- 2 hours ago
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I was born a liar. That's the label my mom gave me. It all started because my mom,
00:05a firm believer in scientific parenting, put honesty necklaces on me and my twin sister the
00:10day we were born. Whenever you lied, the pendant on the necklace would glow red,
00:14and mom would press a remote to send an electric current as punishment.
00:18My sister's necklace was always green, even when she cut mom's dress and blamed it on the cat.
00:24The necklace just blinked gently with a green light. But me? Just saying
00:28Mom, I'm hungry. Would make my necklace flash red instantly, followed by a jolt of electricity
00:34straight to my skin. At first, I tried to defend myself. But mom said,
00:39Machines don't lie. The pain will teach you a lesson. Mom's doing this for your own good.
00:45After thousands of electric shocks, I started to believe it too. Maybe I really was born a liar.
00:50On New Year's Eve, mom was taking my sister to see the fireworks. A sharp pain tore through my
00:55stomach. I curled up on the floor, begging. Mom, my stomach hurts so bad. Please help me.
01:02But my necklace flashed red like crazy. Mom looked down at me, drenched in sweat,
01:07and turned the current to Max. You're faking sick just to come with us to the fireworks?
01:11You're hopeless. She turned and walked out the door with my sister. I couldn't help but think,
01:17Mom must be right. The necklace is red,
01:19so I must not really be in pain. I'm just lying for attention again. I'm sorry, Mom. In my next
01:25life,
01:26I'll learn to be an honest kid. It hurts so much. It hurts so much.
01:34Mom was back. Mom's a doctor. She must have realized something was wrong. She came to save me.
01:41Are you done yet? The fireworks are about to start and Jenny's getting impatient.
01:44Mom! Mom, it really hurts. It feels like my intestines are twisting.
01:51How long are you going to keep this up? You're such a liar. You can just stay home and reflect
01:58on yourself. Honey, come on. Hurry up. The fireworks show is about to start. If she don't
02:03want to go, fine. Should we save her some food? Save her food? She has a bunch of snacks in
02:08her
02:08closet, which she buy with the money she stole last time. She won't starve. Lock the door. We'll let
02:12her out. Only her necklace turns green. But what? Spare the rod and spoil the child. Look how honest
02:19Jenny is. Her necklace is always green. Stella's just a bad egg and she needs to be corrected.
02:26But my closet was empty. That time, my sister took the money. She ate all the snacks too.
02:32My sister just stood there, her necklace glowing soft green. I know one of you took the money.
02:37Who did it? It wasn't me. And Mom believed her.
02:41When I tried to say I didn't take it either, my necklace turned red and I got another shock.
02:46No, Mommy! I didn't!
02:55Bye-bye, sister. We're going to see the pretty fireworks.
03:02It hurts so much!
03:09I'm not in pain. I'm really not in pain. I'm not in pain. I'm really not in pain.
03:16Tears streaming down my face. I hypnotized myself. I don't know how long passed. It didn't hurt quite
03:23as much anymore. With my last bit of strength, I crawled to my desk. I had to write a self
03:28-criticism.
03:29That was the rule. Whenever the red light came on, I had to write a thousand words of I am
03:34a liar.
03:34My hands shaking. I opened that crumpled, worn-out diary. It was filled with self-criticisms from before.
03:41But this time, I wanted to write the truth.
03:43Mom, I really love you.
03:46It really hurts so much. Why won't you believe me? Mom, please just believe me. Just once.
03:54Everything was getting blurry. Tears streaming. I used my last bit of strength to write.
03:59After I wrote the last word, the sharp pain in my stomach suddenly vanished.
04:03In its place was a lightness I'd never felt before. My body grew light. I floated up.
04:08I looked down and saw myself slumped over the desk, my hand hanging limply in the air.
04:13On my neck, the necklace was still blinking red like crazy.
04:17So this is what it's like to die? I still haven't learned to be an honest kid.
04:24I'm sorry, Mom.
04:25I was woken up by laughter. It was Mom, Dad, and my sister. Mom's voice held a tenderness I'd never
04:31heard before.
04:32I floated in midair, watching the front door open. Even though I was a soul now, I instinctively floated over
04:38to greet them,
04:39wanting to get their slippers like I always did. It was a habit carved into my bones, the need to
04:44please.
04:45Mom, I'm not in pain anymore. I'll be good. Please don't be mad.
04:52I opened my arms, wanting to hug the woman still carrying the winter chill.
04:56But my hands passed right through her, like wind through nothing.
05:00Why is it so cold in here? Is the heater off?
05:02I froze, staring at my own transparent hands.
05:05Yeah, I'm dead.
05:09Dead people can't hug the living.
05:11Go check on Stella. She hasn't come out to eat. Maybe she's really hungry.
05:15Good old dad.
05:16I looked hopefully at Mom. If she found out I was dead, would she be sad? Would she regret it?
05:22Mom snorted and walked toward my room.
05:26She pushed my door open. She didn't turn on the light.
05:30In the glow from the living room, she saw me slumped over the desk, not moving, like I was asleep.
05:35Oh, still lying there?
05:39You think lying that will make me carry you to bed?
05:43Stella, you're ten years old, not five.
05:45Mom! I'm not pretending to sleep! I'm dead!
05:51Look at me! Touch me! I'm cold!
05:57But she couldn't hear me. She only believed what she could see.
06:02Sister's a big sleepy head. Look! My necklace is green, but Sister's is still red.
06:08Sister's always lying. She's even lying in her dreams.
06:14Our Jenny's such a good girl. Don't mind this liar. Let her lie there. See how long she can keep
06:22it up.
06:22Maybe we should put her in bed. It's cold out.
06:26Put her in bed? The experts in scientific parenting say you have to be cold in moments like this.
06:30She has to realize her own mistake.
06:33Look at that red light. It means her mental state is still extreme resistance.
06:38She hasn't repented at all.
06:39Alright, time for bed. We're going to Grandma's tomorrow for New Year's.
06:43Mom turned sharply and closed the door again.
06:46I floated beside my body, staring at that single point of red light in the darkness.
06:51The sadness in my heart was colder than death itself.
06:54Mom, if you had taken just one step closer. If you had just touched my hand, you would have known
07:00I was dead. But you didn't. You only believed that cold, lifeless machine. Not the daughter you carried for ten
07:07months.
07:07Late at night, a mouse crept out of my empty closet. I used to be terrified of mice. I'd scream
07:14every time I saw one. But now, I could only float on the ceiling, watching it crawl all over my
07:19body. I whispered weakly.
07:21But no sound came out. The mouse spit through my toe. A little blackish purple blood oozed out. I couldn't
07:27feel it anymore. Good. It finally didn't hurt. I said to the pitiful shell below me.
07:33It's okay. You can't feel it anymore. It'll be over soon.
07:38The next morning, sunlight fell on my body, but it brought no warmth. From the kitchen came the clatter of
07:44pots and pans. Mom was making breakfast. The smell of fried eggs drifted through the crack in my door. Usually,
07:50that was the smell I craved most. But all I ever got was boiled vegetables, because Mom said,
07:56Liars didn't deserve meat. Today, she banged the spatula extra loud on purpose. I knew what she was doing. She
08:04was trying to tempt me. She wanted me to give in, come out, and admit I was wrong. If this
08:10were before, maybe I would have confessed to things I didn't do. Just for one fried egg. But now, I
08:17didn't need to eat anymore.
08:18Stella still hasn't come out? Nope. Stubborn as a mule. Spoiled brat. Fine. Don't eat. See if I care.
08:30My sister drank her milk, her eyes darting around. She ran up to my door on purpose and took a
08:35big sniff. Then, with a dramatic yell,
08:38Mom! What? Sister's room stinks! Did she poop in there?
08:44The heater was too strong. After just one night, I was starting to smell. Mom would hate me even more.
08:55Stella! The bathroom's right there! Did your legs break? You actually pooped in your room?
09:05You're hopeless! You'd rather lose all self-respect than admit you're wrong?
09:09I remembered once, when I was little. I had acute gastroenteritis. I couldn't make it to the bathroom and messed
09:17up my pants.
09:18Mom not only refused to wash me, she made me stand in the yard as a punishment.
09:23She pointed at me and told the neighbors I was as dirty as a pig. Now, she thought I was
09:27dirty again.
09:28Leave her alone! Let her sit in her own stink! Let it choke her!
09:36The smell's pretty strong. Let me check it out. Maybe there's a dead mouse or something.
09:41Dad stood up and walked toward my door. My heart leaped.
09:44Dad! Open the door! Look at me! I'm right here!
09:50Just turn the handle, and you'll see I'm not moving! You'll see my face, already turning black!
10:00What? The server crashed? Okay, okay, I'm coming right now.
10:05Honey, emergency at work. I gotta go. Might not be back for a few days.
10:09But what about Stella?
10:10Mom didn't even finish before Dad slammed the door shut behind him.
10:14I was stunned. So close. Just one second.
10:17If that call had come a moment later, I'd have been found.
10:21Maybe then I wouldn't have to rot any longer.
10:23That afternoon, Mom took my sister out shopping.
10:27The house was empty except for my body.
10:29At night, they came back loaded with fancy seafood and gifts.
10:32The smell hit them the second they walked in.
10:35Mom covered her nose, even gagging.
10:37B-Stella! Does this place have to look like a lamb stilt?
10:42She wouldn't even open the door to yell at me, like looking at that room would somehow dirty her eyes.
10:47She grabbed wide packing tape, crouched down, and viciously sealed the bottom crack of my door.
10:52You like the smell so much? Fine! Rot in there by yourself!
10:57Just don't let it stink up the rest of us!
11:05Ah, peace and quiet.
11:07I stared at that sealed door.
11:08The last bit of hope in my heart suffocated along with the tape.
11:12Turns out, in Mom's heart, my life or death mattered less than a fancy seafood dinner.
11:17She'd rather seal me and then look to see if I'd died in there.
11:20Mom, you win.
11:26I'll never bother you again.
11:31The third morning.
11:33Winter sunlight streamed into the living room, but it couldn't dispel the gloom hanging over the house.
11:38The underfloor heating was cranked up.
11:4026 degrees.
11:41The tape couldn't hold back the smell anymore.
11:44It was a nauseating, greasy stench of decay.
11:46Mom was trimming freshly bought flowers, but no amount of floral scent could cover the reek of death.
11:52Mom cut a rose viciously, the thorns piercing her hand.
11:55She'd finally had enough.
11:57In her mind, I hadn't bathed.
11:59I'd pooped in my room.
12:00I'd probably hidden a dead mouse in there, all just to spite her, to defy her authority.
12:16I floated in front of Mom, watching her twisted face, waving my arms desperately.
12:21Even though she didn't love me, I didn't want her to see me like that.
12:25But she passed right through me.
12:27I'm ugly!
12:28I'm rotten!
12:30You'll be scared!
12:38Stella!
12:40What have you done?
12:41She looked up and saw me, still slumped over the desk just like three days ago.
12:45My back to her, not moving.
12:47To her, it was silent defiance.
12:50The ultimate disrespect.
12:51I'm talking to you!
12:53You hear me?
12:54Still playing dead?
12:55Blind with rage, Mom charged in, raising the rolling pin.
12:59But she didn't strike.
13:00She wanted to grab me first, to see my defiant face.
13:03Her hand grabbed the back of my collar, touched the skin of my neck.
13:06Then she froze.
13:09The moment she touched me, time stopped.
13:12Through my thin pajamas, Mom's fingers felt not warm skin, not soft flesh,
13:17but a block of cold, hard-ass stone dead meat.
13:19The cold seeped into her bones.
13:22No warmth of life at all.
13:23She blinked.
13:24But inertia kept her pulling.
13:26My body fell backward.
13:28Chair and all crashed to the floor.
13:30The chair slammed against the ground.
13:32My body, stiff as a statue, toppled over.
13:35My face was finally visible.
13:38It wasn't the shy little girl she knew anymore.
13:41My face was purple-black, my eyes bulging.
13:44My features twisted from the death throes.
13:47Dried white foam and black-red blood caked at the corners of my mouth.
13:50And around my blackened neck, pressed against the rotting flesh.
13:54That honesty necklace Mom was so proud of.
13:57Hanging there, lifeless.
13:59The skin on my neck was burned black by the constant current, fused with the metal pendant.
14:04No more red light.
14:06No more green light.
14:08Just dead silence.
14:09Thump.
14:10A soft sound.
14:12The diary that had been pinned under my arm slid out as my body fell.
14:15It landed at Mom's feet.
14:17Open.
14:18Facing her.
14:20On that page, crooked handwriting stabbed into her eyes like knives.
14:23Mom, my stomach really hurts.
14:26The necklace is broken.
14:27I'm not lying.
14:29Please don't shock me.
14:32Mom stumbled back, her lower back slamming into the bookshelf behind her.
14:37Faces shattered on the floor, but she didn't feel the pain.
14:41Her eyes were wide, fixed on me on the ground.
14:47No.
14:49It's a trick.
14:51Make up special effects.
14:53Stella, get up!
14:54Mom's not mad anymore!
14:56Don't scare me.
14:58That feeling.
14:59It was too real.
15:01It was the temperature of death.
15:04Aunt Shelley called the police.
15:06She'd come running at Mom's screams and collapsed at the door when she saw the scene.
15:10Sirens soon filled the neighborhood.
15:12Police came.
15:13Forensics came.
15:14Yellow tape went up.
15:16I watched them come and go, watched flashlights flicker over my body.
15:20Mom was pulled onto the living room sofa by a female officer.
15:23Officer, she was faking sick.
15:26She's lied since she was little.
15:28The necklace was red.
15:29Machines don't lie.
15:31I was just disciplining her.
15:33I did it for her own good.
15:34No one listened.
15:36Everyone looked at her like she was a monster.
15:38When the coroner moved my body, they ran into a problem.
15:41The necklace.
15:42Because of the prolonged high voltage current, the heat had fused the metal to my skin, like
15:47it had grown into my flesh.
15:49Damn it.
15:50He had to get tools.
15:52Force the necklace off.
15:54Rip.
15:54The sound of skin tearing.
15:56An officer picked up the diary from the floor.
15:59Wearing gloves, he flipped through it.
16:02His face grew darker and darker.
16:04Mom stared at that diary, eyes locked on it.
16:07Suddenly, she lunged like a madwoman, trying to grab it.
16:11That's her self-criticism.
16:12She admitted it.
16:13She admitted she lied.
16:14Look, she wrote it.
16:15We'll find out if she lie.
16:17That's when dad arrived.
16:18He saw the black body bag being carried out.
16:21That long zipper, sealing my whole life shut.
16:24Dad's legs gave out.
16:26He collapsed on the spot, wetting himself.
16:29My little sister was crying, terrified.
16:31She didn't understand what was happening.
16:34She just pointed at the blood-stained necklace on the table and asked.
16:37Mom, why is sister's necklace black?
16:40Mine's still green.
16:42She held up the pendant on her neck.
16:44The green light blinked innocently.
16:46Like a giant, cruel joke.
16:48The police started a temporary inquiry in the living room.
16:52Mom clutched at her last straw.
16:54She pointed at the bloody necklace, her voice shrill.
16:57Officers, check that necklace.
16:59That necklace proved she was lying.
17:02Red means lying.
17:03I only shocked her when it was red.
17:05I didn't abuse her.
17:07The machine showed it.
17:09I was just disciplining her.
17:10The officer frowned at her like she was insane.
17:13Ma'am, the deceased has multiple old electrical burns.
17:16That was discipline.
17:17Education.
17:18Mom screamed, cutting him off.
17:20To prove she was innocent.
17:22To prove she wasn't a murderer.
17:25She made a crazy demand.
17:27She lunged for the table, grabbing the necklace still covered in my flesh and blood.
17:31Ignoring the gore.
17:32Hands shaking.
17:34She forced it onto her own neck.
17:36I'll prove it.
17:38I'm innocent.
17:39As long as it's green, it means I'm telling the truth.
17:42She clicked the necklace around her own neck.
17:45Click.
17:46It locked.
17:47The cold metal touched her skin, sticky with my blood.
17:51Mom took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
17:54She held up the pendant for the officers to see, her eyes wild with certainty.
17:58Watch closely.
17:59I'm Clara.
18:00I'm Stella's mother.
18:02That was the truth.
18:04Absolutely true.
18:05But.
18:10A piercing shriek erupted.
18:13The dormant red light blazed to life.
18:15Red as blood.
18:16Red as evil.
18:17In the dim living room, it was like a bloodshot eye snapping open.
18:20Mom froze.
18:22The confident expression on her face locked in place.
18:25She slapped the pendant, like fixing a glitching TV.
18:28What's wrong?
18:30It's broken?
18:31I told the truth.
18:32I'm Clara.
18:34Panic crept into her voice, her words tumbling out faster.
18:37It must be broken.
18:38That coroner broke it.
18:40Let me try again.
18:41One more time.
18:42It didn't abuse my child.
18:43I did it for her own good.
18:45I love her.
18:46The red light flashed even faster, a continuous strobe of red.
18:50Sensing her extreme heart rate, the necklace automatically released a leak current.
18:55Mom jolted, her neck spasming, hands flying to her throat as she began.
18:59It hurt.
19:01Even that tiny current made her neck cramp, goosebumps rising over her skin.
19:05And suddenly she remembered.
19:07Ten years old.
19:09Me.
19:10The current at maximum.
19:12Curled on the floor, biting through my lip, afraid to even cry out.
19:16So this is what it felt like.
19:18Mom completely lost it.
19:20She screamed at the necklace, spittle flying.
19:23Why is it red?
19:24Why?
19:25I'm telling the truth.
19:26Why?
19:27I'm telling the truth.
19:29Turn green.
19:30No matter how she screamed, the red light kept flashing, mocking her silently.
19:35You're a liar.
19:36You're a liar.
19:37Enough.
19:38Stopping doesn't detect lies.
19:40He grabbed the instruction manual found during the search and slammed it on the coffee table.
19:44It's just a simple galvanic skin response and heart rate monitor.
19:48It works like this.
19:49When you're nervous, anxious, scared, or in pain, your heart rate goes up, your galvanic
19:53skin response increases, and the light turns red.
19:56Right now, you're terrified, anxious, tachycardic.
19:58Of course it's all red.
20:00He stepped closer to mom.
20:01Your daughter had a perforated appendix.
20:04She was writhling on the floor in agony, the pain of internal perforation.
20:09How fast do you think her heart was beating?
20:12How terrified was she?
20:13In your eyes, the more it hurt, the faster her heart raced, the brighter the red light.
20:19And you thought that meant she was lying harder, so you cranked up the current.
20:24Your younger daughter-less has been set to green since it left the factory.
20:27No matter what she says or does, even if she murders someone, it stays green.
20:33Your scientific parenting?
20:35It's a complete, biased joke.
20:38Mom's world collapsed.
20:39She sat there, staring blankly at the red light flashing on her neck.
20:44Finally understanding.
20:46For ten years.
20:47Every time my red light came on, it was because I was afraid.
20:52Afraid mom would be mad.
20:53Afraid of being misunderstood.
20:55Afraid of the food I hated on the table.
20:58I was in pain.
20:59Pain made my heart race.
21:01Made me sweat with fear.
21:02I was longing.
21:04Longing for her hug.
21:05Longing for her to hold me like she held my sister.
21:08Every signal of a beating heart, she'd read as evidence of a lie.
21:12A wail erupted from mom.
21:14She clawed at the necklace around her neck.
21:19But the necklace's clasp, damaged by her violent struggle earlier, was jammed.
21:24Stuck tight around her neck.
21:26She couldn't pry it off.
21:28Can't get it off.
21:29Can't get it off.
21:30Stella!
21:32Take the necklace.
21:33Mommy was wrong.
21:34It hurts.
21:35Can't handle this little bit of pain, mom.
21:38I took it for ten years.
21:40To confirm the details of the abuse and build the case.
21:44The police opened the diary, the key piece of evidence, in front of mom and dad.
21:48That diary I'd kept for ten years, filled with humiliation and blood and tears.
21:52The female officer's voice was soft, but every word cut deep.
21:57February 14th, sunny.
21:59Mom gave me celery.
22:00I'm allergic to celery.
22:02It makes my throat swell up.
22:04I can't breathe.
22:05I said I didn't want it, that it would make me sick.
22:08Because I was scared of making mom mad.
22:11My heart was racing.
22:12The red light came on.
22:14Mom said I was a picky eater and a liar, and made me eat the whole plate.
22:18That night, I coughed up blood.
22:20My throat burned like fire.
22:22Mom saw it and said I drank tomato juice and was faking it.
22:26She shocked me for another ten minute.
22:28Mom covered her mouth, her whole body shaking violently.
22:31That night, she really had thought it was tomato juice.
22:34She hadn't even looked closely at my vomit before turning away to tell my sister a story.
22:39It was blood.
22:40Blood from a throat swollen and torn.
22:43The officer turned the page and continued.
22:45June 1st, children's day.
22:48Sister cut mom's dress.
22:49Sister's heartbeat was slow.
22:51Her necklace was green.
22:52I tried to explain, because I was scared of getting hit.
22:56All red lights.
22:57Mom shocked me for ten minutes.
22:59Current at level five.
23:00It hurt so much, but I didn't dare cry.
23:03Because if I cried, my heart would race faster.
23:06And mom would think I was defiant.
23:08And shock me harder.
23:09I had to hold my breath.
23:11Pretend it didn't hurt.
23:13Mom said, see.
23:14She's not even screaming.
23:16That means it doesn't hurt.
23:18She's faking.
23:19Dad couldn't take it anymore.
23:22This man, invisible in this family for so long.
23:25We turned a blind eye to my suffering.
23:27We just wanted peace and quiet.
23:28He lunged forward.
23:30Slap.
23:31You monster!
23:34You monster!
23:36Look what you've done!
23:38That was your own daughter!
23:40You raised her like an animal!
23:42Mom's mouth bled.
23:43She fell to the floor, but she didn't fight back.
23:47She didn't cry.
23:48She just stared blankly, muttering.
23:51Not me.
23:52It wasn't my fault.
23:54Suddenly, she pointed at my sister, cowering in the corner.
23:59It was her!
24:00Jenny!
24:01Sister's necklace was always green!
24:03Sister was the honest one!
24:05She misled me!
24:06If it weren't for that green light, I wouldn't have trusted the red one so much!
24:11The little princess who'd always been cherished.
24:14An officer walked over.
24:16He unclasped the green necklace from my sister's neck.
24:19Got a screwdriver.
24:21Pride opened the pendant.
24:26There were no complex sensor chips.
24:29No heart rate monitor.
24:30Just two cheap LEDs and a few button batteries.
24:34The circuit was hardwired.
24:36Permanently set to green.
24:38This is a $2 plastic toy.
24:40The officer tossed the broken pieces onto the table with a clatter.
24:44Your younger daughter-less has been set to green since it left the factory.
24:47No matter what she says or does, even if she murders someone, it stays green.
24:53Your scientific parenting?
24:55It's a complete, biased joke.
24:58Mom stared at the plastic fragments.
25:00The truth she'd believed for 10 years.
25:02The evidence that had sentenced me to death.
25:05Just a toy.
25:06A toy controlled my fate for 10 years?
25:09A game where only I was in hell and my sister in heaven?
25:12So I wasn't a liar.
25:14I wasn't a bad kid.
25:16What were all those years of suffering for?
25:19I laughed.
25:20And as I laughed, I cried.
25:23Turns out, souls can cry too.
25:25The last page of the diary was opened.
25:27The female officer's voice cracked.
25:30The handwriting is shaky.
25:31Probably written right before she died.
25:33Mom, if I die, will the necklace stop glowing?
25:37Will you hold me then?
25:38I wasn't lying.
25:39My stomach hurts so bad like a knife twisting inside.
25:42Ma, in my next life, please don't make me wear a necklace.
25:46I'm begging you.
25:47I just want to be a normal kid.
25:49I want to eat the braid pork you make.
25:52Mom stared at the pile of plastic junk.
25:54The honest green light she trusted so blindly.
25:57Just a cheap toy.
25:59Because of it, she doted on my sister for 10 years.
26:02Because of that damned red light, she tortured me for 10 years.
26:11I killed my most honest child and raised a liar.
26:15My death became a city-wide sensation.
26:17Aunt Shelly, our neighbor, was a kind soul but a big mouth.
26:20She posted everything she'd seen online.
26:23The headline was shocking.
26:24Girl electrocuted by pseudoscience honesty necklace.
26:27The article detailed my corpse's condition and the necklace fused into my flesh.
26:31It exploded.
26:32Online fury ignited instantly.
26:34Mom's personal information was doxxed.
26:37Electrocution demon.
26:39Murderer.
26:40She doesn't deserve to be a mom.
26:42Insults rained down like snow.
26:44Our front door was splashed with red paint, scrawled with the word death.
26:47Dad was also taken in for investigation, failure to prevent abuse, neglect of parental duties.
26:53Though he wasn't heavily sentenced due to lack of direct involvement, he lost his job.
26:57His reputation was ruined.
26:59His company fired him immediately to avoid association.
27:02The family went bankrupt.
27:04Pay compensation and legal fees.
27:07The house and car were sold.
27:09Dad couldn't handle the madwoman anymore.
27:11He took what little money was left and left with my sister.
27:14Even if my sister was a bad seed, she was still his only remaining child.
27:18Before leaving, my sister tried to take the green necklace.
27:22Dad crushed it under his foot.
27:24What the hell do you need that piece of junk for?
27:26My sister left, crying.
27:29Mom was released on bail pending trial.
27:31Psychological evaluation showed severe schizophrenia and PTSD.
27:35She was left in that rented room, filled with the memory of my stench.
27:41Completely isolated, her mental state deteriorated.
27:44She always felt I was still in the house.
27:47That red necklace, she refused to take it off.
27:50In fact, she became dependent on it.
27:52Because she found that wearing it, feeling that faint stain, eased her guilt just a little.
27:58It was her own self-inflicted punishment.
28:00I floated in the room, watching her daily descent into madness.
28:03She'd cook a whole table of food, calling out to empty air.
28:07Stella, dinner's ready.
28:08No celery today.
28:10All braised pork, your favorite.
28:12Then she'd pick up a piece of meat, hands shaking.
28:15From anxiety, the necklace turned red.
28:17She'd laugh, a nervous laugh.
28:29She'd put down her chopsticks, pick up the remote, point it at her own neck.
28:34Even though the battery was nearly dead, she'd found new ones somewhere.
28:38The strong current made her convulse.
28:40Foam at the mouth and put a look at the room across her face.
28:53It hurts.
28:54It hurts just like...
28:55Was this how much it hurt for Stella?
28:58I'm sorry, mommy taste it now.
29:00She started punishing herself according to my diary entries.
29:03I was shocked for refusing celery, so she forced herself to eat rotten food.
29:07Until she vomited blood, she forced it down.
29:10I was locked in my room, so she locked herself in there without light.
29:14In the darkness, she cowed out to my memorial photo.
29:20Her forehead bled.
29:22Blood stains covered the floor.
29:24Late at night, she'd watch the red light from the necklace cast shadows on the wall.
29:28Like my bloody eyes staring at her.
29:31On the back page of my diary, she scribbled frantically in red pen.
29:34I'm sorry, mommy was wrong.
29:37Red light is pain.
29:38Red light is love.
29:40Please come back.
29:41Just say it hurts one more time.
29:43Mommy will save you this time.
29:45I promise.
29:46Too bad.
29:47I'm already dead.
29:48Dead people can't say it hurts.
29:51Mom was eventually committed to a psychiatric hospital.
29:53Her self-harm had gotten so bad she nearly electrocuted herself at home.
29:57Community services intervened and sent her in.
30:00She was the strangest patient there.
30:02She'd found some red plastic ring somewhere and wore it around her neck.
30:05A homemade necklace.
30:07If anyone tried to take it off, she'd bite like a rabid dog.
30:11Don't touch my light!
30:13Stella's watching!
30:15If you take it off, she'll get mad!
30:17She'd developed a terrible conditioned reflex.
30:19Whenever a nurse asked,
30:21Clara, have you eaten?
30:23She'd touch her neck first, then convulse and scream.
30:26Red light, don't shock me!
30:28I'll eat!
30:29I'll eat!
30:30Even if the porridge was scalding hot, she'd gulp it down, burning her esophagus, too scared to spit it out.
30:36She was imitating me, right before I died.
30:39Reliving my hell, over and over.
30:42Years passed.
30:43My sister grew up.
30:44And she grew up twisted.
30:46With no discipline and that reputation hanging over her, she ended up at the bottom of society.
30:51Broke, she remembered the mom still in the psych ward.
30:54She went to visit.
30:56Not for family love.
30:58For money.
30:58Old crazy lady!
31:00Dad's dead!
31:01Give me the secret stash you hid!
31:03My sister wore heavy makeup, her face full of malice.
31:06She looked at mom's pathetic state and spat in disgust.
31:09Just like your dear delvis daughter.
31:12If you don't give me money, I'll pull your plug and let you join her.
31:16At those words, mom, who'd been in a daze, suddenly looked up.
31:20Her clotted eyes focused on my sister for a moment, sharp and clear.
31:24She remembered the always green toy necklace.
31:27The green that had fooled her for ten years.
31:30You tricked me!
31:32You tricked me!
31:32Your green light was fake!
31:33You killed Stella!
31:36Give her back!
31:37Give her back!
31:38Give her back!
31:38Give her back!
31:40Die!
31:41You die!
31:42You're the one who should die!
31:45Help!
31:48Doctors rushed in, sedated mom, and pulled her off.
31:51Help!
31:54Help!
31:55My sister fled in panic.
31:57Help!
31:58Help!
31:59Help!
31:59Help!
31:59Help!
31:59Help!
32:00Help!
32:02Help!
32:03Help!
32:10Help!
32:20Help!
32:23Help!
32:25Help!
32:28Help!
32:30Help!
32:32Help!
32:36Help!
32:38Help!
32:39Help!
32:40Help!
32:40turned to ashes. She woke screaming, heart rate spiking. If she still wore that necklace,
32:56it would have been blazing red, the eternal pain. I stood in the void, watching it all,
33:01watching mom suffer in the psych ward, watching my sister begging with broken legs, watching dad,
33:06broken, drunk, dying young. In my heart, there was no satisfaction in revenge, just stillness,
33:12still as death. Beside me stood an old dog, Xiao Bai, the dog I raised as a child until mom
33:18threw
33:18him out. He'd been waiting for me in the spirit world. Xiao Bai rubbed against my leg and barked
33:23softly, like he was saying, come on, stop watching, yeah, time to go. This life was too bitter,
33:29nothing worth holding onto. I floated to the window of mom's room, one last goodbye. Mom lay in bed,
33:35withered, hair completely white. She seemed to sense something. Stella, is that you? Mom smashed
33:43the necklace. Mom doesn't believe in it anymore. Please come back. Mom will cook for you. No celery.
33:51Mom will buy you new dresses, not for your sister. Tears slipped down her cheeks, falling on the pillow,
33:57sighed softly. I reached out. My cold finger touched her forehead, the last mercy I could give her.
34:03Let her sleep. Sleep. And it won't hurt anymore. She calmed instantly. Her eyelids grew heavy. She
34:10fell into a deep sleep. A breeze blew through. The worn diary on her bedside table flipped open.
34:15The police had returned it to her as a personal effect. On the last page, below my dying words,
34:21were a few shaky new lines, written by mom in her lucid moments.
34:25In the next life, let mommy wear the necklace. Let mommy be the liar. You punish me. Just don't leave
34:36me. Mommy will do anything. I looked at those words, felt nothing, too late. All the regret in the
34:44world, in the face of death, is pale and meaningless. Mom, I don't hate you anymore. But I don't love
34:51you
34:52either. Mom, let's don't meet again the next life. I turned away. Took Xiao Bai's leash. In the distance,
34:59a door of light appeared. The entrance to the next cycle. I raised my hand to my neck. The necklace
35:04that
35:04had always been there in spirit form. The nightmare that had bound me my whole life. I grabbed it.
35:09Pulled. Snap. It shattered. Dissolved into specks of light. Vanished into the air. I felt lighter than I'd
35:16ever felt. No red light. No electricity. No lies. Just freedom. I walked toward the door of light.
35:23Didn't look back. Morning sunlight streamed in. A nurse opened the door for rounds.
35:28Clara, time for your meds. No answer. The figure on the bed didn't move. The nurse stepped closer.
35:35Clara clutched the tattered diary tightly in her hand. At the corner of her eye,
35:39one last crystalline tear. On the heart monitor beside her, the line that represented life had gone
35:44perfectly flat.
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