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Short filmTranscript
00:00Born a liar, at least, that's the label mom slapped on me.
00:04As a die-hard believer in data-driven parenting,
00:07she strapped truth bands on my twin sister Mia and me the day we were born.
00:11If we lied, the band flashed red, and mom would hit a remote to shock us.
00:16Mia's band was always green.
00:18She could shred mom's favorite dress to pieces, blame the cat,
00:22and her band would just glow a soft, gentle green.
00:27But for me, even if I just whispered,
00:31Mom, I'm hungry.
00:32My band would instantly explode into an angry red,
00:37followed by a piercing electric shock.
00:40I'm not a machine, Mom!
00:41I used to try to defend myself, but she'd always say,
00:45Machines don't lie. Pain is how you learn. I'm doing this for your own good.
00:50After thousands of shocks, I honestly started to believe I was just completely broken.
00:55New Year's Eve, everything changed.
00:58New Year's Eve, everything changed.
01:01On New Year's Eve, Mom was getting ready to take Mia to see the fireworks.
01:06A sudden, tearing agony hit my stomach.
01:09I curled up on the floor, begging,
01:11Mom, my stomach hurts so much. Please help me.
01:15But my band just frantically flashed red.
01:19She glared down at me, shivering in a cold sweat,
01:22cranked the shock dial to the absolute max, and spat,
01:25You're pretending to be sick just so you can come watch the fireworks with us?
01:28You never change!
01:30She turned, grabbed Mia, and slammed the door behind them.
01:35I couldn't help but think she was right.
01:37The band was red, so I must not actually be in pain.
01:41I was just making it up for attention again.
01:45I'm sorry, Mom.
01:46Next time around, I promise I'll be an honest kid.
01:49It hurts so much.
01:52I writhed in agony,
01:54my fingernails scratching pale marks into the floorboards.
02:03The doorknob turned.
02:05A glimmer of hope sparked in my eyes.
02:08Mom was back.
02:10She was a doctor.
02:11She must have realized something was horribly wrong and came back to save me.
02:16Are you done yet?
02:17The fireworks are about to start.
02:19Mia's getting impatient.
02:20Mom.
02:21I called out weakly, reaching a trembling hand toward the door.
02:25It really hurts.
02:26It feels like my intestines are tearing apart.
02:29She just glanced at the frantic red light flashing on my wrists.
02:33Squatting down, she pinched my chin, her voice dripping with venom.
02:37Lily, how long are you going to keep up this act?
02:40You're a pathological liar.
02:42You can stay home and think about what you've done.
02:44Honey, hurry up.
02:46The fireworks are about to start.
02:48If Singha doesn't want to go, fine.
02:50Should we leave her some food?
02:52Mom stood up and dusted off her hands,
02:54like touching me had made her filthy.
02:56Leave her food for what?
02:58She has plenty of snacks in her room.
03:00She bought them with money she stole last time.
03:02She won't starve.
03:04Lock the door.
03:05Don't let her out until that bracelet turns green.
03:07But...
03:08But what?
03:09Spare the rob?
03:10Spoil the child?
03:12Look at Mia.
03:13She's perfectly honest.
03:14Her band is always green.
03:16Lily is rotten to the core.
03:18We have to correct her.
03:19But my closet was completely empty.
03:21Mia was the one who stole the cash.
03:24And she ate all the snacks.
03:26Mia had just stood there,
03:28her band glowing that soft green,
03:31and said,
03:32It wasn't me.
03:33And Mom believed her.
03:35When I tried to defend myself
03:37and said I didn't take it either,
03:39the red light flashed.
03:40And I got shocked.
03:42I watched Mom turn around to leave.
03:46Mia peeked through the crack in the door
03:49and stuck her tongue out at me.
03:51Bye, sis.
03:52We're going to see the pretty fireworks.
03:54Her band was glowing a vibrant green.
03:56It really was beautiful.
03:58The door slammed shut,
03:59followed by the heavy click of the deadbolt.
04:01The house went dead silent,
04:04leaving just me alone
04:06with the saw tearing through my stomach.
04:08It hurts so much.
04:11Mom was right.
04:12Machines don't lie.
04:13The band is red,
04:14so I must be making this up.
04:17I'm not in pain.
04:18I'm really not in pain.
04:20Tears streaming down my face.
04:22I tried to brainwash myself.
04:25I don't know how much time passed,
04:27but it actually started to hurt less.
04:30Using my last breath,
04:32I dragged myself to the desk.
04:34I had to write my punishment lines.
04:37Those were the rules.
04:39Whenever the red light flashed,
04:41I had to write,
04:42I am a liar a thousand times.
04:45Once I finished,
04:46Mom would forgive me, right?
04:48She'd take me to the hospital then.
04:50With trembling hands,
04:52I flipped open my crumpled diary.
04:54The pages were crammed
04:56with all my previous apologies.
04:59I used to always write,
05:01I'm sorry I was wrong.
05:03I won't lie again.
05:05But this time,
05:06I wanted to write the truth.
05:08My vision blurred, crying.
05:11I used every last ounce
05:13of my strength to write,
05:15Mom, I really do love you.
05:18It hurts so much.
05:20Why won't you just believe me?
05:21Mom, please,
05:23just believe me this one time.
05:25The moment I finished the last word,
05:27the excruciating pain in my stomach
05:29completely vanished.
05:31My body felt light,
05:32and I began to float.
05:34I looked down and saw myself
05:35slumped over the desk,
05:37arm dangling in the air,
05:39completely motionless.
05:40The band on my wrist
05:42was still frantically flashing red.
05:44So I was dead,
05:46but I still hadn't learned
05:48how to be an honest kid.
05:50I'm sorry, Mom.
05:52I was awakened
05:53by a burst of laughter.
05:55It was my dad,
05:56my mom,
05:56and my sister.
05:57The fireworks
05:58were so beautiful tonight,
05:59especially the smiley face one.
06:01It was as cute as our Mia.
06:03There was a tenderness
06:05in Mom's voice
06:07that I had never heard before.
06:09I floated in midair,
06:10watching the front door open.
06:12Now a soul,
06:13I instinctively drifted toward them,
06:15wanting to bring them
06:17their slippers
06:18like I used to.
06:19It was a people-pleasing instinct
06:21carved into my bones.
06:22Mom.
06:23I opened my arms,
06:24wanting to hug the woman
06:26still carrying the chill
06:27of the night.
06:28I don't hurt anymore.
06:29I'll be good from now on.
06:31Please don't be mad.
06:33But my hands passed
06:34straight through her body.
06:36I tried to catch the wind.
06:37Mom shivered and frowned.
06:38Why is it so cold in here?
06:40Is the heat off?
06:41I froze,
06:42staring at my transparent palm.
06:44That's right.
06:45I was already dead.
06:46The dead can't hug the living.
06:48Go check on Lily.
06:50That girl hasn't come out
06:50to eat either.
06:51Don't let her really starve.
06:52Dad mentioned it casually.
06:54Dad was still the better one.
06:55I looked at Mom expectantly.
06:57If she found out I was dead,
06:59would she be sad?
07:00Would she regret it?
07:01Mom snorted
07:02and slipped into her house shoes,
07:04walking toward my room.
07:05She'd deserve it
07:06if she starved.
07:07Faking illness for attention
07:08is a bad habit
07:09that comes from being spoiled.
07:10She pushed my door open.
07:14She pushed my door open.
07:15She didn't turn on the light.
07:17By the light from the living room,
07:19she saw me slumped over the desk,
07:21motionless,
07:22as if asleep.
07:23Oh?
07:24Still lying there?
07:25You think lying on the desk
07:26pretending to be pitiful
07:28will make me carry you to bed?
07:29Lily, you're ten years old,
07:31not five.
07:32Mom!
07:33I'm not pretending to sleep!
07:35I'm dead!
07:37Look at me!
07:37Touch me!
07:38My body is cold!
07:40But Mom couldn't hear me.
07:42She only believed
07:43what she chose to see.
07:44My sister slipped in under her arm
07:46and raised her wrist proudly.
07:48Big Sat is a lazy pig!
07:50Look, my bracelet is green!
07:52Hers is still red!
07:54She's always lying.
07:56She even lies in her dreams.
07:58Mom patted her head.
07:59Dad peeked in from behind.
08:00Maybe carry her to bed?
08:01It's freezing.
08:02Carry her?
08:03For what?
08:04Kids these days are spoiled.
08:05As bracelet manufacturers say
08:07this is when you apply
08:07cold treatment.
08:08She has to realize her own mistakes.
08:10Look at that red light.
08:12It shows she's still in a state
08:13of extreme resistance.
08:14She hasn't reflected at all.
08:16That's enough.
08:17Go to bed.
08:17We're visiting Grandma tomorrow.
08:18Mom turned briskly
08:19and pulled the door closed again.
08:21I hovered beside my body,
08:23staring at the crimson light
08:24in the darkness.
08:25A sorrow deeper than death
08:26filling me.
08:27Mom,
08:28if you had just taken
08:29one step closer,
08:30just touched my hand,
08:31you would have known
08:32I was already cold.
08:33But you didn't.
08:35You trusted that cold machine
08:36more than the daughter
08:37you carried for ten months.
08:39Late at night,
08:40a rat crawled out
08:41from the empty cabinet.
08:42I used to be terrified of rats.
08:44I would scream
08:45every time I saw one.
08:46But now,
08:47I could only float near the ceiling
08:48and watch it roam freely
08:50over my corpse.
08:51I tried to shoo it away weakly,
08:52but no sound came out.
08:54The rat bit into my toe,
08:55dark purplish blood seeping out.
08:57I couldn't feel any pain.
08:59That was good.
09:00It finally didn't hurt anymore.
09:02I spoke to the pitiful show below me.
09:04Don't be afraid.
09:05You can't feel pain anymore.
09:07It will all be over soon.
09:09The next morning,
09:10sunlight washed over my corpse,
09:12but it brought no warmth at all.
09:14Clattering sounds drifted in
09:16from the kitchen.
09:17Mom was making breakfast.
09:19The rich smell of frying bacon and eggs
09:22crept through the crack under my door.
09:25Normally,
09:25that was the smell I craved the most.
09:27But,
09:28I was only ever allowed plain oatmeal
09:30because mom said
09:32liars didn't deserve good food.
09:34Today,
09:34she was deliberately banging the spatula
09:37against the pan.
09:38I knew exactly what she was doing.
09:40She was trying to tempt me.
09:41She wanted me to give in to the hunger
09:43and crawl out to beg for forgiveness.
09:46In the past,
09:47I might have actually confessed
09:49to things I never did
09:51just for a single bite of food.
09:53But now,
09:53I didn't need to eat anymore.
09:55Lily still hasn't come out?
09:57Dad asked,
09:58reading the newspaper at the dining table?
10:00No.
10:01Stubborn as a mule.
10:02She's just spoiled.
10:04If she doesn't want to eat,
10:05she can starve.
10:06Mia took a sip of her milk,
10:08her eyes darting around mischievously.
10:10She intentionally ran over to my door.
10:13Mom!
10:13It smells so gross in Lily's room.
10:16Did she use the floor as a toilet?
10:17Floating by the door,
10:19I looked at my sister with a bitter smile.
10:21I had already started to smell after just one night.
10:24Mom marched over,
10:25her forehead deeply wrinkled in disgust.
10:28You actually soiled your own room?
10:30She pounded on the door and roared.
10:34You are unbelievable!
10:36You'd throw away your own dignity
10:38just to throw a tantrum at me?
10:40It reminded me of when I was little.
10:43Once,
10:43I had severe stomach flu
10:45and couldn't make it to the bathroom in time,
10:47messing my pants.
10:48She pointed at me and told the neighbors,
10:50Look at this child,
10:52dirty as a pig.
10:53And now,
10:54she thought I was being filthy again.
10:57Just leave her!
10:58Mom waved her hand in disgust,
11:00like shooing away a fly.
11:02I can sit in her own stitch.
11:03See how she likes it.
11:05Dad put down his paper.
11:06The smell really is getting strong.
11:08Let me go check on her.
11:09Maybe a rat died in the walls.
11:11He stood up and
11:12walked toward my bedroom door.
11:15My ghost heart leaped into my throat.
11:17Dad,
11:18hurry,
11:19open the door!
11:20Please,
11:20look at me.
11:22I'm right behind the door.
11:24If you just turn that knob,
11:26you'll see
11:26I'm not moving anymore.
11:28You'll see my face
11:30has already turned bruised and dark.
11:32Dad's hand grasped the doorknob.
11:34His phone suddenly blared.
11:36What?
11:36It was his boss calling.
11:38The server's crashed?
11:39Okay, okay,
11:40I'm on my way.
11:42Honey,
11:42there's a massive emergency at work.
11:43I have to go.
11:44I might not be back for a few days.
11:45Wait,
11:45what about Lily?
11:46I froze
11:47in midair.
11:48It was so
11:49incredibly close.
11:51Just one second away.
11:53If that call had come,
11:55just a moment later,
11:56they would have found me.
11:57Maybe then,
11:58I wouldn't have to keep
12:00rotting in here.
12:01That afternoon,
12:02Mom took Mia out shopping,
12:04leaving my corpse alone
12:05in the house.
12:05They came back in the evening.
12:07As soon as they walked in,
12:08the stench hit them
12:09even harder.
12:11Are you trying to turn this house
12:12into a literal dumpster?
12:13Instead,
12:14she grabbed a roll of duct tape,
12:16crouched down,
12:17and viciously sealed
12:18the crack under my door tight.
12:20Since you love the stench so much,
12:21you can just sit in it!
12:22Mom dusted off her hands
12:24in satisfaction.
12:25Finally,
12:26some peace and quiet.
12:27Watching that duct tape door,
12:29the very last shred of hope
12:31in my heart suffocated,
12:33right along with the seal.
12:34So this was it.
12:35In Mom's mind,
12:37my life and death mattered
12:39even less than a fancy dinner.
12:41She would rather seal me
12:42in like a tomb
12:43than check if I was
12:44actually dying inside.
12:46You win, Mom.
12:47I will never bother you again.
12:49By the morning of the third day,
12:51the warm winter sun
12:53spilled into the living room,
12:54but it couldn't dispel
12:55the dark gloom
12:56hanging over the house.
12:58The thermostat was cranked
12:59way up to almost 80 degrees.
13:01The duct tape
13:02could no longer
13:03hold back the smell.
13:05It was a nauseating,
13:08thick, greasy stench
13:09of decay.
13:10Mom was trimming
13:11fresh flowers
13:12she had just bought,
13:13but no matter
13:14how strong
13:14the floral scent was,
13:16it couldn't mask
13:16the smell of a rotting corpse.
13:18Mom angrily snapped
13:20a rose stem,
13:21letting a thorn
13:22prick her finger.
13:24She had finally reached
13:26her breaking point.
13:27In her twisted logic,
13:29me not showering,
13:31using the room
13:31as a toilet,
13:32or even hiding
13:34dead rats in there,
13:35it was all
13:35just an act of rebellion
13:37to disgust her
13:38and challenge her authority.
13:39Lily,
13:40you are completely
13:41out of control.
13:42Mom stormed
13:44into the kitchen,
13:45grabbed a heavy
13:45wooden spoon,
13:46and marched furiously
13:48toward my room.
13:49Since the shock collar
13:50isn't working anymore,
13:52maybe you need
13:53some old-fashioned
13:54discipline!
13:55Floating right in front
13:56of her,
13:57looking at her contorted,
13:58furious face,
13:59I waved my hands
14:00frantically
14:01to stop her.
14:02Don't go in!
14:04Mom, please don't!
14:05I look awful!
14:06I'm rotting!
14:07You'll be scared!
14:08Even though she
14:09didn't love me,
14:10I still didn't want her
14:11to see me
14:11in such a horrific state.
14:13But,
14:14she walked
14:15right through my spirit
14:16and viciously
14:17ripped the duct tape
14:18off the door frame.
14:19The sound of the
14:20adhesive tearing
14:21was piercing.
14:23She jammed the spare key
14:24into the lock
14:25and twisted.
14:27The door
14:27was violently
14:28shoved open.
14:31A sickening wall
14:32of concentrated death
14:34hit her instantly,
14:35like opening
14:37Pandora's box.
14:38Mom stumbled
14:39backward,
14:40gagging
14:41as the stench
14:42assaulted her.
14:43Lily!
14:44What the hell
14:45are you doing in here?
14:47She looked up
14:48and saw me
14:48still slumped
14:49over the desk
14:50in the exact same
14:51position from
14:52three days ago,
14:54my back to her
14:55completely motionless.
14:57To her,
14:58this was a
14:59silent provocation,
15:02pure,
15:02sheer arrogance.
15:04Are you deaf?
15:05Are you still
15:07playing dead?
15:07Blinded by rage,
15:09she closed the distance
15:10in three steps,
15:11raising the heavy
15:12wooden spoon
15:13high in the air.
15:14But she didn't
15:16strike right away.
15:17She wanted to
15:18yank me up first
15:19to see the stubborn
15:21expression she was
15:22sure was on my face.
15:24get up!
15:26She grabbed me roughly
15:29by the back
15:30of the collar,
15:32her fingers
15:32digging into my skin.
15:34The very next second,
15:36she froze.
15:37The moment she made
15:38contact,
15:39time seemed to
15:40stop completely.
15:42Through the thin
15:43fabric of my pajamas,
15:45her fingers didn't feel
15:47warm living skin
15:49or soft flesh.
15:51Instead,
15:52she felt
15:53a block of
15:54ice-cold,
15:55rock-hard,
15:56dead meat.
15:57It was
15:58a bone-chilling,
16:00unnatural cold,
16:02entirely
16:03devoid of
16:05the warmth
16:06of life.
16:08Mom hesitated
16:10for a fraction
16:11of a second,
16:12but her momentum
16:13carried through,
16:14yanking backward
16:16with brute force.
16:17My stiff body
16:19was pulled backward,
16:21falling rigidly.
16:22Taking the heavy
16:24desk chair down
16:25with it,
16:26crash.
16:27The chair slammed
16:29loudly against
16:30the hardwood floor.
16:31My corpse fell
16:32perfectly stiff,
16:34like a toppled
16:35marble statue.
16:37And finally,
16:39my face was revealed.
16:42I was no longer
16:43the timid little girl
16:45she knew.
16:46My face was a bruise,
16:48sickly purple,
16:49my eyes bulging.
16:52My features
16:52completely contorted
16:56from the sheer agony
16:58of my final moments.
17:01Dried white foam
17:02and dark crested blood
17:03stained the corners
17:04of my mouth.
17:06And there,
17:08on my blackened wrist,
17:11was the truth band.
17:13Mom was always
17:14so damn proud of.
17:16It hung there,
17:19lifeless.
17:20The skin underneath
17:21was scorched pitch black
17:23from the electricity.
17:25The melted rubber
17:26fused directly
17:27into my charred flesh.
17:29No more red lights.
17:31No more green lights.
17:34Just dead,
17:35heavy silence.
17:37Smack.
17:38A soft thud.
17:40My diary,
17:42which had been pinned
17:43under my arm,
17:44slipped out
17:45as my body fell.
17:47It landed right
17:48at Mom's feet.
17:50It fell open,
17:53facing her perfectly.
17:56on that page,
17:59my messy,
18:01desperate handwriting
18:03stabbed into her eyes
18:05like daggers.
18:07Mom,
18:08my stomach really hurts.
18:10The band is broken.
18:11I swear I'm not lying.
18:12Please don't shock me anymore.
18:16It was a shriek
18:18that didn't even
18:19sound human,
18:20piercing and guttural
18:22like her throat
18:23was tearing apart.
18:25Mom stumbled backward,
18:27her lower back
18:28slamming hard
18:29against the bookshelf.
18:31A glass vase
18:32crashed to the floor,
18:34shattering into
18:35a million pieces.
18:36But she didn't
18:38even flinch.
18:39Her eyes were wide
18:41with pure terror,
18:43locked onto my body
18:45on the floor.
18:46No,
18:48no way.
18:49She shook her head
18:50frantically,
18:52her hair falling
18:53around her face
18:54like a mad woman.
18:55You're still faking it.
18:57This is makeup.
18:58It's a trick.
19:01Lily,
19:02get up right now.
19:05Mommy isn't mad anymore.
19:08Stop scaring me.
19:09Trembling violently,
19:11she reached out
19:13trying to grab
19:14my stiff arm.
19:15But the split second
19:17her fingertips
19:19brushed my freezing skin.
19:21She recoiled
19:23like she just
19:25touched a hot stove.
19:27That sensation,
19:29it was undeniably real.
19:32It was
19:33the temperature of death.
19:36Martha,
19:37her neighbor,
19:38called the cops.
19:39She had
19:40rushed over
19:41after hearing
19:42Mom's screams,
19:44took one look
19:45at the scene,
19:46and collapsed
19:47right in the doorway.
19:48Sirens soon
19:50flooded the neighborhood.
19:51The police
19:52swarmed in.
19:54Forensics followed.
19:56Crime scene tape
19:57went up.
19:58I watched them
19:59hustle in and out,
20:01camera flashes
20:02exploding over
20:03my corpse.
20:04A female officer
20:06had to drag
20:07Mom out
20:08to the living room
20:09couch.
20:10She
20:11was
20:12still babbling
20:13incoherently,
20:15trying to
20:16defend herself.
20:17Officer,
20:18I swear she was
20:19faking it.
20:20She's been a liar
20:21since she was a kid.
20:22The band was red.
20:24The machine
20:24doesn't lie.
20:26I was just
20:27disciplining her.
20:28I was doing it
20:28for her own good.
20:29Nobody even
20:31looked at her.
20:32Everyone just
20:33stared at her
20:34like she was
20:34an absolute monster.
20:36When the coroner
20:38tried to
20:39move my body,
20:40they ran into
20:41a problem.
20:42The truth band.
20:44The truth band.
20:46Because it had
20:47discharged
20:48high voltage
20:49electricity
20:50for so long,
20:52the intense
20:52heat had
20:53literally melted
20:54the rubber
20:55right into
20:56my skin.
20:57It was
20:58basically fused
20:59to my flesh.
21:00Jesus Christ.
21:02He had to
21:03grab a pair
21:04of medical
21:06shears
21:06to force it off.
21:08The sickening
21:09sound of
21:10skin tearing.
21:12Even though
21:13I was already
21:13dead,
21:14my phantom
21:15wrist throbbed.
21:16The band
21:17finally came off,
21:19taking a chunk
21:20of my charred
21:20flesh with it.
21:22A detective
21:23picked up my
21:23diary from
21:24the floor,
21:25flipping through
21:26it with
21:27gloved hands.
21:28his face
21:29growing darker
21:30by the second.
21:32Mom's eyes
21:33locked onto
21:34the notebook.
21:35Suddenly,
21:36she lunged
21:38at the detective
21:39like a rabid
21:40dog trying
21:41to snatch it.
21:43Those are her
21:44punishment lines!
21:45She definitely
21:46wrote it in there!
21:47She admitted
21:47she was lying!
21:48Read it!
21:48She confessed!
21:50The detective
21:51shoved her
21:52back hard
21:52and dropped
21:53the diary
21:54into an
21:55evidence bag.
21:56He glared
21:57at her
21:58with eyes
21:59as cold as ice,
22:00looking at her
22:01like she was
22:02pure garbage.
22:04We'll decide
22:04who was lying.
22:05Right then,
22:07Dad finally
22:08rushed back.
22:10He saw the
22:12black body
22:13bag being
22:14carried out
22:14the door.
22:15That long
22:16zipper
22:17sealing away
22:18my entire
22:19miserable life.
22:21Dad's legs
22:23gave out.
22:24He collapsed
22:25onto the lawn,
22:26literally wetting
22:28his pants
22:28in shock.
22:29Mia was
22:30standing to the
22:31side,
22:32sobbing in fear.
22:33She didn't
22:35even fully
22:36grasp
22:36what was
22:38happening.
22:38She just
22:39pointed
22:40at the
22:41bloody
22:41band
22:42left on
22:43the table
22:44and asked,
22:45Mommy,
22:46why is
22:46Lily's band
22:47black?
22:48And is
22:48still green?
22:49She held
22:50up her wrist,
22:52the little
22:52green light
22:53still blinking
22:54cheerfully.
22:55It was
22:56a massive
22:58sickening
22:59irony.
23:00The police
23:01began an
23:02impromptu
23:03interrogation
23:04in the
23:05living room.
23:06Mom
23:07acted like
23:08she just
23:08found her
23:09lifeline.
23:10She pointed
23:11sharply at
23:12my bloody
23:12band,
23:13her voice
23:14shrill
23:14and desperate.
23:16Check the
23:16band.
23:17You have to
23:17check the
23:18band.
23:18It proves
23:19she was
23:19lying.
23:20Red
23:21means lie.
23:22I only
23:22ever shocked
23:22her when
23:23it turned
23:23red.
23:24I'm not
23:25abusive.
23:25The machine
23:26told me to
23:26do it.
23:27I was just
23:27teaching her
23:28a lesson.
23:29The detective
23:30scowled at
23:31her,
23:31completely
23:32disgusted.
23:34Ma'am,
23:36your daughter's
23:37body is
23:39covered in
23:40old,
23:41repetitive
23:41electrical burn
23:42scars.
23:43That was
23:43discipline!
23:44It was
23:45education!
23:46Mom
23:47shrieked,
23:48cutting him
23:48off,
23:49desperate to
23:50prove she
23:51was right,
23:52desperate to
23:53prove she
23:54wasn't a
23:54murderer.
23:55She suddenly
23:57made the
23:58most insane
24:00demand.
24:01You don't
24:02believe me?
24:03That machine
24:04is flawless!
24:04I'll put it
24:05on right now!
24:06I'm telling
24:07the truth,
24:08so it's
24:08going to
24:09be green!
24:10She lunged
24:11for the
24:11table,
24:12snatching up
24:12the band
24:13that was
24:14still coated
24:14in my
24:15burnt skin
24:16and blood.
24:17Completely
24:18ignoring the
24:18gore,
24:19her hands
24:20shook wildly
24:21as she
24:22forced the
24:23strap around
24:24her own
24:24wrist.
24:25I'll show
24:26you,
24:26I'm
24:27innocent.
24:27If it's
24:28green,
24:28it means
24:29everything
24:29I've said
24:30is true.
24:31Trembling,
24:32she snapped
24:33the blood
24:33soap device
24:35into place.
24:36Locked
24:37tight,
24:38the freezing
24:40rubber pressed
24:41against her
24:41skin,
24:42sticky and
24:44slick with
24:44my blood.
24:46Mom took
24:47a deep
24:47breath,
24:48trying to
24:49force herself
24:50to calm
24:50down.
24:51She was
24:52so desperate
24:53to prove
24:54I deserve
24:54to die
24:55to prove
24:56her twisted
24:57parenting
24:58was flawless.
25:00She held
25:01her wrist
25:01up to
25:02the cops,
25:03a gleam
25:04of manic
25:04confidence
25:05in her
25:06eyes.
25:07Watch
25:07closely.
25:09My name
25:10is Evelyn.
25:10I am
25:11Lily's
25:11mother.
25:12It was
25:13a pure
25:13fact,
25:14the
25:14absolute
25:15truth,
25:17but
25:17then
25:18a sharp
25:20ear-piercing
25:21alarm
25:22instantly
25:22shrieked
25:23from the
25:24band.
25:24The long
25:25dead red
25:25light violently
25:26exploded to
25:28life.
25:28Mom was
25:29stunned.
25:30Her cocky
25:30expression froze
25:31instantly.
25:32She smacked
25:34the band hard
25:35like hitting a
25:36glitching TV
25:37remote.
25:37What the hell?
25:38Is it broken?
25:39I'm telling the
25:40truth.
25:41I am Evelyn.
25:42Panic started
25:43setting in,
25:44her words spilling
25:45out faster.
25:46It has to be
25:47broken!
25:48That coroner
25:49must have
25:50busted it!
25:52Let me try
25:53again.
25:54I'm going to
25:55say it again.
25:56She swallowed
25:56hard, her voice
25:58pitching up in
25:58hysteria.
25:59I did not
26:00abuse my
26:01child.
26:01I was doing
26:02it for her
26:03own good.
26:04I loved
26:05her!
26:05The red
26:06light flashed
26:07even more
26:07violently,
26:08blurring into
26:09a solid block
26:10of furious
26:10red.
26:11And because
26:12it detected
26:13an extreme
26:14spike in
26:15heart rate,
26:16the band
26:16automatically
26:17triggered a
26:18mild electric
26:18shock.
26:19Mom jolted,
26:21her entire
26:21arm stagnating
26:22as she flinched
26:23hard.
26:24It hurt.
26:25Even just a
26:26low-level shock
26:27was enough to
26:28cover her in
26:29goosebumps.
26:30It suddenly hit
26:31her.
26:32How I felt
26:32at 10 years
26:34old, being hit
26:35with the absolute
26:36maximum voltage,
26:38curling into a
26:39ball on the
26:39floor, biting
26:40through my own
26:41lip just to keep
26:42from crying out.
26:43So, this was
26:44how much it
26:45hurt.
26:45Mom completely
26:46lost her mind.
26:48Why is it
26:49red?
26:49Why?
26:51I'm telling
26:51the truth,
26:52stupid thing!
26:53I'm telling
26:54these things!
26:57Turn green,
26:58you stupid
26:59thing!
26:59You broken
27:00piece of
27:00trash!
27:01You're setting
27:02me up!
27:03No matter
27:04how loud
27:05she shrieked,
27:06the red light
27:07just kept
27:07frantically
27:08blinking.
27:10That's enough.
27:11You know
27:12what happens
27:12if that thing
27:13goes off.
27:14A forensics
27:15tech standing
27:16nearby finally
27:17spoke up,
27:18his voice
27:18ice cold.
27:19He honestly
27:21couldn't stomach
27:22it anymore.
27:23Stop trying.
27:24That thing
27:25isn't a lie
27:25detector, lady.
27:27He grabbed
27:27the instruction
27:28manual they'd
27:29found during
27:29the search
27:30and slammed
27:31it onto
27:31the coffee
27:32table.
27:32It's a cheap
27:33glavinic skin
27:33response and
27:34heart rate monitor.
27:35How it works
27:35is simple.
27:36When someone
27:37is nervous,
27:38anxious,
27:38terrified,
27:39or in extreme
27:40pain, their
27:41heart rate spikes.
27:42They sweat,
27:43their skin
27:43conductivity jumps,
27:44and the light
27:45turns red.
27:45Right now,
27:46you are panicking.
27:47You're terrified
27:48and your heart
27:49is racing.
27:49Of course
27:50it's flashing red.
27:51The tech
27:52took a slow
27:53step toward mom
27:54who is now
27:55slumped on the
27:56floor.
27:57Every word he
27:57spoke dropped
27:58like a sledgehammer
27:59onto her skull.
28:00Think about it.
28:01Your daughter's
28:02appendix burst.
28:03She was
28:04ringling on the
28:04floor.
28:05Do you have
28:06any idea how
28:07agonizing a
28:08ruptured organ
28:08is?
28:09How fast do
28:10you think her
28:10heart was beating?
28:11How terrified
28:12do you think
28:13she was?
28:13But to you,
28:14the more pain
28:15she was in,
28:16the faster her
28:17heartbeat and
28:18the brighter
28:18that red light
28:19got.
28:20You just assumed
28:21she was lying
28:21harder, so you
28:22cranked up the
28:23voltage.
28:24The shock
28:24caused more
28:25pain, which
28:26made her heart
28:26race faster,
28:27which made the
28:28light even
28:28brighter.
28:29She was begging
28:29you for help,
28:30and you turned
28:31it into a
28:32torture device.
28:33You tortured
28:34your own
28:34daughter to death
28:35while she was
28:35begging you to
28:36save her.
28:37Mom's entire
28:38reality shattered
28:39into a million
28:39pieces.
28:40She sat
28:41paralyzed on the
28:42floor, staring
28:43blankly at the
28:45red light flashing
28:45on her wrist.
28:46Finally, it
28:47clicked.
28:48For the last
28:49ten years, every
28:50single time, my
28:52band flashed red.
28:54It was just
28:54because I was
28:55scared, terrified
28:56of getting mad,
28:58terrified of being
28:58misunderstood, terrified
29:00of the food she
29:01forced down my
29:02throat.
29:03I was in pain.
29:04In so much pain,
29:05my heart was racing,
29:06and I was drenched
29:07in cold sweat.
29:08I was yearning,
29:10desperate for her
29:11to hug me, just
29:12once, the way she
29:14hugged Mia.
29:15Every single flutter
29:17of my heart had been
29:18twisted into proof
29:19of a lie.
29:24She started tearing
29:25frantically at the
29:26band on her wrist.
29:28Get off me!
29:32But the clasp, jammed
29:34from being forced on
29:36and damaged from
29:37melting, was completely
29:39stuck, locked around
29:41her wrist like a
29:42shackle.
29:43No matter how hard she
29:44clawed at it, it
29:45wouldn't budge.
29:46I'm sorry!
29:47I'm so sorry!
29:49Lily!
29:50Take it away!
29:51Mommy is sorry!
29:52I can't even handle
29:54this little bit of
29:55pain, Mom.
29:55I had to live with
29:57it for ten years.
29:58To establish the
30:00details of the
30:02abuse and build
30:03a solid case,
30:05the police opened
30:07the diary, now
30:08officially labeled as
30:10key evidence right
30:12in front of Mom
30:12and Dad.
30:14That notebook I had
30:15used for ten years,
30:16filled with blood,
30:18tears, and pure
30:19humiliation, the female
30:20officer's voice was
30:22soft, but every
30:24single word cut
30:25like a knife.
30:27February 14th,
30:28Sunny.
30:29Mom made me eat
30:30celery, I'm
30:31allergic, it makes
30:32my throat swell up
30:33and I can't breathe.
30:34I told her I
30:35didn't want it.
30:36I didn't want it
30:37that I felt sick.
30:39I don't care if
30:40you're sick!
30:41You will eat that
30:42celery!
30:43And the band
30:43turned red.
30:45Mom said I was
30:46just being a picky
30:47liar and forced me
30:48to eat the whole
30:48plate.
30:49That night I
30:50threw up blood.
30:51My throat felt like
30:53it was on fire.
30:54Mom saw it, said I
30:56sneaked tomato juice
30:57to fake being sick
30:58and shocked me for
30:59another ten minutes.
31:01Mom covered her
31:03mouth, her entire
31:04body trembling
31:05violently.
31:07That night, she
31:09honestly thought it
31:10was just tomato
31:11juice.
31:12She hadn't even
31:14given my vomit a
31:15second glance before
31:17turning around to read
31:18Mia a bedtime story.
31:20It turned out
31:22it was blood.
31:24Blood from
31:25my swollen,
31:27ruptured throat.
31:29The officer turned
31:30the page
31:31and kept reading.
31:33June 1st,
31:34Children's Day.
31:35Mia cut up
31:36Mom's favorite dress.
31:38Mia's heartbeat
31:38was slow,
31:39so she got a
31:40green light.
31:41I was so frantic
31:42to explain,
31:43terrified of being
31:44beaten,
31:45so I only got red.
31:46Mom shocked me
31:47for ten minutes.
31:48The dial was on
31:49level five.
31:50It hurt so much,
31:52but I didn't dare
31:53cry.
31:54Because crying makes
31:55your heart beat
31:55faster.
31:56Mom would think I
31:57was being defiant
31:58and shock me even
31:59harder.
32:00I just held my
32:01breath and pretended
32:02it didn't hurt.
32:03Mom said,
32:04See?
32:05She's not even
32:05making a sound.
32:07It doesn't even
32:07hurt.
32:08She's definitely
32:09faking.
32:09Dad finally
32:10couldn't listen
32:11anymore.
32:12This man,
32:14who had been
32:15completely
32:16invisible in
32:17this house
32:18for years,
32:19who had turned
32:20a blind eye
32:21to my suffering
32:22just for some
32:23peace and quiet,
32:25suddenly
32:26lunged forward.
32:29You absolute
32:31monster!
32:32Look at what
32:32you've done!
32:33He slapped Mom
32:34across the face
32:35with everything
32:36he had.
32:37Mom was
32:38knocked to the
32:38floor.
32:39That was
32:41your own
32:41daughter!
32:42You treated
32:43her like an
32:44animal!
32:44But she
32:46didn't fight
32:46back and
32:48she didn't
32:48cry.
32:49She just
32:50mumbled to
32:51herself, her
32:52eyes completely
32:53unfocused.
32:57It was Mia!
32:58Her band
32:59was always
32:59green!
33:00She was the
33:01honest one!
33:02She just
33:03misled me!
33:04If I didn't
33:05have her green
33:06light, if I
33:06didn't have her
33:07to come to,
33:08I wouldn't
33:08have trusted
33:09the red light
33:09so much!
33:10Every eye
33:11in the room
33:12snapped to
33:13Mia, the
33:14little princess
33:15who had
33:16always been
33:16held in the
33:17palm of Mom's
33:18hand.
33:19A detective
33:20walked over
33:21to her.
33:22He unclasped
33:24the green
33:25band from
33:26her wrist,
33:27pulled out
33:28a screwdriver,
33:29and pried it
33:30open right
33:30there on the
33:31spot.
33:32The plastic
33:33casing split
33:34open.
33:35There were
33:36no complex
33:37sensor chips
33:38inside, no
33:39heart rate
33:40monitors, just
33:42two cheap
33:43LED lights
33:44and a couple
33:44of button
33:45batteries.
33:46The circuit
33:47board was
33:48hardwired.
33:49As long as
33:50it had power,
33:51it would only
33:52ever shine
33:53green.
33:54This is a
33:54$2 plastic
33:56toy.
33:56Your younger
33:57daughter's band
33:58was factory
33:59set to stay
33:59green permanently.
34:01No matter
34:01what she says
34:02or does,
34:03she could
34:03commit murder
34:04and set a
34:04house on fire
34:05and it would
34:05still be green.
34:06Your so-called
34:08data-driven
34:08parenting is
34:09nothing but
34:10a complete
34:11biased joke.
34:12Mom stared
34:13at the pile
34:14of plastic
34:15shards.
34:16The truth
34:18she had
34:19blindly
34:20believed in
34:21for 10
34:21years.
34:22The sole
34:23evidence she
34:24used to
34:25sentence me
34:26to death,
34:27it was just
34:28a toy
34:29all along.
34:30My 10
34:31years of
34:32torment
34:33were dictated
34:34by a cheap
34:35toy.
34:36a rig
34:37game where
34:38I lived
34:39in hell
34:39and my
34:40sister
34:41lived in
34:42heaven.
34:43So,
34:44I wasn't
34:45a liar,
34:47I wasn't
34:48a bad
34:48kid.
34:49Then,
34:50what the
34:51hell was
34:51all my
34:51suffering
34:52for?
34:53I laughed
34:54and as I
34:55laughed,
34:55I started
34:56to cry.
34:57It turns
34:58out ghosts
34:59have tears
35:00too.
35:01The final
35:02page of
35:03the diary
35:04was turned.
35:05The female
35:06officer's
35:07voice choked
35:08up.
35:09The handwriting
35:09is a mess.
35:10She must
35:11have written
35:12this right
35:12before she
35:13died.
35:14Mom,
35:15if I die,
35:16will the
35:16band finally
35:17turn off?
35:18Will you
35:19hug me
35:19then?
35:19I'm really
35:20not lying.
35:21My stomach
35:22hurts so
35:22bad,
35:23like there
35:24are knives
35:24twisting inside.
35:25Mom,
35:26please don't
35:27make me wear
35:28the band
35:28in my next
35:28life.
35:29I'm begging
35:30you.
35:30I just
35:31want to
35:31be a
35:31normal
35:32kid.
35:32I want
35:33to eat
35:33your
35:33braised
35:34pork.
35:36Mom
35:37stared at
35:37the broken
35:38plastic
35:39pieces.
35:40Her
35:42unquestionable,
35:43honest,
35:44green light.
35:45Nothing
35:46more than
35:47a cheap
35:47plastic
35:48toy.
35:49Because
35:50of this
35:50toy,
35:51she spoiled
35:52Mia for
35:53ten years.
35:55And,
35:56because of
35:57that damn
35:57red light,
35:58she tortured
35:59me for
36:00ten years.
36:01Mom suddenly
36:02burst into
36:03laughter.
36:04A shrill,
36:05horrifying
36:06laugh that
36:08looked worse
36:08than sobbing.
36:10She snapped.
36:11This time,
36:12she truly
36:13went insane.
36:15My death
36:16became the
36:17biggest news
36:18story in the
36:19city.
36:20Martha,
36:20our neighbor,
36:22was kind
36:23hearted,
36:24but she also
36:25had a huge
36:25mouth.
36:26She posted
36:27everything
36:28she saw
36:29that day
36:29online.
36:31The headline
36:32was
36:32shocking.
36:34The girl
36:34shocked to
36:35death by
36:35a pseudoscience
36:36band.
36:37The article
36:38detailed the
36:39gruesome state
36:40of my corpse,
36:42and the band
36:43melted right
36:44into my flesh.
36:45It went
36:46completely
36:46viral.
36:47The internet
36:48exploded
36:49in absolute
36:51fury.
36:52Mom got
36:53completely
36:54doxxed.
36:54Electric demon
36:56murderer
36:57doesn't deserve
36:59to be a mother.
37:01Countless death
37:02threats and
37:03insults flooded
37:05in like an
37:06avalanche.
37:07Our front door
37:08was splashed
37:10with red paint
37:11with the word
37:13die scrawled
37:14all over it.
37:15Dad was also
37:16taken in by the
37:17police,
37:18investigated for
37:19criminal negligence
37:20and child
37:21endangerment.
37:22Although his
37:23alibi saved him
37:24from serious
37:24jail time,
37:26he lost his
37:27job and his
37:27reputation was
37:28completely ruined.
37:30His company
37:30fired him
37:31immediately to
37:32avoid the PR
37:33nightmare.
37:34Our family went
37:35bankrupt.
37:36They had to
37:37sell the house
37:38and the cars
37:39just to
37:41cover the
37:42legal fees
37:43and settlements.
37:45Unable to
37:45stand the
37:46crazy woman
37:46mom had
37:47become,
37:48dad took
37:48the last bit
37:49of money
37:49and left
37:50with Mia.
37:51Even if
37:51Mia was
37:52a bad seed,
37:53she was his
37:54only living
37:56bloodline left.
37:57Before leaving,
37:58Mia tried to
38:00grab her
38:01green band.
38:02Dad stomped
38:03it into pieces.
38:04What the hell
38:04do you want
38:05this piece
38:05of trash
38:06for?
38:06Mia was
38:08dragged away
38:09crying.
38:11Mom was
38:12released on
38:13bail because
38:14psychiatric
38:15evaluations
38:16showed she
38:17was suffering
38:18from severe
38:18schizophrenia
38:19and PTSD.
38:21She was
38:21left alone
38:22in a cheap
38:23stinking
38:24rental apartment
38:25filled with
38:26the memory
38:27of my
38:27rotting corpse.
38:29Her mental
38:29state
38:30deteriorated
38:31rapidly.
38:32She
38:32constantly
38:33hallucinated
38:35that I was
38:36still in the
38:37house.
38:38she
38:38absolutely
38:39refused to
38:40take off
38:41my red
38:41band.
38:42In fact,
38:43she became
38:43addicted to
38:44it because
38:45she realized
38:45that only
38:47by wearing
38:47it,
38:48feeling the
38:49weak sting
38:49of the
38:50electric
38:50leaks,
38:51I floated
38:52in the room
38:53watching her
38:54daily descent
38:55into madness.
38:56She would
38:57cook a
38:58full table
39:00of food
39:01and yell
39:02into thin
39:03air.
39:03Lily,
39:04time to
39:04eat.
39:04I didn't
39:05put celery
39:06in it
39:06today.
39:07It's all
39:08braised pork,
39:08your favorite.
39:09Then she
39:10would pick up
39:11a piece of
39:11meat,
39:12her hands
39:13shaking
39:13violently.
39:14Triggered by
39:15her anxiety,
39:16the band
39:17would flash
39:17red.
39:18Mommy
39:18doesn't
39:19deserve to
39:19eat.
39:20Liars
39:20must be
39:20punished.
39:21She would
39:22put down
39:23her chopsticks
39:24and pick
39:26up the
39:26remote and
39:27press it
39:28against her
39:29own neck.
39:30Even though
39:31the battery
39:32was almost
39:32dead,
39:33she always
39:34managed to
39:35find fresh
39:36ones to
39:37put in.
39:37The intense
39:38voltage would
39:39make her
39:40convulse and
39:42foam at
39:43the mouth.
39:44Lily,
39:44this much
39:44pain,
39:46I'm
39:47sorry.
39:49Mommy
39:49feels it
39:50now.
39:52She
39:53started
39:53replicating
39:54the punishments
39:55from my
39:55diary on
39:56herself.
39:57I was
39:58shocked for
39:58not eating
39:59celery,
40:00so she
40:01forced herself
40:01to eat
40:02rancid,
40:03spoiled food.
40:05Even when
40:06she vomited
40:06blood, she
40:07swallowed it
40:08back down.
40:10I was
40:10locked in
40:11the dark,
40:11so she
40:12would lock
40:13herself in
40:14the bedroom
40:14without the
40:15lights on.
40:16Repeatedly
40:17bang her
40:18head on
40:18the floor
40:19in front of
40:20my memorial
40:21photo.
40:21Thud,
40:22thud,
40:23until her
40:24forehead was
40:25a bloody
40:25mess,
40:26leaving bloody
40:27prints all
40:28over the
40:28floorboards.
40:30Deep in
40:30the night,
40:31she would
40:31see the
40:32red light
40:33reflecting on
40:34the wall,
40:34like my
40:34bleeding eyes
40:35staring right
40:36back at her.
40:37On the
40:38back of the
40:39diary, she
40:40would frantically
40:41scribble in
40:42red ink.
40:42I'm sorry,
40:44mom was
40:44wrong.
40:46Red is
40:46pain, red
40:47is love.
40:48Please come
40:49back, just
40:50say it hurts
40:51one more
40:51time, mommy
40:52will definitely
40:53save you.
40:54What a shame.
40:55I was
40:56already dead,
40:57and dead
40:58girls can't
40:59feel pain.
41:00Mom was
41:01eventually locked
41:02up in a
41:03psychiatric ward.
41:04Her severe
41:05self-harm
41:06reached the
41:06point where
41:07she nearly
41:07electrocuted
41:08herself to
41:09death at
41:10home.
41:10Adult
41:11Protective
41:11Services
41:12forced an
41:13intervention
41:14and had
41:15her committed.
41:16She was
41:17the most
41:17bizarre
41:18patient in
41:19the entire
41:20facility.
41:21Somehow,
41:23she had
41:23found a
41:24red plastic
41:25ring and
41:26jammed it
41:27tight around
41:27her neck.
41:28It was her
41:29homemade
41:30truth band.
41:32If anyone
41:33tried to
41:33take it
41:34off, she
41:35would bite
41:35them frantically
41:36like a
41:37rabid dog.
41:38Don't touch
41:39my light!
41:40Lily is
41:40watching!
41:41If you
41:41take it
41:42off, she'll
41:42get mad.
41:43She had
41:44developed a
41:45horrifying
41:46conditioned
41:47reflex.
41:49Whenever a
41:49nurse asked
41:50her,
41:51Evelyn, have
41:52you eaten?
41:53She would
41:53touch her
41:54neck first,
41:55then convulse
41:56and scream.
41:57Red light!
41:58Red light!
41:59Don't shock
42:00me!
42:01I'll eat!
42:02I'll eat!
42:03Even if
42:03it was
42:04boiling hot
42:04porridge, she
42:06would swallow
42:06it in one
42:07gulp.
42:08Even as it
42:09blistered and
42:10burned her
42:10esophagus, she
42:12didn't dare spit
42:13it out.
42:14She was
42:16mimicking me
42:17right before I
42:19died.
42:20She was using
42:21this to experience
42:22my personal
42:23hell over and
42:25over again.
42:26years later, Mia
42:29grew up and
42:31she went
42:32completely off
42:33the rails.
42:35With no
42:35discipline and
42:37carrying that
42:38infamous reputation,
42:40she ended up
42:41scraping by at the
42:43very bottom of
42:44society.
42:45When she ran
42:46out of money, she
42:47remembered her
42:49mother sitting in
42:50the psych ward.
42:50She came to the
42:53hospital for a
42:54visit, not out
42:55of love, but
42:56for cash.
42:58Listen, you old
42:59lunatic, dad's
43:00dead.
43:00Give me the secret
43:01stash of money you
43:02hid.
43:03Mia was caked in
43:04heavy makeup, her
43:05face dripping with
43:06hostility.
43:08Looking at the
43:09absolute ghost her
43:10mother had become,
43:12she spat on the
43:13floor in disgust.
43:15You're disgusting.
43:17Just like your
43:18dead brat of a
43:19daughter.
43:20If you don't
43:21give me the
43:22money, I'll pull
43:22your plug and
43:23send you to keep
43:24her company.
43:25Mom, who had
43:26been completely
43:27catatonic, suddenly
43:29snapped her head
43:29up at those
43:30words.
43:31Her cloudy eyes
43:32suddenly cleared
43:33for a fraction of
43:34a second the
43:35moment she locked
43:36onto Mia.
43:37She remembered
43:38that plastic toy
43:39band that always
43:41shone green?
43:42The green light
43:43that had deceived
43:44her for ten
43:45years.
43:47It was you.
43:49You lied to me.
43:50You were the
43:51fake green light.
43:53You killed
43:54Lily.
43:55Give my Lily
43:55back to me.
43:56Her final,
43:58lingering shred
43:59of maternal
44:00love twisted
44:01into the fangs
44:03of pure
44:03vengeance.
44:05Mom suddenly
44:06lunged, throwing
44:08herself at
44:09Mia.
44:10In.
44:11Locked her
44:11hands in a
44:13death grip
44:13around her
44:14throat.
44:16Die!
44:17Go to hell!
44:18It should have
44:19been you!
44:20Help!
44:21Mia thrashed in
44:22terror, but she
44:24couldn't break the
44:25brute strength of a
44:26mad woman.
44:27It took doctors
44:28rushing in and
44:29injecting a heavy
44:30sedative to finally
44:32pry mom off her.
44:33Mia, scared
44:35completely out of
44:37her mind, scrambled
44:39away and bolted.
44:40Maniacs, you're all
44:41crazy!
44:42Blinded by panic,
44:44she sprinted wildly
44:46out the hospital's
44:47front doors.
44:48A speeding delivery
44:50truck couldn't break
44:51in time.
44:52Bang!
44:53Mia was sent
44:54flying through the
44:56air.
44:57She survived,
44:58but both her legs
45:01were completely
45:02shattered.
45:03Condemned to spend
45:05the rest of her
45:06miserable life in a
45:07wheelchair.
45:09Reduced to an
45:10absolute cripple.
45:13As for mom, she was
45:16strapped to a
45:17restraint bed, tears
45:19silently rolling down
45:20her face as she
45:21stared at the
45:22ceiling.
45:23In her dreams, she
45:25finally saw me.
45:27The dreamy was still
45:28ten years old, wearing a
45:31white dress with no
45:32truth band on my
45:34wrist.
45:34Running toward her
45:36with a bright smile,
45:37overjoyed, she opened
45:39her arms to catch me,
45:41only to realize her
45:42hands were sparking
45:44with electricity.
45:45The second she touched
45:47me, my body burst
45:49into flames like dry
45:50paper.
45:51Crumbling into ash,
45:54she jolted awake from
45:55the nightmare, sobbing,
45:57her heart rate spiking
45:58dangerously high.
46:00If she still wore the
46:01band, it would
46:02undoubtedly be a
46:04blinding, piercing
46:05crimson right now.
46:07It was an eternal,
46:10inescapable pain.
46:12I stood in the void,
46:14watching it all unfold.
46:17Watching mom tortured
46:19in the psych ward.
46:20Watching Mia begging
46:21with shattered legs.
46:23Watching dad drink
46:25himself into an early,
46:27pathetic grave.
46:28Yet, in my heart, I felt
46:32absolutely no thrill of
46:35revenge.
46:36Just complete peace.
46:39Standing next to me was
46:41an old dog.
46:42It was Snowball, the puppy
46:45I had when I was little,
46:47before mom threw him away.
46:49He had been waiting for me
46:50in the spirit world.
46:52Snowball nudged my leg and
46:55gave two soft barks.
46:56As if saying,
46:58let's go, don't look anymore.
47:01Yeah, it was time to go.
47:05This life had been too bitter.
47:07There was nothing left to hold on to.
47:09I floated to the window
47:11of mom's hospital room.
47:13It was for one final goodbye.
47:17Mom lay on the bed,
47:19looking like a skeletal ghost,
47:21her hair completely white.
47:24Sensing something,
47:26her cloudy eyes
47:27shifted to an empty spot
47:29in the air.
47:30The exact spot
47:32where I was standing.
47:34Lily?
47:35Is that you?
47:36She reached out
47:37with a trembling hand,
47:39grasping blindly
47:41at the void.
47:43Mommy smashed the band.
47:45Mommy doesn't believe
47:46in that anymore.
47:47Please come back, okay?
47:50Mommy will cook for you.
47:51No celery.
47:53Mommy will buy you
47:54a new dress.
47:55I won't buy Mia one.
47:58Tears slipped from the corners
48:00of her eyes,
48:00soaking into the pillow.
48:02I glanced at the bloody ring
48:04of scars around her neck
48:06and let out a soft sigh.
48:09I reached out,
48:11pressing an ice-cold finger
48:13against her forehead.
48:16It was the last ounce
48:18of mercy I had for her.
48:21Let her sleep.
48:23When you're asleep,
48:24it doesn't hurt anymore.
48:27She quieted instantly,
48:29her heavy eyelids drooping shut
48:32as she fell into a deep sleep.
48:35A gust of wind
48:36blew through the room.
48:38Flipping open the battered diary
48:40on the bedside table.
48:42The one possession
48:44the police had returned to her.
48:46On the very last page,
48:48right below my dying words,
48:51were a few new lines
48:53of jagged handwriting
48:55written by Mom
48:57during a rare moment of clarity.
49:00Next life,
49:01let Mommy wear the band.
49:03Let Mommy be the liar.
49:04You can punish me.
49:07As long as you don't abandon Mommy,
49:09Mommy will do anything.
49:11I looked at those words,
49:13feeling absolutely nothing.
49:15It was too late.
49:18In the face of death,
49:19all the repentance in the world
49:21is pale and useless.
49:23Mom,
49:24I don't hate you anymore,
49:26but I don't love you either.
49:28Ma,
49:29let them wear me
49:30to the next reincarnation.
49:31I turned around,
49:33walking alongside Snowball.
49:36A door of pure light
49:38appeared in the distance.
49:40The gateway to the next reincarnation.
49:44I raised my wrist.
49:46The phantom truth band
49:48that had bound my soul.
49:50The nightmare
49:51that had imprisoned
49:52my entire life.
49:54I clenched my fists tight.
49:56It shattered,
49:58dissolving into stardust
50:02and vanishing into the air.
50:04I felt an unprecedented
50:05sense of relief.
50:07No red lights.
50:09No shocks.
50:11No lies.
50:12Just freedom.
50:15I walked into the light
50:16without ever looking back.
50:22The morning sun spilled
50:24into the hospital room.
50:27A nurse pushed the door open
50:29for morning rounds.
50:31Evelyn,
50:32time for your meds.
50:33No response.
50:35The figure on the bed
50:36was completely still.
50:38The nurse stepped closer
50:40to check.
50:41Mom's hands were tightly
50:43clutching that broken diary.
50:45A single crystalline tear
50:49hung at the corner
50:51of her eye.
50:52And on the heart monitor
50:55next to the bed,
50:56that jagged green wave
51:00representing life
51:02had flattened
51:04into one long straight line.
51:09And on the heart of her eye.
51:09And on the heart of her eye.
51:09And on the heart of her eye.
51:10And on the heart of her eye.
51:11And on the heart of her eye.
51:12And on the heart of her eye.
51:12And on the heart of her eye.
51:13And on the heart of her eye.
51:14And on the heart of her eye.
51:14And on the heart of her eye.
51:14And on the heart of her eye.
51:14And on the heart of her eye.
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