,
10:35delighted to have me.
10:36At Matthew's
10:37proud smile
10:38and Jessica's
10:39jealous glare.
10:40And for the first time,
10:42I didn't see myself
10:43as an act of kindness
10:45or neglect
10:46or charity.
10:47I saw myself
10:48as a gift
10:49to humanity
10:50or maybe
10:51a god.
10:53For starters,
10:54they placed me
10:55in a decorated teepee
10:56with round-the-clock security
10:57and women assigned
10:59to care for me.
11:00They bathed me in milk,
11:01washed my hair
11:02with oils
11:03that smelled like heaven,
11:05and fed me
11:06their best food.
11:07Every evening
11:08before sunset,
11:09they paraded me
11:10through the village
11:11on my chair
11:12and set me down
11:12at the center,
11:14where people lined up
11:15to kiss my hand
11:16and touch my feet,
11:17hoping for my blessings.
11:19Matthew and Jessica
11:20were given
11:20a separate teepee,
11:22way out on the edge
11:23of the tribe.
11:23I didn't speak
11:24to them for days.
11:26I only saw them
11:27from afar,
11:28where Jessica
11:28looked visibly annoyed.
11:30I knew they wanted
11:31to be saved,
11:32to go home,
11:33to call someone,
11:34but I figured
11:36that could wait.
11:37Besides,
11:37it's not like I could
11:38communicate with the tribe
11:39very clearly anyway.
11:41The tribe leader
11:42had a habit
11:42of presenting people
11:44to me during
11:44these blessing sessions,
11:47one person each day,
11:48so I could examine them
11:50and decide if they were
11:51worthy or pure.
11:53Naturally,
11:54I said yes to everyone.
11:56Who was I to judge?
11:58But one day,
11:59he brought me a young man,
12:00maybe in his early 20s.
12:02As he got closer,
12:04I caught a whiff
12:04of something unpleasant.
12:07Let's just say,
12:08he didn't wipe well.
12:10I winced,
12:11just for a second.
12:12It wasn't dramatic,
12:14just a face.
12:15The leader's eyes
12:16widened immediately.
12:18He turned to his men
12:19and made a gesture,
12:21sharp and fast.
12:22Before I could say anything,
12:24they rushed in,
12:25grabbed the guy,
12:26and started dragging him away.
12:28He burst into tears,
12:30trying to crawl back,
12:31begging,
12:32looking right at me.
12:34He reached for my feet
12:35and cried harder.
12:37I stood up,
12:38trying to stop them.
12:39I stepped forward,
12:40blocking his path,
12:41trying to say something,
12:43anything.
12:43But the leader
12:44suddenly turned toward me
12:46and placed his hand
12:47on my shoulder.
12:48His eyes were cold,
12:50wide,
12:52steady.
12:53I froze
12:53and just stood there,
12:55watching them
12:56drag the crying men
12:57out of the clearing.
12:58And there was nothing
12:59I could do.
13:01For the next few days,
13:02I pretended to be sick
13:03so I wouldn't have
13:04to leave my bed.
13:05I just wanted to avoid
13:06those blessing sessions
13:08altogether.
13:09There was this girl,
13:10Huna,
13:10I eventually learned
13:12her name.
13:13She was assigned
13:13to be my personal assistant,
13:15but really,
13:16she was more like
13:17a babysitter.
13:18She barely left my side,
13:20day and night.
13:22Over time,
13:23I managed to learn
13:24a few words from her
13:24and teach her
13:26a few English ones too.
13:27Of course,
13:28I had to keep up the
13:29I'm sick act
13:31the whole time.
13:32You've been staring
13:33at the necklace
13:33for a while now,
13:34Huna.
13:35Do you like it?
13:36I wish I could give it to you.
13:37It's from my mom.
13:39My biological mom,
13:40actually.
13:41She gave it to me
13:41when I was six,
13:42and even though I was
13:43too young to understand
13:44it back then,
13:45I remember thinking
13:46it was strange
13:47that my aunt
13:48would give me
13:49something so expensive.
13:51Oh, sorry.
13:52That's confusing.
13:54She was my aunt
13:54back then.
13:56When I turned ten,
13:56I found out she was
13:57actually my biological mother.
13:59She'd given me
14:00to her sister,
14:01my aunt,
14:02because she was poor
14:03and already had
14:04three kids,
14:05and her sister
14:06couldn't have any.
14:07I was angry
14:08and confused that day,
14:10but somehow,
14:11I ended up
14:12pulling this necklace
14:13out of the drawer
14:13and putting it on,
14:15and ever since then,
14:16I haven't taken it off.
14:18Huna didn't respond.
14:19She just kept
14:20staring at the necklace.
14:22Sorry, girl.
14:23I can't give you this one.
14:24But here,
14:25take this bracelet.
14:26It's from Target,
14:27but it's cute.
14:28I'll give you
14:29the other bracelet
14:29if you like and subscribe
14:31and interact with this video,
14:32so more people can see it
14:34and I become more famous.
14:36Huna gave me a side eye,
14:37but took the bracelet anyway.
14:39Just then,
14:40the leader barged in.
14:42He looked furious.
14:44Without saying a word,
14:45he grabbed Huna
14:46and pulled her to her feet.
14:48He started scolding her
14:49and pointing at me.
14:51My guess was that
14:51he figured out
14:52I was faking being sick
14:53and that Huna
14:54was covering for me.
14:56He tried to drag her out.
14:58I panicked.
14:59I didn't want her
15:00to get in trouble,
15:01especially not for
15:02me.
15:03I jumped up
15:04to stop him.
15:05The moment he saw me
15:06on my feet,
15:07his eyes widened.
15:09He shouted even louder
15:10at Huna.
15:11And I don't know
15:12what came over me,
15:13but I slapped him.
15:15He froze.
15:17Stunned,
15:17for a few seconds,
15:19no one moved.
15:20Then,
15:21he just turned around
15:22and walked out.
15:25Huna,
15:26I'll give you the necklace,
15:28but you've got to
15:28help me with something.
15:30Eventually,
15:30I managed to explain,
15:33at least partly,
15:34that I needed her
15:34to sneak Matthew
15:35and Jessica over to me.
15:37She looked hesitant,
15:38but after I gave her
15:39the necklace
15:40and pleaded for what
15:41felt like hours,
15:43she finally,
15:44reluctantly agreed.
15:46That night,
15:47just before dawn,
15:48she stuffed them
15:49into the giant bags
15:50they usually use
15:51to carry firewood
15:52and placed the cart
15:53near my teepee's entrance.
15:55Matthew and Jessica
15:56snuck in quietly.
15:57You better get us
15:58out of here
15:59before I kick your butt,
16:00you little,
16:01miserable smackhead.
16:02I wouldn't use
16:03miserable here,
16:05Jess.
16:05In case you haven't noticed,
16:06she's literally
16:08a god here.
16:09She's still
16:09a stupid loser
16:10to me,
16:11and don't you
16:12ever defend her again.
16:13You did it before
16:14and you're doing it now.
16:15I'm warning you,
16:16Matthew.
16:17What are you
16:17going to do,
16:18Jessica?
16:19We're stuck in the middle
16:20of some weird cult tribe
16:21and this is what
16:23you're focused on?
16:24Belittling Rose?
16:25What has she ever
16:26actually done to you?
16:27It's okay, Matthew.
16:29Thanks,
16:29but let's just focus.
16:31We need to figure out
16:32how we're getting
16:33out of here.
16:33Oh, now you care about us?
16:36Do you have any idea
16:37what we've been through?
16:38We wake up at dawn,
16:40get sent to the mountains
16:41to hunt,
16:41whatever that means,
16:42and then we're out
16:43in the fields
16:44all afternoon.
16:45All we get to eat
16:46is plain rice
16:47and dry corn
16:48while you're here
16:48eating fish and meat
16:50and bathing in milk
16:51like some freaking goddess.
16:53You're letting this
16:54whole thing get to your head.
16:56Maybe because deep down
16:57you know how worthless
16:59and dirty you are.
17:00Just a smug little
17:01snake-loving mutt.
17:03Jessica, enough.
17:04Cut it out, all right?
17:06Kuna sensed
17:06something was wrong.
17:08She stepped in,
17:09trying to gesture
17:09for Jessica to calm down.
17:11Oh, what do you want now?
17:13Instead of standing there
17:14like some useless statue,
17:15why don't you go
17:16fetch us something
17:17decent to eat, huh?
17:19Food, stomach, hunger,
17:21food, food, food.
17:22You hear that?
17:23She shoved Huna
17:24toward the entrance.
17:25Matthew rushed
17:26to stop her.
17:27I'm tired.
17:28I want to go home.
17:30I miss my bed so bad.
17:32It's okay.
17:33Calm down.
17:34Rose will help us
17:35figure this out.
17:36She's an idiot.
17:37She never does anything right.
17:39She killed my brother.
17:41Yeah, she did.
17:42You didn't know that, huh?
17:43We were best friends, Rose,
17:46for 10 years.
17:47And then that night,
17:49you showed up crying,
17:51pouring rain,
17:52screaming about your mom,
17:54aunt, whatever.
17:55My brother,
17:56he came running down
17:57to check what was going on,
17:58and he tripped
17:59over you.
18:01Yeah,
18:01she was lying on the floor
18:02crying because she's
18:04that dramatic.
18:04He just had surgery, okay?
18:07He wasn't supposed to fall.
18:08Now he's in a coma,
18:10and every time I see you
18:12smiling and pretending
18:13like it didn't happen,
18:14I see him lying there.
18:17You didn't just ruin
18:18our friendship.
18:19You ruined everything.
18:20Jess,
18:21that's not fair.
18:22You can't blame her for that.
18:24I'm sure Rose is sorry.
18:26God knows how sorry I am.
18:28I think about it
18:29every single night.
18:30I've said I'm sorry
18:31more times than I can count.
18:33Yeah?
18:34Look how sorry you are,
18:36getting pampered
18:37like royalty
18:38while we rot out there.
18:40You and your
18:41crocodile tears.
18:43I'll never forgive you.
18:44I'm sorry.
18:45I'm sorry.
18:47I'm sorry.
18:48I was crying hard.
18:50That incident
18:51never left me.
18:52It came
18:53right after I found out
18:54about my mom and aunt,
18:56and then
18:57Jessica completely
18:58cut me off.
18:59She hated me.
19:01Made sure everyone else
19:01did too.
19:02That's when I started
19:03isolating.
19:04When I got more
19:05into snakes.
19:07They didn't judge
19:07I took a shaky
19:09step forward,
19:10trying to reach out,
19:12maybe just to plead.
19:14But Jessica looked at me
19:15with pure disgust.
19:18Then she spat on me.
19:20Don't you dare touch me,
19:22you pathetic little freak!
19:24She stormed off.
19:25Matthew tried to whisper shout
19:27after her,
19:29but she was already gone.
19:30He followed a second later.
19:32I stood there,
19:33wiped her spit
19:34off my cheek,
19:36and blinked
19:36my last tear away.
19:38The next day,
19:39during the blessing ceremony,
19:41the leader brought forward
19:43a few villagers
19:43like usual,
19:45but I didn't even look at them.
19:47I shook my head.
19:48He stopped,
19:49looking confused.
19:50I scanned the crowd.
19:52Then slowly,
19:53I raised my hand
19:55and pointed
19:56at Jessica.
19:58The crowd turned
19:59to look at her.
20:00Jessica didn't move.
20:01Her eyes locked on mine,
20:04wide and panicked.
20:06Her face went pale.
20:08You wouldn't dare,
20:09Rose.
20:10The leader ordered his men
20:11to bring her forward.
20:13She didn't resist.
20:14She walked with them,
20:16calm,
20:16composed,
20:18almost proud.
20:19When she got closer,
20:20she looked straight
20:22into my eyes,
20:23cold,
20:24like she was daring me.
20:26What are you going to do,
20:27Rose?
20:28So now I'm just Rose?
20:30Not a pathetic loser anymore?
20:32She didn't say a word,
20:34just stared.
20:35But her eyes were saying,
20:37do the right thing.
20:39I looked at the leader
20:40and gave the signal
20:42to take her away.
20:43No, please,
20:44stop, Rose.
20:46Tell them to stop.
20:47He tried to run toward us,
20:49but a few of the men
20:50held him back
20:51as Jessica walked away silently,
20:53without a fight,
20:54never once looking back.
20:57That night,
20:57I sat in my teepee
20:59with the worst headache
21:00of my life.
21:02My eyes were burning.
21:04I had already kicked Huna out
21:05because I needed a break,
21:07some rest without someone
21:08hovering around me
21:09like I was prey.
21:11Just then,
21:12Huna tiptoed back in,
21:13dragging Matthew by the ear.
21:15Oh,
21:16Bucky anime,
21:17Shoko muhene.
21:18Matthew,
21:19why were you outside
21:20walking around my teepee?
21:22Do you know how dangerous
21:23that is?
21:23Good evening,
21:24Rose.
21:25Couldn't have a bad one
21:26if I tried.
21:27I needed to talk to you
21:29and I didn't know how.
21:31Ow!
21:32Seriously,
21:33tell her to let go
21:33of my ear.
21:34If you're here
21:35to talk about Jessica,
21:36save it.
21:37She got what she deserved.
21:39I've been silent enough.
21:40I get your pain,
21:42I really do,
21:43but she's been through
21:44a lot too.
21:45I mean,
21:45I wanted to break up
21:46with her,
21:47but ow!
21:48What is her hand
21:49made of,
21:50metal?
21:50It's okay,
21:51Huna.
21:51You can let go
21:52of his ear now.
21:53I was gonna break up
21:55with her before the trip,
21:56but her dad asked me
21:57to wait.
21:58He's a friend of my dad's.
21:59Said she wasn't doing well,
22:01that this trip might help.
22:03Her therapist thought
22:04nature would fix things,
22:05I guess.
22:06She's all he's got.
22:07I just wanted
22:08to get her back safe.
22:10All of us.
22:11Boo and who?
22:13Come on,
22:13Rose,
22:14show empathy.
22:15Her going through stuff
22:16doesn't mean
22:17everyone else
22:18has to suffer for it.
22:20Her therapist
22:20should have taught her
22:21not to be a jerk,
22:22not to go out
22:23and connect with the trees.
22:25Now,
22:25if you don't mind,
22:27it's time for my nap.
22:29Huna pushed him
22:29toward the exit.
22:31Wait,
22:31wait,
22:31Huna,
22:32right?
22:32Here,
22:33I picked this flower
22:34for you.
22:35Thought it looked cool.
22:36I've never seen
22:37anything like it.
22:39Huna clutched her chest,
22:41visibly touched,
22:42then promptly
22:43threw the flower away.
22:45It's your curry.
22:46It's poisonous,
22:47you idiot.
22:48Now get out.
22:49Huna gave him
22:50one last glare
22:51and dragged him out.
22:53That night,
22:54we had one of the
22:55biggest ceremonies yet,
22:57a celebration
22:58marking
22:58the Night of Arrival,
23:00a sacred tradition
23:01passed through generations
23:03where they believed
23:04a god would descend
23:05from the sky
23:06to guide them.
23:07Apparently,
23:08I was that god.
23:10At one point,
23:11I noticed a kid
23:12staring at me
23:13with hatred.
23:15It was the first time
23:16I'd seen that kind of look
23:17directed at me here.
23:19Huna caught the tension.
23:21From what I could gather,
23:22the man they dragged away
23:23during the last blessing
23:25was his father.
23:27I was so tired
23:28of people blaming me
23:29for things that were
23:30completely out of my control.
23:31I mean,
23:32I was sorry it happened,
23:34but it wasn't my fault.
23:36Not really.
23:37So I stuck my tongue
23:38out at the kid.
23:39He hid behind his mom.
23:41A few moments later,
23:43the men came to carry
23:44my chair for some ritual.
23:46They lifted me high
23:47into the center
23:48of the gathering.
23:49Some people cheered,
23:50others bowed,
23:52and as I sat above them all,
23:54I felt it.
23:55No matter what I did,
23:57they would keep
23:58worshiping me.
23:59Even that boy from earlier
24:00had been pushed forward
24:02by his mom
24:03to join the celebration.
24:04Funny how I was
24:06someone's discarded kid.
24:08Now, I'm someone's god.
24:10I still don't know
24:12which one hurts more.
24:13The boy stared straight at me.
24:16Then he pointed behind him.
24:18I followed the direction
24:19he pointed,
24:20half expecting nothing.
24:22But then,
24:23completely unrelated,
24:24I saw a glow.
24:26The glow was faint at first,
24:28but it quickly grew
24:29into visible flames,
24:32rising higher
24:32and spreading fast
24:34through the dark.
24:35I raised my hand
24:36and pointed,
24:37and the music slowly faded
24:39as people turned to look.
24:41Then came the gasps,
24:43and the shouting
24:43followed soon after.
24:45Panic broke out,
24:46and someone rushed
24:47to carry me away
24:48to safety.
24:49The next morning,
24:54smoke still hung in the air.
24:56Half the village
24:57was reduced to skeletons
24:59of ash and cinder.
25:01And yet,
25:02no one cried.
25:03Instead,
25:04they moved
25:05with an eerie calm,
25:07lining up in silence,
25:09carrying the last
25:10of their grain,
25:11jewelry,
25:12hand-carved trinkets,
25:14all for me,
25:15for their goddess.
25:17Children clutched
25:18burned dolls.
25:20Old women limped barefoot
25:21across blackened earth,
25:23as if none of it mattered.
25:25As long as I was safe,
25:28they would have done
25:28anything I asked.
25:30Anything.
25:31And for a second,
25:33I didn't hate that.
25:34That scared me
25:35more than the fire.
25:37How can I be a goddess
25:38if I can't even help them?
25:41I'm just an idiot,
25:42like Jessica always says.
25:43I attract chaos
25:45everywhere I go.
25:47The leader had dragged me away
25:49the moment he saw the flames.
25:51While others burned,
25:53he made sure
25:54I was untouched,
25:55untouched,
25:57and adored.
25:58Now,
25:59he stood beside me,
26:00perfectly clean,
26:02arms folded,
26:03like nothing had happened.
26:05Why aren't they...
26:06Why isn't anyone upset?
26:09Just then,
26:10the leader spotted a woman
26:11near the back of the line,
26:12clutching something
26:14under her clothing.
26:15His face darkened.
26:17He barked something
26:18in his language
26:18and pointed at her.
26:20She froze,
26:21then slowly stepped forward,
26:23shaking.
26:24From beneath her clothing,
26:25she pulled out
26:26a small bundle
26:27of dried herbs
26:28and placed it at my feet.
26:30Her child clung to her side,
26:32coughing quietly.
26:34No,
26:34keep it.
26:35It's yours.
26:36You need it
26:37for your child.
26:38I tried to hand it back,
26:39but the leader
26:40yanked it from my hands
26:42and gave it to his men.
26:43He pointed at my hair,
26:45then nodded approvingly,
26:47muttering something
26:48about the herbs,
26:49as if they were meant for me,
26:50as if some miracle hair treatment
26:52was more important
26:53than a sick child.
26:55What is wrong with you?
26:57These people lost everything,
26:59and all you care about
27:00is them giving me things?
27:02What am I going to do
27:03with all this stuff?
27:04What kind of leader are you?
27:06Just then,
27:07I spotted Jessica
27:08in the crowd
27:09and ran to her.
27:10Are you okay?
27:11Why do you care?
27:13If you must know,
27:14I was assigned
27:15to clean the poop hole.
27:16Guess the fire saved me.
27:18Never thought fire
27:19could be a blessing,
27:20but here we are.
27:21We need to find a way
27:22off this island, Rose.
27:24I know,
27:25but we can't just
27:26leave them like this.
27:27We have to help them.
27:29Well, gee,
27:30isn't that wonderful?
27:32Help yourself first, Rose.
27:34Before I could respond,
27:36the leader started
27:36shouting orders,
27:38telling the villagers
27:38to rebuild.
27:40No rest,
27:41no mourning,
27:42just obedience.
27:44First we were asking
27:45how we'd survive the jungle.
27:47Now I'm wondering
27:48how we survive him.
27:50His men approached me again.
27:52I knew what that meant.
27:54Back to the teepee.
27:56Back to playing goddess.
27:58I didn't resist.
27:59I just walked silently,
28:02trying to figure out
28:03how the heck
28:03we were going
28:04to get out of here.
28:05That night,
28:06I sat in my teepee,
28:08waiting for Huna
28:08to sneak in Matthew
28:09and Jessica.
28:10But just then,
28:12I heard voices outside.
28:13I peeked through the fabric
28:14and saw the leader
28:16and several villagers
28:17gathered,
28:18tense and angry.
28:20In the center
28:21was Huna.
28:22The leader
28:23was holding
28:24my mom's necklace.
28:25They must have found out
28:26she had it
28:26and assumed
28:27she stole it.
28:28But why wouldn't
28:29they ask me first?
28:31Why jump to punishment?
28:32That was it.
28:33I stormed out
28:35and pushed through the crowd.
28:37I grabbed the leader
28:38by the horned band
28:39on his head
28:39and stared down at him.
28:41Everyone?
28:42He's not pure.
28:44I don't give him
28:45my blessing.
28:47Take him away.
28:48Why are you looking
28:49at me like that?
28:49I said,
28:51take him.
28:52But no one moved.
28:54They all looked down
28:55and then,
28:56quietly,
28:57so did he,
28:58his chin
28:59dipping just slightly
29:01like he'd expected this.
29:03Like he knew
29:04they would choose him
29:05over me
29:06even now.
29:08So who do you fear now?
29:10God
29:10or man?
29:12I walked over to Huna
29:13and helped her
29:14to her feet
29:14and for a second,
29:16everyone just watched,
29:18waiting for me
29:18to lead,
29:19to fix it.
29:21The weight of it
29:22hit me all at once
29:23and it made me
29:24realize something.
29:25Maybe my biological mom
29:27didn't give me away
29:28because she didn't love me.
29:30Maybe she was just
29:32overwhelmed,
29:33trying to survive
29:34with more
29:35than she could carry.
29:37I used to hate her
29:37for that.
29:38But now,
29:40faced with such
29:40a big responsibility
29:42to help Huna
29:43and the others,
29:44I finally understood
29:46how overwhelming
29:47it could be
29:48and I was going
29:49to make
29:50a different choice.
29:52I wasn't
29:52walking away.
29:54Inside,
29:55Matthew and Jessica
29:56were already waiting.
29:57Hey, Huna,
29:59looking lovely today.
30:02Anyway,
30:02Rose,
30:03we found a boat
30:03on the shore.
30:04It looks solid,
30:05newly built.
30:06Since everyone's busy
30:08rebuilding the village,
30:09we figured
30:10we could take it.
30:11Tonight,
30:12get ready.
30:13And leave everyone?
30:14With that jerk
30:15still in charge?
30:16You didn't seem to mind
30:17when he was pampering you.
30:19Yeah,
30:20and you're really
30:21making it hard
30:21for me to regret
30:22punishing you.
30:23She rolled her eyes.
30:25Anyway,
30:26you guys can go.
30:27Try to get help.
30:29Sounds like
30:29I'm the only one
30:30who can stop that man
30:31from hurting more people.
30:32I'm their god,
30:33remember?
30:34I'm safe.
30:36Just then,
30:37Huna reached over
30:38and squeezed my hand.
30:40Father.
30:41Leader.
30:42Wait,
30:43he's your father?
30:45Wow.
30:46This man just keeps
30:47giving.
30:48Huna gestured for us
30:49to wait
30:50and slipped outside.
30:51Five minutes later,
30:53she returned
30:53with folded clothes,
30:55disguises.
30:56We changed quickly
30:57and followed her out.
30:58We walked through the woods
30:59in silence
31:00for about 20 minutes.
31:02Remind me again
31:03why are we following
31:04this primitive girl
31:05deep into the jungle?
31:06What if she's leading us
31:08to be sacrificed?
31:09Let's go back, guys.
31:10I mean,
31:10this place is messed up enough,
31:12even for you, Rose.
31:14They think I'm
31:15something sacred,
31:16like a spirit
31:17their ancestors
31:18waited for.
31:19The tattoo,
31:20the crash,
31:21the timing,
31:22it all fits
31:23some old legend,
31:24I guess.
31:25Yeah,
31:25plus those weird
31:26red-green eyes
31:27and your olive skin.
31:29I mean,
31:29you're also like
31:30goddess-level beautiful.
31:32Ahem.
31:33Ha ha ha.
31:34Whoa!
31:34Look at that!
31:36We had arrived.
31:38In front of us
31:38was a hidden stash.
31:40Crates of food,
31:42piles of fruit,
31:43and even gold.
31:44Not a few coins,
31:46but full chunks
31:47and trinkets.
31:49All hoarded
31:49by the leader,
31:51probably taken
31:51from the people
31:52or gathered
31:53during raids.
31:54I wasn't even sure
31:55if he knew
31:56what gold was,
31:57or just kept it
31:58because it looked shiny.
31:59We need to leave tonight.
32:01If we make it
32:02to the mainland,
32:03maybe we can bring help,
32:04especially if we
32:05tell them about this.
32:06Smart thinking
32:07showing us this spot,
32:08Hoona.
32:08Hoona blushed,
32:10smiling shyly.
32:11Jessica rolled her eyes
32:13and ran toward the pile,
32:14stuffing gold
32:15into her pockets.
32:16If I'm gonna die
32:17in the ocean,
32:18I might as well
32:18die rich.
32:19I'm staying.
32:20I'll help these people,
32:22or die trying.
32:24Just then,
32:25I spotted something.
32:26Movement.
32:27A snake
32:28slithering behind Jessica.
32:30I lunged,
32:31grabbed it,
32:32and flung it
32:32into the woods.
32:34It was right behind you.
32:35Are you okay?
32:36Yeah, yeah.
32:38I'm okay.
32:39Thanks, Rose.
32:40I gave her a small,
32:41tired nod.
32:42Come on,
32:43let's move.
32:44We've got some
32:44escaping to do.
32:46Why are you
32:47so excited about this?
32:48You do realize
32:49it's not one of your
32:50yacht trips, right?
32:51Yeah,
32:52and I was sent
32:53to jungle camps
32:53before I even learned
32:55how to shave.
32:56My dad called it
32:56character building,
32:58character,
32:58and mosquito bites.
33:00We get it.
33:01You're rich,
33:02but humble.
33:03Very Disney prince of you.
33:05The three of us laughed,
33:06and we kept walking
33:07toward the shore.
33:09Are you guys sure about this?
33:10More than ever.
33:11And I want to say something.
33:14I think I'm sorry
33:15for blaming you
33:16all these years.
33:18Look at me now,
33:19facing death,
33:20and holding on
33:21to the thing
33:21that kept me bitter.
33:22Great speech.
33:23Now let's move on,
33:24babe.
33:25Don't babe me.
33:26I know you've been
33:27planning to leave me
33:28since forever.
33:29Just waited because
33:30you felt sorry for me.
33:32Pray I don't kill you
33:34on the way.
33:35Or maybe I will.
33:36Therapy is all about
33:37release, right?
33:38Hey, Hoona,
33:39take care, all right?
33:40And then,
33:41to everyone's surprise,
33:43Hoona hugged him.
33:44What was that?
33:46Seriously,
33:47what was that?
33:48What can I say?
33:49Everyone loves me.
33:50Tribal or not.
33:51The next morning,
33:53I didn't wait for anyone
33:54to carry me out.
33:56I stepped out of my teepee
33:57on my own,
33:58hair tied up,
33:59eyes tired,
34:00but clear.
34:01The sky was still
34:03gray with ash,
34:04but the smell of smoke
34:05had dulled overnight.
34:07All around me,
34:08people were back
34:09to working,
34:10repairing what they could
34:11with what little
34:12they had.
34:13They didn't look up
34:14when I passed.
34:15No one bowed.
34:17Maybe they were
34:17tired of pretending.
34:19Maybe I was too.
34:20I walked up to the group
34:22building a new shelter frame
34:23and rolled up my sleeves.
34:25Where do I start?
34:27Before anyone could answer,
34:29the leader stormed over,
34:30his expression tight.
34:32Tako mo Hana,
34:35biki Hana so.
34:37He pointed toward my teepee.
34:39It was clear.
34:41He wanted me to go back,
34:42to sit on my chair,
34:44to play the part again.
34:46No,
34:47I'm not going back.
34:48He stepped closer,
34:50his eyes narrowing.
34:52You want a goddess?
34:53Fine.
34:54But what good is a goddess
34:56who sits around
34:57while her people
34:57rebuild the world?
34:59I'm not above them.
35:00I'm one of them.
35:02And if I stay,
35:03I help.
35:04He didn't answer,
35:05just stared for a long time.
35:08Then,
35:09without a word,
35:10he turned and walked away.
35:12That was the last time
35:13he tried to stop me.
35:15Over the next few days,
35:16I did everything I could.
35:19I carried water buckets
35:20on my back,
35:21helped tie wooden beams
35:22with vine rope,
35:23sat with the old women
35:24and learned how they cooked
35:26with next to nothing.
35:27Hana showed me
35:28how to sharpen sticks
35:29into tools
35:30and even taught me
35:31the word for thank you
35:32in their language.
35:33I said it a lot.
35:35Some of the villagers
35:36still looked at me
35:37with confusion,
35:38others with quiet surprise.
35:40But a few,
35:42a few started nodding back,
35:44offering me fruit,
35:45smiling,
35:46just a little.
35:47It was a slow shift,
35:49but it was real.
35:51This is how freedom is made.
35:53Working together,
35:54sharing what we have.
35:56Don't you want to live
35:57in a place where we
35:58smile at each other
35:59as we pass,
36:00instead of hurrying away,
36:02worried you might be punished?
36:03Where you get to choose
36:04your leaders,
36:05not fear them?
36:07I took Huna's hand
36:08and spun her around
36:09into a playful dance.
36:11She laughed,
36:12shy at first,
36:13than let herself enjoy it.
36:15Freedom doesn't mean chaos.
36:18It means you get to choose
36:20when to work,
36:22what to believe,
36:23who to follow.
36:25You don't have to give
36:25your food or your herbs
36:27or your memories
36:28to a god
36:29just to feel safe.
36:31You're already worthy.
36:33You're already free.
36:35You just forgot how to be.
36:37And then,
36:39on the fifth morning,
36:40I heard the sound.
36:42A low hum at first,
36:44then louder,
36:45unmistakable.
36:47A helicopter!
36:48I dropped the woven basket
36:50I was holding and ran.
36:51Others followed behind me,
36:53some hopeful,
36:55some scared.
36:56We burst out of the trees
36:57just in time
36:58to see it land
36:59in the open field
37:00beyond the village.
37:01Doors swung open.
37:03Medics stepped out first.
37:04Then two people
37:05ran past them.
37:07My dad and my mom.
37:08And behind him,
37:10her.
37:11My biological mother.
37:13I froze.
37:14She ran to me first,
37:16arms wide,
37:17eyes brimming.
37:20Rose!
37:21Oh my god,
37:22Rose!
37:23I let her hold me.
37:25She was shaking.
37:26I didn't know what to say,
37:28so I said nothing.
37:29I just let her cry
37:32into my shoulder.
37:34Eventually,
37:34the rescue crew
37:35tried to approach
37:36the villagers.
37:37They offered help,
37:39food,
37:39clean water.
37:41Some of the villagers
37:41nodded politely
37:43but backed away.
37:44Others disappeared
37:45into the trees.
37:47They didn't want saving,
37:48not from strangers.
37:50I didn't blame them.
37:51Before we left,
37:53the leader and Huna
37:54approached me
37:54one last time.
37:56I stepped forward
37:57and hugged her tightly,
37:59burying my face
38:00in her shoulder.
38:01Come with me.
38:02You don't have to stay here.
38:04You can go to school,
38:05dance when you feel like it,
38:07be away from him,
38:09be free.
38:10But she gently
38:11pulled away
38:12and gave me a small,
38:14sad smile
38:15before stepping back
38:16beside her father.
38:18I wanted to scream at her,
38:20tell her to run
38:21while she could,
38:22but I didn't
38:23because deep down,
38:25I knew what it felt like
38:26to still need the person
38:27who failed you.
38:28I reached back
38:30into my bag
38:30and took out
38:31my mother's necklace.
38:33I pressed it into Huna's hand
38:34and closed her fingers
38:36around it.
38:37She blinked at me,
38:38stunned.
38:39It's yours now.
38:40The leader
38:41held something out,
38:43a single,
38:44rough chunk
38:45of gold.
38:46I stared at it
38:47for a long moment,
38:48then slipped it
38:49into my bag.
38:50I'd never say
38:51where it came from.
38:52Some things
38:53deserve to stay buried,
38:55but some people,
38:56even the broken ones,
38:58deserve the right
38:59to choose
39:00what freedom
39:01means to them.
39:03Man,
39:04I'd kill
39:05to live this life.
39:07Freedom
39:07at its finest.
39:26Albert
39:28for a long time,
39:30nation,
39:30.
39:32.
39:35.
39:35.
39:38.
39:38.
39:38.
39:40.
39:44.
39:44.
39:45.
39:45.
39:45.
39:45.
39:48."
39:49.
39:49.
39:49.

Recommended