- 1 day ago
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00:01Not because I actually lied, but because of this thing on my wrist, the Verity band.
00:07Mom was obsessed with science-based parenting.
00:11So when my twin sister Emma and I were born, she strapped these bands on us.
00:16Green light means truth.
00:18Red light means you're manipulating reality.
00:20Emma's band? Always green.
00:23She could literally cut up mom's designer dress and blame the cat,
00:27and that little device would glow like a Christmas tree.
00:30Not me.
00:31She'd say, green light, believed.
00:34Me? I'd say, mom, I'm hungry.
00:37And flash. Red light. Instant punishment.
00:41And mom's punishment wasn't gentle.
00:44No food, locked in my room, digital blackout, no phone, no Wi-Fi, nothing.
00:51She'd say, the machine doesn't lie, Stella. Starve now, learn later.
00:56I'm doing this for your own good.
00:58After ten years of this, I started believing it, too.
01:02Maybe I really was born wrong.
01:06New Year's Eve, everything changed.
01:09My mom...
01:09New Year's Eve, everything changed.
01:13Mom was getting ready to take Emma to see the ball drop in Times Square.
01:17And that's when the pain hit, like a knife twisting in my gut.
01:22I collapsed on the floor, my skeletal frame curling into itself.
01:27Mom, please. It hurts.
01:30The band flashed red.
01:31She looked down at me, disgust in her eyes.
01:34Nice try, Stella. Faking sick to crash our night? Pathological.
01:39She grabbed Emma's hand and headed for the door.
01:43I wanted to scream.
01:45But part of me thought, maybe she's right.
01:48The band is red.
01:50So I must be lying.
01:52I must not actually be in pain.
01:54Sorry, mom. I won't lie anymore.
01:56But the pain got worse.
01:59Way worse.
02:03New Year's Eve, the door handle turned.
02:06For one second, I thought,
02:08She's coming back.
02:09She's a doctor. She'll know something's wrong.
02:12Hurry up. The fireworks are starting.
02:14Emma's waiting.
02:16Please, something's really wrong.
02:19I feel like I'm dying.
02:21She glanced at my wrist.
02:23Red light flashing like crazy.
02:25She crouched down, grabbed my chin,
02:28forced me to look at her.
02:29Stella, how long are you going to keep this up?
02:31Can't you just be honest?
02:33Stay here and think about what you've done.
02:36Honey, should we at least leave her some food?
02:39Mom stood up.
02:41Food?
02:41She has a stash of snacks she bought with stolen money.
02:44She won't starve.
02:45Brushing off her hands like I was dirt.
02:47Lock the door.
02:48When that band turns green, we'll talk.
02:51But...
02:52But what?
02:54Soft parenting is why she's like this.
02:56Look at Emma.
02:57Her band is always green.
02:59Stella's just a compulsive liar.
03:01She needs discipline.
03:03But my closet was empty.
03:05Emma stole that money.
03:06Emma ate those snacks.
03:09I tried to defend myself once.
03:12I didn't take it either.
03:14Red light.
03:15Three days locked up with nothing but bread and water.
03:20Emma peeked through the door, made a face at me.
03:23That's us.
03:24We're going to see the pretty fireworks.
03:27The door locked.
03:28The house went silent.
03:30Just me.
03:32Alone.
03:33The pain was unbearable.
03:36But I kept thinking.
03:37Mom's right.
03:39The machine doesn't lie.
03:41The band is red.
03:42So I must be lying.
03:44I'm not in pain.
03:46I'm not in pain.
03:48I'm not in pain.
03:51I crawled to my desk.
03:53I had to write.
03:54That was the rule.
03:56If the band glowed red, I had to pen a thousand-word apology essay, or Mom would never let me
04:02out.
04:02I am a liar.
04:05I opened my journal.
04:07Pages and pages of apologies I'd written over the years.
04:10But this time, I wanted to write the truth.
04:14My vision blurred.
04:15I could barely see.
04:17My hand shook as I wrote.
04:20Mom, I really love you.
04:22It really hurts.
04:24Why won't you believe me?
04:27Please believe me just once.
04:29The moment I finished the last word, the pain vanished.
04:34Just gone.
04:36I felt light.
04:37Weightless.
04:38I looked down.
04:40I was floating.
04:42And there, slumped over the desk, was my body.
04:46Motionless.
04:47The Verity band still flashing red on a dead girl's wrist.
04:52Oh.
04:53I'm dead.
04:54Emma pe-
04:55I heard laughter.
04:57Mom?
04:58Dad?
04:58Emma?
04:59Coming through the front door.
05:01Tonight's fireworks were amazing.
05:04Especially that smiley face one.
05:06Just like our Emma.
05:08Mom's voice was so warm.
05:10I'd never heard her sound like that when she talked about me.
05:14I wanted to help them take off their coats.
05:16That's what I always did.
05:18Mom!
05:19I reached out to hug her.
05:21My arms passed right through her body.
05:24Like wind.
05:25She shivered.
05:27Why is it so cold in here?
05:28Is the heat off?
05:30I stood there, staring at my transparent hands.
05:34Right.
05:35Dead people can't hug the living.
05:37Should we check on Stella?
05:39Dad said casually.
05:40She hasn't eaten.
05:41If she finds me dead, will she be sad?
05:44Will she regret it?
05:56Still putting on an act?
05:58Think I'll carry you to bed?
06:01Stella, you're ten years old, not five.
06:03I screamed at her, only two feet away.
06:07Mom, I'm not playing.
06:09I'm dead.
06:11Look at me.
06:12Touch me.
06:13I'm freezing.
06:14Emma squeezed past her, held up her wrist with that smug little grin.
06:19Look, my band's green.
06:22Stella's is still red.
06:23She's lying, even in her dreams.
06:26Mom patted Emma's head.
06:28That's my good girl.
06:29Ignore the liar.
06:31Let her stay there.
06:32Maybe she'll learn how to be honest.
06:34Dad peeked in.
06:36Should we at least put her in bed?
06:37It's freezing.
06:38Put her in bed?
06:39The parenting expert says cold treatment is the answer.
06:43Look at that red light.
06:44She's still in full defiance mode.
06:47Come on.
06:47We have to visit Grandma tomorrow.
06:49The door locked again.
06:51I floated next to my corpse, staring at that single point of red light in the darkness.
06:57Mom, if you'd just stepped closer, if you'd just touched my hand, you'd know I was ice cold.
07:04But you didn't.
07:05Still.
07:06That night, a rat crawled out of my empty closet.
07:09I used to scream whenever I saw rats.
07:12But now, I just floated by the ceiling, watching it scurry across my dead body.
07:17It bit into my toe.
07:19It's okay.
07:20You can't feel it anymore.
07:22It'll be over soon.
07:24The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window.
07:27No warmth reached my body.
07:29In the kitchen, I could hear Mom making breakfast.
07:33The smell of bacon and eggs crept under my door.
07:36My favorite.
07:37But Mom always said liars don't deserve meat.
07:41So, I only ever got steamed broccoli.
07:44She was claying the pans extra loud on purpose.
07:47Trying to tempt me out.
07:49Trying to make me give in and apologize for things I never did.
07:53In the old days, I might have caved.
07:56But I don't need food anymore.
08:00Stella still hasn't come out?
08:03That night, a...
08:04Stella still hasn't come out?
08:06Dad asked, reading his paper.
08:08She is so stubborn.
08:10She can eat or not.
08:12I don't care.
08:13Emma walked to my door and made a big show of sniffing the air.
08:17Then she screamed dramatically.
08:19Mom!
08:20Stella's room smells gross.
08:23Did she poop in it?
08:24Mom stormed over, pounding on the door.
08:27Stella!
08:28Are you an animal?
08:29The bathroom is right there.
08:31Did you seriously go on the floor just to spite me?
08:34I remembered being six.
08:36I had food poisoning.
08:38Couldn't make it to the bathroom in time.
08:40Soiled my pants.
08:41Mom didn't help me clean up.
08:43She made me stand in the yard.
08:45Pointed at me and told the neighbors.
08:47Look at this.
08:48She's such a mess she can't even use the toilet by herself.
08:52Now she thought I was dirty again.
08:54Leave her.
08:55Mom said, waving her hand like she was swatting a fly.
08:59Let her sit in her own stink.
09:01But Dad stood up, frowning.
09:03That smells really bad.
09:05I should check.
09:07Could be a dead mouse or something.
09:09Dad, please open the door.
09:11I'm right here.
09:13I waved my transparent arms frantically.
09:16Dad's hand touched the doorknob.
09:18Stella.
09:18His phone was ringing.
09:20Dad's face went pale.
09:23What?
09:23The server crashed.
09:25Okay, okay.
09:26I'm on my way.
09:27Honey, there's an emergency at work.
09:29I'll be gone for a few days.
09:31Wait, what about Stella?
09:33He was already out the door.
09:35If that call had come one second later, I would have been found.
09:38Maybe then, I wouldn't have rotted alone.
09:42That afternoon, Mom took Emma shopping.
09:45The house was empty except for my corpse.
09:48When they came back that night, loaded down with fancy lobster and gifts, the smell had gotten worse.
09:53Mom gagged the second she walked in.
09:57Stella, are you trying to turn this place into a dump?
09:59She didn't even open my door.
10:02She grabbed duct tape and sealed the gap at the bottom.
10:05You want to be disgusting?
10:07Fine.
10:08Stew in it.
10:08Don't stink up my house.
10:10She patted her hands together, satisfied.
10:13Then went to steam the lobster.
10:16I stared at that sealed door.
10:18My last shred of hope suffocated under that tape.
10:22His phone was ringing.
10:23By day three, even the duct tape couldn't contain the smell.
10:27Mom was arranging fresh flowers, trying to cover it up.
10:31But the stench of death is unmistakable.
10:34Sweet, rotten, oily.
10:38She cut a rose stem too hard.
10:40A thorn pierced her hand.
10:42She snapped.
10:44Stella!
10:45She grabbed a rolling pin from the kitchen, stormed toward my room.
10:49I'm done with you, you disgusting little brat.
10:52Time you learned what real pain feels like.
10:55Don't come in, Mom.
10:57Please.
10:58I'm decomposed.
10:59You'll be scared.
11:01Even though she never loved me, I didn't want her to see me like that.
11:06But she ripped the tape off, jammed the spare key in the lock,
11:11Bang!
11:12The door flew open.
11:14The smell hit her like a wall.
11:17She stumbled back, dry heaving.
11:20Stella, what are you doing?
11:22By day three, she saw me, still slumped over the desk, back turned, not moving.
11:29To her, this was the ultimate rebellion.
11:34I'm talking to you.
11:35She marched over, raised the rolling pin, but stopped.
11:40She wanted to see my face first.
11:43Wanted to see my defiant expression.
11:47Get up.
11:47The moment she touched me, she froze.
11:51Through the thin fabric, her hand didn't feel warm flesh.
11:55What?
11:56But momentum carried her forward.
11:58She yanked.
12:00My body, stiff as a board, toppled backward, taking the chair with it.
12:05And there was my face.
12:08On my blackened wrist, the Verity band hung lifeless.
12:12My journal slid off the desk, fell open at mom's feet.
12:17The last page stared up at her.
12:19Mom, my stomach really hurts.
12:22The band is broken.
12:24I'm not lying.
12:25Please don't punish me.
12:28She saw me, mom screamed.
12:31Not a human sound.
12:33A raw, guttural shriek that tore through her throat.
12:36She stumbled backward, slammed into the bookshelf.
12:40A vase shattered.
12:41But she didn't seem to feel the pain.
12:43She just stared at me, eyes wide, unblinking.
12:48No, no, no, no.
12:49This is makeup, special effects.
12:51Stella, get up.
12:52I'm not mad anymore.
12:54Stop scaring me.
12:56Her hand reached out, trembling to touch my arm.
12:59The second her skin made contact with my corpse,
13:02she recoiled like she'd been burned.
13:04That cold was too real.
13:07Mrs. Lisa from next door called 911.
13:09911, I heard a scream.
13:10She'd heard the screaming.
13:11When she saw what was in my room, she collapsed in the hallway.
13:15Within minutes, sirens.
13:17Police.
13:18A medical examiner.
13:19They pulled up the crime scene tape.
13:22Cameras flashed over my body.
13:24Mom sat on the couch, a female officer's hand on her shoulder.
13:28She was babbling.
13:29She was faking.
13:31She always lies.
13:32The band was red.
13:34Machines don't lie.
13:36I was just teaching her.
13:37I was doing it for her own good.
13:39No one responded.
13:40They all looked at her like she was a monster.
13:43The medical examiner crouched next to my body.
13:46He muttered under his breath.
13:48Severe malnutrition.
13:50Organ failure.
13:51This kid was starved for at least a month.
13:54He carefully tried to remove the Verity band.
13:57But it had...
13:58Fused.
14:00Damn.
14:01He cursed.
14:02He had to use tools to pry it off.
14:04Even dead, my soul flinched.
14:14A cop picked up my journal, put on gloves, started reading.
14:19Mom's eyes locked onto that book.
14:21Suddenly, she lunged for it.
14:24That's her confession.
14:25She admits she lied.
14:27Look, she wrote it herself.
14:29The officer pushed her back, slid the journal into an evidence bag.
14:33We'll determine what's true.
14:35That's when Dad got home.
14:36He saw the black body bag being wheeled out on a stretcher.
14:40Saw the long zipper that sealed away my entire life.
14:44His legs gave out.
14:46He collapsed.
14:47Wet himself.
14:49Emma stood nearby, sobbing in confusion.
14:53She pointed at the blood-stained Verity band on the evidence table.
14:57Why is Stella's band black?
14:59Mine's still green, see?
15:01She held up her wrist.
15:03The green light blinked cheerfully.
15:05It was grotesque.
15:08The cops started questioning Mom in the living room.
15:12She grabbed the Verity band off the table like it was a life raft.
15:16Test it.
15:17That band proved she was lying.
15:19Red light means lie.
15:21I never abused her.
15:22The machine told me.
15:23I was just educating her.
15:25The officer looked at her like she'd lost her mind.
15:29Ma'am, the victim shows signs of extreme malnutrition.
15:33That's discipline.
15:35That's teaching her to be honest.
15:37Mom was shrieking now.
15:39Then, she did something insane.
15:42You don't believe me?
15:43Fine.
15:44I'll wear it.
15:45I'm not lying.
15:46Watch.
15:47It'll be green.
15:48She snatched the band, still stained with my blood and bits of skin, and jammed it onto
15:54her own wrist.
15:56Click.
15:57Locked.
15:58The rubber pressed against her skin.
16:01Sticky.
16:02Cold.
16:03She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.
16:07She needed to prove she was innocent.
16:10Needed to prove her parenting was right.
16:13She held up her wrist, eyes wild.
16:16Watch.
16:17I'm Rachel.
16:18I'm Stella's mother.
16:19That's a fact.
16:21Absolute truth.
16:22The red light exploded.
16:25Bright.
16:26Violent.
16:27Like a fresh wound tearing open.
16:30Mom's confident expression shattered.
16:33She slapped the band like it was a broken TV.
16:36What?
16:37No.
16:37I said the truth.
16:39I am Rachel.
16:41She started talking faster, panic rising in her voice.
16:45It's broken.
16:46The examiner broke it.
16:47Let me try again.
16:48I never abused her.
16:50I did it for her own good.
16:52I love her.
16:53The red light flashed faster.
16:55And suddenly, she remembered.
16:58Me.
16:59Ten years old.
17:00Getting the maximum punishment.
17:02Curled on the floor.
17:04Biting my lip so I wouldn't scream.
17:07Is this what it felt like?
17:09Mom lost it completely.
17:11She started screaming at the band.
17:13Spit flying.
17:15Why is it red?
17:16I'm telling the truth.
17:18Turn green, you piece of junk.
17:20You're framing me.
17:21But the red light kept flashing.
17:24Like it was mocking her.
17:26You're a liar.
17:28You're a liar.
17:29You're a liar.
17:32Dad couldn't take it anymore.
17:34This man who'd been invisible for ten years, who always stayed out of it, he snapped.
17:41He lunged at mom and slapped her across the face.
17:44You monster.
17:45What did you do?
17:47That was your daughter.
17:49You treated her like an animal.
17:51Mom fell to the floor.
17:53Blood at the corner of her mouth.
17:55But she didn't fight back.
17:57Didn't cry.
17:58She just stared into space, muttering,
18:01Not my fault.
18:02Not my fault.
18:04Then her eyes landed on Emma, cowering in the corner.
18:08It's her.
18:09It's Emma.
18:10Emma's band was always green.
18:12Emma was the good one.
18:14If it wasn't for that green light making me trust her, I wouldn't have believed the red light so much.
18:19This is Emma's fault.
18:21All eyes turned to Emma.
18:23That little princess we'd all protected.
18:26The cop walked over.
18:27Gently removed the green Verity band from her wrist.
18:31Took out a screwdriver.
18:32Pried it open right there.
18:34Crack.
18:35The plastic shell split.
18:38Inside?
18:39No sensors.
18:40No chips.
18:41No heart rate monitor.
18:43Just two cheap LED lights and a watch battery.
18:47The circuit was hardwired.
18:48Power on.
18:50Green light.
18:51That's it.
18:52This is a $2 toy.
18:54Your younger daughter's band was factory set to always be green.
18:58No matter what she said, did, or lied about,
19:02it would glow green.
19:04Your so-called science-based parenting was a joke.
19:08A sick, biased joke.
19:11Dad couldn't take it anymore.
19:12No!
19:13Mom suddenly screamed.
19:15She clawed at the band.
19:16Get it off.
19:17Get it off.
19:18It's red.
19:19I'm not a liar.
19:20I'm not.
19:21But the clasp was jammed from her violent struggle.
19:24Wouldn't budge.
19:25I can't get it off.
19:27Stella, take it back.
19:28I'm sorry.
19:29It's all my fault.
19:31This little bit of pain, and she was breaking.
19:34Mom, I suffered for 10 years.
19:37The cops needed evidence for charges.
19:40And you better stop.
19:41Opened my journal in front of my parents.
19:44February 14th.
19:45Sunny.
19:46Mom put celery on my plate.
19:48I'm allergic.
19:49My throat swells.
19:50I can't breathe.
19:51I said I can't eat it.
19:53But because I was scared of making her angry,
19:55my heart raced.
19:57Red light.
19:58You stop!
19:59Mom said I was picky.
20:00Lying.
20:01Made me eat the whole plate.
20:03That night, I threw up blood.
20:06My throat felt like it was on fire.
20:08Mom saw it and said I'd snuck tomato juice.
20:11That I was faking.
20:12She punished me for 10 more minutes.
20:15Mom's hand flew to her mouth.
20:17She was shaking violently.
20:19She remembered that night.
20:21The officer turned the page.
20:23June 1st.
20:24Children's Day.
20:25Emma cut up mom's dress.
20:28Emma's heart rate is always slow.
20:30Green light.
20:31I tried to explain, but I was scared of getting beaten.
20:34So my heart raced.
20:36Red light.
20:38Dad couldn't take it anymore.
20:39This man who'd been invisible for 10 years,
20:42who always stayed out of it,
20:45he snapped.
20:47Dad couldn't take it anymore.
20:49This man who'd been invisible for 10 years,
20:52who always stayed out of it,
20:54he snapped.
20:56He lunged at mom and slapped her across the face.
20:59You monster.
21:00What did you do?
21:02That was your daughter.
21:03You treated her like an animal.
21:06Mom fell to the floor.
21:08Blood at the corner of her mouth.
21:10But she didn't fight back.
21:12Didn't cry.
21:13She just stared into space, muttering,
21:16Not my fault.
21:17Not my fault.
21:19Then her eyes landed on Emma,
21:21cowering in the corner.
21:23It's her.
21:24It's Emma.
21:25Emma's band was always green.
21:27Emma was the good one.
21:29If it wasn't for that green light making me trust her,
21:32I wouldn't have believed the red light so much.
21:34This is Emma's fault.
21:36All eyes turned to Emma.
21:38That little princess we'd all protected.
21:41The cop walked over.
21:42Gently removed the green Verity band from her wrist.
21:45Took out a screwdriver.
21:48Pried it open right there.
21:49Crack.
21:50The plastic shell split.
21:53Inside?
21:53No sensors.
21:55No chips.
21:56No heart rate monitor.
21:58Just two cheap LED lights and a watch battery.
22:01The circuit was hardwired.
22:03Power on.
22:04Green light.
22:06That's it.
22:07This is a $2 toy.
22:09Your younger daughter's band was factory set to always be green.
22:13No matter what she said, did, or lied about,
22:16it would glow green.
22:18Your so-called science-based parenting was a joke.
22:23A sick, biased joke.
22:26Dad couldn't.
22:27I laughed.
22:29Laughed until I cried.
22:31Turns out, ghosts can cry too.
22:34The officer turned to the last page of the journal.
22:37Her voice broke.
22:39The handwriting was a mess.
22:41Clearly written while dying.
22:44Mom, if I die, will the band stop glowing red?
22:48Or if it turns green, will you hug me then?
22:53I'm not lying.
22:54My stomach hurts so much.
22:57Like knives.
22:59Next life, please don't make me wear the band.
23:02Please.
23:03Mom stared at the shattered pieces of plastic on the table.
23:07That green light she trusted without question?
23:10A cheap piece of junk.
23:12Ha ha ha ha ha.
23:14Mom started laughing, her voice cracking with every sound.
23:19But it was the laugh of someone breaking, worse than crying.
23:23Fake.
23:24All fake.
23:25I killed my honest daughter.
23:27And I worshipped a liar.
23:30She'd lost her mind.
23:31For real this time.
23:35I laughed.
23:36My death became front page news.
23:38Mrs. Lisa, the neighborhood gossip, posted everything online.
23:44Title.
23:45Girls starved to death by fake science band.
23:49She described my corpse in detail.
23:51The band fused to rotting flesh.
23:55The internet exploded.
23:57Monster.
23:58Murderer.
23:59She doesn't deserve to be a mother.
24:02Comments poured in like an avalanche.
24:05Someone doxed mom.
24:07Our address got leaked.
24:09People threw red paint on our door.
24:12Wrote death in huge letters.
24:15Dad got arrested too.
24:17Neglect.
24:18Failure to protect.
24:20He wasn't there when I died, so he got off light.
24:23But his company fired him immediately to avoid the PR nightmare.
24:28Our family went bankrupt.
24:30Sold the house, the car, everything to pay legal fees.
24:35Dad couldn't stand living with that psycho anymore.
24:39He took what little money was left, and Emma, and disappeared.
24:44Emma was a bad seed, sure.
24:46But she was still his blood.
24:48Before they left, Emma tried to take her green band.
24:53Dad stomped on it.
24:54Why the hell would you want that piece of trash?
24:56Emma cried as he dragged her away.
24:59My dad...
25:00Mom got out on bail.
25:02The psych eval said she had severe PTSD and psychosis.
25:06They left her alone in that rental apartment.
25:09The one that still smelled like death.
25:12Her mental state deteriorated fast.
25:15She started talking to me like I was still there.
25:18And she refused to take off the red light band.
25:21To punish herself, she'd added a shock device to it.
25:25One that delivered a jolt the second the light flashed red.
25:29She said the small shocks were the only thing that eased her guilt.
25:33She'd cook a whole table of food.
25:35Then talk to the empty air.
25:38She'd pick up a piece of meat.
25:40Her hands shook.
25:41The band flashed red.
25:43She was anxious.
25:45She smiled, but her eyes were empty.
25:48Mom's heart is racing.
25:50Mom's lying.
25:52Liars don't deserve food.
25:54Picked up a remote.
25:56One she'd rewired to trigger the shock on her wristband.
25:59It hurts.
25:59And shocked herself.
26:01It hurts.
26:02It hurts.
26:03It hurts.
26:04Is this what Stella felt?
26:06I'm sorry.
26:08Mom got out...
26:09Mom started reenacting my diary entries.
26:12I couldn't eat celery because of my allergy.
26:15So she forced herself to eat spoiled food until she vomited blood, then swallowed it back down.
26:22I was locked in isolation.
26:24So she locked herself in my old room, lights off, and bowed to my photo until her forehead bled.
26:31Over and over.
26:33Blood on the floor.
26:36Late at night, she'd see the red glow of the band reflected on the wall.
26:40To her, it looked like my bloody eyes, watching.
26:44She scribbled in red pen on the back of my journal.
26:48I'm sorry.
26:49I was wrong.
26:50Red light means pain.
26:52Red light means love.
26:54Please come back and say it hurts one more time.
26:57I'll save you.
26:59I promise.
27:00Too bad I'm dead.
27:02Dead people can't cry for help.
27:05Eventually, the state intervened.
27:08Mom's self-harm got so extreme, she nearly killed herself, that they committed her.
27:14She ended up in a psychiatric facility.
27:17She was the strangest patient there.
27:20She'd found a red plastic ring somewhere and wore it around her neck like a collar.
27:25Her homemade band.
27:28If anyone tried to remove it, she'd bite them like a rabid dog.
27:33Don't touch my light.
27:34Stella's watching.
27:36She'll be mad if you take it.
27:38She developed a Pavlovian response.
27:41Rachel, time to eat.
27:43Mom would touch her neck, then start convulsing, screaming.
27:47Red light.
27:48Red light.
27:48Don't punish me.
27:49I'll eat.
27:50I'll eat.
27:51Even if the food was scalding hot, she'd gulp it down, burning her esophagus.
27:56Wouldn't spit it out.
27:58She was reenacting my final moments.
28:01Living my hell on repeat.
28:05Mom started reenacting my diet.
28:07Years later, Emma grew up.
28:08Without proper guidance and with a trail of infamy behind her, she ended up at the bottom
28:13of society.
28:15When she ran out of money, she remembered.
28:18Mom's still in that facility.
28:19She showed up one day.
28:21Not for love.
28:23For cash.
28:26I said, I'm out of labor.
28:29No.
28:30Hey, crazy lady.
28:33You're out of labor.
28:33Dad's dead.
28:34You're out of labor.
28:46cleared she looked at emma and suddenly remembered that band that always green toy that decade of
28:56deception it was you mom's voice was gravel you lied you're the fake green light you killed
29:06stella give her back give her back the last shred of maternal love twisted into vengeance
29:14mom lunged grabbed emma by the throat die you should have died not her you help emma thrashed
29:25but couldn't break free from a mad woman's grip orderlies rushed in sedated mom pulled her off
29:31emma stumbled out of the room terrified they're all insane she bolted for the exit
29:41a truck plowed into her she survived barely both legs shattered beyond repair wheelchair for life
29:49a total wreck meanwhile mom was strapped to a bed staring at the ceiling tears streaming in her
29:58dreams she finally saw me i was 10 again no band white dress smiling mom she reached for me
30:09crying with joy stella but her hands sparked with electricity the second she touched me i burst into
30:17flames turned to ash no she woke up screaming heart rate through the roof if she'd been wearing that
30:26band it would have been blood red eternal torment years later i stood in the void watching it all
30:36mom in the facility emma in a wheelchair begging on the streets dad drunk and dead in some gutter
30:45i felt nothing no satisfaction just a flat dead calm next to me was an old dog buddy my childhood
30:56pet
30:58mom threw him out years ago he'd been waiting for me at the boundary
31:02buddy nuzzled my leg barked twice as if to say let's go don't look back
31:10yeah time to leave this life was too bitter nothing worth holding on to
31:18i floated to mom's hospital room one final time she looked ancient hair completely white
31:25frail as paper she sensed something her cloudy eyes focused on a point in the air right where i
31:34stood stella is that you her trembling hand reached into the emptiness mom destroyed the band i don't
31:43believe in it anymore come back please i'll cook for you no celery i'll buy you new dresses not emma
31:50tears
31:51rolled down her face i looked at the red marks on her neck from the homemade band i sighed reached
31:59out
32:01my cold ghostly finger touched her forehead sleep mom in sleep there's no pain a breeze blew through the
32:10room the old journal on her nightstand flipped open the last page my dying words stared up at the ceiling
32:19but below it in shaky handwriting were new lines written by mom during a lucid moment next life let me
32:28wear the
32:28band let me be the liar punish me however you want just don't leave me i stared at those words
32:36felt nothing
32:39too late repentance means nothing to the dead
32:44mom i don't hate you anymore but i don't love you either let's not meet again i turned away
32:54buddy wagged his tail in the distance a door of light appeared the gateway to the next cycle
33:02i looked at my wrist the phantom verity band still there even in spirit form i grabbed it
33:11it shattered into stardust i felt weightless free no red light no hunger no lies just freedom
33:24morning came a nurse pushed open the door rachel time for your meds no response she walked closer rachel's
33:33hand clutched the torn journal a single tear crystallized at the corner of her eye on the heart
33:38monitor the wavy line had gone flat passing through the light wasn't violent no spinning no chaos just
33:47warmth like sinking into a spring stream even the lingering ache in my soul the phantom pains started
33:54to fade buddy pressed into my palm his fur wasn't translucent anymore it was soft warm real this was the
34:03living breathing connection i'd craved as a kid come on boy i held his paw and walked towards the
34:09brightness behind me the old life faded like a worn photograph mom's final tear the red glow of the
34:16band blood on the diary pages all of it blurred dissolved i didn't look back that 10 year nightmare was
34:24finally truly over passing when i opened my eyes again i was tiny wrapped in soft blankets someone was
34:34humming a woman's voice gentle off-key but full of love her fingers brushed my cheek the scent of gardenias
34:44not the sterile hospital smell of my old mom not the cold clinical distance i blinked up at her she
34:52had
34:53kind eyes a soft smile she cradled me like i was made of glass grace is awake she murmured honey
35:02come quick
35:02our daughter just blinked a man appeared tall a little awkward but his face lit up when he saw me
35:10he touched my tiny hand with one finger his voice was deep warm hey grace i'm your dad grace not
35:20stella
35:21no weight no chains no lies just grace sterling a name that meant something light something cherished
35:31when i opened this house was small but clean cozy cartoon stickers on the walls plants on the balcony
35:40sunlight pouring through the windows warm on the floor i realized fast this family was nothing like
35:48the last one they never forced me to do anything there were no verity bands i grew learned to crawl
35:57to talk and when i was three mom made sauteed celery the green stalks on the plate triggered me
36:05i flashed back to choking throat swelling vomiting blood i stumbled backward shaking tears came without
36:14permission mom immediately put down the spatula crouched pulled me into a hug grace what's wrong you don't
36:23like celery i couldn't speak just shook my head sobbing dad knelt too rubbed my back hey it's okay you
36:35don't
36:35have to eat it can you tell us why their eyes were patient gentle finally i choked out it hurts
36:44my throat
36:45makes me bleed they didn't say the machine doesn't lie they didn't accuse me of faking they took me to
36:53the doctor immediately turns out i really do have a celery allergy mild but it can flare up with stress
37:01after that celery never appeared in the house again mom even added it to her phone notes grace's
37:08allergies celery mango she checked every time she shopped i lay in her arms that night smelling gardenias
37:17and realized this is what it feels like to be believed love isn't measured by a machine it's listening
37:25even when the story sounds impossible this house was small when i was four preschool had a health
37:31screening blood draw i saw the needle and lost it flashes of the band burning my wrist flashes of
37:39starvation i screamed clung to dad's leg the teacher sighed grace it's just a little poke all the other
37:48kids were brave i couldn't stop shaking don't punish me i'm not lying dad immediately scooped me up
37:56shielding me from the nurse sorry he said firmly she's got trauma we'll skip this for now and take
38:04her to a pediatric psychologist on the drive home dad didn't scold me for being weak he just asked
38:12gently grace did someone hurt you before i buried my face in his shoulder tears soaking his shirt mom
38:23band red light i couldn't explain it clearly but he listened nodded you've been through hell haven't you
38:33it's okay dad's here now no one's ever hurting you again from then on they took me to a child
38:42therapist regularly severe ptsd the doctor said my parents never complained never made me feel like a
38:50burden they played honesty games with me where i could say anything true or false and they'd just listen
38:58guide me gently toward the truth they bought me colorful bracelets but never forced me to wear them
39:05these are just accessories grace wear them if you want take them off if you don't we'll love you either
39:12slowly i started to heal i could say i don't like this without fear i could say i'm scared i
39:21could
39:22say i want that i didn't have to worry about my heart racing being evidence of a lie i started
39:30sharing my
39:31preschool stories with them i cried when i didn't get a toy i laughed when i got praise
39:37i was finally just a kid a normal loved kid when i was four when i turned seven i started
39:46elementary
39:46school there was a girl in my class annie sullivan she looked exactly like emma same eyes but her hair
39:55hair was shorter and she was timid scared the first time i saw her my heart clenched flashbacks emma's
40:06smug grin the green light mocking me i stepped back instinctively annie noticed she looked down
40:14voiced barely a whisper i'm annie do you want to be friends her tone was so careful so desperate to
40:24please
40:24just like i used to be i glanced at her wrist she wore a cheap green cartoon bracelet my stomach
40:32turned
40:33later i found out annie's mom was strict too demanded honesty locked her in her room without food when
40:41she made mistakes one day annie accidentally broke the teacher's mug she was trembling too scared to admit
40:48it i saw her face red rimmed eyes barely holding back tears i remembered myself at that desk writing
40:57i'm a liar a thousand times i walked over took her hand annie it's okay accidents happen let's tell the
41:07teacher together she won't be mad annie looked at me shocked but mom says liars are bad kids
41:15being honest isn't about never making mistakes it's about owning up when you do and even if you
41:22tell the truth you shouldn't be punished for it if the teacher yells i'll protect you if your mom yells
41:28come to my house my parents will help i gave her the courage i never had she confessed the teacher
41:36forgave her told her to be more careful next time from that day on we were best friends when i
41:43i brought
41:44annie home to meet my parents she saw how warm they were how they didn't yell didn't punish over little
41:52things i told her you don't have to make everyone happy you're allowed to feel things say things
42:03one day annie's mom came to pick her up from school she saw us together and her face twisted
42:10she grabbed annie's hand did you mess up again is grace covering for you annie immediately looked
42:17down i stepped in front of her ma'am annie didn't do anything wrong she's a good kid you shouldn't
42:28always assume the worst she's scared of you the mom froze looked at me then at annie's tear-filled eyes
42:38eyes her expression softened that night she called my mom thanked her you're welcome said i'd opened her
42:47eyes over time annie's mom got gentler started listening instead of yelling and annie she blossomed
42:59confident we learned about happy i watched her laugh freely one day and felt this warmth in my chest
43:08i didn't get saved in my last life i suffered alone in the dark but this time i could save
43:16someone else
43:18i could stop another stella from happening maybe that's the gift my past life gave me
43:25the ability to see pain and to heal it
43:31when i was 10 my parents took me to visit grandma in the countryside there was an old tree in
43:37her yard
43:38just like the one at my old grandma's house i sat under it watching sunlight filter through the leaves
43:45buddy does next to me then i saw her an old woman white hair hunched over a cane
43:53wearing a faded blue shirt the second i saw her face i froze
43:58she looked exactly like rachel my old mom grandma noticed me too walked over slowly her eyes were hazy
44:09but there was something familiar in them what's your name child grace sterling she repeated it softly
44:17grace that's a beautiful name she reached out like she wanted to touch my hair then hesitated pulled
44:24back like she was afraid of disturbing something sacred my mom came over studied her mom this is our
44:32daughter grace so she was my grandma in this life over the next few days grandma watched me constantly
44:40her expression unreadable one day she brought me a bowl of steak burger grace eat up this used to be
44:48your favorite i stared at the bowl in my last life i wrote in my dying breath i want to
44:55eat mom's
44:56steak burger and here was grandma saying those exact words tears blurred my vision this wasn't some
45:04distant wish anymore it was real right in front of me i picked up a piece bit into it tender
45:13sweet perfect
45:16grandma smiled a tired guilty smile that night lying in bed with buddy curled at my feet
45:23i thought about rachel's last words next life let me be the one punished just don't leave me i thought
45:32about her final tear the torn journal honestly i didn't hate her anymore hating someone is like locking
45:40yourself in the past chewing on pain forever this life's happiness had already washed away the bitterness
45:48i just felt sad when grandma stayed for a month then went back home before she left she held my
45:56hand
45:57grace live well be happy her voice was soft but heavy with meaning i nodded you too grandma
46:08i watched her walk away and i felt nothing no anger no grief
46:15the grudges of my past life were like fallen leaves blown away by the wind i wasn't stella anymore the
46:22girl trapped by a red light i was grace sterling surrounded by love free grandma at 13 i graduated
46:33elementary school got into the best middle school in the city my parents took me to the beach to
46:38celebrate i stood at the edge of the ocean wind in my hair salt on my lips i stretched out
46:45my arms
46:45feeling the freedom for a moment i saw her my ghost self floating desperate to hug someone but passing
46:55right through grace what are you thinking dad handed me a soda i smiled just i'm grateful
47:05to be alive to be with you guys mom hugged me silly girl we're the lucky ones buddy chased the
47:14waves barking
47:15joyfully i looked at my parents my dog my future i finally understood the suffering of my past life
47:24taught me to treasure this one the pain taught me what love really means
47:29i didn't need to prove i wasn't a liar anymore i didn't need to fear red lights i could laugh
47:36cry speak
47:38freely i had parents who loved me a best friend a healthy body a bright future
47:47this was the life i died wishing for at third that night i wrote in my journal not the blood
47:54-stained
47:54confessions of my old life this one was full of happiness growth love i wrote today i saw the ocean
48:06it's huge blue free i thought about my past self that little girl locked in a room desperate to be
48:17loved
48:18she'd never believe that i could be this happy mom and dad love me they taught me honesty and bravery
48:26annie is my best friend now she's confident and bright grandma's healthy she calls me often
48:34buddy's still a goofball always nudging my hand i don't hate anyone anymore i don't cling to the past
48:44those painful memories are like footprints in the sand washed away by waves but they taught me to cherish
48:51every step forward i know my old mom sister and dad got what they deserved and i finally broke free
49:00i found real freedom i don't want to see them again i don't want to relive that life i just
49:09want to be
49:10grace sterling simple happy loved that the ocean was beautiful life was beautiful i closed my journal
49:23looked out the hotel window moonlight shimmered on the water like a thousand stars buddy's breathing was
49:31soft and steady beside me i smiled this life i finally became who i wanted to be
49:39no red lights no starvation no lies just love freedom happiness and those scars from my past
49:52they became badges of survival reminders that no matter how much darkness you face
49:58if you don't give up on the light you'll find your way to warmth to freedom the road ahead is
50:06long
50:08but i'll walk it with courage with joy towards something even brighter the ocean
50:16so
50:16you
50:17you
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