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00:00I was born a liar, at least. That's the label mom slapped on me.
00:06As a diehard believer in data-driven parenting, she strapped truth bands on my twin sister Mia and me the
00:13day 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.
00:22She could shred mom's favorite dress to pieces, blame the cat, and her band would just glow a soft, gentle
00:33green.
00:34But for me, even if I just whispered,
00:38Mom, I'm hungry.
00:40My band would instantly explode into an angry red, followed 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. I'm doing this for your own good.
01:00After thousands of shocks, I 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.
01:29Please 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.
01:42You're pretending to be sick just so you can come watch the fireworks with us?
01:45You never change!
01:46She turned, grabbed Mia, and slammed the door behind them.
01:52I 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.
02:02I'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, my 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 and 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, reaching 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, she pinched my chin, her voice dripping with venom.
02:57Lily, how 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, hurry up.
03:06The fireworks are about to start.
03:09If Singha doesn't want to go, fine.
03:11Should we leave her some food?
03:12Mom stood up and dusted off her hands, like 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.
03:29But...
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, and she ate all the snacks.
03:49Mia had just stood there, her band glowing that soft green, and said,
03:55It wasn't me, and Mom believed her.
04:00When I tried to defend myself and said I didn't take it either, the red light flashed, and I got
04:06shocked.
04:07I watched Mom turn around to leave.
04:12Mia peeked through the crack in the door and stuck her tongue out at me.
04:17Bye, sis.
04:18Miss, we'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, followed by the heavy click of the deadbolt.
04:29The house went dead silent, leaving just me alone with 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, so 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, but it actually started to hurt less.
05:03Using my last breath, I dragged myself to the desk.
05:08I had to write my punishment lines.
05:12Those were the rules.
05:14Whenever the red light flashed, I had to write,
05:18I am a liar a thousand times.
05:21Once I finished, Mom would forgive me, right?
05:25She'd take me to the hospital then.
05:28With trembling hands, I 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, I wanted to write the truth.
05:50My vision blurred.
05:52Crying, I used every last ounce of my strength to write,
05:58Mom, I really do love you.
06:01It hurts so much.
06:03Why won't you just believe me?
06:05Mom, please, just 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, and 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.
06:39I'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 that I had never heard before.
06:59I floated in midair, watching the front door open.
07:02Now a soul, I 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 still 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!
08:31I'm not pretending to sleep!
08:33I'm dead!
08:35Look 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.
09:00Dad 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.
09:23I hovered beside my body,
09:25staring at the crimson light
09:26in the darkness,
09:27a sorrow deeper than death
09:29filling me.
09:30Mom,
09:31if you had just taken one 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
09:59weakly,
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 shell
10:12below 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 making 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 plain oatmeal
10:44because Mom said
10:46liars didn't deserve
10:47good food.
10:48Today,
10:49she was deliberately
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 me
10:58to give in
10:59to the hunger
10:59and crawl out
11:00to beg for forgiveness.
11:03In the past,
11:04I might have actually
11:05confessed to
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,
11:16reading 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.
11:33Mom!
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,
11:41I looked at my sister
11:42with a bitter smile.
11:43I had already started
11:45to smell after
11:46just one night.
11:47Mom marched over,
11:49her forehead
11:49deeply wrinkled
11:50in disgust.
11:52You actually soiled
11:54your own room?
11:55She pounded
11:56on the door
11:57and roared.
12:00You are unbelievable!
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 severe
12:11stomach flu
12:12and couldn't make it
12:13to the bathroom
12:14in time,
12:15messing my pants.
12:16She pointed at me
12:17and told the neighbors,
12:19Look at this child,
12:20dirty as a pig.
12:22And now,
12:23she thought
12:24I was being filthy again.
12:27Just leave her!
12:28Mom waved her hand
12:29in disgust
12:30like shooing away
12:32a fly.
12:33Sit in her own stitch.
12:34See how she likes it.
12:36Dad put down
12:37his paper.
12:38The smell really
12:39is getting strong.
12:40Let me go check on her.
12:41Maybe a rat
12:42died in the walls.
12:43He stood up
12:44and walked
12:46toward my bedroom door.
12:48My ghost heart
12:49leaped into 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 moving 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 boss
13:14calling.
13:15The server's crashed?
13:16Okay,
13:17okay,
13:17I'm on my way.
13:19Honey,
13:20there's a massive
13:21emergency at work.
13:21I have to go.
13:22I might not be back
13:22for a few days.
13:23Wait,
13:24what about Lily?
13:25I froze
13:26in midair.
13:28It was so
13:29incredibly close.
13:31Just one second away.
13:33If that call
13:34had come
13:35just a moment later,
13:37they would have
13:38found me.
13:39Maybe then
13:39I wouldn't have
13:41to keep rotting
13:42in here.
13:43That afternoon,
13:44Mom took
13:45Mia out shopping,
13:46leaving my corpse
13:47alone in the house.
13:48They came back
13:49in the evening.
13:50As soon as they
13:51walked in,
13:52the stench
13:52hit them
13:53even harder.
13:54Are you trying
13:55to turn this house
13:55into a literal dumpster?
13:57Instead,
13:58she grabbed
13:58a roll of duct tape,
14:00crouched down,
14:01and viciously sealed
14:02the crack
14:02under my door tight.
14:03Since you love
14:04the stench so much,
14:05you can just sit in it!
14:06Mom dusted off
14:07her hands
14:08in satisfaction.
14:09Finally,
14:10some peace and quiet.
14:11watching that
14:12duct tape door,
14:13the very last
14:14shred of hope
14:15in my heart
14:16suffocated
14:17right along
14:17with the seal.
14:18So this was it.
14:20In Mom's mind,
14:21my life and death
14:22mattered
14:23even less
14:24than a fancy dinner.
14:25She would rather
14:26seal me in like a tomb
14:27than check if I was
14:28actually dying inside.
14:30You win, Mom.
14:31I will never
14:32bother you again.
14:33By the morning
14:34of the third day,
14:35the warm winter sun
14:37spilled into the living room,
14:38but it couldn't dispel
14:40the dark gloom
14:41hanging over the house.
14:43The thermostat
14:44was cranked
14:44way up to
14:45almost 80 degrees.
14:47The duct tape
14:48could no longer
14:49hold back
14:50the smell.
14:51It was
14:53a nauseating,
14:55thick,
14:56greasy stench
14:57of decay.
14:58Mom was trimming
14:59fresh flowers
15:00she had just bought,
15:01but no matter
15:02how strong
15:02the floral scent was,
15:04it couldn't mask
15:05the smell
15:06of a rotting corpse.
15:07Mom angrily
15:09snapped a rose stem,
15:11letting a thorn
15:12prick her finger.
15:14She had finally
15:16reached her
15:17breaking point.
15:18In her twisted logic,
15:20me not showering,
15:22using the room
15:23as a toilet,
15:24or even hiding
15:26dead rats in there,
15:27it was all
15:28just an act
15:29of rebellion
15:30to disgust her
15:31and challenge
15:31her authority.
15:32Lily,
15:33you are completely
15:34out of control!
15:36Mom stormed
15:38into the kitchen,
15:39grabbed a heavy
15:40wooden spoon,
15:41and marched
15:42furiously toward
15:43my room.
15:44Since the shock
15:45collar isn't
15:46working anymore,
15:47maybe you need
15:48some old-fashioned
15:49discipline!
15:51Floating right
15:52in front of her,
15:53looking at her
15:53contorted,
15:54furious face,
15:56I waved my hands
15:57frantically
15:58to stop her.
16:00Don't go in!
16:01Mom, please don't!
16:03I look awful!
16:04I'm rotting!
16:05You'll be scared!
16:07Even though
16:07she didn't love me,
16:09I still didn't
16:09want her to see me
16:10in such a horrific
16:12state.
16:13But she walked
16:15right through
16:15my spirit
16:16and viciously
16:18ripped the duct
16:18tape off the
16:19door frame.
16:20The sound of the
16:21adhesive tearing
16:22was piercing.
16:24She jammed the
16:25spare key
16:26into the lock
16:27and twisted.
16:28The door
16:29was violently
16:30shoved open.
16:33A sickening
16:34wall of
16:34concentrated death
16:36hit her
16:37instantly,
16:37like opening
16:39Pandora's box.
16:40Mom stumbled
16:41backward,
16:42gagging as the
16:44stench assaulted
16:45her.
16:45Lily!
16:47What the hell
16:47are you doing
16:48in here?
16:49She looked up
16:50and saw me
16:50still slumped
16:51over the desk
16:52in the exact
16:53same position
16:54from three
16:55days ago.
16:56My back
16:56to her
16:57completely
16:58motionless.
16:59To her,
17:00this was
17:01a silent
17:02provocation.
17:04Pure,
17:04sheer arrogance.
17:06Are you deaf?
17:08Are you still
17:08playing dead?
17:09Blinded by rage,
17:11she closed the
17:11distance in three
17:12steps,
17:13raising the
17:14heavy wooden
17:15spoon high
17:15in the air.
17:16But she didn't
17:18strike right away.
17:19She wanted to
17:20yank me up
17:21first to see
17:22the stubborn
17:23expression she
17:24was sure
17:25was on my
17:25face.
17:26Get up!
17:28She grabbed
17:30me roughly
17:30by the back
17:32of the collar,
17:34her fingers
17:34digging into
17:35my skin.
17:36The very next
17:37second,
17:38she froze.
17:39The moment
17:39she made
17:40contact,
17:41time seemed
17:42to stop
17:43completely.
17:44Through the
17:45thin fabric
17:46of my pajamas,
17:47her fingers
17:48didn't feel
17:49warm living
17:50skin or
17:51soft flesh.
17:53Instead,
17:54she felt
17:55a block
17:56of ice-cold,
17:57rock-hard,
17:58dead meat.
17:59It was
18:00a bone-chilling,
18:02unnatural cold,
18:04entirely
18:05devoid of
18:07the warmth
18:08of life.
18:10Mom hesitated
18:12for a fraction
18:13of a second,
18:14but her momentum
18:15carried through,
18:16yanking backward
18:18with brute force.
18:19My stiff body
18:21was pulled backward,
18:23falling rigidly.
18:25Taking the heavy
18:26desk chair down
18:27with it,
18:28crash.
18:29The chair
18:30slammed loudly
18:31against the hardwood floor.
18:33My corpse
18:34fell perfectly stiff,
18:36like a toppled
18:37marble statue.
18:38And finally,
18:40my face
18:41was revealed.
18:43I was no longer
18:44the timid little girl
18:46she knew.
18:47My face
18:48was a bruised,
18:49sickly purple,
18:51my eyes
18:51bulging,
18:52my features
18:53completely
18:56contorted
18:57from the sheer
18:58agony
18:59of my final
19:00moments.
19:01Dried white foam
19:03and dark
19:03crusted blood
19:04stained the
19:05corners of my mouth.
19:06and there
19:08on my
19:10blackened wrist
19:11was the
19:13truth band
19:14Mom was always
19:15so damn proud of.
19:17It hung
19:18there,
19:19lifeless.
19:21The skin
19:22underneath
19:22was scorched
19:23pitch black
19:24from the electricity.
19:26The melted
19:27rubber fused
19:28directly into
19:29my charred flesh.
19:31No more
19:31red lights,
19:32no more
19:33green lights,
19:34just dead
19:36heavy silence.
19:38Smack.
19:39A soft
19:40thud.
19:41My diary,
19:43which had been
19:43pinned under my arm,
19:45slipped out
19:46as my body fell.
19:47It landed
19:49right at
19:49Mom's feet.
19:51It fell
19:52open,
19:54facing her
19:55perfectly.
19:57On that page,
19:59my messy,
20:01desperate
20:02handwriting
20:03stabbed
20:04into her
20:05eyes
20:06like daggers.
20:08Mom,
20:08my stomach
20:09really hurts.
20:10The band
20:10is broken.
20:11I swear
20:12I'm not
20:12lying.
20:13Please don't
20:13shock me
20:14anymore.
20:17It was
20:18a shriek
20:18that didn't
20:19even sound
20:20human.
20:21Piercing
20:21and guttural
20:22like her throat
20:23was tearing
20:24apart.
20:25Mom
20:26stumbled
20:26backward,
20:27her lower back
20:28slamming hard
20:30against the
20:30bookshelf.
20:31A glass vase
20:33crashed to the
20:33floor,
20:34shattering into
20:35a million pieces.
20:36But she
20:38didn't even
20:38flinch.
20:39Her eyes
20:41were wide
20:41with pure
20:42terror,
20:43locked onto
20:44my body
20:45on the floor.
20:46No,
20:48no way.
20:49She shook
20:50her head
20:51frantically,
20:52her hair
20:52falling around
20:53her face
20:54like a mad
20:54woman.
20:55You're still
20:56faking it!
20:57This is
20:58makeup!
20:58It's a trick!
21:01Lily,
21:02get up
21:02right now!
21:06Mommy
21:06isn't mad
21:07anymore!
21:08Stop
21:08scaring me!
21:09Trembling
21:10violently,
21:11she reached
21:13out trying
21:14to grab
21:14my stiff
21:15arm,
21:15but the
21:17split second
21:18her fingertips
21:19brushed
21:20my freezing
21:20skin.
21:21She
21:22recoiled
21:23like
21:24she just
21:25touched
21:25a hot
21:26stove.
21:27That
21:27sensation,
21:29it was
21:30undeniably
21:31real.
21:32It was
21:33the temperature
21:35of death.
21:36Martha,
21:37her neighbor,
21:38called the
21:38cops.
21:40She
21:40had
21:40rushed
21:41over
21:41after
21:42hearing
21:43mom's
21:43screams,
21:44took
21:44one look
21:45at the
21:45scene,
21:46and
21:46collapsed
21:47right in
21:47the doorway.
21:49Sirens
21:49soon flooded
21:50the neighborhood.
21:51The police
21:52swarmed
21:53in.
21:54Forensics
21:55followed.
21:56Crime
21:57scene
21:57tape
21:57went
21:58up.
21:58I
21:59watched
21:59them
21:59hustle
22:00in
22:00and
22:01out,
22:01camera
22:02flashes
22:02exploding
22:03over my
22:04corpse.
22:05A
22:05female
22:06officer
22:07had to
22:07drag
22:08mom out
22:08to the
22:09living room
22:09couch.
22:10She
22:11was
22:12still
22:13babbling
22:14incoherently,
22:15trying to
22:16defend herself.
22:18Officer,
22:18I swear she
22:19was faking
22:20it.
22:20She's been
22:21a liar
22:21since she
22:22was a
22:22kid.
22:23The band
22:23was red.
22:24The machine
22:25doesn't lie.
22:26I was just
22:27disciplining her.
22:28I was doing
22:28it for her
22:29own good.
22:30Nobody
22:31even looked
22:31at her.
22:32Everyone
22:33just stared
22:33at her
22:34like she
22:34was an
22:35absolute
22:35monster.
22:37When the
22:38coroner
22:38tried to
22:39move my
22:39body,
22:40they ran
22:41into a
22:41problem.
22:42The truth
22:43band.
22:44The truth
22:45band.
22:45Because it
22:47had discharged
22:48high voltage
22:49electricity
22:50for so long,
22:51the intense
22:52heat had
22:53literally
22:53melted the
22:54rubber
22:54right into
22:55my skin.
22:56It was
22:57basically
22:58fused to
22:59my flesh.
23:00Jesus
23:00Christ.
23:02He had
23:02to grab
23:03a pair
23:04of medical
23:05shears to
23:06force it
23:07off.
23:07The sickening
23:09sound of
23:10skin tearing.
23:11Even though
23:12I was already
23:13dead, my
23:14phantom wrist
23:15throbbed.
23:16The band
23:17finally came
23:17off, taking
23:19a chunk of
23:19my charred
23:20flesh with
23:21it.
23:21A detective
23:22picked up
23:23my diary
23:23from the
23:24floor,
23:25flipping through
23:26it with
23:26gloved
23:27hands,
23:28his face
23:29growing darker
23:30by the
23:31second.
23:31Mom's eyes
23:33locked onto
23:33the notebook.
23:35Suddenly,
23:36she lunged
23:37at the
23:38detective like
23:39a rabid
23:40dog trying
23:41to snatch
23:42it.
23:42Those are
23:43her punishment
23:44lines!
23:45She definitely
23:45wrote it in
23:46there!
23:46She admitted
23:46she was lying!
23:47Read it!
23:48She confessed!
23:49The detective
23:50shoved her
23:51back hard
23:52and dropped
23:53the diary
23:54into an
23:54evidence bag.
23:56He glared
23:57at her
23:57with eyes
23:58as cold
23:59as ice,
24:00looking at
24:01her like
24:01she was
24:02pure garbage.
24:03We'll
24:04decide who
24:04was lying.
24:05Right
24:05then,
24:06Dad
24:07finally
24:08rushed
24:08back.
24:09He saw
24:10the black
24:11body bag
24:12being carried
24:13out the
24:13door,
24:14that long
24:15zipper
24:16sealing away
24:17my entire
24:18miserable
24:19life.
24:20Dad's
24:21legs gave
24:22out.
24:23He collapsed
24:24onto the
24:25lawn,
24:25literally
24:26wetting his
24:27pants in
24:27shock.
24:29Mia was
24:29standing to
24:30the side,
24:31sobbing in
24:32fear.
24:33She didn't
24:34even fully
24:35grasp what
24:36was happening.
24:37She just
24:38pointed at
24:39the bloody
24:40band left
24:42on the
24:42table and
24:43asked,
24:44Mommy,
24:45why is Lily's
24:46band black?
24:47And is still
24:48green!
24:48She held
24:49up her
24:50wrist,
24:50the little
24:51green light
24:52still blinking
24:53cheerfully.
24:54It was
24:55a massive,
24:57sickening
24:58irony.
24:59The police
25:00began an
25:01impromptu
25:02interrogation
25:03in the
25:04living room.
25:05Mom acted
25:06like she
25:07just found
25:07her lifeline.
25:09She pointed
25:10sharply at
25:11my bloody
25:11band,
25:12her voice
25:13shrill and
25:14desperate.
25:15Check the
25:15band.
25:16You have to
25:16check the
25:17band.
25:17It proves
25:18she was
25:18lying.
25:19Red
25:20means
25:20lie.
25:21I only
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 do
25:26it.
25:26I was
25:26just
25:26teaching
25:27her
25:27a
25:27lesson.
25:28The
25:28detective
25:29scowled
25:30at her,
25:31completely
25:31disgusted.
25:33Ma'am,
25:35your
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
25:47off.
25:48Desperate
25:48to prove
25:49she was
25:49right.
25:51Desperate
25:51to prove
25:52she wasn't
25:53a murderer.
25:54She
25:55suddenly
25:55made the
25:57most
25:57insane
25:58demand.
26:00You don't
26:00believe me?
26:01That machine
26:02is flawless!
26:03I'll put it on
26:04right now!
26:05I'm telling the
26:05truth, so it's
26:06going to be
26:07green!
26:08green!
26:08She
26:08lunged for
26:09the table,
26:10snatching up
26:11the band
26:11that was
26:12still coated
26:13in my
26:13burnt skin
26:14and blood.
26:15Completely
26:16ignoring the
26:17gore,
26:18her hands
26:19shook
26:19wildly
26:20as she
26:21forced the
26:21strap
26:22around her
26:22own
26:23wrist.
26:24I'll
26:24show you!
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!
26:28Trembling,
26:30she snapped
26:31the blood
26:32soap device
26:33into place.
26:35Locked
26:35tight,
26:37the freezing
26:38rubber pressed
26:39against her
26:40skin,
26:41sticky and
26:42slick with
26:43my blood.
26:44Mom took
26:45a deep
26:45breath,
26:47trying to
26:47force herself
26:48to calm
26:48down.
26:49She was
26:50so desperate
26:51to prove
26:52I deserved
26:53to die,
26:54to prove
26:55her twisted
26:55parenting was
26:57flawless.
26:57she held
26:59her wrist
27:00up to
27:00the cops,
27:01a gleam
27:02of manic
27:03confidence
27:04in her
27:04eyes.
27:05Watch
27:06closely.
27:07My name
27:08is Evelyn.
27:09I am
27:09Lily's
27:10mother.
27:10It was
27:11a pure
27:11fact,
27:12the
27:13absolute
27:14truth,
27:15but
27:16then
27:16a sharp
27:18ear-piercing
27:19alarm
27:19instantly
27:20shrieked
27:21from the
27:21band.
27:22The long
27:22dead red
27:23light violently
27:24exploded
27:25to life.
27:26Mom was
27:26stunned.
27:27Her
27:28cocky
27:28expression
27:29froze
27:29instantly.
27:30She
27:31smacked
27:32the band
27:32hard,
27:33like hitting
27:33a glitching
27:34TV remote.
27:35What the
27:35hell?
27:36Is it
27:36broken?
27:37I'm
27:37telling
27:38the
27:38truth.
27:39I
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
27:48it!
27:50Let
27:51me try
27:51again.
27:51I'm
27:52going
27:52to
27:52say
27:53it
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.
28:01I loved
28:03her!
28:03The red
28:04light flashed
28:04even more
28:05violently,
28:06blurring into
28:06a solid block
28:07of furious
28:08red.
28:09And because
28:10it detected
28:11an extreme
28:12spike in
28:13heart rate,
28:13the band
28:14automatically
28:15triggered a
28:15mild electric
28:16shock.
28:17Mom
28:17jolted
28:18her
28:18entire
28:19arm
28:19stagnating
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,
28:36curling
28:36into a
28:37ball on
28:37the floor,
28:38biting
28:38through my
28:38own lip
28:39just to
28:39keep
28:39from crying
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.
28:46Why
28:46is
28:46it
28:46red?
28:47Why?
28:48I'm
28:49telling
28:49the
28:49truth,
28:50stupid
28:50thing!
28:51I'm
28:51telling
28:52these
28:52things!
28:54Turn
28:55green,
28:56you stupid
28:56thing!
28:57You
28:57broken
28:58piece
28:58of
28:58trash!
28:59You're
28:59setting
29:00me
29:00up!
29:01No
29:01matter
29:01how
29:02loud
29:02she
29:03shrieked,
29:03the
29:04red
29:04light
29:04just
29:05kept
29:05frantically
29:06blinking.
29:07That's
29:07enough.
29:08You
29:09know what
29:09happens
29:09if that
29:10thing
29:10goes
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 a
29:22lie
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
29:30cheap
29:30glavinic
29:30skin
29:31response
29:31and
29:31heart
29:31rate
29:32monitor.
29:32How
29:32it
29:32works
29:33is
29:33simple.
29:33When
29:34someone
29:34is
29:34nervous,
29:35anxious,
29:35terrified,
29:36or in
29:37extreme
29:37pain,
29:38their
29:38heart
29:38rate
29:38spikes.
29:39They
29:39sweat,
29:40their
29:40skin
29:40conductivity
29:41jumps,
29:41and the
29:42light
29:42turns
29:42red.
29:42Right
29:43now,
29:43you
29:43are
29:43panicking.
29:44You're
29:45terrified
29:45and your
29:45heart
29:46is
29:46racing.
29:47Of
29:47course
29:47it's
29:47flashing
29:48red.
29:48The
29:49tech
29:49took
29:49a
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
29:56a
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?
30:08How
30:09terrified
30:09do
30:10you
30:10think
30:10she
30:10was?
30:11But
30:11to
30:11you
30:11the
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
30:25even
30:25brighter.
30:26She
30:26was
30:26begging
30:27you
30:27for
30:27help
30:27and
30:28you
30:28turned
30:28it
30:28into
30:29a
30:29torture
30:29device.
30:30You
30:30tortured
30:31your
30:31own
30:31daughter
30:31to
30:32death
30:32while
30:32she
30:32was
30:32begging
30:33you
30:33to
30:33save
30:33her.
30:34Mom's
30:35entire
30:35reality
30:36shattered
30:36into
30:36a
30:36million
30:37pieces.
30:37She
30:38sat
30:38paralyzed
30:39on
30:39the
30:39floor
30:40staring
30:41blankly
30:41at
30:42the
30:42red
30:42light
30:42flashing
30:43on
30:43her
30:43wrist.
30:43Finally
30:44it
30:44clicked.
30:45For
30:45the
30:46last
30:4610
30:46years
30:47every
30:48single
30:48time
30:49my
30:49band
30:50flashed
30:50red.
30:51It
30:51was
30:51just
30:51because
30:52I
30:52was
30:52scared
30:53terrified
30:53of her
30:54getting
30:54mad.
30:55Terrified
30:55of being
30:56misunderstood.
30:57Terrified
30:58of the
30:58food
30:58she
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
31:04I
31:04was
31:04drenched
31:04in
31:05cold
31:05sweat.
31:06I
31:06was
31:06yearning
31:07desperate
31:08for
31:08her
31:08to
31:09hug
31:09me
31:09just
31:10once
31:10the
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
31:16of
31:17a
31:17lie.
31:20She
31:21started
31:21tearing
31:22frantically
31:22at the
31:23band
31:23on
31:23her
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
31:34was
31:35completely
31:36stuck
31:36locked
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.
31:54To
31:55establish
31:55the
31:56details
31:56of
31:57the
31:59blood
31:59case
32:00the
32:01police
32:02opened
32:02the
32:02diary
32:03now
32:04officially
32:05labeled
32:05as
32:06key
32:07evidence
32:07right in
32:08front of
32:08mom and
32:08dad.
32:10That
32:10notebook
32:10I
32:11used
32:11for
32:1110
32:12years
32:12filled
32:13with
32:13blood
32:13tears
32:14and
32:14pure
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
32:23Sunny
32:24Mom
32:25made me
32:25eat
32:26celery
32:26I'm
32:27allergic
32:27it
32:27makes
32:28my
32:28throat
32:28swell up
32:29and
32:29I
32:29can't
32:29breathe
32:29I
32:30told
32:31her
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
32:38and
32:39the
32:39band
32:39turned
32:40red
32:40mom said
32:41I was
32:42just
32:42being a
32:42picky
32:42liar
32:43and
32:43forced
32:43me
32:43to
32:44eat
32:44the
32:44whole
32:44plate
32:45that
32:46night
32:46I
32:46threw
32:46up
32:46blood
32:47my
32:47throat
32:48felt
32:48like
32:48it
32:48was
32:49on
32:49fire
32:49mom
32:50saw
32:50it
32:51said
32:51I
32:51sneaked
32:52tomato
32:52juice
32:53to
32:53fake
32:59her
32:59entire
32:59body
33:00trembling
33:00violently
33:01that
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
33:14story
33:15it
33:16turned
33:16out
33:17it
33:17was
33:18blood
33:18blood
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
33:30Mia
33:31cut
33:31up
33:32mom's
33:32favorite
33:32dress
33:33Mia's
33:33heartbeat
33:34was
33:34slow
33:34so
33:35she
33:35got
33:35a
33:35green
33:36light
33:36I
33:36was
33:37so
33:37frantic
33:37to
33:37explain
33:38terrified
33:39of
33:39being
33:39beaten
33:39so
33:40I
33:40only
33:40got
33:41red
33:41mom
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
33:47I
33:48didn't
33:48dare
33:48cry
33:48because
33:49crying
33:50makes
33:50your
33:50heartbeat
33:51faster
33:51mom
33:52would
33:52think
33:52I
33:53was
33:53being
33:53defiant
33:53and
33:53shock
33:54me
33:54even
33:54harder
33:54I
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
34:00not
34:00even
34:01making
34:01a
34:01sound
34:01it
34:02doesn't
34:02even
34:03hurt
34:03she's
34:03definitely
34:04faking
34:04dad
34:05finally
34:06couldn't
34:06listen
34:06anymore
34:07this
34:08man
34:09who
34:09had
34:10been
34:10completely
34:11invisible
34:12in this
34:13house
34:13for
34:14years
34:14who
34:15had
34:15turned
34:15a
34:16blind
34:16eye
34:16to
34:17my
34:17suffering
34:17just
34:18for
34:18some
34:19peace
34:19and
34:19quiet
34:20suddenly
34:21lunged
34:23forward
34:24you
34:25absolute
34:26monster
34:27look at
34:28what
34:28you've
34:28done
34:28she
34:29slapped
34:29mom
34:30across
34:30the
34:30face
34:31with
34:31everything
34:31he
34:32had
34:32mom
34:33was
34:33knocked
34:33to
34:33the
34:34floor
34:34that
34:35was
34:36your
34:36own
34:37daughter
34:37you
34:38treated
34:38her
34:38like
34:39an
34:39animal
34:39but
34:40she
34:41didn't
34:41fight
34:42back
34:42and
34:43she
34:43didn't
34:43cry
34:44she
34:45just
34:45mumbled
34:45to
34:46herself
34:47her
34:47eyes
34:48completely
34:48unfocused
34:51it
34:52was
34:52Mia
34:52her
34:53band
34:53was
34:54always
34:54green
34:54she
34:55was
34:56the
34:56honest
34:56one
34:56she
34:57misled
34:58me
34:58if
34:59I
34:59didn't
34:59have
34:59her
35:00green
35:00light
35:01if
35:01I
35:01didn't
35:01have
35:01her
35:02to
35:02come
35:02to
35:02I
35:03wouldn't
35:03have
35:03trusted
35:03the
35:03red
35:04light
35:04so
35:04much
35:04every
35:05eye
35:06in
35:06the
35:06room
35:06snapped
35:07to
35:07Mia
35:07the
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
35:13a
35:14detective
35:15walked
35:15over
35:16to
35:16her
35:16he
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
35:29there
35:30were
35:30no
35:31complex
35:31sensor
35:32chips
35:32inside
35:33no
35:34heart
35:34rate
35:35monitors
35:36just
35:36two
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
35:42hard
35:43wired
35:44as
35:44long
35:44as
35:45it
35:45had
35:45power
35:45it
35:46would
35:46only
35:47ever
35:47shine
35:47green
35:48this
35:49is
35:49a
35:49two
35:49dollar
35:50plastic
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
35:59a
35:59house
35:59on
35:59fire
36:00and
36:00it
36:00would
36:00still
36:00be
36:00green
36:01your
36:02so
36:02called
36:02data
36:03driven
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
36:29a
36:30rigged
36:31game
36:31where
36:32I
36:32lived
36:32in
36:33hell
36:33and
36:34my
36:34sister
36:35lived
36:36in
36:36heaven
36:36so
36:37I
36:38wasn't
36:39a liar
36:40I
36:41wasn't
36:42a bad
36:42kid
36:42then
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
36:50it
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 a
37:04mess
37:04she
37:05must
37:05have
37:05written
37:06this
37:06right
37:06before
37:06she
37:07died
37:08mom
37:08if
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
37:13I'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
37:28mom
37:30stared
37:30at
37:31the
37:31broken
37:31plastic
37:32pieces
37:33her
37:35unquestionable
37:36honest
37:37green
37:38light
37:38nothing
37:39more
37:40than
37:40a
37:40cheap
37:41plastic
37:41toy
37:42because
37:43of
37:43this
37:44toy
37:44she
37:45spoiled
37:46Mia
37:46for
37:4710
37:47years
37:48and
37:49because
37:50of
37:50that
37:50damn
37:51red
37:51light
37:51she
37:52tortured
37:52me
37:53for
37:5310
37:53years
37:54mom
37:55suddenly
37:56burst
37:56into
37:56laughter
37:57a
37:58shrill
37:59horrifying
37:59laugh
38:00that
38:01looked
38:01worse
38:02than
38:02sobbing
38:03she
38:03snapped
38:04this
38:05time
38:05she
38:06truly
38:07went
38:07insane
38:08my
38:09death
38:09became
38:10the
38:10biggest
38:10news
38:10story
38:11in
38:11the
38:11city
38:12Martha
38:13our
38:13neighbor
38:14was
38:15kind
38:15hearted
38:16but
38:17she
38:17also
38:17had
38:18a
38:18huge
38:18mouth
38:18she
38:19posted
38:19everything
38:20she
38:21saw
38:21that
38:21day
38:22online
38:23the
38:24headline
38:24was
38:25shocking
38:26the
38:26girl
38:27shocked
38:27to
38:27death
38:28by
38:28a
38:28pseudoscience
38:29band
38:30the
38:30article
38:31detailed
38:32the
38:32gruesome
38:32state
38:33of
38:33my
38:33corpse
38:34and
38:35the
38:35band
38:35melted
38:36right
38:36into
38:37my
38:37flesh
38:37it
38:38went
38:38completely
38:39viral
38:40the
38:40internet
38:41exploded
38:42in
38:43absolute
38:44fury
38:44mom
38:45got
38:45completely
38:46doxxed
38:47electric
38:48demon
38:49murderer
38:50doesn't
38:51deserve
38:52to be
38:52a
38:52mother
38:53countless
38:54death
38:54threats
38:55and
38:56insults
38:57flooded
38:58in
38:58like
38:58an
38:58avalanche
38:59our
39:00front
39:00door
39:01was
39:02splashed
39:02with
39:03red
39:03paint
39:04with
39:04the
39:05word
39:05die
39:06scrawled
39:06all
39:07over
39:07it
39:07dad
39:08was
39:08also
39:09taken
39:09in
39:09by
39:09the
39:10police
39:10investigated
39:11for
39:11criminal
39:12negligence
39:13and
39:13child
39:14endangerment
39:15although
39:15his
39:15alibi
39:16saved
39:16him
39:16from
39:17serious
39:17jail
39:17time
39:18he
39:18lost
39:19his
39:19job
39:20and
39:20his
39:20reputation
39:21was
39:21completely
39:21ruined
39:22his
39:23company
39:23fired
39:24him
39:24immediately
39:24to
39:25avoid
39:25the
39:25PR
39:26nightmare
39:26our
39:27family
39:28went
39:28bankrupt
39:29they
39:29had
39:29to
39:30sell
39:30the
39:30house
39:31and
39:31the
39:31cars
39:32just
39:33to
39:33cover
39:34the
39:35legal
39:35fees
39:36and
39:36settlements
39:37unable
39:37to
39:38stand
39:38the
39:38crazy
39:38woman
39:39mom
39:39had
39:39become
39:40dad
39:40took
39:41the
39:41last
39:41bit
39:42of
39:42money
39:42and
39:42left
39:43with
39:43Mia
39:43even
39:44if
39:44Mia
39:44was
39:45a
39:45bad
39:45seed
39:46she
39:46was
39:47his
39:47only
39:47living
39:48bloodline
39:49left
39:50before
39:50leaving
39:51Mia
39:51tried
39:52to
39:52grab
39:53her
39:53green
39:54band
39:54dad
39:55stomped
39:55it
39:56into
39:56pieces
39:56what
39:57the
39:57hell
39:57do
39:57you
39:57want
39:57this
39:57piece
39:58of
39:58trash
39:58for
39:59Mia
39:59was
40:00dragged
40:01away
40:02crying
40:03mom
40:03was
40:04released
40:04on
40:05bail
40:05because
40:06psychiatric
40:07evaluations
40:08showed
40:09she was
40:09suffering
40:09from
40:10severe
40:10schizophrenia
40:11and
40:12PTSD
40:12she
40:13was
40:13left
40:13alone
40:14in
40:14a
40:15cheap
40:15stinking
40:16rental
40:16apartment
40:17filled
40:18with
40:18the
40:18memory
40:18of
40:19my
40:19rotting
40:20corpse
40:20her
40:21mental
40:21state
40:22deteriorated
40:23rapidly
40:23she
40:24constantly
40:25hallucinated
40:27that I was
40:28still in the
40:29house
40:29she
40:30absolutely
40:31refused to
40:32take off
40:32my red
40:33band
40:33in fact
40:34she became
40:35addicted
40:36to it
40:36because she
40:37realized
40:37that only
40:38by wearing
40:39it
40:39feeling
40:40the weak
40:41sting
40:41of the
40:42electric
40:42leaks
40:43I
40:43floated
40:44in the
40:44room
40:44watching
40:45her
40:46daily
40:46descent
40:46into
40:47madness
40:47she
40:48would
40:49cook
40:50a
40:50full
40:51table
40:52of
40:52food
40:53and
40:53yell
40:54into
40:54thin
40:54air
40:55Lily
40:55time
40:56to
40:56eat
40:56I
40:57didn't
40:57put
40:57celery
40:57in it
40:58today
40:58it's
40:59all
40:59braised
41:00pork
41:00your
41:01favorite
41:01then
41:01she
41:02would
41:02pick
41:02up
41:03a
41:03piece
41:03of
41:03meat
41:03her
41:04hands
41:04shaking
41:05violently
41:06triggered
41:06by her
41:07anxiety
41:07the band
41:08would
41:09flash
41:09red
41:10mommy
41:10doesn't
41:10deserve
41:11to
41:11eat
41:11liars
41:12must
41:12be
41:12punished
41:13she
41:13would
41:14put
41:14down
41:15her
41:15chopsticks
41:16and
41:17pick
41:17up
41:18the
41:18remote
41:18and
41:19press
41:19it
41:20against
41:20her
41:21own
41:21neck
41:22even
41:22though
41:23the
41:23battery
41:23was
41:24almost
41:24dead
41:24she
41:26always
41:26managed
41:27to find
41:27fresh
41:28ones
41:28to put
41:29in
41:29the
41:29intense
41:30voltage
41:31would
41:31make
41:31her
41:32convulse
41:33and
41:34foam
41:34at
41:35the
41:35mouth
41:35Lily
41:36has
41:36so much
41:36pain
41:38I'm
41:39sorry
41:40mommy
41:41feels
41:42it
41:42now
41:44she
41:44started
41:45replicating
41:46the punishments
41:46from my
41:47diary
41:47on herself
41:48I was
41:49shocked
41:50for not
41:50eating
41:51celery
41:51so she
41:52forced
41:53herself
41:53to eat
41:54rancid
41:55spoiled
41:56food
41:56even when
41:57she vomited
41:58blood
41:58she swallowed
41:59it back
42:00down
42:00I was
42:01locked
42:01in the
42:02dark
42:02so she
42:03would lock
42:04herself
42:04in the
42:05bedroom
42:05without
42:06the lights
42:06on
42:07repeatedly
42:08bang
42:08her
42:09head
42:09on
42:09the
42:09floor
42:10in
42:11front
42:11of
42:11my
42:11memorial
42:12photo
42:12thud
42:13thud
42:14until
42:15her
42:15forehead
42:15was
42:16a
42:16bloody
42:16mess
42:17leaving
42:18bloody
42:18prints
42:19all over
42:19the
42:19floorboards
42:20deep
42:21in the
42:21night
42:22she
42:22would
42:22see
42:23the
42:23red
42:23light
42:24reflecting
42:24on
42:25the
42:25wall
42:25like
42:25my
42:26bleeding
42:26eyes
42:26staring
42:27right
42:27back
42:28at
42:28her
42:28on
42:29the
42:29back
42:29of
42:30the
42:30diary
42:30she
42:31would
42:31frantically
42:32scribble
42:32in
42:33red
42:33ink
42:33I'm
42:34sorry
42:34mom
42:35was
42:35wrong
42:36red
42:37is
42:37pain
42:38red
42:38is
42:39love
42:39please
42:40come
42:40back
42:40just
42:41say
42:41it
42:41hurts
42:42one
42:42more
42:42time
42:42mommy
42:43will
42:43definitely
42:44save
42:44you
42:44what a
42:45shame
42:45I
42:46was
42:47already
42:47dead
42:48and
42:49dead
42:49girls
42:49can't
42:50feel
42:50pain
42:50mom
42:51was
42:51eventually
42:52locked
42:52up
42:52in a
42:53psychiatric
42:53ward
42:54her
42:55severe
42:55self
42:56harm
42:56reached
42:56the
42:57point
42:57where
42:57she
42:57nearly
42:58electrocuted
42:59herself
42:59to
42:59death
43:00at
43:00home
43:00adult
43:01protective
43:01services
43:02forced
43:03an
43:04intervention
43:04and had
43:05her
43:05committed
43:06she
43:07was
43:07the
43:07most
43:07bizarre
43:08patient
43:09in
43:09the
43:09entire
43:10facility
43:11somehow
43:12she
43:13had
43:13found
43:14a
43:14red
43:14plastic
43:15ring
43:15and
43:16jammed
43:17it
43:17tight
43:17around
43:17her
43:18neck
43:18it
43:19was
43:19her
43:19homemade
43:20truth
43:21band
43:21if
43:22anyone
43:23tried
43:23to
43:24take
43:24it
43:24off
43:24she
43:25would
43:25bite
43:25them
43:26frantically
43:27like
43:27a
43:28rabid
43:28dog
43:28don't
43:29touch
43:29my
43:29light
43:30Lily
43:30is
43:31watching
43:31if
43:32you
43:32take
43:32it
43:32off
43:32she
43:33will
43:33get
43:33mad
43:33she
43:34had
43:34developed
43:35a horrifying
43:36conditioned
43:37reflex
43:38whenever a nurse
43:40asked her
43:41Evelyn have you eaten
43:42she would touch her neck first
43:45then convulse and scream
43:47red light
43:48red light
43:49don't shock me
43:51I'll eat
43:52I'll eat
43:53even if it was boiling hot porridge
43:55she would swallow it in one gulp
43:58even as it blistered
44:00and burned her esophagus
44:01she didn't dare
44:03spit it out
44:04she
44:05was
44:06mimicking me
44:07right before
44:09I died
44:09she was using this
44:11to experience
44:12my personal hell
44:13over and over again
44:16years later
44:17Mia grew up
44:19and she went
44:21completely
44:22off the rails
44:23with no discipline
44:25and carrying that
44:27infamous reputation
44:29she ended up
44:30scraping by
44:31at the very
44:32bottom
44:33of society
44:34when she ran
44:36out of money
44:36she remembered
44:37her mother
44:38sitting in the
44:39psych ward
44:40she came
44:41to the hospital
44:42for a visit
44:43not out of love
44:45but for cash
44:46listen
44:48you old lunatic
44:48dad's dead
44:49give me the secret
44:51stash of money
44:51you hid
44:52Mia was caked
44:53in heavy makeup
44:54her face dripping
44:55with hostility
44:57looking at the
44:58absolute ghost
44:59her mother
45:00had become
45:01she spat
45:02on the floor
45:03in disgust
45:05you're disgusting
45:07just like
45:07your dead
45:08brat of a daughter
45:10if you don't
45:10give me the money
45:11I'll pull your
45:12plug and send
45:13you to keep
45:13her company
45:14mom
45:15who had been
45:16completely catatonic
45:17suddenly snapped
45:18her head up
45:19at those words
45:20her cloudy eyes
45:22suddenly cleared
45:23for a fraction
45:23of a second
45:24the moment
45:25she locked
45:25onto Mia
45:26she remembered
45:27that plastic
45:28toy band
45:29that always
45:30shone green
45:31the green light
45:32that had deceived
45:33her for ten years
45:36it was you
45:37you lied to me
45:39you were the
45:41fake green light
45:42you killed Lily
45:43give my Lily
45:45back to me
45:45her final
45:47lingering shred
45:49of maternal love
45:50twisted into the
45:51fangs of
45:52pure vengeance
45:53mom
45:54mom suddenly
45:55lunged
45:57throwing herself
45:58at Mia
45:58and
45:59locked her
46:01hands
46:01in a death
46:02grip
46:02around her throat
46:04die
46:05go to hell
46:07it should have
46:07been you
46:08help
46:09Mia thrashed
46:11in terror
46:11but she couldn't
46:13break the brute
46:13strength of a mad
46:14woman
46:15it took doctors
46:16rushing in
46:17and injecting a
46:18heavy sedative
46:19to finally
46:20pry mom
46:21off her
46:21Mia
46:22scared
46:24completely
46:24out of her
46:25mind
46:26scrambled away
46:27and bolted
46:29maniacs
46:30you're all crazy
46:30blinded by panic
46:32she sprinted
46:34wildly
46:34at the hospital's
46:36front doors
46:37a speeding
46:38delivery truck
46:39couldn't
46:39break in time
46:40bang
46:41Mia was sent
46:43flying through
46:45the air
46:45she survived
46:47but both her
46:49legs were
46:50completely shattered
46:51condemned to
46:53spend the rest
46:54of her miserable
46:55life in a wheelchair
46:56reduced to
46:58an absolute
47:00cripple
47:01as for mom
47:02she was strapped
47:05to a restraint
47:06bed
47:06tears silently
47:08rolling down
47:09her face
47:09as she stared
47:10at the ceiling
47:11in her dreams
47:13she finally
47:14saw me
47:15the dreamy
47:16was still
47:17ten years old
47:18wearing a white
47:19dress
47:20with no truth
47:21band on my wrist
47:22running toward
47:24her with a bright
47:25smile
47:25overjoyed
47:27she opened
47:28her arms
47:28to catch me
47:29only to realize
47:30her hands
47:31were sparking
47:32with electricity
47:33the second
47:34she touched
47:35me
47:36my body
47:37burst into flames
47:38like dry paper
47:39crumbling
47:41into ash
47:42she jolted awake
47:43from the nightmare
47:44sobbing
47:45her heart rate
47:46spiking
47:47dangerously high
47:48if she still
47:49wore the band
47:50it would undoubtedly
47:51be a blinding
47:53piercing crimson
47:54right now
47:54it was
47:56an eternal
47:57inescapable
47:59pain
47:59I stood
48:01in the void
48:02watching it
48:03all unfold
48:04watching mom
48:06tortured in
48:07the psych ward
48:08watching Mia
48:09begging with
48:10shattered legs
48:10watching dad
48:12drink himself
48:13into an early
48:15pathetic grave
48:16yet
48:17in my heart
48:19I felt
48:20absolutely
48:21no thrill
48:22of revenge
48:23just
48:24complete peace
48:26standing
48:27standing next
48:27to me
48:28was an old
48:29dog
48:30it was
48:31Snowball
48:32the puppy
48:33I had
48:33when I was
48:34little
48:34before mom
48:35threw him
48:36away
48:36he had been
48:37waiting for me
48:38in the spirit
48:39world
48:40Snowball
48:41nudged my leg
48:42and gave two
48:43soft barks
48:44as if saying
48:45let's go
48:47don't look
48:48anymore
48:48yeah
48:49it was
48:51time to go
48:52this life
48:53had been
48:54too bitter
48:54there was
48:55nothing left
48:56to hold
48:56on to
48:57I floated
48:58to the window
48:59of mom's
49:00hospital room
49:01it was for
49:02one final
49:03goodbye
49:04mom lay on
49:05the bed
49:06looking like
49:07a skeletal
49:08ghost
49:08her hair
49:09completely
49:10white
49:10sensing
49:12something
49:12her cloudy
49:14eyes
49:14shifted to
49:15an empty
49:16spot in
49:16the air
49:17the exact
49:18spot where
49:19I was
49:19standing
49:20Lily
49:21is that
49:22you
49:23she reached
49:24out with
49:25a trembling
49:25hand
49:26grasping
49:27blindly
49:28at the
49:29void
49:29mommy
49:30smashed
49:31the band
49:31mommy
49:32doesn't
49:33believe
49:33in that
49:33anymore
49:34please
49:35come back
49:36okay
49:36mommy
49:37will cook
49:38for you
49:38no celery
49:40mommy
49:41will buy
49:41you a new
49:42dress
49:42I won't
49:43buy Mia
49:44one
49:45tears
49:45slipped
49:46from the
49:46corners
49:47of her
49:47eyes
49:47soaking
49:48into the
49:48pillow
49:49I glanced
49:50at the
49:51bloody
49:51ring
49:51of scars
49:52around
49:52her
49:53neck
49:53and let
49:54out
49:55a soft
49:56sigh
49:56I reached
49:58out
49:58pressing
49:59an ice
50:00cold
50:00finger
50:01against
50:01her
50:02forehead
50:02it was
50:04the last
50:04ounce
50:05of mercy
50:06I had
50:07for her
50:08let her
50:09sleep
50:09when you're
50:11asleep
50:11it doesn't
50:12hurt
50:13anymore
50:13she
50:14quieted
50:15instantly
50:16her heavy
50:17eyelids
50:18drooping
50:18drooping
50:19as she
50:20fell
50:20into a
50:21deep
50:21sleep
50:21a gust
50:23of wind
50:24blew
50:24through
50:24the room
50:25flipping
50:26open the
50:27battered
50:27diary
50:28on the
50:28bedside
50:29table
50:29the one
50:30possession
50:31the police
50:31had returned
50:32to her
50:32on the
50:33very last
50:34page
50:35right below
50:36my dying
50:37words
50:38were a few
50:39new lines
50:40of jagged
50:42handwriting
50:43written by
50:44mom during a
50:45rare moment
50:46of clarity
50:46next life
50:48let mommy
50:48wear the
50:49band
50:49let mommy
50:51be the
50:51liar
50:51you can
50:53punish me
50:53as long
50:55as you don't
50:55abandon mommy
50:56mommy will
50:57do anything
50:57i looked
50:59at those
50:59words
51:00feeling
51:01absolutely
51:01nothing
51:02it was
51:03too late
51:04in the face
51:06of death
51:06all the
51:07repentance
51:08in the
51:08world
51:08is pale
51:09and useless
51:10mom
51:11i don't
51:12hate you
51:12anymore
51:13but i don't
51:14love you
51:14either
51:15ma
51:16let them
51:17wear me
51:17stirs
51:17the everest
51:18i turned
51:19around
51:20walking
51:21alongside
51:21snowball
51:22a door
51:24of pure
51:24light
51:25appeared
51:25in the
51:26distance
51:26the gateway
51:28to the
51:29next
51:29reincarnation
51:31i raised
51:32my wrist
51:33the phantom
51:35truth band
51:35that had
51:36bound my
51:37soul
51:37the nightmare
51:38that had
51:39imprisoned
51:39my entire
51:40life
51:41i clenched
51:42my fist
51:43tight
51:43it
51:44shattered
51:45dissolving
51:47into
51:47stardust
51:49and vanishing
51:50into the
51:50air
51:51i felt
51:52an unprecedented
51:52sense of
51:53relief
51:54no red
51:55lights
51:56no shocks
51:58no lies
51:59just freedom
52:01i walked
52:03into the
52:03light
52:03without ever
52:05looking back
52:08the morning
52:10sun spilled
52:11into the
52:11hospital room
52:12a nurse
52:14pushed the
52:14door open
52:15for morning
52:16rounds
52:17evelyn time
52:18for your
52:18meds
52:19no response
52:20the figure
52:22on the
52:22bed
52:22was completely
52:23still
52:24the nurse
52:25stepped closer
52:26to check
52:27mom's hands
52:29were tightly
52:29clutching that
52:30broken diary
52:31a single
52:33crystalline tear
52:35hung at the
52:37corner of
52:37her eye
52:38and on
52:40the heart
52:41monitor next
52:42to the bed
52:42that
52:44jagged
52:45green
52:46wave
52:46representing
52:47life
52:48had
52:49flattened
52:51into
52:51one
52:52long
52:53straight
52:54line
52:54in
52:55the
52:55top
52:55of
52:55the
52:55the
52:55other
52:55the
52:55the
52:56the
52:56the
52:56the
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