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El color de la mentira - Episodio completo
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00:00I was born a liar, at least. That's the label mom slapped on me.
00:05As 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.
01:51I couldn't help but think she was right.
01:54The band was red, so I must not actually be in pain.
01:58I was just making it up for attention again.
02:02I'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.
02:22A glimmer of hope sparked in my eyes.
02:26Mom was spat.
02:28She was a doctor.
02:29She must have realized something was horribly wrong and came back to save me.
02:34Are you done yet?
02:36The fireworks are about to start.
02:37Mia's getting impatient.
02:39Mom.
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.
02:49She just glanced at the frantic red light flashing on my wrists.
02:53Squatting down, she pinched my chin, her voice dripping with venom.
02:58Lily, how long are you going to keep up this act?
03:01You're a pathological liar.
03:02You can stay home and think about what you've done.
03:05Honey, hurry up.
03:07The fireworks are about to start.
03:09If Singha doesn't want to go, fine.
03:11Should we leave her some food?
03:13Mom stood up and dusted off her hands like touching me had made her filthy.
03:18Leave her food for what?
03:20She has plenty of snacks in her room.
03:22She bought them with money she stole last time.
03:24She won't starve.
03:26Lock the door.
03:27Don't let her out until that bracelet turns green.
03:29But...
03:30But what?
03:30Spare the rob?
03:32Spoil the child?
03:33Look at Mia.
03:34She's perfectly honest.
03:36Her band is always green.
03:38Lily is rotten to the core.
03:39We have to correct her.
03:41But my closet was completely empty.
03:43Mia was the one who stole the cash and she ate all the snacks.
03:50Mia had just stood there, her band glowing that soft green, and said,
03:56It wasn't me.
03:58And 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
04:07shocked.
04:07I watched Mom turn around to leave.
04:13Mia peeked through the crack in the door and stuck her tongue out at me.
04:18Bye, sis.
04:19We're going to see the pretty fireworks.
04:21Her band was glowing a vibrant green.
04:24It really was beautiful.
04:26The door slammed shut, followed by the heavy click of the deadbolt.
04:30The house went dead silent, leaving just me alone with the saw tearing through my stomach.
04:38It hurts so much.
04:41Mom was right.
04:42Machines don't lie.
04:44The band is red, so I must be making this up.
04:48I'm not in pain.
04:50I'm really not in pain.
04:52Tears streaming down my face.
04:54I tried to brainwash myself.
04:58I don't know how much time passed, but it actually started to hurt less.
05:04Using my last breath, I dragged myself to the desk.
05:09I had to write my punishment lines.
05:13Those were the rules.
05:15Whenever the red light flashed, I had to write,
05:19I am a liar a thousand times.
05:22Once 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.
05:33The pages were crammed with all my previous apologies.
05:39I used to always write,
05:41I'm sorry, I was wrong.
05:44I won't lie again.
05:46But this time, I wanted to write the truth.
05:50My vision blurred.
05:53Crying, I used every last ounce of my strength to write,
05:58Mom, I really do love you.
06:01It hurts so much.
06:04Why won't you just believe me?
06:06Mom, please, just believe me this one time.
06:10The moment I finished the last word,
06:13the excruciating pain in my stomach completely vanished.
06:17My body felt light, and I began to float.
06:20I looked down and saw myself slumped over the desk,
06:25arm dangling in the air, completely motionless.
06:29The band on my wrist was still frantically flashing red,
06:33so I was dead.
06:36But I still hadn't learned how to be an honest kid.
06:40I'm sorry, Mom.
06:41I was awakened by a burst of laughter.
06:45It was my dad, my mom, and my sister.
06:48The fireworks were so beautiful tonight,
06:50especially the smiley face one.
06:52It was as cute as our Mia.
06:54There was a tenderness in Mom's voice that I had never heard before.
07:00I floated in midair, watching the front door open.
07:03Now a soul, I instinctively drifted toward them,
07:06wanting to bring them their slippers like I used to.
07:10It was a people-pleasing instinct carved into my bones.
07:13Mom.
07:13I opened my arms, wanting to hug the woman still carrying the chill of the night.
07:19I don't hurt anymore.
07:21I'll be good from now on.
07:23Please don't be mad.
07:25But my hands passed straight through her body,
07:27like trying to catch the wind.
07:29Mom shivered and frowned.
07:31Why is it so cold in here?
07:32Is the heat off?
07:34I froze, staring at my transparent palm.
07:37That's right.
07:38I was already dead.
07:40The dead can't hug the living.
07:42Go check on Lily.
07:44That girl hasn't come out to eat either.
07:45Don't let her really starve.
07:46Dad mentioned it casually.
07:48Dad was still the better one.
07:49I looked at Mom expectantly.
07:52If she found out I was dead, would she be sad?
07:55Would she regret it?
07:57Mom snorted and slipped into her house shoes,
08:00walking toward my room.
08:01She'd deserve it if she starved.
08:03Faking illness for attention is a bad habit that comes from being spoiled.
08:07She pushed my door open.
08:10She pushed my door open.
08:12She didn't turn on the light.
08:14By the light from the living room,
08:16she saw me slumped over the desk,
08:19motionless, as if asleep.
08:21Oh?
08:22Still lying there?
08:24You think lying on the desk pretending to be pitiful
08:26will make me carry you to bed?
08:28Lily, you're ten years old, not five.
08:31Mom!
08:32I'm not pretending to sleep.
08:34I'm dead!
08:36Look at me!
08:37Touch me!
08:38My body is cold!
08:39But Mom couldn't hear me.
08:41She only believed what she chose to see.
08:44My sister slipped in under her arm
08:47and raised her wrist proudly.
08:49Big Sat is a lazy pig.
08:52Look, my bracelet is green.
08:54Hers is still red.
08:55She's always lying.
08:57She even lies in her dreams.
08:59Mom patted her head.
09:01Dad peeked in from behind.
09:02Maybe carry her to bed?
09:03It's freezing.
09:04Carry her?
09:05For what?
09:06Kids these days are spoiled.
09:08This bracelet manufacturer say
09:09this is when you apply cold treatment.
09:11She has to realize her own mistakes.
09:13Look at that red light.
09:14It shows she's still in a state of extreme resistance.
09:17She hasn't reflected at all.
09:18That's enough.
09:19Go to bed.
09:19We're visiting Grandma tomorrow.
09:21Mom turned briskly
09:22and pulled the door closed again.
09:24I hovered beside my body,
09:26staring at the crimson light in the darkness,
09:28a sorrow deeper than death filling me.
09:31Mom, if you had just taken one step closer,
09:35just touched my hand,
09:36you would have known I was already cold.
09:38But you didn't.
09:40You trusted that cold machine
09:42more than the daughter you carried for ten months.
09:45Late at night,
09:45a rat crawled out from the empty cabinet.
09:48I used to be terrified of rats.
09:50I would scream every time I saw one.
09:53But now,
09:54I could only float near the ceiling
09:56and watch it roam freely over my corpse.
09:59I tried to shoo it away weakly,
10:01but no sound came out.
10:02The rat bit into my toe,
10:04dark purplish blood seeping out.
10:06I couldn't feel any pain.
10:08That was good.
10:09It finally didn't hurt anymore.
10:11I spoke to the pitiful shell below me.
10:14Don't be afraid.
10:15You can't feel pain anymore.
10:17It will all be over soon.
10:19The next morning,
10:20sunlight washed over my corpse,
10:23but it brought no warmth at all.
10:25Clattering sounds drifted in from the kitchen.
10:30Mom was making breakfast.
10:32The rich smell of frying bacon and eggs
10:35crept through the crack under my door.
10:38Normally, that was the smell I craved the most,
10:41but I was only ever allowed plain oatmeal
10:45because mom said liars didn't deserve good food.
10:49Today, she was deliberately banging the spatula against the pan.
10:54I knew exactly what she was doing.
10:56She was trying to tempt me.
10:58She wanted me to give in to the hunger
11:01and crawl out to beg for forgiveness.
11:04In the past,
11:05I might have actually confessed to things I never did
11:10just for a single bite of food.
11:12But now, I didn't need to eat anymore.
11:14Lily still hasn't come out?
11:16Dad asked.
11:17Reading the newspaper at the dining table?
11:20No.
11:21Stubborn as a mule.
11:23She's just spoiled.
11:24If she doesn't want to eat, she can starve.
11:27Mia took a sip of her milk,
11:28her eyes darting around mischievously.
11:31She intentionally ran over to my door.
11:35Mom!
11:35It smells so gross in Lily's room!
11:38Did she use the floor as a toilet?
11:40Floating by the door,
11:42I looked at my sister with a bitter smile.
11:45I had already started to smell after just one night.
11:48Mom marched over,
11:50her forehead deeply wrinkled in disgust.
11:53You actually soiled your own room?
11:56She pounded on the door and roared.
12:01You are unbelievable!
12:03You throw away your own dignity
12:05just to throw a tantrum at me?
12:07It reminded me of when I was little.
12:10Once, I had severe stomach flu
12:13and couldn't make it to the bathroom in time,
12:16messing my pants.
12:17She pointed at me and told the neighbors,
12:20Look at this child, dirty as a pig.
12:23And now, she thought I was being filthy again.
12:28Just leave her!
12:29Mom waved her hand in disgust,
12:31like shooing away a fly.
12:33Let her sit in her own stench.
12:36See how she likes it.
12:37Dad put down his paper.
12:39The smell really is getting strong.
12:41Let me go check on her.
12:42Maybe a rat died in the walls.
12:44He stood up and walked toward my bedroom door.
12:49My ghost heart leaped into my throat.
12:52Dad, hurry, open the door!
12:55Please, look at me.
12:57I'm right behind the door.
13:00If you just turn that knob,
13:02you'll see I'm not moving anymore.
13:05You'll see my face has already turned bruised and dark.
13:09Dad's hand grasped the doorknob.
13:12His phone suddenly blared.
13:14What?
13:14It was his boss calling.
13:16The server's crashed?
13:17Okay, okay, I'm on my way.
13:21Honey, there's a massive emergency at work.
13:23I have to go.
13:23I might not be back for a few days.
13:25Wait, what about Lily?
13:25I froze in mid-air.
13:29It was so incredibly close.
13:32Just one second away.
13:34If that call had come,
13:36just a moment later,
13:38they would have found me.
13:40Maybe then,
13:41I wouldn't have to keep rotting in here.
13:44That afternoon,
13:45Mom took Mia out shopping,
13:47leaving my corpse alone in the house.
13:49They came back in the evening.
13:50As soon as they walked in,
13:53the stench hit them even harder.
13:55Are you trying to turn this house into a literal dumpster?
13:58Instead,
13:59she grabbed a roll of duct tape,
14:01crouched down,
14:02and viciously sealed the crack under my door tight.
14:05Since you love the stench so much,
14:06you can just sit in it!
14:07Mom dusted off her hands in satisfaction.
14:10Finally,
14:11some peace and quiet.
14:12Watching that duct tape door,
14:14the very last shred of hope in my heart suffocated,
14:18right along with the seal.
14:19So this was it.
14:21In Mom's mind,
14:22my life and death mattered
14:24even less than a fancy dinner.
14:27She would rather seal me in like a tomb
14:28than check if I was actually dying inside.
14:31You win, Mom.
14:32I will never bother you again.
14:34By the morning of the third day,
14:36the warm winter sun spilled into the living room,
14:39but it couldn't dispel the dark gloom
14:42hanging over the house.
14:43The thermostat was cranked way up to almost 80 degrees.
14:48The duct tape could no longer hold back the smell.
14:52It was a nauseating, thick, greasy stench of decay.
14:59Mom was trimming fresh flowers she had just bought,
15:02but no matter how strong the floral scent was,
15:05it couldn't mask the smell of a rotting corpse.
15:08Mom angrily snapped a rose stem,
15:12letting a thorn prick her finger.
15:15She had finally reached her breaking point.
15:19In her twisted logic,
15:21me not showering,
15:23using the room as a toilet,
15:25or even hiding dead rats in there,
15:29it was all just an act of rebellion
15:31to disgust her and challenge her authority.
15:34Lily, you are completely out of control!
15:37Mom stormed into the kitchen,
15:39grabbed a heavy wooden spoon,
15:42and marched furiously toward my room.
15:45Since the shock collar isn't working anymore,
15:48maybe you need some old-fashioned discipline!
15:52Floating right in front of her,
15:54looking at her contorted, furious face,
15:57I waved my hands frantically to stop her.
16:01Don't go in!
16:02Mom, please don't!
16:04I look awful!
16:05I'm rotting!
16:06Mom, you'll be scared!
16:08Even though she didn't love me,
16:10I still didn't want her to see me
16:12in such a horrific state.
16:14But she walked right through my spirit
16:17and viciously ripped the duct tape off the door frame.
16:21The sound of the adhesive tearing was piercing.
16:25She jammed the spare key into the lock
16:28and twisted.
16:29The door was violently shoved open.
16:34A sickening wall of concentrated death
16:37hit her instantly,
16:39like opening Pandora's box.
16:41Mom stumbled backwards,
16:43gagging as the stench assaulted her.
16:46Lily!
16:48What the hell are you doing in here?
16:50She looked up and saw me
16:51still slumped over the desk
16:53in the exact same position from three days ago.
16:56My back to her, completely motionless.
17:00To her, this was a silent provocation.
17:05Pure, sheer arrogance.
17:07Are you deaf?
17:09Are you still playing dead?
17:11Blinded by rage,
17:12she closed the distance in three steps,
17:14raising the heavy wooden spoon high in the air.
17:17But she didn't strike right away.
17:20She wanted to yank me up first
17:22to see the stubborn expression
17:25she was sure was on my face.
17:27Get up!
17:29She grabbed me roughly
17:32by the back of the collar,
17:35her fingers digging into my skin.
17:37The very next second, she froze.
17:40The moment she made contact,
17:42time seemed to stop completely.
17:45Through the thin fabric of my pajamas,
17:48her fingers didn't feel warm, living skin
17:52or soft flesh.
17:55Instead, she felt a block of ice-cold,
17:58rock-hard, dead meat.
18:00It was a bone-chilling, unnatural cold,
18:05entirely devoid of the warmth of life.
18:11Huh?
18:11Mom hesitated for a fraction of a second,
18:15but her momentum carried through,
18:18yanking backward with brute force.
18:20My stiff body was pulled backward,
18:24falling rigidly.
18:26Taking the heavy desk chair down with it,
18:29crash.
18:30The chair slammed loudly
18:32against the hardwood floor.
18:34My corpse fell perfectly stiff,
18:37like a toppled marble statue.
18:39And finally,
18:41my face was revealed.
18:44I was no longer
18:45the timid little girl she knew.
18:49My face was a bruise, sickly purple,
18:52my eyes bulging.
18:54My features
18:55completely contorted
18:58from the sheer agony
19:00of my final moments.
19:03Dried white foam
19:04and dark-crusted blood
19:06stained the corners of my mouth.
19:08And there on my blackened wrist
19:13was the truth band
19:15Mom was always so damn proud of.
19:19It hung there, lifeless.
19:22The skin underneath
19:23was scorched pitch black
19:25from the electricity.
19:27The melted rubber
19:29fused directly into my charred flesh.
19:32No more red lights.
19:34No more green lights.
19:36Just dead, heavy silence.
19:39Smack.
19:40A soft thud.
19:42My diary,
19:44which had been pinned under my arm,
19:46slipped out as my body fell.
19:49It landed right at Mom's feet.
19:52It fell open,
19:55facing her perfectly.
19:58On that page,
20:01my messy,
20:03desperate handwriting
20:05stabbed into her eyes
20:07like daggers.
20:09Mom, my stomach really hurts.
20:11The band is broken.
20:12I swear I'm not lying.
20:14Please don't shock me anymore.
20:18It was a shriek
20:20that didn't even sound human.
20:22Piercing and guttural
20:24like her throat was tearing apart.
20:26Mom stumbled backward,
20:29her lower back
20:30slamming hard
20:31against the bookshelf.
20:33A glass vase
20:34crashed to the floor,
20:36shattering into a million pieces.
20:38But she didn't even flinch.
20:41Her eyes were wide
20:43with pure terror
20:44locked onto my body
20:46on the floor.
20:48No.
20:49No way.
20:51She shook her head frantically,
20:53her hair falling around her face
20:55like a mad woman.
20:57You're still faking it.
20:58This is makeup.
21:00It's a trick.
21:02Lily, get up right now.
21:07Mommy isn't mad anymore.
21:09Stop scaring me.
21:11Trembling violently,
21:13she reached out
21:15trying to grab my stiff arm.
21:17But the split second
21:19her fingertips
21:20brushed my freezing skin.
21:23She recoiled
21:25like she just touched
21:27a hot stove.
21:29That sensation,
21:31it was undeniably real.
21:34It was
21:35the temperature of death.
21:37Martha,
21:38her neighbor,
21:39called the cops.
21:41She had
21:42rushed over
21:43after hearing
21:44mom's screams,
21:45took one look
21:46at the scene,
21:47and collapsed
21:48right in the doorway.
21:50Sirens soon
21:51flooded the neighborhood.
21:53The police
21:54swarmed in.
21:56Forensics followed.
21:58Crime scene tape
21:59went up.
22:00I watched them
22:01hustle in and out,
22:03camera flashes
22:04exploding over
22:05my corpse.
22:06A female officer
22:08had to drag
22:09mom out
22:10to the living room
22:11couch.
22:12She was
22:14still babbling
22:15incoherently,
22:17trying to defend
22:18herself.
22:19Officer,
22:20I swear she was
22:21faking it.
22:22She's been a liar
22:23since she was a kid.
22:24The band was red.
22:26The machine doesn't lie.
22:27I was just
22:28disciplining her.
22:29I was doing it
22:30for her own good.
22:31Nobody even
22:32looked at her.
22:34Everyone just
22:35stared at her
22:35like she was
22:36an absolute monster.
22:38When the coroner
22:40tried to
22:40move my body,
22:42they ran into
22:43a problem.
22:44The truth band.
22:45The truth band.
22:47Because it had
22:48discharged
22:49high voltage
22:50electricity
22:51for so long,
22:53the intense
22:53heat had
22:54literally melted
22:55the rubber
22:56right into
22:57my skin.
22:58It was
22:59basically fused
23:00to my flesh.
23:01Jesus Christ.
23:03He had to
23:04grab a pair
23:05of medical
23:07shears
23:07to force it off.
23:09The sickening
23:10sound of
23:11skin tearing.
23:13Even though
23:14I was already
23:15dead,
23:15my phantom
23:16wrist throbbed.
23:17The band
23:18finally came off,
23:20taking a chunk
23:21of my charred
23:22flesh with it.
23:23A detective
23:24picked up my
23:24diary from
23:25the floor,
23:26flipping through
23:27it with
23:28gloved hands.
23:29his face
23:31growing darker
23:31by the second.
23:33Mom's eyes
23:34locked onto
23:35the notebook.
23:36Suddenly,
23:37she lunged
23:39at the detective
23:40like a rabid
23:41dog trying
23:43to snatch it.
23:44Those are her
23:45punishment lines!
23:46She definitely
23:47wrote it in there!
23:48She admitted
23:48she was lying!
23:49Read it!
23:49She confessed!
23:51The detective
23:52shoved her back
23:53hard and dropped
23:54the diary
23:55into an evidence
23:56bag.
23:57He glared
23:58at her
23:59with eyes
24:00as cold
24:00as ice,
24:01looking at her
24:02like she was
24:03pure garbage.
24:05We'll decide
24:05who was lying.
24:06Right then,
24:08Dad finally
24:09rushed back.
24:11He saw
24:12the black
24:13body bag
24:14being carried
24:14out the door.
24:15That long
24:17zipper
24:17sealing away
24:19my entire
24:20miserable life.
24:22Dad's legs
24:23gave out.
24:24He collapsed
24:25onto the lawn,
24:27literally wetting
24:28his pants
24:29in shock.
24:30Mia was
24:31standing to the
24:32side,
24:32sobbing in fear.
24:34She didn't even
24:36fully grasp
24:37what was happening.
24:39She just pointed
24:40at the bloody
24:42band left
24:43on the table
24:44and asked,
24:45Mommy,
24:46why is Lily's
24:47band black?
24:48Mine is still
24:49green!
24:50She held up
24:51her wrist,
24:52the little
24:52green light
24:53still blinking
24:54cheerfully.
24:55It was
24:57a massive,
24:59sickening
25:00irony.
25:01The police
25:02began an
25:02impromptu
25:03interrogation
25:04in the living room.
25:06Mom
25:07acted like
25:08she just
25:09found her
25:09lifeline.
25:10She pointed
25:11sharply
25:12at my bloody
25:13band,
25:14her voice
25:14shrill
25:15and desperate.
25:16Check the
25:17band.
25:18You have to
25:18check the
25:18band.
25:19It proves
25:19she was
25:20lying.
25:21Red means
25:21lie.
25:22I only ever
25:23shocked her
25:23when it
25:23turned red.
25:24I'm not
25:25abusive.
25:26The machine
25:26told me to
25:27do it.
25:27I was just
25:28teaching her
25:28a lesson.
25:29The detective
25:30scowled at
25:31her,
25:32completely
25:33disgusted.
25:35Ma'am,
25:36your daughter's
25:37body
25:38is covered
25:39in old,
25:41repetitive
25:41electrical burn
25:42scars.
25:42That was
25:43discipline.
25:44It was
25:45education.
25:46Mom
25:47shrieked,
25:48cutting him
25:48off,
25:49desperate to
25:50prove she
25:51was right,
25:52desperate to
25:53prove she
25:54wasn't a
25:54murderer.
25:55She suddenly
25:57made the
25:58most insane
26:00demand.
26:01You don't
26:02believe me?
26:03That machine
26:04is flawless.
26:04I'll put it
26:05on right now.
26:06I'm telling
26:07the truth,
26:07so it's
26:08going to
26:09be green.
26:09She lunged
26:10for the
26:11table,
26:12snatching
26:12up the
26:12band that
26:13was still
26:14coated in
26:14my burnt
26:15skin and
26:16blood.
26:17Completely
26:17ignoring the
26:18gore,
26:19her hands
26:20shook wildly
26:21as she
26:22forced the
26:23strap around
26:24her own
26:24wrist.
26:25I'll show
26:26you,
26:26I'm innocent.
26:27If it's
26:28green,
26:28it means
26:29everything I've
26:29said is
26:30true.
26:31Trembling,
26:32she snapped
26:33the blood
26:33soap device
26:34into place.
26:36Locked
26:37tight,
26:38the freezing
26:39rubber pressed
26:40against her
26:41skin,
26:43sticky and
26:43slick with
26:44my blood.
26:45Mom took
26:46a deep
26:47breath,
26:48trying to
26:49force herself
26:49to calm
26:50down.
26:51She was so
26:52desperate to
26:53prove I
26:54deserve to
26:55die,
26:55to prove her
26:56twisted parenting
26:58was flawless.
26:59She held her
27:01wrist up to
27:02the cops,
27:03a gleam of
27:04manic confidence
27:05in her eyes.
27:06watch closely.
27:09My name is
27:10Evelyn.
27:10I am
27:11Lily's mother.
27:12It was a
27:13pure fact,
27:14the absolute
27:15truth,
27:17but then,
27:18a sharp,
27:19ear-piercing
27:21alarm instantly
27:22shrieked from
27:23the band.
27:24The long,
27:24dead red light
27:25violently exploded
27:27to life.
27:27Mom was stunned.
27:29Her cocky
27:29expression froze
27:31instantly.
27:32She smacked
27:33the band hard
27:34like hitting
27:35a glitching
27:36TV remote.
27:37What the hell?
27:37Is it broken?
27:38I'm telling
27:39the truth.
27:40I am Evelyn.
27:41Panic started
27:42setting in,
27:43her words
27:44spilling out
27:45faster.
27:46It has to
27:46be broken!
27:47That coroner
27:48must have
27:49busted it!
27:52Let me try
27:53again.
27:53I'm going
27:54to say it
27:54again.
27:55She swallowed
27:56hard,
27:56her voice
27:57pitching up
27:57in hysteria.
27:58I did not
27:59abuse my
28:00child.
28:01I was doing
28:02it for her
28:02own good!
28:03I loved
28:04her!
28:05The red
28:05light flashed
28:06even more
28:06violently,
28:07blurring into
28:08a solid block
28:09of furious
28:09red.
28:10And because
28:11it detected
28:12an extreme
28:13spike in
28:14heart rate,
28:15the band
28:15automatically
28:16triggered a
28:17mild electric
28:18shock.
28:19Mom jolted,
28:20her entire
28:20arm spagging
28:22as she flinched
28:23hard.
28:23It hurt.
28:24Even just
28:25a low-level
28:26shock was
28:27enough to
28:28cover her
28:28in goosebumps.
28:29It suddenly
28:30hit her.
28:31how I felt
28:32at 10
28:33years old,
28:34being hit
28:34with the
28:35absolute
28:35maximum
28:36voltage,
28:37curling into
28:38a ball
28:38on the
28:39floor,
28:39biting
28:39through my
28:40own lip
28:40just to
28:41keep from
28:41crying out.
28:42So,
28:43this was
28:43how much
28:44it hurt.
28:45Mom
28:45completely
28:46lost her
28:46mind.
28:47Why is it
28:48red?
28:49Why?
28:50I'm telling
28:51the truth,
28:52stupid thing!
28:53I'm telling
28:53these
28:54things!
28:56Turn green,
28:57you stupid
28:58thing!
28:58You broken
28:59piece of
29:00trash!
29:00You're
29:01setting me up!
29:02No matter
29:03how loud
29:04she shrieked,
29:05the red light
29:06just kept
29:06frantically
29:07blinking.
29:08That's
29:09enough.
29:10You know
29:10what happens
29:11if that
29:11thing goes
29:12off.
29:13A forensics
29:14tech standing
29:14nearby finally
29:15spoke up,
29:16his voice
29:17ice cold.
29:18He honestly
29:19couldn't stomach
29:20it anymore.
29:21Stop
29:21trying.
29:23That thing
29:24isn't a lie
29:24detector,
29:25lady.
29:25He grabbed
29:26the instruction
29:26manual they'd
29:27found during
29:28the search
29:28and slammed
29:29it onto the
29:30coffee table.
29:31It's a cheap
29:31glavinic skin
29:32response and
29:33heart rate
29:33monitor.
29:34How it works
29:34is simple.
29:35When someone
29:35is nervous,
29:36anxious,
29:37terrified,
29:37or in extreme
29:39pain,
29:39their heart
29:40rate spikes.
29:41They sweat,
29:41their skin
29:42conductivity jumps,
29:43and the light
29:43turns red.
29:44Right now,
29:44you are panicking.
29:46You're terrified
29:47and your heart
29:47is racing.
29:48Of course
29:49it's flashing
29:49red.
29:50The tech
29:51took a slow
29:51step toward
29:52mom,
29:53who is now
29:54slumped on
29:54the floor.
29:55Every word
29:56he spoke
29:56dropped like
29:57a sledgehammer
29:58onto her skull.
29:59Think about it.
30:00Your daughter's
30:01appendix burst.
30:02She was
30:02wringling on
30:03the floor.
30:04Do you have
30:04any idea
30:05how agonizing
30:06a ruptured
30:07organ is?
30:08How fast
30:08do you think
30:09her heart
30:09was beating?
30:10How terrified
30:11do you think
30:11she was?
30:12But to you,
30:13the more pain
30:14she was in,
30:15the faster
30:15her heart beat
30:16and the brighter
30:17that red light
30:17got.
30:18You just assumed
30:19she was lying
30:20harder,
30:21so you cranked
30:21up the voltage.
30:22The shock
30:23caused more
30:23pain,
30:24which made
30:24her heart
30:25race faster,
30:26which made
30:26the light
30:26even brighter.
30:27She was begging
30:28you for help
30:29and you turned
30:30it into a
30:30torture device.
30:32You tortured
30:32your own daughter
30:33to death
30:33while she was
30:34begging you
30:34to save her.
30:36Mom's entire
30:37reality shattered
30:37into a million
30:38pieces.
30:39She sat
30:40paralyzed on
30:41the floor,
30:41staring blankly
30:43at the red light
30:44flashing on her
30:45wrists.
30:45Finally,
30:46it clicked.
30:46For the last
30:47ten years,
30:49every single time
30:50my band
30:51flashed red,
30:52it was just
30:53because I was
30:54scared,
30:54terrified of
30:55her getting mad,
30:56terrified of
30:57being misunderstood,
30:59terrified of the
30:59food she forced
31:00down my throat.
31:01I was in pain.
31:03In so much pain,
31:04my heart was racing
31:05and I was drenched
31:06in cold sweat.
31:07I was yearning,
31:09desperate for her
31:10to hug me,
31:11just once,
31:12the way she hugged
31:13Mia.
31:14Every single
31:15flutter of my
31:16heart had been
31:17twisted into
31:18proof of a lie.
31:22She started
31:23tearing frantically
31:24at the band
31:24on her wrist.
31:26Get off me!
31:30But the clasp
31:32jammed from
31:33being forced on
31:34and damaged
31:35from melting
31:35was completely
31:37stuck,
31:38locked around
31:39her wrist
31:39like a shackle.
31:41No matter how
31:41hard she clawed
31:42at it,
31:43it wouldn't
31:43budge.
31:44I'm sorry!
31:45I'm so sorry!
31:47Lily!
31:48Take it away!
31:49Mommy is sorry!
31:50It can't even
31:51handle this little
31:52bit of pain,
31:53Mom.
31:53I had to live
31:54with it for
31:55ten years.
31:56To establish
31:57the details
31:58of the abuse
31:59and build
32:00a solid case,
32:03the police
32:03opened the diary,
32:05now officially
32:06labeled as
32:08key evidence
32:09right in front
32:09of Mom and Dad.
32:11That notebook
32:12I'd used
32:12for ten years
32:13filled with blood,
32:15tears,
32:15and pure humiliation.
32:17The female
32:18officer's voice
32:19was soft,
32:20but every single
32:21word cut
32:22like a knife.
32:24February 14th,
32:25Sunny.
32:26Mom made me
32:27eat celery.
32:28I'm allergic.
32:29It makes my throat
32:30swell up
32:30and I can't breathe.
32:31I told her
32:32I didn't want it.
32:33I didn't want it,
32:35that I felt sick.
32:37I don't care
32:38if you're sick.
32:38You will eat
32:39that celery.
32:40And the band
32:41turned red.
32:42Mom said I was
32:43just being a picky
32:44liar and forced
32:45me to eat
32:45the whole plate.
32:47That night
32:47I threw up blood.
32:49My throat
32:49felt like
32:50it was on fire.
32:51Mom saw it,
32:52said I sneaked
32:53tomato juice
32:54to fake being sick
32:55and shocked me
32:56for another
32:57ten minutes.
32:58Mom covered
32:59her mouth,
33:00her entire body
33:01trembling violently.
33:03That night
33:04she honestly
33:06thought it was
33:07just tomato juice.
33:09She hadn't
33:10even given
33:11my vomit
33:11a second glance
33:13before turning
33:14around to read
33:15Mia a bedtime
33:15story.
33:17It turned out
33:18it was blood.
33:20Blood from
33:21my swollen,
33:24ruptured throat.
33:26The officer
33:27turned the page
33:28and kept reading.
33:30June 1st,
33:31Children's Day.
33:32Mia cut up
33:33mom's favorite
33:34dress.
33:35Mia's heartbeat
33:35was slow,
33:36so she got a
33:37green light.
33:38I was so frantic
33:39to explain,
33:40terrified of being
33:41beaten,
33:41so I only got
33:42red.
33:43Mom shocked
33:44me for ten
33:44minutes.
33:45The dial was
33:46on level five.
33:47It hurt so much,
33:49but I didn't
33:49dare cry.
33:50Because crying
33:51makes your
33:52heartbeat faster.
33:53Mom would think
33:54I was being
33:54defiant and
33:55shock me even
33:56harder.
33:56I just held
33:57my breath and
33:58pretended it
33:59didn't hurt.
34:00Mom said,
34:01See?
34:01She's not
34:02even making
34:02a sound.
34:03It doesn't
34:04even hurt.
34:05She's definitely
34:05faking.
34:06Dad finally
34:07couldn't listen
34:08anymore.
34:09This man,
34:10who had been
34:11completely
34:12invisible in
34:14this house
34:15for years,
34:16who had turned
34:17a blind eye
34:18to my suffering
34:19just for some
34:20peace and
34:21quiet,
34:22suddenly
34:23lunged
34:24forward.
34:26You absolute
34:27monster!
34:28Look at what
34:29you've done!
34:30She slapped
34:31Mom across
34:31the face
34:32with everything
34:33he had.
34:34Mom was
34:34knocked to
34:35the floor.
34:36That was
34:38your own
34:38daughter!
34:39You treated
34:40her like an
34:40animal!
34:41But she
34:42didn't fight
34:43back and she
34:44didn't cry.
34:46She just
34:47mumbled to
34:47herself,
34:49her eyes
34:49completely
34:50unfocused.
34:53It was
34:54Mia!
34:54Her band
34:55was always
34:56green!
34:56She was
34:57the honest
34:57one!
34:58She just
34:59misled me!
35:00If I didn't
35:01have her
35:01green light,
35:02if I didn't
35:03have her
35:03to come to,
35:04I wouldn't
35:04have trusted
35:05the red light
35:05so much!
35:06Every eye
35:07in the room
35:08snapped to
35:09Mia,
35:10the little
35:10princess,
35:12who had
35:12always been
35:13held in
35:13the palm
35:14of Mom's
35:14hand.
35:15A detective
35:16walked over
35:17to her.
35:18He
35:19unclasped
35:20the green
35:21band from
35:22her wrist,
35:23pulled out
35:24a screwdriver,
35:25and pried
35:26it open
35:26right there
35:27on the
35:27spot.
35:28The
35:28plastic
35:29casing
35:30split open.
35:31There
35:32were no
35:32complex
35:33sensor chips
35:34inside,
35:35no heart
35:36rate monitors,
35:37just two
35:38cheap LED
35:39lights and
35:40a couple
35:40of button
35:41batteries.
35:42The
35:43circuit board
35:43was hard
35:44wired.
35:45As long
35:46as it
35:46had power,
35:47it would
35:48only ever
35:49shine green.
35:50This is
35:50a $2
35:51plastic toy.
35:52Your
35:53younger
35:53daughter's
35:54band was
35:54factory set
35:55to stay
35:55green
35:56permanently.
35:57No matter
35:57what she
35:58says or
35:59does,
35:59she could
35:59commit
36:00murder and
36:00set a
36:01house on
36:01fire and
36:01it would
36:01still be
36:02green.
36:03Your
36:03so-called
36:04data-driven
36:05parenting is
36:05nothing but
36:06a complete
36:07biased joke.
36:08Mom
36:08stared at
36:09the pile
36:10of plastic
36:11shards.
36:12The
36:13truth
36:13she had
36:15blindly
36:15believed in
36:16for 10
36:17years.
36:18The
36:19sole
36:19evidence
36:19she used
36:20to sentence
36:21me to
36:21death,
36:22it was
36:23just a
36:24toy all
36:25along.
36:26My
36:2610 years
36:27of torment
36:28were dictated
36:30by a cheap
36:30toy,
36:32a rig game
36:33where I
36:34lived in
36:34hell and
36:36my sister
36:36lived in
36:37heaven.
36:38So I
36:40wasn't a
36:41liar,
36:42I wasn't a
36:43bad kid.
36:44Then what
36:46the hell
36:46was all my
36:47suffering for?
36:48I laughed
36:49and as I
36:50laughed I
36:51started to
36:52cry.
36:53It turns
36:53out ghosts
36:54have tears
36:55too.
36:57The final
36:58page of
36:59the diary
36:59was turned.
37:01The female
37:02officer's voice
37:03choked up.
37:04The handwriting
37:05is a mess.
37:06She must
37:07have written
37:07this right
37:08before she
37:08died.
37:10Mom,
37:10if I die,
37:11will the
37:12band finally
37:12turn off?
37:13Will you
37:14hug me
37:14then?
37:15I'm really
37:16not lying.
37:17My stomach
37:17hurts so
37:18bad,
37:19like there
37:19are knives
37:19twisting
37:20inside.
37:21Mom,
37:22please don't
37:22make me
37:23wear the
37:23band in
37:24my next
37:24life.
37:25I'm
37:25begging
37:25you.
37:26I just
37:26want to
37:27be a
37:27normal
37:27kid.
37:28I want
37:28to eat
37:29your
37:29braised
37:29pork.
37:31Mom
37:31stared at
37:32the broken
37:33plastic
37:33pieces.
37:35Her
37:37unquestionable
37:37honest
37:38green
37:39light.
37:40Nothing
37:41more than
37:42a cheap
37:42plastic
37:43toy.
37:44Because of
37:45this toy,
37:46she spoiled
37:47Mia for
37:48ten years.
37:50And because
37:51of that
37:52damn red
37:53light,
37:53she tortured
37:54me for
37:54ten years.
37:56Mom suddenly
37:57burst into
37:58laughter.
37:59A shrill,
38:00horrifying
38:01laugh that
38:03looked worse
38:03than sobbing.
38:04She snapped.
38:06This time,
38:07she truly
38:08went insane.
38:09my death
38:10became the
38:11biggest news
38:12story in
38:13the city.
38:14Martha,
38:15our neighbor,
38:16was kind
38:17hearted,
38:18but she also
38:19had a huge
38:20mouth.
38:20She posted
38:21everything she
38:22saw that
38:23day online.
38:25The headline
38:26was
38:26shocking.
38:28The girl
38:28shocked to
38:29death by a
38:30pseudoscience
38:31band.
38:31The article
38:32detailed the
38:34gruesome state
38:34of my corpse
38:35and the band
38:37melted right
38:38into my flesh.
38:39It went
38:40completely viral.
38:42The internet
38:42exploded
38:43in absolute
38:45fury.
38:46Mom got
38:47completely
38:48doxxed.
38:49Electric demon
38:50murderer
38:51doesn't deserve
38:53to be a
38:54mother.
38:55Countless
38:56death threats
38:56and insults
38:58flooded in
38:59like an
39:00avalanche.
39:01Our front
39:02door was
39:03splashed with
39:04red paint
39:05with the
39:06word die
39:07scrawled
39:08all over it.
39:09Dad was
39:10also taken
39:10in by the
39:11police,
39:12investigated
39:12for criminal
39:13negligence
39:14and child
39:15endangerment.
39:16Although his
39:17alibi saved
39:18him from
39:18serious jail
39:19time,
39:20he lost
39:20his job
39:21and his
39:22reputation
39:22was completely
39:23ruined.
39:24His company
39:25fired him
39:25immediately
39:26to avoid
39:27the PR
39:27nightmare.
39:28Our family
39:29went bankrupt.
39:30They had
39:31to sell
39:32the house
39:32and the
39:33cars
39:33just to
39:35cover the
39:36legal fees
39:37and settlements.
39:39Unable to
39:39stand the
39:40crazy woman
39:40Mom had
39:41become,
39:42Dad took
39:42the last
39:43bit of
39:43money
39:43and left
39:44with Mia.
39:45Even if
39:46Mia was
39:46a bad
39:47seed,
39:47she was
39:48his only
39:49living
39:50bloodline
39:51left.
39:51Before
39:52leaving,
39:52Mia tried
39:54to grab
39:54her green
39:55band.
39:56Dad stomped
39:57it into
39:57pieces.
40:00Mia was
40:02dragged away
40:03crying.
40:05Mom was
40:05released on
40:06bail because
40:08psychiatric
40:09evaluations
40:10showed she
40:10was suffering
40:11from severe
40:12schizophrenia
40:12and PTSD.
40:14She was
40:15left alone
40:16in a cheap
40:17stinking
40:18rental apartment
40:19filled with
40:20the memory
40:20of my
40:21rotting corpse.
40:22Her mental
40:23state deteriorated
40:24rapidly.
40:25She constantly
40:28hallucinated
40:28that I was
40:30still in the
40:30house.
40:31She absolutely
40:33refused to
40:34take off my
40:34red band.
40:35In fact,
40:36she became
40:36addicted to
40:37it because
40:38she realized
40:39that only by
40:40wearing it,
40:41feeling the
40:42weak sting
40:43of the
40:43electric leaks,
40:45I floated
40:45in the room
40:46watching her
40:47daily descent
40:48into madness.
40:49She would
40:51cook a
40:52full
40:52table of
40:54food and
40:55yell into
40:56thin air.
40:56Lily,
40:57time to
40:57eat.
40:58I didn't
40:59put celery
40:59in it today.
41:00It's all
41:01braised pork,
41:02your favorite.
41:03Then she
41:03would pick
41:04up a piece
41:05of meat,
41:05her hands
41:06shaking violently.
41:07Triggered
41:08by her anxiety,
41:09the band
41:10would flash
41:11red.
41:11Mommy
41:12doesn't
41:12deserve to
41:12eat.
41:13Liars
41:13must be
41:14punished.
41:14She
41:15would put
41:16down her
41:17chopsticks
41:18and pick
41:19up the
41:19remote and
41:20press it
41:21against her
41:22own neck.
41:24Even though
41:24the battery
41:25was almost
41:26dead,
41:27she always
41:28managed to
41:28find fresh
41:29ones to
41:30put in.
41:30The intense
41:32voltage would
41:33make her
41:33convulse and
41:35foam at the
41:36mouth.
41:37Lily,
41:37this much
41:38pain,
41:40I'm sorry.
41:42Mommy
41:43feels it
41:43now.
41:46She started
41:46replicating the
41:47punishments from
41:48my diary on
41:50herself.
41:50I was shocked
41:51for not eating
41:52celery, so she
41:54forced herself to
41:55eat rancid,
41:57spoiled food.
41:58Even when she
41:59vomited blood, she
42:00swallowed it back
42:01down.
42:02I was locked in
42:03the dark, so she
42:05would lock herself
42:06in the bedroom
42:07without the lights
42:08on.
42:09Repeatedly bang
42:10her head on the
42:11floor in front of
42:12my memorial photo.
42:14Thud, thud,
42:16until her forehead
42:17was a bloody mess,
42:18leaving bloody
42:20prints all over the
42:21floorboards.
42:22Deep in the
42:23night, she would
42:24see the red light
42:25reflecting on the
42:26wall, like my
42:27bleeding eyes staring
42:28right back at her.
42:30On the back of the
42:31diary, she would
42:33frantically scribble
42:34in red ink.
42:35I'm sorry, mom
42:37was wrong.
42:38Red is pain,
42:40red is love.
42:41Please come back.
42:42Just say it hurts
42:43one more time.
42:44Mommy will
42:45definitely save you.
42:46What a shame.
42:47I was already
42:49dead.
42:49And dead girls
42:51can't feel pain.
42:52Mom was eventually
42:53locked up in a
42:54psychiatric ward.
42:56Her severe self-harm
42:58reached the point
42:58where she nearly
42:59electrocuted herself
43:01to death at home.
43:02Adult Protective
43:03Services forced an
43:05intervention and had
43:06her committed.
43:07She was the most
43:09bizarre patient in
43:11the entire facility.
43:13Somehow, she had
43:15found a red plastic
43:17ring and jammed it
43:18tight around her
43:19neck.
43:20It was her
43:21homemade truth band.
43:24If anyone tried to
43:25take it off, she
43:26would bite them
43:27frantically like a
43:29rabid dog.
43:30Don't touch my
43:31light!
43:31Lily is watching!
43:33If you take it off,
43:34she'll get mad.
43:35She had developed a
43:37horrifying conditioned
43:39reflex.
43:40Whenever a nurse
43:41asked her,
43:43Evelyn, have you
43:44eaten?
43:44She would touch her
43:46neck first, then
43:47convulse and scream.
43:49Red light!
43:50Red light!
43:51Don't shock me!
43:53I'll eat!
43:53I'll eat!
43:54Even if it was
43:55boiling hot porridge,
43:57she would swallow it
43:58in one gulp.
43:59Even as it blistered
44:01and burned her
44:02esophagus, she
44:04didn't dare spit it
44:05out.
44:06She was mimicking
44:08me right before
44:10I died.
44:11She was using this
44:13to experience my
44:14personal hell over
44:16and over again.
44:18Years later,
44:19Mia grew up and
44:22she went completely
44:24off the rails.
44:25With no discipline
44:27and carrying that
44:28infamous reputation,
44:30she ended up
44:32scraping by at the
44:34very bottom of
44:35society.
44:36When she ran out
44:37of money, she
44:38remembered her
44:40mother sitting in
44:41the psych ward.
44:42She came to the
44:43hospital for a
44:45visit, not out of
44:46love, but for cash.
44:49Listen, you old
44:50lunatic.
44:50Dad's dead.
44:51Give me the secret
44:52stash of money you
44:53hid.
44:53Mia was caked in
44:55heavy makeup, her
44:56face dripping with
44:57hostility.
44:58Looking at the
44:59absolute ghost her
45:01mother had become,
45:03she spat on the
45:04floor in disgust.
45:06You're disgusting.
45:08Just like you're
45:09dead brat of a
45:10daughter.
45:11If you don't give
45:12me the money, I'll
45:13pull your plug and
45:14send you to keep
45:14her company.
45:16Mom, who had
45:17been completely
45:18catatonic, suddenly
45:19snapped her head up
45:20at those words.
45:22Her cloudy eyes
45:23suddenly cleared for
45:24a fraction of a
45:25second the moment
45:26she locked onto
45:27Mia.
45:27She remembered
45:29that plastic toy
45:30band that always
45:32shone green, the
45:33green light that
45:34had deceived her
45:35for ten years.
45:37It was you.
45:40You lied to me.
45:41You were the fake
45:43green light.
45:44You killed Lily.
45:45Give my Lily back
45:46to me.
45:47Her final, lingering
45:50shred of maternal
45:51love twisted into the
45:53fangs of pure
45:54vengeance.
45:55Mom suddenly
45:57lunged, throwing
45:59herself at Mia
46:00and locked her
46:02hands in a death
46:04grip around her
46:05throat.
46:06Die!
46:07Go to hell!
46:08It should have
46:09been you!
46:10Help!
46:11Mia thrashed in
46:12terror, but she
46:14couldn't break the
46:14brute strength of a
46:16mad woman.
46:17It took doctors
46:18rushing in and
46:19injecting a heavy
46:20sedative to finally
46:22pry mom off her.
46:23Mia, scared
46:25completely out of
46:27her mind, scrambled
46:29away and bolted.
46:30Maniacs, you're
46:31all crazy!
46:32Blinded by panic,
46:34she sprinted wildly
46:36out the hospital's
46:37front doors.
46:38A speeding delivery
46:40truck couldn't
46:41break in time.
46:42Bang!
46:43Mia was sent
46:44flying through
46:46the air.
46:47She survived,
46:48but both her legs
46:51were completely
46:52shattered.
46:53condemned to spend
46:55the rest of her
46:56miserable life in a
46:57wheelchair, reduced
46:59to an absolute
47:01cripple.
47:03As for mom,
47:05she was strapped to
47:07a restraint bed,
47:08tears silently rolling
47:10down her face as she
47:11stared at the ceiling.
47:13In her dreams, she finally
47:16saw me.
47:17The dreamy was still
47:19ten years old,
47:20wearing a white dress
47:21with no truth band
47:23on my wrist.
47:24Running toward her with a
47:26bright smile,
47:27overjoyed, she opened her
47:29arms to catch me,
47:31only to realize her hands
47:33were sparking with
47:34electricity.
47:34The second she touched me,
47:37my body burst into flames
47:40like dry paper,
47:41crumbling into ash.
47:44She jolted awake from the
47:45nightmare, sobbing,
47:47her heart rate spiking
47:48dangerously high.
47:50If she still wore the band,
47:52it would undoubtedly be a
47:54blinding, piercing
47:55crimson right now.
47:56It was an eternal,
48:00inescapable pain.
48:01I stood in the void,
48:03watching it all unfold.
48:06Watching mom tortured
48:08in the psych ward.
48:09Watching Mia begging
48:11with shattered legs.
48:12Watching dad drink himself
48:15into an early,
48:16pathetic grave.
48:18Yet, in my heart,
48:21I felt absolutely no thrill
48:24of revenge.
48:25Just, complete peace.
48:28Standing next to me,
48:30was an old dog.
48:32It was, Snowball,
48:34the puppy I had when I was
48:35little, before mom threw
48:37him away.
48:38He had been waiting for me
48:40in the spirit world.
48:42Snowball nudged my leg,
48:44and gave two soft barks.
48:46As if saying,
48:48let's go, don't look
48:49anymore.
48:51Yeah, it was time to go.
48:53This life had been too bitter.
48:56There was nothing left
48:57to hold on to.
48:59I floated to the window
49:00of mom's hospital room.
49:03It was for one final goodbye.
49:06Mom lay on the bed,
49:07looking like a skeletal ghost,
49:10her hair completely white.
49:12Sensing something,
49:14her cloudy eyes shifted
49:17to an empty spot in the air.
49:18The exact spot
49:20where I was standing.
49:22Lily?
49:23Is that you?
49:25She reached out
49:26with a trembling hand,
49:28grasping blindly
49:30at the void.
49:31Mommy smashed the band.
49:33Mommy doesn't believe
49:34in that anymore.
49:36Please come back, okay?
49:38Mommy will cook for you.
49:40No celery.
49:41Mommy will buy you
49:43a new dress.
49:43I won't buy me a one.
49:46Tears slipped
49:47from the corners
49:48of her eyes
49:49soaking into the pillow.
49:51I glanced at the
49:52bloody ring of scars
49:53around her neck
49:55and let out
49:56a soft sigh.
49:59I reached out,
50:00pressing an ice-cold finger
50:02against her forehead.
50:04It was the last ounce
50:06of mercy
50:08I had for her.
50:10Let her sleep.
50:11When you're asleep,
50:13it doesn't hurt anymore.
50:15She quieted instantly,
50:18her heavy eyelids
50:19drooping shut
50:20as she fell
50:22into a deep sleep.
50:23A gust of wind
50:25blew through the room,
50:27flipping open
50:28the battered diary
50:29on the bedside table.
50:31The one possession
50:32the police had
50:33returned to her.
50:34On the very last page,
50:37right below
50:38my dying words,
50:39were a few
50:41new lines
50:42of jagged
50:43handwriting
50:44written by mom
50:46during a rare
50:47moment of clarity.
50:48Next life,
50:50let mommy wear the band.
50:51Let mommy be the liar.
50:53You can punish me.
50:55As long as you
50:56don't abandon mommy,
50:58mommy will do anything.
50:59I looked at those words
51:01feeling absolutely nothing.
51:04It was
51:05too late.
51:06In the face of death,
51:08all the repentance
51:09in the world
51:10is pale and useless.
51:12Mom,
51:13I don't hate you anymore,
51:15but I don't love you either.
51:17Ma,
51:18let them wear
51:18meester's Everest.
51:20I turned around,
51:22walking alongside
51:23Snowball.
51:24A door of pure light
51:26appeared in the distance.
51:29The gateway
51:29to the next
51:31reincarnation.
51:33I raised my wrist.
51:35The phantom
51:36truth band
51:37that had bound
51:38my soul.
51:39The nightmare
51:40that had imprisoned
51:41my entire life.
51:42I clenched
51:43my fists tight.
51:45It shattered,
51:47dissolving
51:48into
51:49stardust
51:50and vanishing
51:51into the air.
51:52I felt
51:53an unprecedented
51:54sense of relief.
51:56No red lights.
51:58No shocks.
51:59No lies.
52:01Just freedom.
52:02I walked into
52:04the light
52:05without ever
52:06looking back.
52:10The morning sun
52:12spilled
52:12into the hospital
52:13room.
52:14A nurse
52:15pushed the door
52:16open for
52:17morning rounds.
52:19Evelyn,
52:19time for your meds.
52:21No response.
52:22The figure
52:23on the bed
52:24was completely
52:25still.
52:26The nurse
52:27stepped closer
52:28to check.
52:29Mom's hands
52:30were tightly
52:31clutching
52:32that broken diary.
52:33A single
52:34crystalline tear
52:37hung at the
52:38corner of her eye.
52:40And on the
52:42heart monitor
52:43next to the bed,
52:45that jagged
52:46green wave
52:48representing life
52:49had flattened
52:52into one
52:54long
52:55straight line.
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