Dad, Why Won’t You Save Me - FULL EP

Silent.Storm.Vibe

6 minutes ago

Transcript

00:00:00My son died in a hotel fire. My husband was on that rescue team. He's a firefighter, but he ran

00:00:07past our room. He went straight to his first love in the next room. Right before my son died,

00:00:12he looked at me and said, Dad saves strangers? Why won't he save me? I had no answer. At my

00:00:21son's

00:00:21funeral, I called my husband. He picked up. Sounded annoyed. Lauren and her son got burned.

00:00:27They're in the hospital. Can you just stop making everything about your jealousy? Don't

00:00:31call me unless it's important. Then he hung up. I sat in my wheelchair, my skin burning under the

00:00:37bandages. My son's name was carved into the stone right in front of me. That was when I knew my

00:00:42marriage was over. I'll never forget that night. Dad, I'm here. Nate, cover your mouth. Don't talk.

00:00:54By the time my son and I realized the house was on fire, it had already spread across half the

00:00:58floor. We were trapped in the room. My husband, Gavin Reed, was the captain leading the response

00:01:03that night. When I saw him down below, I thought we were saved.so did my son. Before this trip,

00:01:09I had texted Gavin the hotel name and the room number, so he knew exactly where we were. But

00:01:14when he came upstairs, he didn't stop at our door.he passed us. He went next door to save Lauren

00:01:19Blake

00:01:20and her little boy. That was when my son broke down. He started crying so hard he could barely

00:01:24get the words out. Mom, Miss Lauren is here too. Dad only cares about them, right? He's leaving us

00:01:31again. I, I, I can't breathe. It hurts so much. Mom, I, I don't want to go. The room was

00:01:41full of smoke.

00:01:42My boy was only five. His tiny body was giving out. My hands were shaking. I grabbed a wet towel

00:01:48and

00:01:49pressed it over his nose and mouth. Then I picked him up and stumbled to the door.

00:01:53Gavin, Nate can't breathe. Please save us. Gavin, please. I begged him, please, just this time.

00:02:01But he passed right by our door. I screamed until my throat tore open. He didn't even stop.

00:02:07Over the fire, I heard his voice, soft, tender. Don't worry, Lauren. I got you. You and your boy

00:02:14are going to be fine. Okay. The smoke was thick. My head stopped working right. I tried to cover

00:02:20Nate's ears. His eyes were full of tears. His pupils were starting to drift. My little boy murmured in

00:02:26desperation. Dad, why, why won't you see me? I yelled so loud. I tried. Mom, I'm so scared. I,

00:02:35I can't stay. Please, next time. Can you get me a different dad? That was the last thing my son

00:02:42ever

00:02:42asked me. Then his little hand dropped. Just like that. I lost him forever. Something inside me blew

00:02:50apart. My brain went blank. My chest felt like someone was driving nails into it. I forced myself

00:02:56up and held him tight. Okay. Okay, my boy. I hear you. Nate, don't fall asleep. Stay with me. Please,

00:03:05I'm getting you out. I swear I'm getting you out. The smoke got thicker. I couldn't even see his face

00:03:11anymore. The floor was burning. The door handle too. Then the fire hit me. My arms. My legs. Then

00:03:19it caught on him too. My poor boy. He must have suffered a lot. I beat at the flames with

00:03:24my hands.

00:03:25I cried and begged and hit and clawed. But the smoke got heavier. The heat got worse. I couldn't walk

00:03:32anymore, so I dropped to the floor and crawled. But that hallway would not end. It just kept going.

00:03:37And going. By the time another crew came through to clear the floor. Nate and I were barely there.

00:03:43They pulled us out. Took us to the hospital. Gavin was in the room next to mine. Lauren and her

00:03:49son

00:03:49were with him. And just like in that fire. There was only one wall between us. One wall. Still,

00:03:56he never came to see us. His whole world was still Lauren. Her and that child. The doctors tried to

00:04:03take me away to treat my burns. I dropped to my knees and begged them not to. Please save my

00:04:08son.

00:04:09He's just tired. He just passed out. Please, you have to save him. They took Nate into the ER.

00:04:16They shocked him again. And again. And again. His little body jerked every time. But he never

00:04:23opened his eyes. Finally, the doctor looked at me and said, He suffered enough while he was alive.

00:04:28Don't make his body suffer more. He was right. My boy hated pain. I should

00:04:33let him rest in peace. I had burns all over my body. Bad ones. I called my brother to handle

00:04:40the

00:04:40funeral. And the divorce. The papers were drafted the same day I got burned. I signed them. But

00:04:46Gavin wouldn't pick up. Just like that night in the fire. He had blocked me again. Every time he was

00:04:52with Lauren and her son. He blocked my number. He said my calls were annoying. Then when he felt like

00:04:58it, he'd unblock me. Like I was a notification he could mute. I lived like that for 6 years. But

00:05:05this

00:05:05time, something in me was done. Not angry. Not screaming. My brother had gone to the funeral

00:05:12home to make arrangements for Nate. Only the aide was with me. I asked her to help me into my

00:05:17wheelchair.

00:05:17Then I rolled myself next door. Toward Gavin, the man I should have left years ago. This marriage

00:05:23was a joke. I was done with it. The room next door was private too. My family has money. And

00:05:30I made

00:05:30good money on my own. I never needed Gavin to support me. On his salary alone, he could barely

00:05:36cover his own life. There was no way he could afford a private room for Lauren and her son.

00:05:41They came out of that fire with soot on their faces and a few small blisters.

00:05:44That was it. But Gavin looked at them like they'd been through war. Like one more scratch might break

00:05:50them. Then I thought about Nate. About what was left of my little boy's body. And my chest caved in

00:05:56all over again. That's the difference. Love. Or none at all. Gavin? I said his name through my teeth.

00:06:03He turned and looked at me. The second he saw me, the smile dropped off his face. His brows pulled

00:06:09tight. Claire, why are you here? Get out! I had on a hat and a mask. I didn't want to

00:06:15scare anybody

00:06:15with my burns. But I was in a hospital gown. In a wheelchair. Gavin saw none of it. He got

00:06:22up at once.

00:06:23Grabbed my wheelchair. Shoved me straight into the hallway. Lauren and I are just friends. I've told

00:06:28you a hundred times. Her husband's dead. She has nobody. She's been through enough. I'm just giving

00:06:35her a little support. I'd heard that speech a hundred times before. I was sick of it. Lauren

00:06:40didn't have a husband. But she had Gavin. I had a husband. And somehow I was the one alone.

00:06:47When a pipe burst at home, he was fixing Lauren's light. When I got in a car crash, he was

00:06:53shopping

00:06:53with her. When Nate had a fever, he stayed with her son. That was my marriage. A complete joke.

00:07:00When I looked at the shameless bastard standing in front of me. I felt sick. I didn't want to

00:07:06waste another breath on him. Sign the divorce papers. And I'm out of your life. I held the

00:07:11papers out. He didn't even take them. He thought I was bluffing again. You done yet? Once Lauren and

00:07:18Liam are better, I'll come home. He'd said that before. A hundred times. And stupid me. I always

00:07:24believed him. Not anymore. If you won't sign, my lawyer will file. I looked straight at him.

00:07:30Nate's funeral is in six days. You. From inside the room, Lauren let out this soft little cry.

00:07:36Gavin, it really hurts. He turned fast. All panic. All tenderness. That was it. He walked right back

00:07:45into the room. I stared at the closed door. It felt like something was tearing through my chest.

00:07:50I don't even remember how I got back to my room. I just know I couldn't breathe. Like the air

00:07:56had

00:07:56left the world. Up until the day of the funeral, Gavin never asked about Nate once. When the service

00:08:03was about to start, the boy's own father still wasn't there. Guests had started whispering.

00:08:08Where's his dad? I heard he's at the hospital with some woman and her kid.

00:08:13His ex, right?

00:08:15Even so, missing his own son's funeral?

00:08:17What a bastard. People looked at me with pity. A few came over and tried to comfort me. But my

00:08:24mind was all about Nate. The way he used to wait by the window for his dad. The way his

00:08:30whole face

00:08:30lit up over the smallest promise. My throat felt full of thorns. I clenched my hands so hard my nails

00:08:36tore open the blisters in my palms. The pain helped. Barely. Today was my son's goodbye to the world.

00:08:42I would not let Gavin ruin that too. I turned to my brother. Call him. He blocked me again.

00:08:49My brother's face went dark. He pulled out his phone and called. Gavin picked up fast.

00:08:55Gavin.

00:08:56My brother said.

00:08:57Today is Nate's funeral.

00:08:59But Gavin cut him off.

00:09:01Claire, are you serious? Lauren and her son were hurt in that fire. They're infected. Still in the

00:09:06hospital. I'm here taking care of them because someone has to. And now you're saying Nate is dead?

00:09:12Wow. You've really crossed the line.

00:09:15Then he hung up. Suddenly it all made sense. That day, when I told him Nate was gone, he

00:09:21barely reacted. Not because he didn't hear me. Because he thought I was making it up. He

00:09:26had accused me of a lot over the years. But this time? This time I shook so hard that I

00:09:31couldn't speak. My brother had heard every word. He grabbed my phone, found Nate's death

00:09:37certificate photo, and sent it to Gavin. Then he called him back. When Gavin answered, my

00:09:43brother's voice came out low and raw, like each word had to rip its way free.

00:09:46Do you see it now? Nate's been dead for a week. You're his father. But you never even

00:09:52showed up.

00:09:53Then he snapped.

00:09:54What kind of man does that, Gavin? What kind of father ignores his own son's funeral?

00:09:58But Gavin cut him off.

00:10:01Claire, are you serious? Lauren and her son were hurt in that fire. They're infected,

00:10:05still in the hospital. I'm here taking care of them because someone has to. And now you're

00:10:10saying Nate is dead? Wow. You've really crossed the line.

00:10:15Then he hung up. Suddenly it all made sense. That day, when I told him Nate was gone, he

00:10:21barely reacted. Not because he didn't hear me. Because he thought I was making it up. He

00:10:26had accused me of a lot over the years. But this time? This time I shook so hard that I

00:10:31couldn't speak. My brother had heard every word. He grabbed my phone, found Nate's death

00:10:37certificate photo, and sent it to Gavin. Then he called him back. When Gavin answered, my

00:10:43brother's voice came out low and raw, like each word had to rip its way free.

00:10:46Do you see it now? Nate's been dead for a week. You're his father. But you never even

00:10:52showed up. Then he snapped. What kind of man does that, Gavin? What kind of father ignores

00:10:57his own son's funeral? My brother said it clearly. I thought Gavin would finally get

00:11:02it. I thought once the truth hit him, he'd say he was sorry. He'd feel something. Guilt.

00:11:09Shame. Regret. But he said nothing. He just hung up. I held myself together the whole time.

00:11:16Or maybe I didn't. People came. People hugged me. But I don't remember any of it. I just

00:11:23remember sitting there in my wheelchair, staring at Nate's picture carved into stone. In my

00:11:28head, all I could hear was his voice. Mom, Miss Lauren is here too. Dad only cares about

00:11:34them, right? He's leaving us again. I, I can't breathe. It hurts so much. Mom, I, I don't

00:11:44want to go. And his last words. Dad, why, why won't you see me? Can you get me a different

00:11:51dad? Those words kept looping in my mind. Again and again. Like an endless nightmare.

00:11:57When the funeral was over, my brother took me straight to the ER. I had burns all over

00:12:02my body. The infection got bad. My fever shot up. Everything after that blurred. Dreams.

00:12:08Voices. Needles. White lights. I couldn't tell what was real anymore. I only remember

00:12:16one thing for sure. Somebody kept holding my hand. Over and over, I heard a voice saying,

00:12:22Claire, stay with me. Don't fall asleep. When the fever finally broke and they moved me

00:12:29to a regular room, ten days had passed. Gavin was sitting by my bed. Dark circles under

00:12:35his eyes. Stubble all over his jaw. Clothes wrinkled. He looked wrecked. Nothing like

00:12:41himself. The second he saw my eyes open, his whole face changed.

00:12:45Claire, you're awake.

00:12:47The second I saw him, everything came back. The fire. Nate's voice. That closed door.

00:12:54That empty seat at the funeral. All of it hit me at once. Like my chest was being crushed

00:12:59from the inside. I sat up and slapped him. Hard. How dare you show your face here.

00:13:05His cheek turned red right away. He looked at me with this hollow, bitter kind of pain.

00:13:10Gavin's voice was quiet. I should have been at Nate's funeral. I know. I screwed up.

00:13:15Then Lauren rushed in. Pale. Wide-eyed. Like always. She dropped to her knees beside my bed

00:13:20like we were in some cheap TV drama. The second she blinked, tears spilled.

00:13:24Claire, I'm so sorry for what happened. This is all my fault. Liam had a heart episode that day.

00:13:32I panicked. Gavin was worried about us. That's why he missed the funeral.

00:13:36Please don't blame Gavin. Don't divorce him because of me.

00:13:41She grabbed my hand and pressed it to her cheek. Eyes wide and trembling. The same trick she'd used

00:13:46before. Daring me to hit her. Playing weak. Playing helpless. Setting the trap. Before, I used to freeze.

00:13:52But this time, I slapped her. Hard. Then I hit her again. Still not enough.

00:13:58You shameless bitch. What's wrong with you? There are millions of single men out there.

00:14:04So why do you keep going after someone else's husband? You got no shame? No self-respect?

00:14:11I raised my hand again. Gavin grabbed my wrist. His face went cold.

00:14:15Enough. I told you. Lauren and I are just friends. She's alone. She has a kid.

00:14:21Her life is hard enough. He glared at me. Do you have to twist our relationship?

00:14:26I yanked my hand free. I didn't even want to fight anymore. I pointed at the door. Get out.

00:14:35Claire, how can you talk to Gavin like that? He- I grabbed everything I could reach and hurled it

00:14:41at

00:14:41both of them. A cup. A tissue box. A remote. Get out! Both of you! Get the hell out! Gavin

00:14:49took a glance

00:14:50at me. A second later, he turned and pulled Lauren behind him. Then he walked her out. There was a

00:14:55time

00:14:56that would have destroyed me. Watching him choose her. Now, I felt nothing. I was born with doors that

00:15:02opened for me. Private schools. Summer houses. A last name that mattered. Gavin had none of that.

00:15:09He's just a firefighter from a normal family. A man who should have stayed out of my world.

00:15:14Gavin and I met by accident. One night, my best friend got dumped and dragged me out drinking.

00:15:20The bar caught fire. In the worst moment of my life, when I thought I was going to die on

00:15:25that filthy

00:15:25floor, Gavin found me. He carried me out. He nearly died doing it. He was handsome. Calm under pressure.

00:15:34And he saved my life. I fell for him hard. I found out he was single. I went after him.

00:15:41Persistent.

00:15:42Relentless. Finally, he said yes. Then, he proposed. Gavin was a gentle man. Always smiling, steady and calm.

00:15:52When you first met him, he felt warm and easy to talk to. But the longer you knew him,

00:15:57the more you realized something. He was polite to everyone. Even to me. Everybody said I'd married

00:16:03a good man. That I'd hit the jackpot. After we got married, he gave me every paycheck. He cooked.

00:16:10He cleaned. He handled the house. They didn't live in my marriage. They didn't feel the distance.

00:16:17The politeness. Even in bed, he felt, elsewhere. Like a man finishing a task. There is a wall between

00:16:24us. Invisible. Unbreakable. At first, I thought that was just who he was. Quiet. Closed off. Then

00:16:33Lauren came back. She had just gotten divorced and moved back with her son. The day she returned was

00:16:39our anniversary. Gavin took the day off. Not for me. For her. He didn't go to work. He didn't

00:16:46come home that night either. That's when I found out. Lauren wasn't just a friend. She was his ex.

00:16:53They'd been together since middle school. 10 years. First love. Their families forced them apart.

00:17:00That was the story. Gavin told me he helped her. We're just friends. I'll never betray you.

00:17:06Because she was a single mom. He looked me in the eye and said. I believed him. A big mistake.

00:17:12After he left my hospital room, Gavin started texting me. Long messages. I didn't read a single

00:17:19one. I blocked his number. Then I called my brother and told him to fire Lauren. Before all this,

00:17:25I didn't know she was Gavin's ex. I'd only heard she was a divorced mom with one kid,

00:17:30trying to start over, and that she worked in media. My family owns the company. I was the one who

00:17:36got her

00:17:36the job. Looking back, I'm sure people laughed behind my back the whole time. The rich wife. The

00:17:43fool. Lauren got fired the next day. And Gavin showed up right after. He walked in already angry.

00:17:49Jaw tight. Brows down. It's my fault, okay? I'm sorry. But that's none of her business.

00:17:56I stared at him. We're just friends. She has a little boy. That's it.

00:18:02And you had your brother fire her? Why are you being so harsh to a single mom?

00:18:05I gave her the job. Of course I can take it back. Listen, that's not the end. Every single

00:18:10dollar you spent on her, I'm taking it all back. Being harsh to a single mom? I nearly

00:18:15ended up letting her sleep in my bed. Gavin's face went dark.

00:18:18Claire, I'm saying this one more time. I've never done anything to betray you.

00:18:25Yes, she's my ex. But now, just a friend. A fucking friend. I was so sick of this cliche.

00:18:34And the hypocrite in front of me. I ground out through my teeth.

00:18:38Friend more important than your wife and your son? Nate's? Nate's funeral was 10 days ago.

00:18:44If you cared even a little about me or your son, you'd know he died just next door to Lauren.

00:18:50Gavin didn't move. I could feel every nerve in my body screaming.

00:18:55Nate screamed for you. He gasped. He choked. He begged. And you? You stood there. Broke every rule.

00:19:03Past our door. Picked her and her kid over us. I shouted. My hands shook. My chest burned.

00:19:10My son is dead because of you. I'm not asking you to save us as first. You wanted to save

00:19:15her first?

00:19:15Fine. But when you dragged her out, carried her son out? Did it ever cross your mind your wife and

00:19:20son were trapped in the same damn hotel? Did you tell your crew to check? Did you even care? If

00:19:26you

00:19:26thought for one second, my boy wouldn't have died in that fire! My voice turned raw. I was screaming by

00:19:34then. Years of rage. Humiliation. Grief. All of it came out at once. Gavin just stood there. For the first

00:19:42time, the anger drained out of his face. He looked wrecked. His lips parted, but no sound came out.

00:19:49Every time Gavin ever lost control, it was over Lauren and her son. This was the first time I had

00:19:54ever seen that much pain on his face because of me and Nate. He stared at me, lost, pale, shaking.

00:20:00Claire, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I swear to God, I didn't know you and Nate were there.

00:20:09I didn't mean it.

00:20:13I texted you everything. The hotel, the room number, more than once. You texted Lauren what to pack. You

00:20:21reminded her to be careful. But me and Nate going on a trip? You completely forgot about us?

00:20:28His face turned pale. He grabbed his phone and started scrolling through our messages with

00:20:33shaking fingers. I used to text him everything. Photos. Updates. Bits of life. But he hardly

00:20:41answered. The night before Nate died, he said he missed his dad. He wanted to FaceTime him. But Gavin

00:20:47was on a video call with Lauren's son, Liam. So he declined Nate's calls for three times. I couldn't

00:20:53stand seeing that look on his face. So I told him we'd make a little video for dad instead.

00:20:58I said, he'll watch it. He'll love it. Nate lit right up. He smiled into the camera and showed off

00:21:05every place we'd been that day. Then he gave the hotel name, the room number, and in the sweetest voice,

00:21:11full of hope, he said dad should come join us if he had time. Gavin opened the video. He watched

00:21:17it.

00:21:17His eyes went red fast. Then the tears came, just poured down his face. His throat made this awful

00:21:24broken sound, like he was choking on it. I had never seen him look like that. But his tears can't

00:21:30bring my boy back. Gavin held the phone so tight his knuckles went white. His voice was wrecked.

00:21:36It's all my fault. I failed Nate. I'm not a good dad. But please, don't blame Lauren and Liam.

00:21:45They didn't do anything wrong. I grabbed the water glass by my bed and it hit his forehead.

00:21:51I was shaking so badly I could barely breathe. You want to protect the ones you love? Then you

00:21:57better see if you're man enough to pull it off. Get out. I was done. Done talking. Done explaining.

00:22:05He didn't deserve to be Nate's father. The room got loud enough that people came running.

00:22:09My brother came in with Wes and a couple of nurses. They pushed Gavin out. I had just gotten

00:22:15out of ICU. My body was wrecked, but my head was clear. My brother had barely been to the

00:22:21office for two weeks. Work was piling up. He told me to rest, left Wes with me, and rushed

00:22:26back downtown. Wes is his best friend. A smart ass who never seemed to grow up. Then he became

00:22:33a lawyer. Shocked all of us. Now he was handling my divorce. He dropped into the chair by my bed,

00:22:39grabbed an apple off the tray, took a bite, and looked at me. Tell me how far you want to

00:22:44take

00:22:44this. Every dollar Gavin spent on Lauren and her son while he was married to me, I want it traced

00:22:49and clawed back. He used all of his income on them, and he used 200 grand of mine. I want

00:22:53the money back

00:22:54and the divorce. Done. Now. And file a complaint with his department. He broke rescue protocol.

00:23:01He delayed help to our room. That delay? It killed Nate, and it left me burned half to hell.

00:23:07I was dizzy from the fight, but my mind was sharp as a blade. This wasn't about the money. I

00:23:13wanted

00:23:14Gavin and Lauren to feel my pain. And his team? They deserved to know the truth. That his negligence

00:23:20cost a life. That this was the kind of man he really was. Wes didn't waste time. He said he'd

00:23:26start on the financial claim and the filing that day. That night, Gavin came back. Bandage wrapped

00:23:32around his forehead. Thermos in one hand. Sorry I'm late. Got caught up at work. I made some food for

00:23:39you. Easy on your stomach, but still good for you. He opened the lids one by one. Soup. Rice. Soft

00:23:47vegetables. Gavin got 10 vacation days a year. 9 went to Lauren and her son. The last half? He saved

00:23:55it for them too. I looked at the food. It actually looked good. For one second, I just stared at

00:24:02it.

00:24:02Then I shoved the tray. Everything hit the floor. Food. Broth. Containers. All of it. I looked at him

00:24:10and felt sick. You bring over all this food here for what? So I dropped the claim? So you can

00:24:15keep

00:24:16sending money to your side, spit? Gavin stared at the food on the floor. His face went hard.

00:24:21Claire, can you quit talking like that? Nothing ever happened between me and Lauren.

00:24:26That money was just a loan. His voice sharpened fast. I don't get why you hate her so much.

00:24:30I had heard that speech so many times it made me choke. A cough tore out of me before I

00:24:35could stop it.

00:24:36Gavin froze. The anger dropped right out of his face. He came over and reached for my back,

00:24:42trying to steady my breathing. Before Lauren came back into his life, people thought we were the

00:24:47perfect couple. So sometimes I caught myself wondering, how did we end up here? Gavin let

00:24:53out a slow breath. You're weak right now. Can we not fight? When he spoke again, his voice was softer.

00:25:00You're a mom. You get how tough this is for Lauren, right? I just stared at him. He kept going.

00:25:06She lost her job. If I make her pay that money back now, what does that make me? Try putting

00:25:11yourself in her shoes. That was the moment I knew there was nothing left to say. I was too tired

00:25:17to

00:25:17argue. Get out. My voice was flat. If you don't want to leave here with more injuries, get out now.

00:25:24He frowned, acting like I was crazy. Then his phone rang. Lauren. Of course. He picked up,

00:25:31and I heard enough to know what it was. Liam kept calling for him. Just like that,

00:25:36he was done fighting with me. Claire, you're upset right now. Calm down. We'll talk later.

00:25:41That was always his move. Whenever I got angry over Lauren, he never fixed it. He'd blame me for

00:25:47getting upset. Then leave me alone with the damage. He probably thought this would go the way it always

00:25:52had. That eventually I'd stop pushing. Move on. What he still didn't understand was this.

00:25:58The second Nate died, whatever was left between us died too. That same evening, I completed the

00:26:04procedures for transferring to another hospital. I wasn't going to stay there another day and let

00:26:09him and Lauren keep circling my room like vultures. The next morning, Gavin couldn't reach me,

00:26:14so he started asking our mutual friends to check on me. Hey Claire, you just got out of the hospital.

00:26:19Where are you? Gavin's been freaking out about you. Ask Gavin this. If he was so worried about me,

00:26:25why did he pick a fight the day I left ICU just to defend his ex? And ask him this

00:26:30too. If he was

00:26:32so worried, why did he spend less than 10 minutes in my room before running back to Lauren?

00:26:37One of them called and said, I hung up. Then I went into the group chat we all shared,

00:26:42friends, coworkers, the whole fake little group, and tagged both Gavin and Lauren.

00:26:46Gavin, stop pretending everything's fine. Stop asking me to help you two play this game.

00:26:54Do you really think no one sees it? Gavin, just admit it. You're still in love with your ex.

00:27:02At least be honest about it instead of this crap.

00:27:06And ladies, I typed. The group chat went dead. No one replied. Silence in public. Chaos in private.

00:27:14A little later, Gavin texted me from a new number. You can hate me all you want. You can take

00:27:20it out

00:27:21on me. Leave Lauren and Liam out of this. They didn't do anything. How many times do I have to

00:27:27tell you?

00:27:28Didn't do anything? Ridiculous. I used to keep quiet. Out of pride. Out of mercy. But now my son

00:27:36was gone. All my mercy was buried with him. I called Gavin right away. When he answered, I didn't wait.

00:27:43Don't worry. You're on the list too. Do you really have to do this? No doubt. Yes. No pause. You're

00:27:51acting so crazy I don't even know you anymore. He said something that almost made me laugh again.

00:27:56I closed my eyes. Funny. I guess I never knew you at all. If I had known what he really

00:28:02was.

00:28:02How weak. How blind. How messed up inside. I never would have married him. Nate wouldn't have been

00:28:10compared to Liam. He wouldn't have been called too sensitive, too clingy, not enough. He wouldn't

00:28:15have had to shrink himself for a father who always chose someone else. And maybe, he wouldn't have died

00:28:21still hoping that man would change. Wes moved fast. The money case came through first. The court ordered

00:28:27Lauren to pay me back 1.85 million. Wes warned me. He said the divorce wouldn't be easy. I didn't

00:28:34have

00:28:34hard proof Gavin had physically cheated. Without that, the court said the marriage was not legally

00:28:39beyond repair. So they denied the divorce. Gavin was furious that I forced Lauren to pay. He tried to

00:28:45borrow money and cover it for her himself. I shut that down immediately. I had Wes pass the message

00:28:51straight to him. Gavin. Want to raise your mistress and her kid? Fine. Once we're divorced, do whatever

00:28:59you want. But every dollar you spent on her? That's my money. So get it back. Now. I thought he'd

00:29:06agree.

00:29:07I thought there was no way he'd let Lauren suffer if he could stop it. But I was wrong. Gavin

00:29:12asked to meet.

00:29:13I said no. Wes came back later and told me. He won't sign. He says the marriage is fine. He

00:29:19says

00:29:20you're overreacting. He says you don't get him. I almost laughed. I realized I never really knew

00:29:25Gavin. For years, he gave everything to Lauren and Liam. His time. His care. His patience. And me?

00:29:32Shorter. Colder. Meaner. Some days, he treated strangers better than his own wife. I couldn't figure it out.

00:29:38Why drag this out? Why hold on? Then I stopped trying. I was done playing nice. He wanted to drag

00:29:45this out? I'd make him beg for the divorce. The complaint letter was already in. The review was

00:29:50moving. A few days later, someone from internal review called. I said yes. They showed up in a

00:29:56group. Too many suits. Too many fake smiles. They even brought health supplements. Like that would fix

00:30:02any of this. What I didn't expect. Gavin walked in with them. One of the senior men gave me a

00:30:07grave

00:30:08little smile. Gavin has already explained the situation. He knows he made a serious mistake.

00:30:13Then he turned to Gavin. Go on. Apologize now. Gavin looked thinner. Dark circles. Hollow cheeks.

00:30:19Like grief had finally found his address. He stepped up to me. His voice was rough.

00:30:24Claire, I'm sorry. I promise this will never happen again.

00:30:28I stared at him. My hands were clenched so tight it hurt. And what good is that now?

00:30:33Nate is dead. Does saying sorry bring him back? You didn't even show up to your own son's funeral.

00:30:39What kind of man does that? What kind man if you bout? Gavin swallowed hard. For once,

00:30:45he didn't look calm. He wasn't steady. He looked scared. I failed Nate. I know that. But Liam had a

00:30:51cardiac episode that day. He doesn't have a dad. Lauren didn't know what to do. I couldn't just leave.

00:30:56I cut him off so fast he flinched. Was she the only person in the world?

00:31:01She's 35, Gavin. Not a kid you have to babysit. If you didn't want to come, just say so.

00:31:06I looked around the room. The suits. The fake smiles. The men hoping I'd make this easy.

00:31:11You all came here to talk me out of this, didn't you? You really think that sounds okay?

00:31:17Nobody answered. Because nobody could. Once I got so caught up in all this,

00:31:21I even ran paternity tests. More than once. Gavin and Liam. Never father and son. Then it hit me.

00:31:28Love someone. You take everything with them. That was Gavin. He loved Lauren so much. He treated her

00:31:34kid like a saint too. The room went stiff. Everybody looked embarrassed. Finally, one of the leaders

00:31:40cleared his throat and tried again. Claire, you got to think this through. Gavin's one of our top guys.

00:31:46People are already talking promotions. He's got a huge future ahead. And if you push this,

00:31:52you could ruin it for him. You still think you deserve to wear that uniform? When you ran off with

00:31:58your girlfriend and grabbed Liam, did you know my son was a doorway? Crying for you? Saying,

00:32:03daddy, it hurts over and over? If anyone else had been on that call, he'd still be alive.

00:32:09You're the only one who let this happen. Gavin went white. He opened his mouth. Nothing came out.

00:32:15Then he turned and walked out. Ran. Almost. I looked past the window. The sky was dark and heavy.

00:32:22Storm colored. Like rain was coming. The next day, the department called. Their decision was in.

00:32:28Major disciplinary mark. Demotion. Removed from command. By then, my body had started to heal.

00:32:35Enough that I could go see Nate. It had only been a month since he died. One month. But it

00:32:40felt like

00:32:40years. Time had gotten strange after him. At night, I still woke up from dreams of him crying. Once I

00:32:46was

00:32:47up, I couldn't go back to sleep. Every minute dragged. I brought flowers to the cemetery. When I got there,

00:32:53I saw I wasn't alone. Gavin was already there. Flowers lined Nate's grave.

00:32:58A superhero figure. A little cake. Candy. Snacks. I kicked them all aside.

00:33:05Claire, whatever your problem with me, take it out on me. Don't do this here. He was my son too.

00:33:11No. That's not what Liam likes. I pulled out Legos, a Rubik's Cube, and Nate's favorite spicy snacks.

00:33:18Nate hated sweets. He didn't care about superheroes.

00:33:21I'm sorry. I thought all boys liked this stuff.

00:33:24If you don't care, don't fake it. Doesn't this embarrass you?

00:33:28He could remember Liam. Not Nate. Not one favorite toy or snack. Indifference.

00:33:33I just wanted more time with him. I was busy. I didn't get enough time.

00:33:38But Nate said he wanted a different dad next life.

00:33:40Gavin staggered. Kneeled. He whispered. It felt empty. Fake. Too late.

00:33:46If you really feel sorry, honor his wish. Stop showing up in front of him.

00:33:50His phone rang. Lauren. He answered, face changing instantly.

00:33:55Gil-

00:33:55Claire. Lauren and Liam are innocent. Blame me. Not them. You're a mother too.

00:34:01How can you be this cruel? You wouldn't even leave them the house? Don't worry. I'm coming.

00:34:05Lauren knew Gavin had her back. Even with cash in hand, she refused to pay.

00:34:10I had Wes file for court enforcement. The property under Lauren and Liam's name was put up for forced sale.

00:34:15This morning, they were evicted. Gavin kept hovering, trying to calm her down, anxious and tense.

00:34:21I knew the truth. He wasn't sorry. Later, I remembered how he once risked his life to save me.

00:34:27He said that's the job. I asked if he was scared. Maybe it's how I grew up.

00:34:32His father, a firefighter, died when Gavin was 7. His mother sick. Died when he was 15.

00:34:38Crew and friends kept him alive. He grew up giving, helping, optimistic.

00:34:42That was the part one loved most. And the part one came to hate.

00:34:46Every time Lauren called, he answered, always softer, faster, more completely than me.

00:34:52I stayed calm at first. Then uneasy. Then furious. He never got it.

00:34:58You've never complained when I helped other people. So why are you obsessing over Lauren and Liam?

00:35:03I've never crossed a line with them. Stop making this about jealousy.

00:35:08Then I came back from the memory, empty. I stayed with Nate for over an hour.

00:35:12Then left. Not sure if it was just my luck today. Or some cosmic joke.

00:35:16Later, outside downtown, I saw them again. Lauren on the roof ledge. Liam in her arms.

00:35:22Police. Firefighters. Gavin trying to calm her. A crowd had gathered. Cameras flashing.

00:35:28She saw me. Screamed.

00:35:31Claire! Will you only stop when me and my son are dead?

00:35:34My phone rang. Blocked number. Gavin. Borrowed someone else's phone.

00:35:39Stop. Don't push her. Whatever you need to say, not her. Say it to me.

00:35:43I gripped the phone. Enough.

00:35:46Then I looked at Lauren on the ledge.

00:35:47At the hotel, she knew I was next door. So did Liam.

00:35:52We need a doing sakes there. But they's never responding.

00:35:56They knew we were there. But they never told you.

00:35:59Gavin froze. Just for a second. Then he said, too fast. Too panicked.

00:36:04That's not possible. Lauren would never do that. She has a good heart.

00:36:09Of course. Men like him only believe what they want to.

00:36:12I hung up and shouted at Lauren on the ledge.

00:36:15You wanna jump? Then jump. Can't do it with your kid? Fine. Go by yourself.

00:36:20Cops and firefighters rushed toward me immediately. Hands raised. Voices loud.

00:36:25Trying to stop me. The crowd stared.

00:36:27I laughed. A megaphone appeared. Wes.

00:36:30He raised an eyebrow. Use this. Save your voice.

00:36:33Your brother made me promise I'd keep you in one piece.

00:36:35I took it. She's not jumping!

00:36:38She wasn't leaning, shaking, or letting go.

00:36:41Wes muttered about my height.

00:36:42Too short. Then brought a chair.

00:36:43I stepped up. Lifted the megaphone higher.

00:36:46Since we're all watching, here's the truth.

00:36:49That woman up there?

00:36:50My husband's side swash.

00:36:52The guy behind her?

00:36:53My husband.

00:36:53My husband gave her $1.85 million during our marriage.

00:36:57I sued.

00:36:58She refused to pay.

00:37:00So the court moved to sell her house.

00:37:02She doesn't want to pay.

00:37:04Doesn't want to lose the house.

00:37:05Today, she pulled this stunt, hoping you'd pressure me into backing down.

00:37:09Still recovering from major burns.

00:37:11My son is dead.

00:37:13And now I'm supposed to be the cruel one?

00:37:15Because I won't let my husband's mistress bully me in public?

00:37:19If you still think I'm the villain here, fine.

00:37:21The crowd erupted.

00:37:23Voices from all directions.

00:37:25Shameless!

00:37:26Arrest her!

00:37:27The wife is the real victim.

00:37:28That's outrageous!

00:37:30Wes studied me and drove me home.

00:37:32By nightfall, the story was everywhere.

00:37:34Lauren had made too much noise.

00:37:36Reporters dug into the fire.

00:37:38Fire captain altered rescue order to save ex-girlfriend and her child first.

00:37:41Delay allegedly led to death of five-year-old son and severe burns to wife.

00:37:45Dead child identified as captain's son, wife and child in room next to ex-girlfriend.

00:37:49Gavin and Lauren were dragged online.

00:37:51Lauren couldn't rent anywhere.

00:37:53Gavin's career took a hit.

00:37:54If he failed his own child, what could people trust him with?

00:37:57Gavin tried to contact me repeatedly.

00:38:00No luck.

00:38:00Finally, he hired a lawyer.

00:38:03He wanted a divorce.

00:38:04Wes handled the back and forth.

00:38:06He says, Lauren panicked and forgot you and Nate were next door.

00:38:09He thinks you misjudged her.

00:38:10He's disappointed in you and wants a divorce.

00:38:13I looked at Wes.

00:38:14Tired.

00:38:14Done.

00:38:15I didn't care to untangle excuses anymore.

00:38:17Come with me.

00:38:18I want the divorce done face to face.

00:38:20Today.

00:38:21At my house.

00:38:22After Nate died, I couldn't go home.

00:38:24His shoes.

00:38:25His cups.

00:38:26His half-built toys everywhere.

00:38:28I couldn't live under the same roof as Gavin.

00:38:30But now the house was mine.

00:38:32Every memory of Nate stayed.

00:38:33Gavin would take only himself out.

00:38:35We arrived.

00:38:36Opposing counsel called.

00:38:38House not ideal.

00:38:39Moved to coffee shop.

00:38:40Fine.

00:38:41I just wanted it done.

00:38:42Since I was already there, I wanted Nate's favorite Lego set.

00:38:46I keyed the door.

00:38:47Wrong code.

00:38:48Again.

00:38:48Wrong.

00:38:49Then a voice.

00:38:50Who is it?

00:38:51My blood ran cold.

00:38:52The door opened.

00:38:53Lauren.

00:38:54Lauren was in my house.

00:38:55Wearing pajamas.

00:38:57Liam was right behind her.

00:38:59Dressed like you lived there too.

00:39:00One look past the door and I knew.

00:39:02The furniture had been moved.

00:39:04The decor was different.

00:39:06Their things were everywhere.

00:39:08They had settled in.

00:39:09But this was my house.

00:39:11My house with Gavin.

00:39:13We weren't even divorced yet.

00:39:15How the hell did he let another woman move in here with her kid?

00:39:18My blood went hot so fast my vision blurred.

00:39:21Lauren saw me and panicked.

00:39:22She tried to slam the door.

00:39:24Wes gave an annoyed click of his tongue and kicked the door back open.

00:39:28You can't go in there.

00:39:30Out of my way.

00:39:31I shoved her aside and went in.

00:39:33Then I saw the bedroom.

00:39:35Clean.

00:39:36Reset.

00:39:37Different.

00:39:38There was nothing left of Nate.

00:39:40My mind went blank.

00:39:41I turned and grabbed Lauren by the shirt.

00:39:44Where are Nate's clothes?

00:39:46His shoes?

00:39:48His toys?

00:39:49His pictures?

00:39:51Where are they?

00:39:51I was one second from falling apart.

00:39:55Lauren wouldn't look at me.

00:39:56But Liam answered for her.

00:39:58Mom said keeping dead people's stuff is creepy.

00:40:01So she threw it out.

00:40:02I screamed and grabbed a fistful of Lauren's hair.

00:40:05Then I hit her.

00:40:06Once.

00:40:07Twice.

00:40:08Over and over.

00:40:09She fell.

00:40:10I went down with her and kept swinging.

00:40:13I wanted to tear her apart.

00:40:15My son was already dead.

00:40:17Wasn't that enough?

00:40:18Why did she have to erase every trace of him too?

00:40:21Gavin kept saying Lauren and Liam were innocent.

00:40:24Then what about Nate?

00:40:26What about me?

00:40:27Claire!

00:40:28What the hell are you doing?

00:40:29He tried to yank me off her.

00:40:31Wes stepped in front of him.

00:40:33Let's not do that.

00:40:34Breaking up a fight between women?

00:40:36Bad look for you.

00:40:37Wes looked lean.

00:40:38But he could fight.

00:40:39He'd competed at the national level.

00:40:41Gavin couldn't get past him.

00:40:43So he did what men like him always do when they lose control.

00:40:46He called the cops.

00:40:48Lauren didn't do anything to deserve that.

00:40:50She let the last time slide and now you're attacking her again?

00:40:53I know you're hurting, Claire, but that doesn't give you the right to go after her.

00:40:58I have never met a lower man than you.

00:41:00My brother had already handled it.

00:41:02He hired a crew to dig through the landfill for Nate's things.

00:41:05Wes and I drove out there fast.

00:41:08You're still recovering, Claire.

00:41:10Go home.

00:41:11Get off your feet.

00:41:13I'll find everything.

00:41:15I swear to God I will.

00:41:16I didn't even spare him a glance.

00:41:18Wes handed me a pair of work gloves.

00:41:20I pulled them on and climbed into the mountain of trash.

00:41:23If Nate had anything left in this world, I was the one taking it home.

00:41:27Gavin just stood there, useless.

00:41:29Looking like a man who'd shown up too late and knew it.

00:41:32What exactly are we looking for?

00:41:34That almost broke me.

00:41:35Because there was a time he knew every single thing that mattered.

00:41:39When Nate was born, before Lauren came back, Gavin showed up.

00:41:42For those first three years, he was all in.

00:41:45He changed diapers, made baby food, sat on the floor for hours building block towers that always ended in laughter.

00:41:52When he wasn't on shift, he was all about Nate.

00:41:55People used to tell me I was the lucky one.

00:41:57They said I'd married the best man in the world.

00:41:59And Nate?

00:42:00Nate adored him.

00:42:02Then Lauren came back.

00:42:03After that, Gavin was never really home.

00:42:06He was either at the station or at her place.

00:42:09If you asked him about Liam, how tall he was, what snacks he liked, what size shoes he wore,

00:42:14He'd talk for days.

00:42:16But ask him where Nate went to preschool?

00:42:19Silence.

00:42:20Ask him which toy Nate couldn't sleep without.

00:42:22Blank.

00:42:23It was over a hundred out.

00:42:25The stink from the landfill hit like a wall.

00:42:28I kept digging.

00:42:29I didn't say a word.

00:42:31At one point, Gavin had to ask the crew what Nate's things even looked like.

00:42:35They had to show him pictures.

00:42:37That told me everything.

00:42:39He wasn't there for my son.

00:42:41He was there to quiet his own guilt.

00:42:43By early afternoon, the heat took him down.

00:42:46He collapsed right there in the middle of the trash.

00:42:49EMS had to take him out.

00:42:51Later, after they got him stable, he came back.

00:42:54Still pale.

00:42:55Still shaky.

00:42:56Still digging.

00:42:57Claire, Lauren wants to make a deal.

00:43:00She'll pay for all of it.

00:43:01She just doesn't want criminal exposure.

00:43:03Tell her this.

00:43:04If she wants mercy, she can start by saying my son's name in public.

00:43:08She can stand in front of every camera she's been dodging and admit what she did.

00:43:11She can do it at his memorial, and she can stay there until every last thing that belonged to him

00:43:15is found.

00:43:16If she agrees, I won't do anything to keep this in the headlines.

00:43:19Her lawyer can take the rest up with the DA.

00:43:22Lauren crossed a line this time.

00:43:24What she did was wrong, but she didn't mean...

00:43:29You can stand right beside them.

00:43:30You go with them, or she goes to jail.

00:43:33As for Nate's things, I didn't need Gavin.

00:43:36He'd already missed the last two years of my son's life.

00:43:39And now Nate didn't need him anymore either.

00:43:41I shoved past him and kept digging.

00:43:44For the next two days, Wes kept me updated.

00:43:47I meant every word I said.

00:43:49If they did what I told them to do, they were staying there.

00:43:52Day and night.

00:43:54Whether their bodies could take it?

00:43:56Not my problem.

00:43:57It wasn't even a fraction of what my boy went through.

00:44:00It took two full days to find everything.

00:44:02When the last box was finally pulled out, my knees nearly buckled.

00:44:06I held it in my arms, filthy, stinking, covered in ash and rot.

00:44:10I cried so hard I could barely see.

00:44:13Come on.

00:44:14Let's go home.

00:44:16Nate would hate seeing you like this.

00:44:17When I got back to the house, I wanted to throw up.

00:44:21Everything Lauren had touched felt contaminated.

00:44:24I hired a crew on the spot.

00:44:26I told them to haul every single thing they'd brought into that house out to the curb.

00:44:30The furniture.

00:44:31The decor.

00:44:32The kitchen junk.

00:44:34All of it.

00:44:35Anything that smelled like them.

00:44:36They'd been out there for two days and two nights.

00:44:39Gavin too.

00:44:40Lauren saw her things being hauled out and almost lost it.

00:44:44How?

00:44:45How could you do this?

00:44:47Gavin, do something!

00:44:49Her voice bored straight into my skull.

00:44:51I grabbed a framed photo and hurled it at her.

00:44:53It shattered right by her feet.

00:44:55In this city, money buys more than just silence.

00:44:58It buys me the pleasure of watching you crawl.

00:45:01And I've got very deep pockets.

00:45:05She just stood there, teary-eyed, looking at Gavin like he was going to save her.

00:45:11We did what you asked.

00:45:13You can drop the case now.

00:45:15Right?

00:45:16Of course.

00:45:19But Gavin?

00:45:21I changed my mind.

00:45:22I'm not divorcing you.

00:45:24Not yet.

00:45:25I'm going to drag this out for as long as I can.

00:45:28And I'm going to make sure all three of you know what it feels like to live inside a nightmare.

00:45:33I had their things thrown out.

00:45:34Gavin's, two, clothes, shoes, tools, every last trace of him.

00:45:41Then I changed the door code.

00:45:42Before he could speak, I hit him where it hurt.

00:45:45You borrowed 200 grand from me, and you promised to pay it back.

00:45:49You were ready to chaff up nearly 2 million for Lauren.

00:45:53So don't even think about dragging your feet.

00:45:55You were payment successful!

00:45:58He transferred the money.

00:46:00Every cent he had.

00:46:01Then he tried one last time.

00:46:03You can hate me, Claire.

00:46:04I deserve it.

00:46:05But Lauren and Lemus, all they did was take the help I offered.

00:46:09They didn't do anything wrong.

00:46:11There it was again.

00:46:12The same blind spot that killed my son.

00:46:14I walked inside and slammed the door in his face.

00:46:17Hard.

00:46:18Wes was waiting.

00:46:19The reporters still want that interview about the fire.

00:46:21You want me to cancel?

00:46:22No.

00:46:23Let him come.

00:46:24I'd spent weeks covering for him.

00:46:26Staying quiet while people online came up with excuses for why he wasn't there.

00:46:30Where's Nate's grave?

00:46:31While he was alive, you barely acted like a father.

00:46:35Now that he's dead, don't you dare taint his rest.

00:46:38I will never let you see him again.

00:46:40I'm sorry.

00:46:41I swear I didn't mean to.

00:46:44Don't break yet.

00:46:46We're just getting started.

00:46:48That afternoon, the reporters came.

00:46:50I sat in front of the cameras.

00:46:52He knew exactly where we were.

00:46:54He just chose to stop listening.

00:46:56But he had blocked me.

00:46:57He wouldn't answer my calls or my son's because he was busy.

00:47:03Busy with work, with Lauren, and with her son.

00:47:08He didn't want us bothering him.

00:47:15When he pulled them out, he walked right past our door.

00:47:22My boy, Nate, was screaming for his dad.

00:47:26He marked that floor clear while my son was still inside.

00:47:30He didn't make a mistake.

00:47:32He made a choice.

00:47:34And that choice killed my son.

00:47:39It's so good to talk it with Nate.

00:47:40We will end day that I didn't need to rambley.

00:47:43The aim is horrible.

00:47:44The players group are still better and fighter like you.

00:47:47The rest of the train, you're gonna do it.

00:47:48The video exploded.

00:47:49The department put him on leave first.

00:47:51Then the investigation started.

00:47:54By the end of the week, his position, his reputation, his future there, gone.

00:47:59I pulled every mutual contact into one group chat.

00:48:02This is Claire, Gavin's wife.

00:48:04If he asks for money, it's for Lauren Blake.

00:48:07I am no longer his safety net.

00:48:09He has no savings, no assets, and now, no future.

00:48:13I was done paying for the other woman.

00:48:15People backed off.

00:48:17Fast.

00:48:18Whenever they moved, I found them.

00:48:21And once I did, they got the message.

00:48:23Filth at the door.

00:48:25Funeral flowers.

00:48:26Red words across the walls.

00:48:28Rotten food.

00:48:29Public shame.

00:48:30Fear.

00:48:31Everywhere they went, it followed.

00:48:34Grief had hollowed me out and left something mean in its place.

00:48:37By then, I wasn't trying to be good.

00:48:40I was trying to make them hurt.

00:48:42I knew what I was becoming.

00:48:44I just didn't care.

00:48:45Rotten hell.

00:48:46You homewrecking bitch.

00:48:47A life for a life.

00:48:49Watch your son pay for your sins.

00:48:51Gavin, can you feel his eyes on you?

00:48:54They called the cops.

00:48:55I didn't care.

00:48:56As long as I had resources, they were never going to outrun the consequences.

00:49:00If they moved, I followed.

00:49:02New house.

00:49:03Same nightmare.

00:49:04Every week, Wes gathered the proof.

00:49:07Every cent Gavin spent on them, we filed to claw back.

00:49:10If Lauren didn't have cash, we took her car.

00:49:12We froze her accounts.

00:49:14Gavin used to say I was going after her.

00:49:17That I was being cruel.

00:49:18Fine.

00:49:19He hadn't seen cruel yet.

00:49:21Wes usually handled the big fish.

00:49:23Cases worth hundreds of millions.

00:49:25Now, he was spending his days tearing my marriage apart.

00:49:29One filing at a time.

00:49:31It felt like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

00:49:33Your brother and his wife, they're still torn up about Nate.

00:49:38They feel like they failed him.

00:49:40They told me, don't let anyone pick on Claire again.

00:49:43If I even think about walking away, they'll have my head.

00:49:47Besides, big law is exhausting.

00:49:50Helping you tear these two down?

00:49:51It's the most fun I've had in years.

00:49:54One month.

00:49:54That's all it took for Lauren to break.

00:49:56Her son's condition got worse with every scare.

00:49:59The ER visits piled up.

00:50:01She couldn't even pay the bills.

00:50:03Leon was a child.

00:50:04I knew that.

00:50:06I just didn't have mercy left for anyone connected to her.

00:50:09Gavin showed up at my door.

00:50:11Curious.

00:50:12He looked at me like I was the monster.

00:50:14Do you have any idea what you're doing?

00:50:17You keep pushing like this, Claire.

00:50:20And you're going to have blood on your hands.

00:50:23Is that what you want?

00:50:26Why would I be scared, Gavin?

00:50:28Because if someone dies, Claire, that's it.

00:50:33You're looking at prison time.

00:50:35Real time.

00:50:36Then I'll just go.

00:50:40Nate is gone.

00:50:42What's the difference to me now?

00:50:44Let's be real.

00:50:45All I did was lean on Lauren.

00:50:48If something happens to her kid, that's on her.

00:50:51Maybe one day I pay for how far I've gone.

00:50:53At that point, I didn't care.

00:50:56But if that buys you and Lauren a lifetime of pure hell?

00:51:01Totally worth it.

00:51:04Claire, how could you do this to me?

00:51:05You made me.

00:51:06You made me.

00:51:08That was the God-honest truth.

00:51:09He helped kill my son.

00:51:11I was stuck in a hole I couldn't climb out of.

00:51:14So why should he and Lauren get to find peace?

00:51:17Why do they get to sleep?

00:51:18Why do they get to eat and breathe and have a life?

00:51:22Gavin opened his mouth to speak.

00:51:24Nothing.

00:51:25Just that same hollow, pathetic look.

00:51:27When he finally turned to go, he looked heavy.

00:51:30Like every step was a goddamn chore.

00:51:38I want to see you.

00:51:41Fine.

00:51:42The coffee shop then.

00:51:44When she walked in, she looked old.

00:51:46Not years damaged, dot eye.

00:51:48Like life had just worn her face down.

00:51:50The second she saw me, her eyes turned sharp.

00:51:53Pure hate.

00:51:56You know, I really did envy you.

00:51:59I didn't say a word.

00:52:01I just let her keep digging her own grave.

00:52:04You had everything I didn't.

00:52:06The money.

00:52:07The family.

00:52:08The kind of life that always has a safety net.

00:52:12I had none of that.

00:52:13You were born with a silver spoon, Claire.

00:52:16I had to scratch and claw for every scrap of attention Gervin gave me.

00:52:22I'm not here for the sob story, Lauren.

00:52:25That shut her up.

00:52:26For a second, anyway.

00:52:28See, that's the thing.

00:52:30Her parents might have been monsters.

00:52:32But that had nothing to do with me.

00:52:34I wasn't Gavin.

00:52:36She wasn't going to cry and watch me fold.

00:52:41I've been holding this in a long time.

00:52:43I've loved Gavin since middle school.

00:52:46Even after my divorce, I thought he'd hate me for marrying someone else.

00:52:51But he was so damn good to me.

00:52:53And I started thinking, maybe he still loved me too.

00:53:01Sometimes I'd say things.

00:53:03Little things.

00:53:04Just to set you off.

00:53:06Just to see what happened.

00:53:08And when he'd get pissed at you, get pissed at you.

00:53:11Because of me.

00:53:12Because of Liam.

00:53:14God, that felt good.

00:53:15Look, Claire.

00:53:17Gavin never actually cheated.

00:53:19He just felt sorry for me.

00:53:21That's it.

00:53:23I tried.

00:53:24God, I tried.

00:53:25But he never let it happen.

00:53:29We've both paid enough now.

00:53:31I'm leaving town.

00:53:35So...

00:53:36Stop.

00:53:37Just stop going after him.

00:53:39He's hurting too, Claire.

00:53:41After what happened to the kid, he's suffering.

00:53:44She kept talking.

00:53:46She kept talking.

00:53:46And talking.

00:53:47Confessional garbage.

00:53:49I didn't say a word.

00:53:51I just flipped my phone.

00:53:53Then...

00:53:53Ding.

00:53:54Her screen lit up.

00:53:58Did you really think a few soft words would save you?

00:54:02You don't get to torture me and my son for two years?

00:54:04Then sit for coffee and ask for grace?

00:54:08She went ghost white.

00:54:09Her knees gave out.

00:54:11She hit the floor.

00:54:12I didn't help her.

00:54:14I didn't even look back.

00:54:15I just walked out.

00:54:17She made my son's life hell for two years.

00:54:20Fine.

00:54:21Now she can live inside my revenge for two.

00:54:23If the stress wrecks her kid?

00:54:25If she never sleeps again?

00:54:27Not my problem.

00:54:28What would Gavin do when he saw it?

00:54:30I got my answer sooner than I thought.

00:54:33Both of them were catching hell for weeks.

00:54:35No sleep.

00:54:36Harassment.

00:54:38Runs for Liam.

00:54:39Lawyers.

00:54:40Pressure.

00:54:41Gavin looked wrecked.

00:54:43He didn't just look tired.

00:54:45He looked used up.

00:54:46He smelled like whiskey.

00:54:48Bloodshot eyes.

00:54:54Claire.

00:54:56Claire, listen to me.

00:54:57I swear.

00:54:58I didn't know Lauren felt that way.

00:55:00I didn't know.

00:55:01I just thought your brother had your back.

00:55:04Your friends were there.

00:55:05You were the strong one.

00:55:06And she had nobody.

00:55:07Her parents used her.

00:55:09She had nothing.

00:55:10No one.

00:55:10I thought she needed the help more.

00:55:14That's all it was.

00:55:16I swear.

00:55:17I never loved her.

00:55:19I never betrayed you.

00:55:20I crossed lines.

00:55:21I messed up.

00:55:22I know that now.

00:55:24But I never slept with her.

00:55:26I never touched her.

00:55:27From now on, she's dead to me.

00:55:29Cut off.

00:55:30Completely.

00:55:31I'll do whatever you want, Claire.

00:55:32Anything.

00:55:33Please.

00:55:34Just one more chance.

00:55:35From the day we met, Gavin was the center of my universe.

00:55:39I was the one giving.

00:55:40He was always the one in control.

00:55:43But this?

00:55:44This was the first time I'd seen him this low.

00:55:46This desperate.

00:55:48This small.

00:55:49Okay.

00:55:51What did you say?

00:55:52She said okay, man.

00:55:54If you're hearing shots, see a specialist.

00:55:56You're too young for this.

00:55:57I'm dying of thirst, by the way.

00:55:59You gonna let me in for a drink or what?

00:56:01Come on in.

00:56:02I walked in right beside him.

00:56:04Gavin followed us fast.

00:56:05His hands were shaking as he poured the water.

00:56:08It was only two in the afternoon.

00:56:10I took a sip and set the glass down.

00:56:13Wes has been helping me non-stop.

00:56:15He's staying the night.

00:56:16You're a good cook, aren't you?

00:56:18Then cook.

00:56:19Depends.

00:56:19Does the husband mind?

00:56:21No.

00:56:22Fridge is empty.

00:56:23Can you grab some groceries?

00:56:25And Wes and I need some private time to unwind.

00:56:29I bought those ties for you.

00:56:30And the cufflinks.

00:56:31They should be here in a day or two.

00:56:34Usually that's girlfriend territory.

00:56:38Ties and cufflinks.

00:56:40You sending a message, Claire?

00:56:41You're my brother's best friend.

00:56:43You're family.

00:56:44Didn't you say you had a headache?

00:56:46You look exhausted.

00:56:47Lean back.

00:56:49It's easier this way.

00:56:51Your husband's standing right there.

00:56:52So?

00:56:53If you've got a dirty mind, Gavin, that's your cross to carry.

00:56:56Don't project your filth on us.

00:56:57Gavin just stood there.

00:56:59Watching.

00:57:00Still.

00:57:01Silent.

00:57:02His face was a wreck.

00:57:04Flickering between shock, pain, and pure jealousy.

00:57:07He looked exactly the way I used to look.

00:57:12If you don't want to make dinner, just say it.

00:57:16Wes and I can just head out.

00:57:17We can afford it.

00:57:18No.

00:57:19It's fine.

00:57:20I'll go.

00:57:22Between the store and the stove, he was gone four hours.

00:57:25By the time he came back, Wes and I were in the living room.

00:57:28Laughing over some messy divorce case he'd handled.

00:57:31Gavin brought the food out like it was glass.

00:57:34Everything looked perfect.

00:57:36Too bland.

00:57:37Wes won't like this.

00:57:38We're going out.

00:57:39I didn't even look at the expression on his face.

00:57:42I just grabbed Wes's arm and walked out.

00:57:45Like Gavin wasn't even in the room.

00:57:47We didn't get back until late.

00:57:49The house was spotless.

00:57:51Clean counters.

00:57:52Folded blankets.

00:57:54Dishes done.

00:57:54For a split second, it felt like the start of our marriage.

00:57:58Back when Gavin made everything feel safe.

00:58:01I killed the thought.

00:58:03It's late.

00:58:04Just crash here tonight, Wes.

00:58:05Look at you.

00:58:06All grown up.

00:58:07Taking care of people.

00:58:10You take such good care of me, Wes.

00:58:12Someone's got to appreciate you, right?

00:58:14And you know I always look after my favorites.

00:58:18Claire!

00:58:19Are you doing this to get back at me?

00:58:21Get back at you?

00:58:22Hilarious.

00:58:22He's staying because driving late sucks.

00:58:25Why are you making it weird?

00:58:27Come on.

00:58:27You're finishing the show with me.

00:58:29Gavin never watched anything but the news.

00:58:32I'd try to tell him about a series I loved.

00:58:34He'd just nod.

00:58:36Uh-huh.

00:58:37Never heard a word.

00:58:38Wes was different.

00:58:40He lived for the drama.

00:58:42Half his job was divorce law, and he always had a story that topped the script.

00:58:45We sat there for hours, laughing, talking, completely tuned in.

00:58:50Gavin tried to jump in once or twice.

00:58:53Nobody bit.

00:58:54He just sat there, getting quieter, smaller.

00:58:58By midnight, he gave up and went to the master bedroom, alone.

00:59:02I waited a few minutes.

00:59:04Then I went to my room, changed, and came back out in silk.

00:59:08Gavin was still awake.

00:59:10The second he saw me, he flinched.

00:59:13Where are you going?

00:59:14Wes is taking the guest room.

00:59:16He's had a long day.

00:59:17Don't make it ugly just because that's where your mind goes.

00:59:19You're going in there dressed like that?

00:59:21He's a man, for God's sake.

00:59:23You really think this is appropriate?

00:59:25Gavin, we're practically siblings.

00:59:27Don't make it weird just because your mind goes there.

00:59:29Everything I did that day, I'd already lived through the original version.

00:59:33He'd said those exact words to me.

00:59:36About Lauren, boundaries, my crazy jealousy.

00:59:39About how gross it was that I'd even think such a thing.

00:59:42I was just returning the favor.

00:59:44That wasn't cruelty.

00:59:46That was consequence.

00:59:47Honestly?

00:59:48I thought Gavin would last longer.

00:59:51A month, maybe two.

00:59:52He was always too stubborn, too proud to break.

00:59:56But it only took two days.

00:59:58Two days.

00:59:59That was it.

01:00:00He showed up with the divorce papers.

01:00:02Dark circles under his eyes.

01:00:04No sleep.

01:00:06No fight left.

01:00:07He looked like absolute hell.

01:00:09He held the papers out, his hand trembling slightly.

01:00:12He said sorry.

01:00:14Then he stopped.

01:00:15Because the rest of the words just wouldn't come.

01:00:17For years, he acted like as long as he didn't sleep with her, he was a saint.

01:00:22Like I was being dramatic.

01:00:24Like Nate and I were just too much.

01:00:26Too needy.

01:00:27He thought all his choices lived on the right side of the line.

01:00:30Now?

01:00:31He couldn't even say the words.

01:00:33Good.

01:00:34At least shame finally caught up with him.

01:00:37I looked over the papers.

01:00:38He was giving me everything.

01:00:40No fight over the assets.

01:00:42No claim on the house.

01:00:44Nothing.

01:00:45I signed.

01:00:46Fast.

01:00:47Clean.

01:00:48No second thoughts.

01:00:50We filed, waited the mandatory days, and finalized it.

01:00:53Just like that.

01:00:55I was free.

01:00:56Gavin used to be a guy who never touched a drop.

01:00:59Now?

01:00:59He drank like it was his job.

01:01:02Every single night.

01:01:03He looked wrecked.

01:01:05Nothing like the man I married.

01:01:07After the ink dried, he told me he was quitting the department.

01:01:10Said he was heading out to some rural district to teach.

01:01:13He called it doing something for Nate.

01:01:15Trying to balance the scales, I guess.

01:01:18He said he was leaving the next day.

01:01:20From the second I met him, fire defined us.

01:01:23He saved my life in one.

01:01:25Then he took my son in another.

01:01:27Fire was what made me love him.

01:01:29It was also what took everything from me.

01:01:31Now the revenge was done.

01:01:33I won, if that word even means anything in a story like this.

01:01:37And still, looking at him all hollow and half gone.

01:01:41I didn't feel a thing.

01:01:42Not satisfied.

01:01:44Not even a little.

01:01:45Just heavy.

01:01:46Because once, before the world broke, we were real.

01:01:50A real family.

01:01:51A real life.

01:01:53A real love.

01:01:54I didn't say any of that.

01:01:56I just turned around and got in the car.

01:01:58Lauren and Liam?

01:02:00The world hounded them for a long time.

01:02:02Their life turned ugly.

01:02:04Small.

01:02:05Hard.

01:02:06Gavin went off to the middle of nowhere, living on pennies.

01:02:09Later, I heard he tried to help some woman out there.

01:02:12She'd been trafficked into a forced marriage.

01:02:15The locals beat him so bad they snapped his leg.

01:02:18The woman got out, eventually.

01:02:20Gavin had to leave and start over again somewhere else.

01:02:23Everyone who hurt Nate paid for it, one way or another.

01:02:26But it didn't lift the weight.

01:02:28His death stayed in me.

01:02:30Heavy.

01:02:31Permanent.

01:02:32I couldn't sleep.

01:02:34Couldn't focus.

01:02:34So I started volunteering.

01:02:37Charities.

01:02:39Shelters.

01:02:40Disaster relief.

01:02:41Anything to keep moving.

01:02:43Sometimes, helping someone else gave me a second to breathe.

01:02:46A moment where the emptiness didn't swallow me whole.

01:02:49Maybe one day, I'll be able to put Nate down gently in my heart.

01:02:53Instead of carrying him like an open wound.

01:02:56Maybe one day, I'll have a life that isn't just grief.

01:02:59I'm not there yet.

01:03:00But maybe one day.

01:03:02Saving Claire was an accident.

01:03:04Meeting her?

01:03:05An accident, too.

01:03:07She was gorgeous.

01:03:08Sharp.

01:03:09Warm without even trying.

01:03:11The kind of woman people notice the second she walks into a room.

01:03:14I never meant to get close.

01:03:16A girl like that?

01:03:18From a family like hers?

01:03:19She wasn't supposed to be for a guy like me.

01:03:22I was just a guy in a uniform with a hero complex and an empty bank account.

01:03:27No money.

01:03:28No family.

01:03:29No safety net.

01:03:30Even Lauren's family.

01:03:31And they were regular people.

01:03:33Thought I wasn't good enough.

01:03:35So a woman like Claire?

01:03:37No shot.

01:03:38That's what I told myself.

01:03:39Didn't matter.

01:03:40The more time I spent with her, the harder it got to stay away.

01:03:44Lauren and I, we'd been together forever.

01:03:47Years.

01:03:48What we had was real.

01:03:49But she used to say the same thing, over and over.

01:03:53Save more.

01:03:54Think about us.

01:03:55Stop giving your money away.

01:03:57She wasn't wrong.

01:03:58There are too many people in this world who need help.

01:04:01You can't save them all.

01:04:02You just end up broke and alone.

01:04:04But after my dad died, people carried us.

01:04:07When I was 15, my mom died, too.

01:04:10After that, everything I had came from the kindness of strangers.

01:04:14Food.

01:04:15Clothes.

01:04:16A place to sleep.

01:04:17People just stepped in.

01:04:19Did right by me.

01:04:20Asked for nothing.

01:04:21My mom used to tell me.

01:04:23You're a kid right now.

01:04:25Your job is to study.

01:04:26But when you're grown, you give back.

01:04:29That's how you honor the people who kept us alive.

01:04:31So that stuck.

01:04:33When I got older, when I finally had a job and some skin in the game,

01:04:37helping people didn't feel optional.

01:04:40It felt like a debt.

01:04:41I tried to ignore it.

01:04:43Tried walking away.

01:04:44But I couldn't do it.

01:04:46If I knew someone was hurting and I turned my back, I wouldn't sleep that night.

01:04:50Later, Lauren's family made demands I couldn't even touch.

01:04:54Money I didn't have.

01:04:55That was the end for us.

01:04:57I figured that was the lesson.

01:04:59Maybe a man like me wasn't built for marriage.

01:05:01Maybe I was never going to be enough for it.

01:05:04And then, Claire showed up.

01:05:06She started coming with me.

01:05:08Helping kids who couldn't even afford a backpack for school.

01:05:11Dropping off groceries to seniors living all by themselves.

01:05:15Writing checks for people drowning in medical bills.

01:05:18The longer I knew her, the worse it got.

01:05:20I wanted her.

01:05:22Bad.

01:05:22But I also knew I didn't belong in her world.

01:05:25Not in a million years.

01:05:27So before we got in too deep, I laid it all out.

01:05:30My family.

01:05:31My past.

01:05:32The fact that I gave away half of every paycheck.

01:05:35And the fact that I probably always would.

01:05:38I thought that would be.

01:05:39The catch.

01:05:40I thought she'd finally see the real me.

01:05:42The guy with nothing.

01:05:43And walk.

01:05:44Instead, her eyes lit up.

01:05:46Like I just told her she'd won the lottery.

01:05:49Do you know how rare that is, Gavin?

01:05:51Most people can't see past their own front door anymore.

01:05:55How is that a flaw?

01:05:57My family has money.

01:05:59I'm doing fine on my own.

01:06:01So go help people.

01:06:02I'm not stopping you.

01:06:04Claire's parents were already gone.

01:06:06It was just her brother and his wife.

01:06:08They weren't exactly thrilled about me.

01:06:10I got it.

01:06:11But they loved her.

01:06:12And they respected her enough to let her choose.

01:06:15So we got married.

01:06:17And for a while, it felt like a dream.

01:06:19Like I'd somehow slipped into someone else's life by mistake.

01:06:23I married the woman I loved.

01:06:24She believed in me.

01:06:26She backed me.

01:06:27She saw me as a hero.

01:06:29Even when I felt like a ghost.

01:06:31I didn't know what to do with that much happiness.

01:06:33So I did the only thing I knew.

01:06:36I tried to earn it.

01:06:37I worked.

01:06:38I cooked.

01:06:39I cleaned.

01:06:40I handled every little detail at home.

01:06:42If I wasn't on shift, I was with her.

01:06:45I figured if I loved her hard enough.

01:06:47If I just showed up and carried the weight.

01:06:50Maybe I could become the kind of man she deserved.

01:06:53Then Nate came.

01:06:54And for a little while, life got even better.

01:06:57Just the three of us.

01:06:58Quiet mornings in our tiny apartment.

01:07:01Late night feedings.

01:07:02Baby toys scattered everywhere.

01:07:04That was happiness.

01:07:06Real, bone deep happiness.

01:07:08But it didn't stay simple.

01:07:09The first couple of years were good.

01:07:11And then the shift started.

01:07:13Little things at first.

01:07:15People cracked jokes.

01:07:16Friends.

01:07:17Co-workers.

01:07:18The guys down at the station.

01:07:20They'd see me helping someone or hear where my paycheck went.

01:07:23And just laugh.

01:07:25So, all your cash just goes out the door, huh?

01:07:28Guess it's easy when your wife's loaded.

01:07:31Must be nice.

01:07:32The wife bought the cars.

01:07:33The whole setup.

01:07:34No pressure.

01:07:36Man, I'd do community service too if I married as well as Gavin.

01:07:39They laughed.

01:07:40I laughed too.

01:07:42Sometimes.

01:07:43But those comments, they stuck.

01:07:45Not all at once.

01:07:46Just bit by bit.

01:07:48Like sand in a shoe.

01:07:49Everyone meant it as a joke.

01:07:51But after a while, something started to turn inside me.

01:07:55I'd come home to Claire and I could feel it.

01:07:57This weird edge.

01:07:59Something ugly I didn't want to name.

01:08:01Sometimes I'd be trying to figure out how to help someone.

01:08:04How to cover a bill.

01:08:05And I'd realize I was short.

01:08:07Claire would just smile.

01:08:09Are you really stressing over that, Gavin?

01:08:11If you need the cash, just ask me.

01:08:14I've got it.

01:08:15She meant it.

01:08:16At first, I loved that.

01:08:17That generosity.

01:08:19That ease.

01:08:20That total.

01:08:21Unshakable faith in me.

01:08:23But later, it started landing differently.

01:08:26It felt harder.

01:08:27Like every time she solved a problem I couldn't solve myself.

01:08:31I shrank.

01:08:32I got a little smaller.

01:08:34And then, there was her family.

01:08:36Especially her brother.

01:08:37Every time I went over there, it was only a matter of time.

01:08:41He'd pull me aside.

01:08:42I get it.

01:08:44You want to save the world.

01:08:45That's great, Gavin.

01:08:46But even people like us can't save everyone.

01:08:49And you?

01:08:50You're not us.

01:08:52You're just a firefighter.

01:08:55A man living in a house he didn't pay for.

01:08:57You have a wife.

01:08:59A kid.

01:09:00Start thinking about your own for once.

01:09:03You can't keep leaning on Claire forever.

01:09:05Other people had said it, but from her brother, it burned.

01:09:08Because some part of me knew he was right.

01:09:11I tried to stop.

01:09:13Tried to look away when people were hurting.

01:09:15I couldn't do it.

01:09:16At night, I'd just stare at the ceiling.

01:09:19Feeling like I was rotting from the inside out.

01:09:21So I tried to fix it.

01:09:23Make more money.

01:09:24Be more useful.

01:09:26Be enough.

01:09:27But I was just a firefighter.

01:09:29That was it.

01:09:30I still came home.

01:09:31I still cooked her favorites.

01:09:33Still cleaned.

01:09:34From the outside, I probably looked the same.

01:09:37Inside, I was gone.

01:09:39By the time Nate turned three,

01:09:40I was coming apart at the seams.

01:09:43And then, Lauren came back.

01:09:45She showed up bruised and shaking, holding Liam.

01:09:48Everything in me snapped to attention.

01:09:50Claire was beautiful.

01:09:52Strong.

01:09:53Successful.

01:09:53She could solve anything.

01:09:55She didn't need me.

01:09:56Not really.

01:09:57But Lauren?

01:09:58She was a wreck.

01:10:00She cried.

01:10:01She froze up.

01:10:02She needed help with every little thing.

01:10:04And the sick part?

01:10:05Being needed felt good.

01:10:07I got used to being needed by her.

01:10:09Then I started needing it.

01:10:10The pressure in my chest started to ease.

01:10:13The shame faded.

01:10:14The feeling of being useless.

01:10:16It just went away.

01:10:18And Claire got angry.

01:10:19At the time, I honestly didn't get it.

01:10:22I told myself I was just being me.

01:10:24Just helping people.

01:10:26I told her again and again.

01:10:27I'm not cheating.

01:10:29I haven't crossed any lines.

01:10:31I knew Lauren was trying.

01:10:33The looks.

01:10:34The timing.

01:10:35The touches that lasted a second too long.

01:10:37But I told myself it didn't count if I didn't pull the trigger.

01:10:41As long as I didn't sleep with her, I was clean.

01:10:44I didn't understand then that you can betray your family without ever touching another woman.

01:10:48I lived inside that delusion for two years.

01:10:51While my family slowly bled out.

01:10:53Then Nate died.

01:10:55And Claire just broke open.

01:10:57Maybe she had let too much slide for too long.

01:11:00Maybe I had just gotten too used to being forgiven.

01:11:02Because when she finally blew up, I understood something way too late.

01:11:07You don't have to cheat to tear a family apart.

01:11:10I knew Nate died because of me.

01:11:12After that, the nightmares came every night.

01:11:14But even then, some sick part of me thought we could survive it.

01:11:18That if I just stayed.

01:11:20If I apologized.

01:11:21If I suffered enough.

01:11:23Maybe.

01:11:24Then I watched her in that house with Wes.

01:11:26Two days.

01:11:27That was all it took for me to feel like I was losing my mind.

01:11:31And then it hit me.

01:11:32Pain doesn't care about your excuses.

01:11:35Or your reasons.

01:11:36Or what you say you didn't do.

01:11:38I finally understood what I'd put her through.

01:11:41Every single day.

01:11:42For two damn years.

01:11:43By then, it was already over.

01:11:46Nothing I said mattered.

01:11:47Nothing I gave up mattered.

01:11:49Not even how much I hated myself for all of it.

01:11:52I lost my boy.

01:11:54And Claire.

01:11:54I'd lost her too.

01:11:56After that.

01:11:57I couldn't look at fire the same way.

01:11:59Every flame turned into that hallway.

01:12:01That door.

01:12:02I could still hear his voice.

01:12:04Dad!

01:12:05I still hear it.

01:12:06I started freezing up on calls.

01:12:08Every time I smelled smoke.

01:12:10Every time I felt the heat.

01:12:12I just stopped.

01:12:13So I quit.

01:12:14I wanted to do something for Nate.

01:12:17So I tried to pay a blood debt with community service.

01:12:20Thought if I saved enough strangers.

01:12:22The universe would forgive me for the one person I actually owed.

01:12:25In the 10th year.

01:12:27I tried to get a woman out of a forced marriage.

01:12:30The men there didn't like that one bit.

01:12:32They beat me so badly my leg broke in three places.

01:12:35I don't regret helping her.

01:12:37Not for a second.

01:12:38I only regret.

01:12:39I spent my whole life saving strangers.

01:12:42And I still couldn't save my own son.

01:12:44I couldn't save my marriage.

01:12:46I heard Claire stayed on Lauren and Liam for two years before finally backing off.

01:12:51Later, Lauren got involved with another guy.

01:12:53His wife found out.

01:12:55Things turned ugly.

01:12:56Liam got so scared his heart just gave out.

01:12:59Right there in the hospital.

01:13:01He didn't make it.

01:13:02Lauren lost the house, the money, and eventually, her mind.

01:13:06She ended up exactly where she started.

01:13:09Screaming at a world that no longer cared if she existed.

01:13:12In the 11th year.

01:13:14I heard Claire was getting married again.

01:13:16Not to Wes.

01:13:17Some guy I'd never met.

01:13:19I took two weeks off and just started moving.

01:13:22Bus.

01:13:23Train.

01:13:23Whatever was headed her way.

01:13:2558 hours straight just to get back to the city.

01:13:28I told myself I just wanted to give her my blessing.

01:13:31To wish her well.

01:13:33That was true.

01:13:34Mostly.

01:13:35Maybe another part of me just wanted to see her in the light one last time.

01:13:39I got lucky.

01:13:40I saw her almost the second I hit town.

01:13:42She was outside.

01:13:44Laughing with a man in a dark coat.

01:13:46He was handsome.

01:13:47Put together.

01:13:48Easy.

01:13:49He looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered in the room.

01:13:53No hesitation.

01:13:54No divided loyalty.

01:13:56He was the man I was supposed to be before I traded my soul for a hero complex.

01:14:00He reached out and tapped the tip of her nose.

01:14:03She smiled up at him.

01:14:05And the look in his eyes.

01:14:07It was soft.

01:14:08Warm.

01:14:09Full.

01:14:09The kind of look I should have given her.

01:14:12Claire!

01:14:13I shouted her name.

01:14:14But I was too far away.

01:14:16She didn't hear me.

01:14:17She got into the car with him.

01:14:19I started after them.

01:14:21Fast as I could.

01:14:22I never hated my bad leg more than I did in that moment.

01:14:26Then a car cut across the street.

01:14:28Way too fast.

01:14:29I didn't even see it coming.

01:14:31Just the impact.

01:14:32The ground came up hard.

01:14:34Pain everywhere.

01:14:35White hot and blinding.

01:14:37Then, the sound of something small skidding away.

01:14:40The ring box.

01:14:41It rolled right out of my hand and into the gutter.

01:14:44I'd saved for ten years to buy that ring.

01:14:46The one I should have given her the first time.

01:14:48The one she was never, ever going to wear.

01:14:51I reached for it.

01:14:53Couldn't move.

01:14:54I couldn't feel my hand and my leg.

01:14:56Blood filled my mouth.

01:14:58Everything just stopped.

01:15:00She'll never know about the ring.

01:15:01She'll never know I finally tried to be the man she deserved.

01:15:05Through the blur.

01:15:06I watched her car keep going.

01:15:08Smaller.

01:15:09Farther.

01:15:10Gone.

01:15:10And for the first time.

01:15:12I felt it in my bones.

01:15:14That horrible ache.

01:15:15That awful longing.

01:15:16That desperate need to do something.

01:15:18When Claire begged me in that fire.

01:15:20When Nate called out for me.

01:15:22Is this what it felt like?

01:15:24I coughed and tasted copper.

01:15:26The sky started to bleed into black.

01:15:29Nate.

01:15:29Then, a whisper.

01:15:30Claire.

01:15:31Maybe I'm finally going to see my boy again.

01:15:34I just hope Nate doesn't look at me the way his mother did at the end.

01:15:38And Claire.

01:15:39I hope your new life is beautiful.

01:15:41I hope someone loves you the way I should have.

01:15:43You deserve that much.

01:15:45Claire.

01:15:45I hope your wedding day is everything you wanted.

01:15:53I hope your wedding day is everything you wanted.

Dad, Why Won’t You Save Me - FULL EP

Category

Transcript

Comments

Recommended