- 8 hours ago
Un drame familial profondément déchirant. Accusée à tort par sa sœur adoptive manipulatrice, une jeune fille est rejetée et incomprise par sa propre mère biologique, qui préfère croire les mensonges. Souffrant en silence et portant un lourd secret sur sa santé, elle ne demande qu'une seule chose : l'amour et la confiance de sa mère. Lorsque la vérité implacable finira par éclater, les larmes de regret d'une mère pourront-elles réparer un cœur brisé avant qu'il ne soit trop tard ?
"Maman, crois-moi une dernière fois" est une histoire émouvante qui vous fera pleurer, explorant les liens familiaux, les mensonges et les regrets tardifs.
🔔 Préparez vos mouchoirs et abonnez-vous à Mega Short Drama pour les drames familiaux les plus émouvants.
"Maman, crois-moi une dernière fois" est une histoire émouvante qui vous fera pleurer, explorant les liens familiaux, les mensonges et les regrets tardifs.
🔔 Préparez vos mouchoirs et abonnez-vous à Mega Short Drama pour les drames familiaux les plus émouvants.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I was born a liar, at least.
00:03That's the label mom slapped on me.
00:06As a diehard believer in data-driven parenting,
00:09she strapped truth bands on my twin sister Mia and me the day we were born.
00:14If we lied, the band flashed red, and mom would hit a remote to shock us.
00:20Mia's band was always green.
00:23She could shred mom's favorite dress to pieces, blame the cat,
00:27and her band would just glow a soft, gentle green.
00:34But for me, even if I just whispered,
00:38Mom, I'm hungry.
00:40My band would instantly explode into an angry red,
00:45followed by a piercing electric shock.
00:49I'm not a machine, Mom.
00:50I used to try to defend myself, but she'd always say,
00:55Machines don't lie. Pain is how you learn.
00:58I'm doing this for your own good.
01:00After thousands of shocks,
01:03I honestly started to believe I was just completely broken.
01:07New Year's Eve, everything changed.
01:10New Year's Eve, everything changed.
01:14On New Year's Eve, Mom was getting ready to take Mia to see the fireworks.
01:18A sudden, tearing agony hit my stomach.
01:23I curled up on the floor, begging,
01:26Mom, my stomach hurts so much.
01:28Please help me.
01:30But my band just frantically flashed red.
01:35She glared down at me, shivering in a cold sweat,
01:38cranked the shock dial to the absolute max, and spat.
01:41You're pretending to be sick just so you can come watch the fireworks with us?
01:45You never change!
01:47She turned, grabbed Mia, and slammed the door behind them.
01:51I couldn't help but think she was right.
01:54The band was red, so I must not actually be in pain.
01:58I was just making it up for attention again.
02:01I'm sorry, Mom.
02:03Next time around, I promise I'll be an honest kid.
02:06It hurts so much.
02:08I writhed in agony,
02:11my fingernails scratching pale marks into the floorboards.
02:19The doorknob turned.
02:21A glimmer of hope sparked in my eyes.
02:25Mom was back.
02:27She was a doctor.
02:29She must have realized something was horribly wrong
02:32and came back to save me.
02:34Are you done yet?
02:35The fireworks are about to start.
02:37Mia's getting impatient.
02:38Mom.
02:39I called out weakly,
02:41reaching a trembling hand toward the door.
02:44It really hurts.
02:45It feels like my intestines are tearing apart.
02:48She just glanced at the frantic red light flashing on my wrists.
02:52Squatting down,
02:54she pinched my chin,
02:55her voice dripping with venom.
02:57Lily,
02:58how long are you going to keep up this act?
03:00You're a pathological liar.
03:02You can stay home and think about what you've done.
03:04Honey,
03:05hurry up.
03:06The fireworks are about to start.
03:09If Singha doesn't want to go,
03:10fine.
03:11Should we leave her some food?
03:12Mom stood up and dusted off her hands,
03:15like touching me had made her filthy.
03:18Leave her food for what?
03:19She has plenty of snacks in her room.
03:21She bought them with money she stole last time.
03:23She won't starve.
03:25Lock the door.
03:26Don't let her out until that bracelet turns green.
03:28But?
03:29But what?
03:30Spare the rob?
03:32Spoil the child?
03:33Look at Mia.
03:34She's perfectly honest.
03:35Her band is always green.
03:37Lily is rotten to the core.
03:39We have to correct her.
03:40But my closet was completely empty.
03:43Mia was the one who stole the cash,
03:46and she ate all the snacks.
03:49Mia had just stood there,
03:51her band glowing that soft green,
03:54and said,
03:55It wasn't me.
03:57And Mom believed her.
04:00When I tried to defend myself,
04:02and said I didn't take it either,
04:04the red light flashed,
04:05and I got shocked.
04:07I watched Mom turn around to leave.
04:12Mia peeked through the crack in the door
04:15and stuck her tongue out at me.
04:17Bye, sis.
04:19We're going to see the pretty fireworks.
04:21Her band was glowing a vibrant green.
04:23It really was beautiful.
04:25The door slammed shut,
04:27followed by the heavy click of the deadbolt.
04:29The house went dead silent,
04:32leaving just me alone
04:34with the saw tearing through my stomach.
04:37It hurts so much.
04:40Mom was right.
04:42Machines don't lie.
04:43The band is red,
04:45so I must be making this up.
04:47I'm not in pain.
04:49I'm really not in pain.
04:51Tears streaming down my face.
04:54I tried to brainwash myself.
04:57I don't know how much time passed,
05:00but it actually started to hurt less.
05:03Using my last breath,
05:05I dragged myself to the desk.
05:08I had to write my punishment lines.
05:12Those were the rules.
05:14Whenever the red light flashed,
05:17I had to write,
05:18I am a liar a thousand times.
05:21Once I finished,
05:23Mom would forgive me, right?
05:25She'd take me to the hospital then.
05:27Then, with trembling hands,
05:30I flipped open my crumpled diary.
05:32The pages were crammed with all my previous apologies.
05:39I used to always write,
05:41I'm sorry, I was wrong.
05:43I won't lie again.
05:45But this time,
05:47I wanted to write the truth.
05:50My vision blurred,
05:52crying.
05:53I used every last ounce of my strength to write,
05:58Mom,
05:59I really do love you.
06:01It hurts so much.
06:03Why won't you just believe me?
06:05Mom, please,
06:07just believe me this one time.
06:10The moment I finished the last word,
06:12the excruciating pain in my stomach completely vanished.
06:16My body felt light,
06:18and I began to float.
06:20I looked down and saw myself slumped over the desk,
06:24arm dangling in the air,
06:26completely motionless.
06:28The band on my wrist was still frantically flashing red,
06:32so I was dead.
06:35But I still hadn't learned how to be an honest kid.
06:40I'm sorry, Mom.
06:41I was awakened by a burst of laughter.
06:44It was my dad, my mom, and my sister.
06:47The fireworks were so beautiful tonight,
06:49especially the smiley face one.
06:51It was as cute as our Mia.
06:53There was a tenderness in Mom's voice
06:57that I had never heard before.
06:59I floated in midair,
07:00watching the front door open.
07:02Now a soul,
07:03I instinctively drifted toward them,
07:05wanting to bring them their slippers like I used to.
07:09It was a people-pleasing instinct carved into my bones.
07:12Mom,
07:13I opened my arms,
07:14wanting to hug the woman
07:16still carrying the chill of the night.
07:18I don't hurt anymore.
07:20I'll be good from now on.
07:22Please don't be mad.
07:24But my hands passed straight through her body,
07:27like trying to catch the wind.
07:28Mom shivered and frowned.
07:30Why is it so cold in here?
07:32Is the heat off?
07:33I froze,
07:34staring at my transparent palm.
07:36That's right.
07:37I was already dead.
07:39The dead can't hug the living.
07:42Go check on Lily.
07:43That girl hasn't come out to eat either.
07:44Don't let her really starve.
07:45Dad mentioned it casually.
07:47Dad was still the better one.
07:49I looked at Mom expectantly.
07:51If she found out I was dead,
07:53would she be sad?
07:54Would she regret it?
07:56Mom snorted and slipped into her house shoes,
07:59walking toward my room.
08:01She'd deserve it if she starved.
08:02Faking illness for attention is a bad habit
08:05that comes from being spoiled.
08:06She pushed my door open.
08:09She pushed my door open.
08:11She didn't turn on the light.
08:13By the light from the living room,
08:15she saw me slumped over the desk,
08:18motionless,
08:18as if asleep.
08:20Oh?
08:21Still lying there?
08:22You think lying on the desk
08:24pretending to be pitiful
08:25will make me carry you to bed?
08:27Lily, you're ten years old,
08:29not five.
08:30Mom, I'm not pretending to sleep.
08:33I'm dead.
08:34Look at me.
08:36Touch me.
08:37My body is cold.
08:38But Mom couldn't hear me.
08:40She only believed what she chose to see.
08:43My sister slipped in under her arm
08:46and raised her wrist proudly.
08:48Big Sat is a lazy pig.
08:50Look, my bracelet is green.
08:52Hers is still red.
08:54She's always lying.
08:56She even lies in her dreams.
08:58Mom patted her head.
08:59Dad peeked in from behind.
09:01Maybe carry her to bed?
09:02It's freezing.
09:03Carry her?
09:04For what?
09:05Kids these days are spoiled.
09:06This bracelet manufacturer say
09:08this is when you apply cold treatment.
09:09She has to realize her own mistakes.
09:12Look at that red light.
09:13It shows she's still in a state
09:14of extreme resistance.
09:15She hasn't reflected at all.
09:17That's enough.
09:18Go to bed.
09:18We're visiting Grandma tomorrow.
09:20Mom turned briskly
09:21and pulled the door closed again.
09:22I hovered beside my body
09:24staring at the crimson light
09:26in the darkness.
09:27A sorrow deeper than death
09:29filling me.
09:30Mom, if you had just taken
09:32one step closer
09:33just touched my hand
09:35you would have known
09:36I was already cold.
09:37But you didn't.
09:39You trusted that cold machine
09:41more than the daughter
09:42you carried for ten months.
09:43Late at night
09:44a rat crawled out
09:45from the empty cabinet.
09:47I used to be terrified of rats.
09:49I would scream
09:50every time I saw one.
09:52But now
09:53I could only float
09:54near the ceiling
09:55and watch it roam freely
09:56over my corpse.
09:58I tried to shoo it away weakly
09:59but no sound came out.
10:01The rat bit into my toe
10:03dark purplish blood
10:04seeping out.
10:05I couldn't feel any pain.
10:07That was good.
10:08It finally
10:09didn't hurt anymore.
10:10I spoke to the pitiful
10:12shell below me.
10:13Don't be afraid.
10:14You can't feel pain anymore.
10:16It will all be over soon.
10:18The next morning
10:19sunlight
10:20washed over my corpse
10:22but it brought
10:23no warmth at all.
10:24Clattering sounds
10:26drifted in
10:27from the kitchen.
10:28Mom was
10:29making breakfast.
10:31The rich smell
10:32of frying bacon
10:34and eggs
10:34crept through the crack
10:36under my door.
10:37Normally
10:38that was the smell
10:39I craved the most
10:40but
10:41I was only ever
10:42allowed
10:43plain oatmeal
10:44because
10:45mom said
10:46liars didn't deserve
10:47good food.
10:48Today
10:48she was
10:49deliberately
10:50banging the spatula
10:52against the pan.
10:53I knew exactly
10:54what she was doing.
10:55She was trying
10:56to tempt me.
10:57She wanted
10:58me to give in
10:59to the hunger
10:59and crawl out
11:00to beg for
11:02forgiveness.
11:03In the past
11:04I might have
11:05actually confessed
11:06to
11:07things I never did
11:09just for a single
11:10bite of food.
11:11But now
11:12I didn't need
11:12to eat anymore.
11:13Lily still hasn't
11:14come out.
11:15Dad asked
11:15reading the newspaper
11:17at the dining table.
11:18No.
11:20Stubborn as a mule.
11:21She's just spoiled.
11:23If she doesn't
11:24want to eat
11:24she can starve.
11:25Mia took a sip
11:26of her milk
11:27her eyes darting
11:29around mischievously.
11:30She intentionally
11:32ran over to my door.
11:34Mom!
11:34It smells so gross
11:36in Lily's room.
11:37Did she use the floor
11:38as a toilet?
11:39Floating by the door
11:40I looked at my sister
11:42with a bitter smile.
11:43I had already
11:44started to smell
11:46after just one night.
11:47Mom marched over
11:48her forehead
11:49deeply wrinkled
11:50in disgust.
11:52You actually
11:53soiled your own room?
11:55She pounded
11:56on the door
11:57and roared.
11:59You are
12:00unbelievable!
12:02You throw away
12:03your own dignity
12:04just to throw
12:05a tantrum at me?
12:06It reminded me
12:07of when I was
12:08little.
12:09Once
12:10I had
12:11severe stomach flu
12:12and couldn't
12:13make it
12:13to the bathroom
12:14in time
12:15messing my pants.
12:16She pointed
12:17at me
12:17and told
12:18the neighbors
12:18Look at this
12:19child
12:20dirty as a pig.
12:22And now
12:22she thought
12:24I was being
12:25filthy again.
12:27Just leave her!
12:28Mom waved
12:29her hand
12:29in disgust
12:30like shooing
12:31away a fly.
12:36Dad put down
12:37his paper.
12:38The smell
12:38really is
12:39getting strong.
12:40Let me go
12:41check on her.
12:41Maybe a rat
12:42died in the walls.
12:44He stood up
12:44and walked
12:46toward my
12:47bedroom door.
12:48My ghost
12:48heart leaped
12:49into my throat.
12:51Dad!
12:52Hurry!
12:53Open the door!
12:54Please!
12:55Look at me!
12:56I'm right
12:57behind the door.
12:59If you just
13:00turn that knob
13:01you'll see
13:02I'm not
13:03moving anymore.
13:04You'll see
13:05my face
13:06has already
13:06turned bruised
13:07and dark.
13:08Dad's hand
13:09grasped
13:10the doorknob.
13:11His phone
13:12suddenly blared.
13:13What?
13:13It was his
13:14boss calling.
13:15The servers
13:15crashed?
13:16Okay, okay
13:17I'm on my way.
13:19Honey,
13:20there's a
13:20massive emergency
13:21at work.
13:21I have to go.
13:22I might not
13:22be back
13:23for a few days.
13:23Wait,
13:24what about Lily?
13:25I froze
13:26in mid-air.
13:28It was
13:28so incredibly
13:30close.
13:31just one
13:32second away.
13:34If that
13:34call had
13:35come
13:35just a
13:36moment later
13:37they would
13:38have found
13:38me.
13:39Maybe then
13:39I wouldn't
13:41have to
13:41keep rotting
13:42in here.
13:43That afternoon
13:44Mom took
13:45Mia out
13:45shopping
13:46leaving my
13:46corpse
13:47alone in
13:47the house.
13:48They came
13:48back in
13:49the evening.
13:50As soon
13:50as they
13:51walked in
13:51the stench
13:52hit them
13:53even harder.
13:54Are you
13:55trying to
13:55turn this
13:55house into
13:56a literal
13:56dumpster?
13:57Instead
13:58she grabbed
13:58a roll
13:59of duct
13:59tape
13:59crouched
14:00down
14:01and
14:01viciously
14:01sealed
14:02the crack
14:02under my
14:03door tight.
14:03Since you
14:04love the stench
14:05so much
14:05you can
14:05just sit
14:06in it!
14:06Mom
14:06dusted
14:07off her
14:07hands
14:08in
14:08satisfaction.
14:09Finally
14:09some peace
14:10and quiet.
14:11Watching
14:12that duct
14:12tape
14:13door
14:13the very
14:14last
14:14shred
14:15of hope
14:15and my
14:15heart
14:16suffocated
14:17right
14:17along
14:17with
14:18the
14:18seal.
14:18So
14:19this
14:19was
14:19it.
14:20In
14:20Mom's
14:20mind
14:21my
14:21life
14:22and
14:22death
14:22mattered
14:23even
14:24less
14:24than
14:24a
14:25fancy
14:25dinner.
14:25She
14:26would
14:26rather
14:26seal
14:26me
14:27in
14:27like
14:27a
14:27tomb
14:27than
14:28check
14:28if
14:28I
14:28was
14:28actually
14:29dying
14:29inside.
14:30You
14:30win
14:30Mom
14:31I
14:31will
14:32never
14:32bother
14:32you
14:33again.
14:33By
14:33the
14:33morning
14:34of
14:34the
14:34third
14:34day
14:35the
14:36warm
14:36winter
14:36sun
14:37spilled
14:37into
14:37the
14:38living
14:38room
14:38but
14:39it
14:39couldn't
14:39dispel
14:40the
14:40dark
14:40gloom
14:41hanging
14:41over
14:42the
14:42house.
14:43The
14:43thermostat
14:44was
14:44cranked
14:44way
14:45up
14:45to
14:45almost
14:4580
14:46degrees.
14:47The
14:48duct
14:48tape
14:48could
14:49no
14:49longer
14:49hold
14:50back
14:50the
14:51smell.
14:51It
14:52was
14:53a
14:53nauseating
14:54thick
14:55greasy
14:56stench
14:57of
14:57decay.
14:58Mom
14:58was
14:58trimming
14:59fresh
14:59flowers
15:00she
15:00had
15:00just
15:00bought
15:01but
15:01no
15:01matter
15:02how
15:02strong
15:02the
15:03floral
15:03scent
15:03was
15:04it
15:04couldn't
15:05mask
15:05the
15:05smell
15:06of
15:06a
15:06rotting
15:06corpse.
15:07Mom
15:08angrily
15:09snapped
15:09a
15:10rose
15:10stem
15:11letting
15:11a
15:12thorn
15:12prick
15:13her
15:13finger.
15:14She
15:15had
15:16finally
15:16reached
15:17her
15:17breaking
15:17point.
15:18In
15:18her
15:19twisted
15:19logic
15:20me
15:21not
15:21showering
15:22using
15:22the
15:23room
15:23as
15:23a
15:23toilet
15:24or
15:25even
15:26hiding
15:26dead
15:27rats
15:27in
15:27there
15:27it
15:28was
15:28all
15:28just
15:29an
15:29act
15:29of
15:29rebellion
15:30to
15:30disgust
15:30her
15:31and
15:31challenge
15:31her
15:31authority.
15:33Lily
15:33you
15:34are
15:34completely
15:34out
15:35of
15:35control.
15:36Mom
15:37stormed
15:38into
15:38the
15:38kitchen
15:38grabbed
15:39a
15:39heavy
15:40wooden
15:40spoon
15:41and
15:41marched
15:42furiously
15:42toward
15:43my
15:43room.
15:44Since
15:44the
15:44shock
15:45collar
15:45isn't
15:46working
15:46anymore
15:47maybe
15:47you
15:48need
15:48some
15:48old
15:49fashioned
15:49discipline.
15:51Floating
15:51right in
15:52front of
15:52her
15:52looking
15:53at
15:53her
15:53contorted
15:54furious
15:55face
15:56I
15:56waved
15:57my
15:57hands
15:57frantically
15:58to
15:58stop
15:58her.
15:59Don't
16:00go
16:00in.
16:01Mom
16:02please
16:02don't.
16:03I
16:03look
16:03awful.
16:04I'm
16:04rotting.
16:05You'll
16:05be
16:05scared.
16:06even
16:07though
16:07she
16:08didn't
16:08love
16:08me
16:08I
16:09still
16:09didn't
16:09want
16:10her
16:10to
16:10see
16:10me
16:10in
16:11such
16:11a
16:11horrific
16:12state.
16:13But
16:13she
16:14walked
16:15right
16:15through
16:15my
16:16spirit
16:16and
16:17viciously
16:18ripped
16:18the
16:18duct
16:18tape
16:18off
16:19the
16:19door
16:19frame.
16:20The
16:20sound
16:20of
16:20the
16:21adhesive
16:22tearing
16:22was
16:23piercing.
16:24She
16:25jammed
16:25the
16:25spare
16:26key
16:26into
16:26the
16:27lock
16:27and
16:27twisted.
16:29The
16:29door
16:29was
16:30violently
16:31shoved
16:32open.
16:32A
16:33sickening
16:34wall
16:34of
16:34concentrated
16:35death
16:36hit
16:36her
16:37instantly
16:37like
16:38opening
16:39Pandora's
16:40box.
16:40Mom
16:41stumbled
16:41backward
16:42gagging
16:43as the
16:44stench
16:44assaulted
16:45her.
16:45Lily!
16:47What the
16:47hell are you
16:48doing in
16:48here?
16:49She
16:49looked up
16:50and saw
16:50me still
16:51slumped
16:51over the
16:52desk in
16:52the exact
16:53same
16:53position
16:54from
16:54three
16:55days
16:55ago.
16:55My
16:56back
16:56to
16:56her
16:57completely
16:58motionless.
16:59To
17:00her
17:00this
17:01was
17:01a
17:01silent
17:02provocation.
17:03Pure
17:04sheer
17:05arrogance.
17:06Are
17:07you
17:07deaf?
17:08Are
17:08you
17:08still
17:08playing
17:09dead?
17:09Blinded
17:10by
17:10rage
17:10she
17:11closed
17:11the
17:11distance
17:12in
17:12three
17:12steps
17:13raising
17:14the
17:14heavy
17:14wooden
17:15spoon
17:15high
17:15in
17:16the
17:16air.
17:16But
17:17she
17:17didn't
17:18strike
17:18right
17:18away.
17:19She
17:19wanted
17:20to
17:20yank
17:20me
17:21up
17:21first
17:21to
17:22see
17:22the
17:22stubborn
17:23expression
17:23she
17:24was
17:24sure
17:25was
17:25on
17:25my
17:25face.
17:27Get
17:27up!
17:28She
17:29grabbed
17:30me
17:30roughly
17:30by
17:31the
17:32back
17:32of
17:33the
17:33collar
17:33her
17:34fingers
17:34digging
17:35into
17:35my
17:35skin.
17:36The
17:36very
17:37next
17:37second
17:37she
17:38froze.
17:39The
17:39moment
17:39she
17:40made
17:40contact
17:41time
17:41seemed
17:42to
17:42stop
17:43completely.
17:44Through
17:45the thin
17:45fabric
17:46of my
17:46pajamas
17:47her
17:48fingers
17:48didn't
17:49feel
17:49warm
17:49living
17:50skin
17:51or
17:51soft
17:52flesh.
17:53Instead
17:54she
17:54felt
17:55a
17:55block
17:56of
17:56ice
17:57cold
17:57rock
17:58hard
17:58dead
17:58meat.
17:59It
18:00was
18:00a
18:01bone
18:01chilling
18:02unnatural
18:03cold
18:04entirely
18:05devoid
18:06of
18:07the
18:08warmth
18:08of
18:09life.
18:10Mom
18:11hesitated
18:12for a
18:12fraction
18:13of a
18:13second
18:13but
18:14her
18:15momentum
18:15carried
18:16through
18:16yanking
18:17backward
18:18with
18:18brute
18:19force.
18:19My
18:20stiff
18:20body
18:21was
18:21pulled
18:22backward
18:22falling
18:23rigidly
18:24taking
18:25the
18:25heavy
18:26desk
18:26chair
18:27down
18:27with
18:27it
18:28crash.
18:29The
18:29chair
18:30slammed
18:31loudly
18:31against
18:31the
18:32hardwood
18:32floor.
18:33My
18:33corpse
18:34fell
18:34perfectly
18:35stiff
18:36like
18:36a
18:37toppled
18:37marble
18:38statue.
18:39And
18:39finally
18:40my
18:41face
18:41was
18:42revealed.
18:43I
18:43was
18:43no
18:44longer
18:44the
18:45timid
18:45little
18:46girl
18:46she
18:46knew.
18:47My
18:48face
18:48was a
18:49bruised
18:49sickly
18:50purple,
18:51my
18:51eyes
18:51bulging,
18:52my
18:53features
18:53completely
18:55contorted
18:57from the
18:58sheer
18:58agony
18:59of my
18:59final
19:00moments.
19:01Dried
19:02white
19:02foam
19:03and
19:03dark
19:03crusted
19:04blood
19:04stained
19:05the
19:05corners
19:05of my
19:06mouth.
19:07And
19:07there
19:08on
19:09my
19:10blackened
19:11wrist
19:11was
19:13the
19:13truth
19:13band
19:14mom
19:15was
19:15always
19:15so
19:16damn
19:16proud
19:16of.
19:17It
19:18hung
19:18there
19:19lifeless.
19:20The
19:21skin
19:22underneath
19:22was
19:23scorched
19:23pitch
19:24black
19:24from
19:24the
19:25electricity.
19:26The
19:26melted
19:27rubber
19:27fused
19:28directly
19:28into
19:29my
19:29charred
19:30flesh.
19:31No
19:31more
19:31red
19:32lights.
19:32No
19:33more
19:33green
19:34lights.
19:35Just
19:35dead
19:36heavy
19:36silence.
19:38Smack
19:39a
19:39soft
19:40thud.
19:41My
19:42diary
19:42which
19:43had been
19:43pinned
19:44under
19:44my
19:44arm
19:45slipped
19:45out
19:46as
19:46my
19:46body
19:47fell.
19:47It
19:48landed
19:49right
19:49at
19:49mom's
19:50feet.
19:50it
19:51fell
19:52open
19:53facing
19:54her
19:55perfectly.
19:57On
19:58that
19:58page
19:59my
20:00messy
20:01desperate
20:02handwriting
20:03stabbed
20:04into
20:05her
20:05eyes
20:06like
20:06daggers.
20:08Mom
20:08my
20:08stomach
20:09really
20:09hurts.
20:10The
20:10band
20:10is
20:10broken.
20:11I
20:11swear
20:12I'm
20:12not
20:12lying.
20:13Please
20:13don't
20:13shock
20:14me
20:14anymore.
20:16It
20:17was
20:18a
20:18shriek
20:18that
20:18didn't
20:19even
20:19sound
20:20human
20:20piercing
20:21and
20:22guttural
20:22like
20:23her throat
20:23was
20:23tearing
20:24apart.
20:25Mom
20:26stumbled
20:26backward
20:27her
20:28lower
20:28back
20:28slamming
20:29hard
20:30against
20:30the
20:30bookshelf.
20:31A
20:32glass
20:32glass
20:33face
20:33crashed
20:33to
20:33the
20:33floor
20:34shattering
20:35into
20:35a
20:35million
20:36pieces.
20:37But
20:37she
20:38didn't
20:38even
20:38flinch.
20:40Her
20:40eyes
20:41were
20:41wide
20:41with
20:42pure
20:42terror
20:43locked
20:44onto
20:44my
20:44body
20:45on
20:45the
20:45floor.
20:46were
20:47no
20:48way.
20:49She
20:50shook
20:50her
20:50head
20:51frantically
20:51her
20:52hair
20:52falling
20:53around
20:53her
20:53face
20:54like
20:54a
20:54mad
20:54woman.
20:55You're
20:56still
20:56faking
20:56it.
20:57This
20:58is
20:58makeup.
20:58It's
20:59a
20:59trick.
21:01Lily
21:02get up
21:02right
21:02now.
21:06Mummy
21:06isn't
21:07mad
21:07anymore.
21:08Stop
21:08scaring
21:09me.
21:10Trembling
21:10violently
21:11she
21:12reached
21:13out
21:13trying
21:14to
21:14grab
21:14my
21:14stiff
21:15arm
21:15but
21:16the
21:17split
21:17second
21:18her
21:18fingertips
21:19brushed
21:20my
21:20freezing
21:20skin.
21:22She
21:22recoiled
21:23like
21:24she
21:25just
21:25touched
21:25a
21:26hot
21:26stove.
21:27That
21:27sensation
21:28it
21:30was
21:30undeniably
21:31real.
21:32It
21:33was
21:33the
21:34temperature
21:35of
21:35death.
21:36Martha
21:36her
21:37neighbor
21:37called
21:38the
21:38cops.
21:39She
21:40had
21:40rushed
21:41over
21:41after
21:42hearing
21:43mom's
21:43screams
21:44took
21:44one
21:45look
21:45at
21:45the
21:45scene
21:46and
21:46collapsed
21:47right
21:47in
21:47the
21:47doorway.
21:49Sirens
21:49soon
21:50flooded
21:50the
21:50neighborhood.
21:52The
21:52police
21:52swarmed
21:53in.
21:54Forensics
21:55followed.
21:56Crime
21:57scene
21:57tape
21:57went
21:58up.
21:59I
21:59watched
21:59them
21:59hustle
22:00in
22:00and
22:01out
22:01camera
22:01flashes
22:02exploding
22:03over
22:04my
22:04corpse.
22:05A
22:05female
22:06officer
22:07had to
22:07drag
22:08mom
22:08out
22:08to
22:08the
22:09living
22:09room
22:09couch.
22:10She
22:11was
22:12still
22:13babbling
22:14incoherently
22:15trying to
22:16defend
22:16herself.
22:17Officer
22:18I
22:18swear
22:19she
22:19was
22:19faking
22:20it.
22:20She's
22:21been
22:21a liar
22:21since
22:22she
22:22was
22:22a
22:22kid.
22:23The
22:23band
22:23was
22:24red.
22:24The
22:24machine
22:25doesn't
22:25lie.
22:26I
22:26was
22:26just
22:27disciplining
22:27her.
22:28I
22:28was
22:28doing
22:29it
22:29for
22:29her
22:29own
22:29good.
22:30Nobody
22:31even
22:31looked
22:31at
22:31her.
22:32Everyone
22:33just
22:33stared
22:33at
22:34her
22:34like
22:34she
22:34was
22:34an
22:35absolute
22:35monster.
22:37When
22:37the
22:38coroner
22:38tried
22:39to
22:39move
22:39my
22:39body
22:40they
22:41ran
22:41into
22:41a
22:41problem.
22:42The
22:43truth
22:43band.
22:44The
22:44truth
22:45band.
22:45Because
22:46it
22:47had
22:47discharged
22:48high
22:48voltage
22:49electricity
22:50for so
22:50long
22:51the
22:51intense
22:52heat
22:52had
22:53literally
22:53melted
22:54the
22:54rubber
22:54right
22:55into
22:55my
22:55skin.
22:56It
22:57was
22:57basically
22:58fused
22:58to
22:59my
22:59flesh.
23:00Jesus
23:01Christ.
23:02He
23:02had
23:02to
23:03grab
23:03a
23:04pair
23:04of
23:04medical
23:05shears
23:06to
23:06force
23:06it
23:07off.
23:07the
23:08sickening
23:09sound
23:09of
23:10skin
23:10tearing.
23:11Even
23:12though
23:12I
23:12was
23:13already
23:13dead
23:13my
23:14phantom
23:14wrist
23:15throbbed.
23:16The
23:16band
23:17finally
23:17came
23:17off
23:18taking
23:19a
23:19chunk
23:19of
23:19my
23:20charred
23:20flesh
23:20with
23:21it.
23:21A
23:22detective
23:22picked
23:23up
23:23my
23:23diary
23:23from
23:24the
23:24floor
23:24flipping
23:25through
23:26it
23:26with
23:26gloved
23:27hands
23:27his
23:29face
23:29growing
23:29darker
23:30by
23:30the
23:31second.
23:31Mom's
23:32eyes
23:33locked
23:33onto
23:33the
23:33notebook.
23:34Suddenly
23:35she
23:36lunged
23:37at
23:38the
23:38detective
23:39like
23:39a
23:39rabid
23:40dog
23:40trying
23:41to
23:41snatch
23:42it.
23:43Those
23:43are
23:43her
23:43punishment
23:44lines!
23:45She
23:45definitely
23:45wrote
23:46it
23:46in
23:46there!
23:46She
23:46admitted
23:46she
23:47was
23:47lying!
23:47Read
23:48it!
23:48She
23:48confessed!
23:50The
23:50detective
23:50shoved
23:51her
23:51back
23:51hard
23:52and
23:53dropped
23:53the
23:53diary
23:54into
23:54an
23:54evidence
23:55bag.
23:56He
23:56glared
23:57at
23:57her
23:57with
23:58eyes
23:58as
23:58cold
23:59as
23:59ice
23:59looking
24:00at
24:01her
24:01like
24:01she
24:01was
24:01pure
24:02garbage.
24:02We'll
24:03decide
24:04who
24:04was
24:04lying.
24:05Right
24:05then
24:06dad
24:06finally
24:08rushed
24:08back.
24:09He
24:10saw
24:10the
24:11black
24:11body
24:12bag
24:12being
24:12carried
24:13out
24:13the
24:13door.
24:14That
24:15long
24:15zipper
24:16sealing
24:17away
24:17my
24:18entire
24:18miserable
24:19life.
24:20Dad's
24:21legs
24:22gave
24:22out.
24:23He
24:23collapsed
24:24onto
24:24the
24:25lawn
24:25literally
24:26wetting
24:26his
24:27pants
24:27in
24:27shock.
24:28Mia
24:29was
24:29standing
24:30to
24:30the
24:30side
24:31sobbing
24:32in
24:32fear.
24:32She
24:33didn't
24:34even
24:34fully
24:35grasp
24:35what
24:36was
24:36happening.
24:37She
24:38just
24:38pointed
24:39at
24:39the
24:40bloody
24:40band
24:41left
24:42on
24:42the
24:42table
24:42and
24:43asked
24:44Mommy
24:44why
24:45is
24:45Lily's
24:46band
24:46black
24:46and
24:47is
24:47still
24:48green?
24:48She
24:49held
24:49up
24:50her
24:50wrist
24:50the
24:51little
24:51green
24:51light
24:52still
24:52blinking
24:53cheerfully.
24:54It
24:55was
24:55a
24:56massive
24:57sickening
24:58irony.
24:59the
25:00police
25:00began
25:01an
25:01impromptu
25:02interrogation
25:03in the
25:04living
25:04room.
25:05Mom
25:05acted
25:06like
25:07she
25:07just
25:07found
25:07her
25:08lifeline.
25:09She
25:09pointed
25:10sharply
25:10at
25:11my
25:11bloody
25:11band,
25:12her
25:12voice
25:13shrill
25:13and
25:14desperate.
25:15Check
25:15the
25:15band.
25:16You
25:16have
25:16to
25:16check
25:17the
25:17band.
25:17It
25:18proves
25:18she
25:18was
25:18lying.
25:19Red
25:20means
25:20lie.
25:21I
25:21only
25:21ever
25:21shocked
25:21her
25:22when
25:22it
25:22turned
25:22red.
25:23I'm
25:23not
25:24abusive.
25:24The
25:24machine
25:25told me
25:25to
25:25do
25:26it.
25:26I
25:26was
25:26just
25:26teaching
25:27her
25:27a
25:27lesson.
25:28The
25:28detective
25:29scowled
25:30at
25:30her,
25:31completely
25:31disgusted.
25:33Ma'am,
25:34your
25:35daughter's
25:35body
25:37is
25:37covered
25:38in
25:38old,
25:39repetitive
25:40electrical
25:40burn
25:40scars.
25:41That
25:41was
25:42discipline!
25:43It
25:43was
25:43education!
25:44Mom
25:45shrieked,
25:46cutting
25:46him off,
25:47desperate
25:48to prove
25:49she was
25:49right.
25:50Desperate
25:51to prove
25:52she
25:52wasn't
25:53a
25:53murderer.
25:54She
25:55suddenly
25:55made
25:56the
25:57most
25:57insane
25:58demand.
26:00You
26:00don't
26:00believe
26:01me?
26:01That
26:02machine
26:02is
26:02flawless!
26:03I'll
26:03put it
26:04on
26:04right
26:04now!
26:05I'm
26:05telling
26:05the
26:05truth,
26:06so
26:06it's
26:06going
26:07to
26:07be
26:07green!
26:08She
26:08lunged
26:09for
26:09the
26:09table,
26:10snatching
26:11up
26:11the
26:11band
26:11that
26:12was
26:12still
26:12coated
26:13in
26:13my
26:13burnt
26:13skin
26:14and
26:14blood.
26:15Completely
26:16ignoring
26:16the
26:17gore,
26:18her
26:18hands
26:19shook
26:19wildly
26:20as
26:21she
26:21forced
26:21the
26:21strap
26:22around
26:22her
26:22own
26:23wrist.
26:23I'll
26:24show
26:24you,
26:25I'm
26:25innocent.
26:26If
26:26it's
26:26green,
26:27it means
26:27everything
26:27I've
26:28said
26:28is
26:28true.
26:29Trembling,
26:30she
26:31snapped
26:31the
26:31blood
26:32soap
26:32device
26:33into
26:33place.
26:35Locked
26:35tight,
26:37the
26:37freezing
26:38rubber
26:38pressed
26:39against
26:39her
26:40skin,
26:41sticky
26:41and slick
26:42with
26:43my
26:43blood.
26:44Mom
26:45took
26:45a deep
26:46breath,
26:47trying to
26:47force
26:48herself to
26:48calm
26:48down.
26:49She
26:50was
26:50so
26:50desperate
26:51to
26:52prove
26:52I
26:52deserve
26:53to
26:53die,
26:54to
26:54prove
26:55her
26:55twisted
26:55parenting
26:56was
26:57flawless.
26:58She
26:59held
26:59her
26:59wrist
27:00up
27:00to
27:00the
27:00cops,
27:01a
27:02gleam
27:02of
27:02manic
27:03confidence
27:04in
27:04her
27:04eyes.
27:05Watch
27:06closely.
27:07My
27:08name
27:08is
27:08Evelyn.
27:09I
27:09am
27:09Lily's
27:10mother.
27:10It
27:11was
27:11a
27:11pure
27:11fact,
27:12the
27:13absolute
27:14truth,
27:15but
27:16then
27:16a
27:17sharp
27:18ear
27:18piercing
27:19alarm
27:19instantly
27:20shrieked
27:21from the
27:21band.
27:22The
27:22long
27:22dead
27:23red
27:23light
27:23violently
27:24exploded
27:25to
27:25life.
27:26Mom
27:26was
27:26stunned.
27:27Her
27:28cocky
27:28expression
27:29froze
27:29instantly.
27:30She
27:31smacked
27:32the
27:32band
27:32hard,
27:33like
27:33hitting
27:33a
27:34glitching
27:34TV
27:34remote.
27:35the
27:35hell?
27:36Is
27:36it
27:36broken?
27:37I'm
27:37telling
27:38the
27:38truth.
27:38I
27:39am
27:39Evelyn.
27:40Panic
27:40started
27:41setting
27:41in,
27:42her
27:42words
27:42spilling
27:43out
27:43faster.
27:44It
27:44has
27:45to
27:45be
27:45broken!
27:46That
27:46corner
27:47must
27:47have
27:47busted
27:50Let me
27:51try again.
27:52I'm
27:52going to
27:52say it
27:53again.
27:53She
27:54swallowed
27:54hard,
27:55her voice
27:55pitching up
27:56in hysteria.
27:57I did
27:57not abuse
27:58my child.
27:59I was
28:00doing it
28:00for her
28:01own good.
28:02I
28:02loved
28:03her!
28:03The
28:03red light
28:04flashed
28:04even more
28:05violently,
28:06blurring
28:06into a
28:07solid block
28:07of furious
28:08red.
28:09And
28:09because it
28:10detected an
28:11extreme spike
28:12in heart
28:13rate,
28:13the band
28:14automatically
28:15triggered a
28:15mild electric
28:16shock.
28:17Mom
28:17jolted
28:18her
28:18entire
28:19arm
28:19stagnant
28:20as she
28:20flinched
28:21hard.
28:22It
28:22hurt.
28:23Even
28:23just a
28:24low-level
28:25shock
28:25was enough
28:26to cover
28:26her in
28:27goosebumps.
28:28It
28:28suddenly
28:29hit her.
28:29How I
28:30felt
28:30at 10
28:31years
28:31old,
28:32being hit
28:33with the
28:33absolute
28:34maximum
28:34voltage,
28:36pulling into
28:36a ball
28:37on the
28:37floor,
28:38biting
28:38through my
28:38own lip
28:39just to
28:39keep
28:39from
28:40crying
28:40out.
28:41So,
28:41this
28:42was how
28:42much
28:42it
28:42hurt.
28:43Mom
28:43completely
28:44lost
28:45her
28:45mind.
28:45Why
28:46is it
28:46red?
28:47Why?
28:48I'm telling
28:49the truth,
28:50stupid thing!
28:51I'm telling
28:52these
28:52things!
28:54Turn
28:55green,
28:56you stupid
28:56thing!
28:57You broken
28:58piece of
28:58trash!
28:59You're
28:59setting me
29:00up!
29:00No matter
29:01how loud
29:02she shrieked,
29:03the red light
29:04just kept
29:05frantically
29:06blinking.
29:07That's
29:07enough.
29:08You know
29:09what happens
29:09if that
29:10thing goes
29:10off.
29:11A
29:11forensics
29:12tech
29:12standing
29:13nearby
29:13finally
29:14spoke
29:14up,
29:15his
29:15voice
29:15ice
29:16cold.
29:16He
29:17honestly
29:18couldn't
29:19stomach
29:19it
29:19anymore.
29:20Stop
29:20trying.
29:21That
29:22thing
29:22isn't
29:22a lie
29:23detector,
29:23lady.
29:24He
29:24grabbed
29:24the
29:24instruction
29:25manual
29:25they'd
29:26found
29:26during
29:26the
29:27search
29:27and
29:27slammed
29:28it
29:28onto
29:28the
29:28coffee
29:29table.
29:29It's
29:30a cheap
29:30glavinic skin
29:31response and
29:31heart rate
29:32monitor.
29:32How it
29:32works is
29:33simple.
29:33When
29:34someone is
29:34nervous,
29:35anxious,
29:35terrified,
29:36or in
29:37extreme pain,
29:38their heart
29:38rate spikes.
29:39They sweat,
29:40their skin
29:40count
29:40activity
29:41jumps,
29:41and the
29:42light
29:42turns
29:42red.
29:42Right
29:43now,
29:43you are
29:43panicking.
29:44You're
29:45terrified and
29:45your heart
29:46is racing.
29:47Of course
29:47it's
29:47flashing red.
29:48The
29:49tech
29:49took a
29:49slow
29:50step
29:50toward
29:51mom,
29:51who
29:52is
29:52now
29:52slumped
29:53on
29:53the
29:53floor.
29:54Every
29:54word
29:54he
29:55spoke
29:55dropped
29:55like a
29:56sledgehammer
29:56onto
29:57her
29:57skull.
29:57Think
29:58about
29:58it.
29:58Your
29:59daughter's
29:59appendix
30:00burst.
30:00She
30:01was
30:01wriggling
30:01on
30:01the
30:02floor.
30:02Do
30:03you
30:03have
30:03any
30:03idea
30:03how
30:04agonizing
30:04a
30:05ruptured
30:05organ
30:05is?
30:06How
30:07fast
30:07do
30:07you
30:07think
30:07her
30:07heart
30:08was
30:08beating?
30:09How
30:09terrified
30:09do
30:10you
30:10think
30:10she
30:10was?
30:11But
30:11to
30:11you,
30:12the
30:12more
30:12pain
30:12she
30:12was
30:13in,
30:13the
30:13faster
30:14her
30:14heartbeat
30:14and
30:15the
30:15brighter
30:15that
30:15red
30:16light
30:16got.
30:17You
30:17just
30:17assumed
30:18she
30:18was
30:18lying
30:19harder,
30:19so
30:19you
30:19cranked
30:20up
30:20the
30:20voltage.
30:21The
30:21shock
30:21caused
30:22more
30:22pain,
30:22which
30:23made
30:23her
30:23heart
30:23race
30:24faster,
30:24which
30:24made
30:25the
30:25light
30:34mom's
30:34entire
30:35reality
30:36shattered
30:36into a
30:36million
30:37pieces.
30:37She
30:38sat
30:38paralyzed
30:39on the
30:39floor,
30:40staring
30:41blankly
30:41at the
30:42red
30:42light
30:42flashing
30:43on her
30:43wrists.
30:44Finally,
30:44it clicked.
30:45For the
30:46last
30:46ten years,
30:47every
30:48single
30:48time,
30:49my band
30:50flashed
30:50red.
30:51It was
30:51just because
30:52I was
30:52scared,
30:53terrified
30:53of her
30:54getting
30:54mad,
30:55terrified
30:55of being
30:56misunderstood,
30:57terrified
30:57of the
30:58food she
30:58forced
30:59down
30:59my
30:59throat.
31:00I
31:00was
31:00in
31:00pain.
31:01In
31:01so
31:01much
31:02pain,
31:02my
31:02heart
31:03was
31:03racing,
31:03and I
31:04was
31:04drenched
31:04in
31:05cold
31:05sweat.
31:06I
31:06was
31:06yearning,
31:07desperate
31:08for her
31:08to hug
31:09me,
31:09just
31:10once,
31:11the
31:11way
31:11she
31:11hugged
31:12Mia.
31:12Every
31:13single
31:13flutter
31:14of my
31:14heart
31:14had
31:15been
31:15twisted
31:16into
31:16proof
31:17of a
31:17lie.
31:20She
31:21started
31:21tearing
31:22frantically
31:22at the
31:23band
31:23on her
31:23wrist.
31:25Get
31:25off
31:26me!
31:28But
31:29the
31:29clasp
31:30jammed
31:31from
31:31being
31:32forced
31:32on
31:32and
31:33damaged
31:33from
31:34melting
31:35was
31:35completely
31:36stuck,
31:37locked
31:37around
31:37her
31:38wrist
31:38like
31:38a
31:38shackle.
31:39No
31:39matter
31:40how
31:40hard
31:40she
31:40clawed
31:41at
31:41it,
31:41it
31:42wouldn't
31:42budge.
31:42I'm
31:43sorry!
31:44I'm
31:44so
31:44sorry!
31:45Lily!
31:46Take
31:47it
31:47away!
31:48Mommy
31:48is
31:49sorry!
31:49I
31:49can't
31:49even
31:50handle
31:50this
31:50little
31:51bit
31:51of
31:51pain,
31:51Mom.
31:52I
31:52had
31:52to
31:53live
31:53with
31:53it
31:53for
31:5310
31:54years.
31:55To
31:55establish
31:55the
31:56details
31:56of the
31:57abuse
31:58and build
31:59a solid
32:00case,
32:00the
32:01police
32:02opened
32:02the
32:02diary,
32:04officially
32:05labeled
32:05as
32:06key
32:07evidence
32:07right in
32:08front of
32:08Mom and
32:08Dad.
32:09That
32:10notebook I
32:11used for
32:1110 years
32:12filled with
32:13blood,
32:13tears,
32:14and pure
32:14humiliation.
32:15The
32:16female
32:16officer's
32:17voice
32:17was
32:18soft,
32:18but
32:19every
32:19single
32:20word
32:20cut
32:21like
32:21a
32:21knife.
32:22February
32:2314th,
32:24Sunny.
32:24Mom made
32:25me eat
32:26celery.
32:26I'm
32:27allergic.
32:27It
32:27makes
32:28my throat
32:28swell up
32:29and I
32:29can't
32:29breathe.
32:30I
32:30told her
32:31I
32:31didn't
32:31want
32:32it.
32:32I
32:32didn't
32:33want
32:33it,
32:33that
32:34I
32:34felt
32:34sick.
32:35I
32:35don't
32:36care
32:36if
32:36you're
32:36sick,
32:37you
32:37will
32:37eat
32:38that
32:38celery.
32:39And
32:39the
32:39band
32:39turned
32:40red.
32:40Mom
32:41said
32:41I
32:41was
32:42just
32:42being
32:45that night
32:46I
32:46threw
32:46up
32:46blood.
32:47My
32:47throat
32:48felt
32:48like
32:48it
32:48was
32:49on
32:49fire.
32:50Mom
32:50saw
32:50it,
32:51said
32:51I
32:51sneaked
32:52tomato
32:52juice
32:53to
32:53fake
32:53being
32:53sick
32:54and
32:54shocked
32:54me
32:55for
32:55another
32:5510
32:56minutes.
32:57Mom
32:57covered
32:58her
32:58mouth,
32:59her
32:59entire
32:59body
33:00trembling
33:00violently.
33:02That
33:02night,
33:03she
33:04honestly
33:04thought
33:05it
33:05was
33:05just
33:05tomato
33:06juice.
33:07She
33:08hadn't
33:09even
33:09given
33:09my
33:10vomit
33:10a
33:10second
33:11glance
33:11before
33:12turning
33:12around
33:13to
33:13read
33:13Mia
33:13a
33:14bedtime
33:15It
33:16turned
33:16out
33:17it
33:17was
33:18blood.
33:19Blood
33:19from
33:20my
33:21swollen
33:22ruptured
33:23throat.
33:24The
33:25officer
33:25turned
33:26the
33:26page
33:26and
33:27kept
33:27reading.
33:28June
33:291st,
33:29Children's
33:30Day.
33:31Mia
33:31cut up
33:32mom's
33:32favorite
33:32dress.
33:33Mia's
33:33heartbeat
33:34was slow,
33:35so she
33:35got a
33:35green
33:36light.
33:36I
33:36was
33:37so
33:37frantic
33:37to
33:37explain,
33:38terrified
33:39of being
33:39beaten,
33:40so I
33:40only
33:40got
33:41read.
33:42Mom
33:42shocked
33:42me
33:42for
33:4310
33:43minutes.
33:43The
33:44dial
33:44was
33:44on
33:44level
33:455.
33:45It
33:46hurt
33:46so
33:47much,
33:47but I
33:48didn't
33:48dare
33:48cry.
33:49Because
33:49crying
33:50makes
33:50your
33:50heartbeat
33:51faster.
33:51Mom
33:52would
33:52think I
33:53was
33:53being
33:53defiant
33:53and
33:53shock
33:54me
33:54even
33:54harder.
33:55I
33:55just
33:56held
33:56my
33:56breath
33:56and
33:57pretended
33:57it
33:57didn't
33:57hurt.
33:58Mom
33:59said,
33:59See?
34:00She's not
34:00even making
34:01a sound.
34:02It
34:02doesn't
34:02even
34:03hurt.
34:03She's
34:03definitely
34:04faking.
34:05Dad
34:05finally
34:06couldn't
34:06listen
34:06anymore.
34:08This
34:08man,
34:09who
34:09had
34:10been
34:10completely
34:11invisible
34:12in this
34:13house
34:13for years,
34:14who had
34:15turned a
34:16blind eye
34:16to my
34:17suffering
34:17just for
34:18some
34:19peace
34:19and quiet,
34:21suddenly
34:21lunged
34:23forward.
34:25You
34:25absolute
34:26monster!
34:27Look at
34:28what you've
34:28done!
34:28She
34:29slapped
34:29Mom
34:30across the
34:30face with
34:31everything
34:31he had.
34:32Mom
34:33was knocked
34:33to the
34:34floor.
34:35That
34:35was your
34:36own
34:37daughter!
34:37You
34:38treated
34:38her like
34:39an
34:39animal!
34:40But
34:40she
34:41didn't
34:41fight
34:42back
34:42and she
34:43didn't
34:43cry.
34:44She
34:45just
34:45mumbled
34:45to
34:46herself,
34:47her eyes
34:48completely
34:48unfocused.
34:51It
34:52was Mia!
34:53Her
34:53band
34:53was always
34:54green!
34:55She
34:55was the
34:56honest
34:56one!
34:57She
34:57just
34:57misled
34:58me!
34:59If I
34:59didn't
34:59have
34:59her
35:00green
35:00lights,
35:01I
35:02wouldn't
35:03have
35:03trusted
35:03the
35:03red
35:04lights
35:04so
35:04much!
35:05Every
35:05eye
35:06in the
35:06room
35:06snapped
35:07to
35:07Mia,
35:08the
35:08little
35:09princess
35:09who
35:10had
35:10always
35:11been
35:11held
35:11in
35:12the
35:12palm
35:12of
35:12Mom's
35:13hand.
35:14A
35:14detective
35:15walked
35:15over
35:16to
35:16her.
35:17He
35:18unclasped
35:19the
35:19green
35:20band
35:20from
35:20her
35:21wrist,
35:21pulled
35:22out
35:22a
35:22screwdriver
35:23and
35:24pried
35:24it
35:24open
35:25right
35:25there
35:25on
35:25the
35:25spot.
35:26The
35:27plastic
35:28casing
35:28split
35:29open.
35:30There
35:30were
35:30no
35:31complex
35:31sensor
35:32chips
35:32inside.
35:33No
35:34heart
35:34rate
35:34monitors.
35:36Just
35:37two
35:37cheap
35:37LED
35:38lights
35:38and
35:38a
35:39couple
35:39of
35:39button
35:40batteries.
35:41The
35:41circuit
35:42board
35:42was
35:42hardwired.
35:43As
35:44long
35:44as
35:44it
35:45had
35:45power
35:45it
35:46would
35:46only
35:47ever
35:47shine
35:47green.
35:48This
35:49is
35:49a
35:49$2
35:49plastic
35:50toy.
35:51Your
35:51younger
35:52daughter's
35:52band
35:52was
35:53factory
35:53set
35:53to
35:54stay
35:54green
35:54permanently.
35:55No
35:56matter
35:56what
35:56she
35:56says
35:57or
35:57does
35:57she
35:58could
35:58commit
35:58murder
35:59and
35:59set a
35:59house
35:59on fire
36:00and
36:00it
36:00would
36:00still
36:00be
36:00green.
36:02Your
36:02so-called
36:02data-driven
36:03parenting
36:04is
36:04nothing
36:04but
36:04a
36:05complete
36:05biased
36:06joke.
36:06Mom
36:07stared
36:07at
36:08the
36:08pile
36:08of
36:09plastic
36:09shards.
36:10The
36:11truth
36:12she
36:13had
36:13blindly
36:14believed
36:14in
36:15for
36:1510
36:15years.
36:16The
36:17sole
36:17evidence
36:18she
36:18used
36:18to
36:19sentence
36:19me
36:20to
36:20death.
36:20It
36:21was
36:21just
36:22a
36:22toy
36:23all
36:23along.
36:24My
36:2510
36:25years
36:25of
36:26torment
36:27were
36:27dictated
36:28by
36:28a
36:29cheap
36:29toy.
36:30A
36:30rig
36:31game
36:31where
36:32I
36:32lived
36:32in
36:33hell
36:33and
36:34my
36:34sister
36:35lived
36:36in
36:36heaven.
36:37So
36:38I
36:38wasn't
36:39a
36:40liar.
36:41I
36:41wasn't
36:42a
36:42bad
36:42kid.
36:43Then
36:44what
36:44the
36:45hell
36:45was
36:45all
36:45my
36:45suffering
36:46for?
36:46I
36:47laughed
36:48and
36:48as
36:48I
36:49laughed
36:49I
36:49started
36:50to
36:50cry.
36:51It
36:51turns
36:52out
36:52ghosts
36:53have
36:53tears
36:54too.
36:55The
36:56final
36:56page
36:57of
36:57the
36:57diary
36:58was
36:58turned.
36:59The
37:00female
37:00officer's
37:01voice
37:01choked
37:02up.
37:02The
37:03handwriting
37:03is
37:04a
37:04mess.
37:04She
37:05must
37:05have
37:05written
37:06this
37:06right
37:06before
37:06she
37:07died.
37:08Mom,
37:09if
37:09I
37:09die,
37:10will
37:10the
37:10band
37:11finally
37:11turn
37:11off?
37:12Will
37:12you
37:12hug
37:13me
37:13then?
37:14I'm
37:14really
37:14not
37:14lying.
37:15My
37:15stomach
37:16hurts
37:16so
37:16bad,
37:17like
37:17there
37:17are
37:18knives
37:18twisting
37:18inside.
37:19Mom,
37:20please
37:21don't
37:21make
37:21me
37:21wear
37:21the
37:22band
37:22in
37:22my
37:22next
37:22life.
37:23I'm
37:24begging
37:24you.
37:24I
37:25just
37:25want
37:25to
37:25be
37:25a
37:25normal
37:26kid.
37:26I
37:27want
37:27to
37:27eat
37:27your
37:27braised
37:28pork.
37:29Mom
37:30stared
37:30at
37:31the
37:31broken
37:31plastic
37:32pieces.
37:33Her
37:35unquestionable
37:36honest
37:37green
37:38light.
37:39Nothing
37:39more
37:40than
37:40a
37:40cheap
37:41plastic
37:41toy.
37:42Because
37:43of this
37:44toy,
37:44she
37:45spoiled
37:45Mia
37:46for
37:47ten
37:47years.
37:49And
37:49because of
37:50that damn
37:51red light,
37:52she tortured
37:52me for
37:53ten years.
37:55Mom
37:55suddenly burst
37:56into laughter.
37:58A shrill,
37:59horrifying laugh
38:00that looked
38:01worse than
38:02sobbing.
38:03She snapped.
38:05This time,
38:05she truly
38:07went insane.
38:08My death
38:09became the biggest
38:10news story in
38:11the city.
38:12Martha,
38:13our neighbor,
38:15was kind
38:15hearted,
38:16but she
38:17also had
38:18a huge
38:18mouth.
38:19She posted
38:19everything she
38:21saw that
38:21day online.
38:23The headline
38:24was
38:25shocking.
38:26The girl
38:27shocked to
38:27death by
38:28a pseudoscience
38:29band.
38:30The article
38:31detailed the
38:32gruesome state
38:33of my corpse
38:34and the band
38:36melted right
38:36into my
38:37flesh.
38:38It went
38:38completely
38:39viral.
38:40The internet
38:41exploded in
38:43absolute fury.
38:45Mom got
38:45completely
38:46doxxed.
38:47Electric demon
38:49murderer
38:50doesn't deserve
38:52to be a
38:52mother.
38:53Countless
38:54death threats
38:55and insults
38:57flooded in
38:58like an
38:58avalanche.
38:59Our front
39:00door was
39:02splashed with
39:03red paint
39:04with the
39:05word die
39:06scrawled all
39:07over it.
39:07Dad was
39:08also taken
39:09in by the
39:10police,
39:10investigated
39:11for criminal
39:12negligence
39:13and child
39:14endangerment.
39:15Although his
39:15alibi saved
39:16him from
39:17serious jail
39:17time, he
39:18lost his
39:19job and
39:20his reputation
39:21was completely
39:21ruined.
39:22His company
39:23fired him
39:24immediately to
39:25avoid the
39:25PR nightmare.
39:27Our family
39:28went bankrupt.
39:29They had to
39:30sell the
39:30house and
39:31the cars
39:32just to
39:33cover the
39:35legal fees
39:36and settlements.
39:37unable to
39:38stand the
39:38crazy woman
39:39mom had
39:39become,
39:40dad took
39:41the last
39:41bit of
39:42money and
39:42left with
39:43Mia.
39:43Even if
39:44Mia was a
39:45bad seed,
39:46she was
39:47his only
39:47living bloodline
39:49left.
39:50Before leaving,
39:51Mia tried to
39:52grab her
39:53green band.
39:54Dad stomped it
39:56into pieces.
39:57What the hell
39:57do you want
39:57this piece of
39:58trash for?
39:59Mia was
40:00dragged away
40:02crying.
40:03Mom was
40:04released on
40:05bail because
40:06psychiatric
40:07evaluations
40:08showed she
40:09was suffering
40:09from severe
40:10schizophrenia and
40:12PTSD.
40:13She was left
40:13alone in a
40:15cheap, stinking
40:16rental apartment
40:17filled with the
40:18memory of my
40:19rotting corpse.
40:21Her mental
40:21state deteriorated
40:23rapidly.
40:23She constantly
40:25hallucinated that
40:28I was still in
40:29the house.
40:30She absolutely
40:31refused to
40:32take off my
40:33red band.
40:34In fact, she
40:34became addicted
40:36to it because
40:36she realized that
40:38only by wearing
40:39it, feeling the
40:40weak sting of
40:42the electric
40:42leaks, I floated
40:44in the room
40:44watching her
40:46daily descent
40:46into madness.
40:48She would
40:49cook a full
40:51table of food
40:53and yell
40:54into thin air.
40:55Lily, time
40:56to eat.
40:56I didn't put
40:57celery in it
40:58today.
40:59It's all
40:59braised pork.
41:00Your favorite.
41:01Then she would
41:02pick up a piece
41:03of meat, her
41:04hands shaking
41:05violently.
41:06Triggered by her
41:07anxiety, the
41:08band would
41:09flash red.
41:10Mommy doesn't
41:10deserve to eat.
41:11Liars must be
41:12punished.
41:13She would put
41:14down her
41:15chopsticks and
41:17pick up the
41:18remote and
41:19press it against
41:20her own neck.
41:22Even though the
41:23battery was almost
41:24dead, she always
41:26managed to find
41:27fresh ones to
41:28put in.
41:29The intense
41:30voltage would
41:31make her convulse
41:33and foam at
41:35the mouth.
41:35Lily, it's
41:36much pain.
41:38I'm sorry.
41:40Mommy feels it
41:42now.
41:44She started
41:45replicating the
41:46punishments from
41:47my diary on
41:48herself.
41:49I was shocked
41:50for not eating
41:51celery, so she
41:52forced herself to
41:54eat rancid, spoiled
41:56food.
41:57Even when she
41:58vomited blood, she
41:59swallowed it back
42:00down.
42:01I was locked in
42:02the dark, so she
42:03would lock herself
42:04in the bedroom
42:05without the lights
42:06on.
42:07Repeatedly bang her
42:09head on the floor
42:10in front of my memorial
42:12photo.
42:13Thud, thud, until her
42:15forehead was a bloody
42:16mess, leaving bloody
42:18prints all over the
42:19floorboards.
42:20Deep in the night, she
42:22would see the red light
42:24reflecting on the wall,
42:25like my bleeding eyes
42:26staring right back at
42:28her.
42:28On the back of the
42:30diary, she would
42:31frantically scribble in
42:33red ink.
42:33I'm sorry, Mom was
42:35wrong.
42:36Red is pain, red
42:38is love.
42:39Please come back.
42:41Just say it hurts
42:42one more time.
42:43Mommy will definitely
42:44save you.
42:45What a shame.
42:46I was already
42:47dead.
42:48And dead girls
42:49can't feel pain.
42:51Mom was eventually
42:52locked up in a
42:53psychiatric ward.
42:54Her severe self-harm
42:56reached the point
42:57where she nearly
42:58electrocuted herself
42:59to death at home.
43:01Adult Protective
43:02Services forced an
43:04intervention and had
43:05her committed.
43:07She was the most
43:07bizarre patient in
43:09the entire facility.
43:12Somehow, she had
43:13found a red plastic
43:15ring and jammed it
43:17tight around her
43:18neck.
43:18It was her
43:19homemade truth
43:21band.
43:22If anyone tried to
43:24take it off, she
43:25would bite them
43:26frantically like a
43:27rabid dog.
43:29Don't touch my
43:29light.
43:30Lily is watching.
43:31If you take it off,
43:32she'll get mad.
43:33She had developed a
43:36horrifying conditioned
43:37reflex.
43:39Whenever a nurse
43:40asked her,
43:41Evelyn, have you
43:42eaten?
43:43She would touch her
43:44neck first, then
43:46convulse and scream.
43:47Red light!
43:49Red light!
43:50Don't shock me!
43:51I'll eat!
43:52I'll eat!
43:53Even if it was
43:54boiling hot porridge,
43:55she would swallow it
43:57in one gulp.
43:58Even as it blistered
44:00and burned her
44:01esophagus, she
44:02didn't dare spit it
44:03out.
44:04She was mimicking
44:07me right before I
44:09died.
44:10She was using this
44:11to experience my
44:13personal hell over
44:14and over again.
44:16Years later, Mia
44:18grew up and she
44:21went completely off
44:23the rails.
44:23with no discipline
44:25and carrying that
44:27infamous reputation,
44:30she ended up
44:30scraping by at the
44:32very bottom of
44:33society.
44:34When she ran out
44:36of money, she
44:37remembered her
44:38mother sitting in
44:39the psych ward.
44:40She came to the
44:42hospital for a
44:43visit, not out of
44:45love, but for cash.
44:47Listen, you old
44:48lunatic.
44:49Dad's dead.
44:50Give me the secret
44:51stash of money you
44:51hid.
44:52Mia was caked in
44:53heavy makeup, her
44:55face dripping with
44:56hostility.
44:57Looking at the
44:58absolute ghost her
44:59mother had become,
45:01she spat on the
45:02floor in disgust.
45:05You're disgusting.
45:06Just like you're
45:07dead brat of a
45:08daughter.
45:09If you don't give
45:11me the money, I'll
45:11pull your plug and
45:12send you to keep
45:13her company.
45:14Mom, who had
45:15been completely
45:16catatonic, suddenly
45:18snapped her head up
45:19at those words.
45:20Her cloudy eyes
45:22suddenly cleared for
45:23a fraction of a
45:24second the moment
45:25she locked on to
45:26Mia.
45:26She remembered that
45:28plastic toy band
45:29that always shone
45:31green.
45:31The green light that
45:33had deceived her for
45:34ten years.
45:36It was you.
45:38You lied to me.
45:40You were the fake
45:41green light.
45:42You killed Lily.
45:44Give my Lily back
45:45to me.
45:45Her final, lingering
45:48shred of maternal
45:49love twisted into the
45:51fangs of pure
45:52vengeance.
45:54Mom suddenly lunged,
45:57throwing herself at
45:58Mia and locked her
46:01hands in a death
46:02grip around her throat.
46:05Die!
46:06Go to hell!
46:07It should have been
46:08you!
46:08Help!
46:09Mia thrashed in terror,
46:12but she couldn't break
46:13the brute strength of a
46:14mad woman.
46:15It took doctors
46:16rushing in and
46:17injecting a heavy
46:18sedative to finally
46:20pry mom off her.
46:22Mia, scared
46:24completely out of her
46:25mind, scrambled away
46:27and bolted.
46:29Maniacs, you're all
46:30crazy!
46:31Blinded by panic,
46:33she sprinted wildly
46:34at the hospital's
46:36front doors.
46:37A speeding delivery
46:38truck couldn't break in
46:40time.
46:40Mia was sent flying
46:44through the air.
46:46She survived, but both
46:49her legs were
46:50completely shattered.
46:51Condemned to spend the
46:54rest of her miserable
46:55life in a wheelchair.
46:57Reduced to an absolute
47:00cripple.
47:01As for mom, she was
47:04strapped to a restraint
47:06bed, tears silently rolling
47:08down her face as she
47:10stared at the ceiling.
47:11In her dreams, she
47:14finally saw me.
47:15The dream me was still
47:17ten years old, wearing
47:19a white dress with no
47:21truth band on my wrist.
47:23Running toward her with
47:24a bright smile, overjoyed,
47:27she opened her arms to
47:28catch me, only to realize
47:30her hands were sparking
47:32with electricity.
47:33The second she touched
47:35me, my body burst into
47:38flames like dry paper.
47:40Crumbling into ash, she
47:42jolted awake from the
47:44nightmare, sobbing, her
47:46heart rate spiking
47:47dangerously high.
47:48If she still wore the
47:50band, it would undoubtedly
47:51be a blinding, piercing
47:53crimson right now.
47:55It was an eternal,
47:58inescapable pain.
47:59I stood in the void, watching
48:03it all unfold.
48:05Watching mom tortured in the
48:07psych ward.
48:08Watching Mia begging with
48:10shattered legs.
48:11Watching dad drink himself
48:13into an early, pathetic grave.
48:17Yet, in my heart, I felt
48:20absolutely no thrill of revenge.
48:24Just complete peace.
48:26Standing next to me, was an old
48:29dog.
48:30It was Snowball, the puppy I
48:33had when I was little, before
48:35mom threw him away.
48:37He had been waiting for me in
48:38the spirit world.
48:40Snowball nudged my leg, and
48:43gave two soft barks.
48:44As if saying, let's go, don't
48:48look anymore.
48:49Yeah, it was time to go.
48:52This life had been too bitter.
48:55There was nothing left to hold
48:56on to.
48:57I floated to the window of mom's
49:00hospital room.
49:01It was for one final goodbye.
49:04Mom lay on the bed, looking like
49:07a skeletal ghost, her hair
49:09completely white.
49:11Sensing something, her cloudy
49:14eyes shifted to an empty spot in
49:16the air.
49:17The exact spot where I was
49:19standing.
49:20Lily, is that you?
49:23She reached out with a
49:25trembling hand, grasping
49:27blindly at the void.
49:30Mommy smashed the band.
49:32Mommy doesn't believe in that
49:33anymore.
49:34Please come back, okay?
49:36Mommy will cook for you.
49:38No celery.
49:40Mommy will buy you a new dress.
49:42I won't buy Mia one.
49:45Tears slipped from the corners of
49:47her eyes, soaking into the
49:48pillow.
49:49I glanced at the bloody ring of
49:51scars around her neck, and let
49:54out a soft sigh.
49:57I reached out, pressing an ice-cold
50:00finger against her forehead.
50:03It was the last ounce of mercy I had
50:07for her.
50:08Let her sleep.
50:10When you're asleep, it doesn't hurt
50:13anymore.
50:14She quieted instantly, her heavy
50:17eyelids drooping shut as she fell
50:20into a deep sleep.
50:22A gust of wind blew through the room,
50:25flipping open the battered diary on
50:28the bedside table.
50:29The one possession the police had
50:31returned to her.
50:33On the very last page, right below my
50:36dying words were a few new lines of
50:41jagged handwriting, written by mom
50:44during a rare moment of clarity.
50:47Next life, let mommy wear the band.
50:50Let mommy be the liar.
50:52You can punish me.
50:54As long as you don't abandon mommy,
50:56mommy will do anything.
50:57I looked at those words, feeling
51:01absolutely nothing.
51:03It was too late.
51:05In the face of death, all the
51:07repentance in the world is pale and
51:10useless.
51:11Mom, I don't hate you anymore, but I
51:14don't love you either.
51:15Ma, let's them wear me stirs at
51:17Everest.
51:18I turned around, walking alongside
51:21Snowball.
51:23A door of pure light appeared in the
51:26distance.
51:27The gateway to the next reincarnation.
51:31I raised my wrist.
51:33The phantom truth band that had bound
51:37my soul.
51:38The nightmare that had imprisoned my
51:40entire life.
51:41I clenched my fists tight.
51:43It shattered, dissolving into
51:47stardust and vanishing into the air.
51:51I felt an unprecedented sense of
51:53relief.
51:55No red lights.
51:56No shocks.
51:58No lies.
52:00No lies.
52:00Just freedom.
52:02I walked into the light without ever
52:05looking back.
52:08The morning sun spilled into the hospital room.
52:12A nurse pushed the door open for morning rounds.
52:17Evelyn, time for your meds.
52:19No response.
52:21The figure on the bed was completely still.
52:24The nurse stepped closer to check.
52:27Mom's hands were tightly clutching that broken diary.
52:31A single crystalline tear hung at the corner of her eye and on the heart monitor next to the bed.
52:43That jagged green wave representing life had flattened into one long straight line.
52:54and nothing.
52:56Sue is treason.
52:56I thought never went down.
52:56I have to wait.
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