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00:01not because I actually lied but because of this thing on my wrist the Verity
00:06band mom was obsessed with science-based parenting so when my twin sister Emma and
00:13I were born she strapped these bands on us green light means truth red light
00:18means you're manipulating reality Emma's band always green she could literally
00:24cut up mom's designer dress and blame the cat and that little device would
00:28glow like a Christmas tree she'd say green light believe me I'd say mom I'm
00:37hungry and flash red light instant punishment and mom's punishment wasn't
00:43gentle no food locked in my room digital blackout no phone no Wi-Fi nothing she'd
00:52say the machine doesn't lie Stella starve now learn later I'm doing this for your
00:58own good after 10 years of this I started believing it too maybe I really was born
01:04wrong New Year's Eve everything changed my mom New Year's Eve everything changed mom
01:14was getting ready to take Emma to see the ball drop in Times Square and that's when
01:18the pain hit like a knife twisting in my gut I collapsed on the floor my skeletal frame curling
01:26into itself mom please it hurts the band flashed red she looked down at me disgust in her eyes nice
01:35try Stella faking sick to crash our night pathological she grabbed Emma's hand and headed for the door I wanted
01:43to scream
01:44but part of me thought maybe she's right the band is red so I must be lying I must not
01:52actually be in pain
01:53sorry mom I won't lie anymore but the pain got worse way worse New Year's the door handle turned for
02:07one second I thought she's coming back she's a doctor she'll know something's wrong
02:11hurry up the fireworks are starting Emma's waiting please something's really wrong I feel like I'm dying she glanced at
02:22my wrist red light flashing like crazy she crouched down grabbed my chin forced me Stella how long are you
02:30going to keep
02:30this up can't you just be honest stay here and think about what you've done honey should we at
02:37least leave her some food mom stood up food she has a stash of snacks she bought with stolen money
02:44she won't
02:44starve brushing off her hands like I was dirt lock the door when that band turns green we'll talk but
02:51but
02:52what soft parenting is why she's like this look at Emma her band is always green Stella's just a
03:00compulsive liar she needs discipline but my closet was empty Emma stole that money Emma ate those snacks
03:09I tried to defend myself once I didn't take it either red light three days locked up with nothing but
03:17bread and
03:18water the Emma peeked through the door made a face at me that's us we're gonna see the pretty fireworks
03:26the
03:27door locked the house went silent just me alone the pain was unbearable but I kept thinking mom's right
03:38the machine doesn't lie the band is red so I must be lying I'm not in pain I'm not in
03:47pain
03:51I crawled to my desk I had to write that was the rule if the band glowed red I had
03:58to pen a thousand
03:59word apology essay or mom would never let me out I am a liar I opened my journal pages and
04:07pages of
04:08apologies I'd written over the years but this time I wanted to write the truth my vision blurred I could
04:16barely see my hands shook as I wrote mom I really love you it really hurts why won't you believe
04:26me please
04:27believe me just once the moment I finished the last word the pain vanished just gone I felt light weightless
04:38I
04:39looked down I was floating and there slumped over the desk was my body motionless the Verity band still
04:49flashing red on a dead girl's wrist oh I'm dead Emma I heard laughter mom dad Emma coming through the
05:00front door
05:01tonight's fireworks were amazing especially that smiley face one just like our Emma mom's voice was so
05:09warm I'd never heard her sound like that when she talked about me I wanted to help them take off
05:15their
05:15coats that's what I always did mom I reached out to hug her my arms passed right through her body
05:24like wind
05:25she shivered why is it so cold in here is the heat off I stood there staring at my transparent
05:32hands
05:33right dead people can't hug the living should we check on Stella dad said casually she hasn't eaten
05:41if she finds me dead will she be sad will she regret it
05:56still putting on an act think I'll carry you to bed Stella you're 10 years old not five I screamed
06:04at her only two feet away mom I'm not playing I'm dead look at me touch me I'm freezing
06:14Emma squeezed past her held up her wrist with that smug little grin look my band's green Stella's is
06:22still red she's lying even in her dreams mom patted Emma's head that's my good girl ignore the liar
06:30let her stay there maybe she'll learn how to be honest dad peeked in should we at least put her
06:37in
06:37bed it's freezing put her in bed the parenting expert says cold treatment is the answer look at
06:43that red light she's still in full defiance mode come on we have to visit grandma tomorrow the door
06:50locked again I floated next to my corpse staring at that single point of red light in the darkness
06:57mom if you just stepped closer if you just touched my hand you'd know I was ice cold but you
07:04didn't
07:05still that night a rat crawled out of my empty closet I used to scream whenever I saw rats but
07:13now I just floated by the ceiling watching it scurry across my dead body it bit into my toe it's
07:20okay you
07:20can't feel it anymore it'll be over soon the next morning sunlight streamed through the window no warmth
07:28reached my body in the kitchen I could hear mom making breakfast the smell of bacon and eggs crept
07:35under my door my favorite but mom always said liars don't deserve meat so I only ever got steamed
07:43broccoli she was claying the pans extra loud on purpose trying to tempt me out trying to make me give
07:50in and apologize for things I never did in the old days I might have caved but I don't need
07:58food
07:58anymore Stella still hasn't come out that night Stella still hasn't come out dad asked reading his paper
08:08she is so stubborn she can eat or not I don't care Emma walked to my door and made a
08:15big show of sniffing
08:16the air then she screamed dramatically mom Stella's room smells gross did she poop in it mom stormed over
08:25pounding on the door Stella are you an animal the bathroom is right there did you seriously go on
08:32the floor just to spite me I remembered being six I had food poisoning couldn't make it to the bathroom
08:39in
08:39time soiled my pants mom didn't help me clean up she made me stand in the yard pointed at me
08:46and told the neighbors look at this she's such a mess she can't even use the toilet by herself now
08:52she thought I was dirty again leave her mom said waving her hand like she was swatting a fly let
08:59her
08:59sit in her own stink but dad stood up frowning that smells really bad I should check could be a
09:07dead mouse
09:08or something dad please open the door I'm right here I waved my transparent arms frantically dad's
09:16hand touched the doorknob still his phone was ringing dad's face went pale what the server crashed okay okay
09:26I'm on my way honey there's an emergency at work I'll be gone for a few days wait what about
09:32Stella he was
09:33already out the door if that call had come one second later I would have been found maybe then I
09:41wouldn't have rotted alone that afternoon mom took Emma shopping the house was empty except for my corpse
09:47when they came back that night loaded down with fancy lobster and gifts the smell had gotten worse
09:54mom gagged the second she walked in Stella are you trying to turn this place into a dump she didn't
10:00even
10:01open my door she grabbed duct tape and sealed the gap at the bottom you want to be disgusting fine
10:07spew in it don't stink up my house she patted her hands together satisfied then went to steam the
10:14lobster I stared at that sealed door my last shred of hope suffocated under that tape his phone was
10:22ringing by day three even the duct tape couldn't contain the smell mom was arranging fresh flowers trying
10:30to cover it up but the stench of death is unmistakable sweet rotten oily she cut a rose stem too
10:39hard a
10:40thorn pierced her hand she snapped Stella she grabbed a rolling pin from the kitchen storm toward my room I'm
10:49done with you you disgusting little brat time you learned what real pain feels like don't come in mom
10:57please I'm decomposed you'll be scared even though she never loved me I didn't want her to see me like
11:05that but she ripped the tape off jammed the spare key in the lock bang the door flew open the
11:15smell hit her
11:16like a wall she stumbled back dry heaving Stella what are you doing by day three she saw me still
11:26slumped over the
11:26desk back turned not moving to her this was the ultimate rebellion I'm talking to you she marched over
11:36raised the rolling pin but stopped she wanted to see my face first wanted to see my defiant expression get
11:47up the moment she touched me she froze through the thin fabric her hand didn't feel warm flesh
11:55what but momentum carried her forward she yanked my body stiff as a board toppled backward taking the chair with
12:05it
12:05and there was my face on my blackened wrist the Verity band hung lifeless my journal slid off the desk
12:14fell open at mom's feet the last page stared up at her mom my stomach really hurts the band is
12:23broken
12:23I'm not lying please don't punish me she saw me mom screamed not a human sound a raw
12:33guttural shriek that tore through her throat she stumbled backward slammed into the bookshelf
12:39a vase shattered but she didn't seem to feel the pain she just stared at me eyes wide unblinking
12:48No, no, no, no. This is makeup. Special effects.
12:51Stella, get up. I'm not mad anymore. Stop scaring me.
12:56Her hand reached out, trembling to touch my arm.
12:59The second her skin made contact with my corpse, she recoiled like she'd been burned.
13:04That cold was too real.
13:07Mrs. Lisa from next door called 911.
13:09911, I heard a scream.
13:10She'd heard the screaming.
13:11When she saw what was in my room, she collapsed in the hallway.
13:15Within minutes, sirens.
13:17Police. A medical examiner.
13:20They pulled up the crime scene tape.
13:22Cameras flashed over my body.
13:24Mom sat on the couch, a female officer's hand on her shoulder.
13:28She was babbling.
13:29She was faking.
13:31She always lies.
13:32The band was red.
13:34Machines don't lie.
13:36I was just teaching her.
13:37I was doing it for her own good.
13:39No one responded.
13:40They all looked at her like she was a monster.
13:43The medical examiner crouched next to my body.
13:46He muttered under his breath.
13:48Severe malnutrition.
13:50Organ failure.
13:52This kid was starved for at least a month.
13:54He carefully tried to remove the Verity band.
13:57But it had...
13:58Fused.
14:00Damn.
14:01He cursed.
14:02He had to use tools to pry it off.
14:04Even dead, my soul flinched.
14:14A cop picked up my journal, put on gloves, started reading.
14:19Mom's eyes locked onto that book.
14:22Suddenly, she lunged for it.
14:24That's her confession.
14:25She admits she lied.
14:27Look, she wrote it herself.
14:29The officer pushed her back, slid the journal into an evidence bag.
14:33We'll determine what's true.
14:34That's when Dad got home.
14:37He saw the black body bag being wheeled out on a stretcher.
14:40Saw the long zipper that sealed away my entire life.
14:44His legs gave out.
14:46He collapsed.
14:48Wet himself.
14:49Emma stood nearby, sobbing in confusion.
14:53She pointed at the blood-stained Verity band on the evidence table.
14:57Why is Stella's band black?
14:59Mine's still green, see?
15:01She held up her wrist.
15:03The green light blinked cheerfully.
15:05It was grotesque.
15:09The cops started questioning Mom in the living room.
15:12She grabbed the Verity band off the table like it was a life raft.
15:15Test it.
15:17That band proved she was lying.
15:19Red light means lie.
15:21I never abused her.
15:22The machine told me.
15:23I was just educating her.
15:26The officer looked at her like she'd lost her mind.
15:29Ma'am, the victim shows signs of extreme malnutrition.
15:33That's discipline.
15:35That's teaching her to be honest.
15:37Mom was shrieking now.
15:39Then, she did something insane.
15:42You don't believe me?
15:43Fine.
15:44I'll wear it.
15:45I'm not lying.
15:46Watch.
15:47It'll be green.
15:48She snatched the band, still stained with my blood and bits of skin, and jammed it onto
15:54her own wrist.
15:56Click.
15:57Locked.
15:58The rubber pressed against her skin.
16:01Sticky.
16:02Cold.
16:03She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.
16:07She needed to prove she was innocent.
16:10Needed to prove her parenting was right.
16:13She held up her wrist, eyes wild.
16:16Watch.
16:17I'm Rachel.
16:18I'm Stella's mother.
16:19That's a fact.
16:21Absolute truth.
16:23The red light exploded.
16:25Bright.
16:26Violent.
16:27Like a fresh wound tearing open.
16:30Mom's confident expression shattered.
16:33She slapped the band like it was a broken TV.
16:36What?
16:37No.
16:37I said the truth.
16:39I am Rachel.
16:41She started talking faster, panic rising in her voice.
16:45It's broken.
16:46The examiner broke it.
16:47Let me try again.
16:48I never abused her.
16:50I did it for her own good.
16:52I love her.
16:53The red light flashed faster.
16:55And suddenly, she remembered.
16:58Me.
16:59Ten years old.
17:00Getting the maximum punishment.
17:02Curled on the floor.
17:04Biting my lip so I wouldn't scream.
17:07Is this what it felt like?
17:09Mom lost it completely.
17:11She started screaming at the band.
17:13Spit flying.
17:15Why is it red?
17:16I'm telling the truth.
17:18Turn green, you piece of junk.
17:20You're framing me.
17:22But the red light kept flashing.
17:24Like it was mocking her.
17:26You're a liar.
17:28You're a liar.
17:29You're a liar.
17:32Dad couldn't take it anymore.
17:34This man who'd been invisible for ten years,
17:37who always stayed out of it,
17:40he snapped.
17:41He lunged at Mom and slapped her across the face.
17:44You monster.
17:46What did you do?
17:47That was your daughter.
17:49You treated her like an animal.
17:51Mom fell to the floor.
17:53Blood at the corner of her mouth.
17:55But she didn't fight back.
17:57Didn't cry.
17:58She just stared into space, muttering,
18:01Not my fault.
18:02Not my fault.
18:04Then her eyes landed on Emma,
18:07cowering in the corner.
18:08It's her.
18:09It's Emma.
18:10Emma's band was always green.
18:12Emma was the good one.
18:14If it wasn't for that green light making me trust her,
18:17I wouldn't have believed the red light so much.
18:19This is Emma's fault.
18:21All eyes turned to Emma.
18:23That little princess we'd all protected.
18:26The cop walked over.
18:27Gently removed the green Verity band from her wrist.
18:31Took out a screwdriver.
18:33Pried it open right there.
18:35Crack.
18:36The plastic shell split.
18:37Inside?
18:39No sensors.
18:40No chips.
18:41No heart rate monitor.
18:43Just two cheap LED lights and a watch battery.
18:46The circuit was hardwired.
18:48Power on.
18:50Green light.
18:51That's it.
18:51This is a two dollar toy.
18:54Your younger daughter's band was factory set to always be green.
18:58No matter what she said, did, or lied about, it would glow green.
19:03Your so-called science-based parenting was a joke.
19:08A sick, biased joke.
19:11Dad couldn't take it anymore.
19:13No!
19:13Mom suddenly screamed.
19:15She clawed at the band.
19:17Get it off.
19:17Get it off.
19:18It's red.
19:19I'm not a liar.
19:20I'm not.
19:21But the clasp was jammed from her violent struggle.
19:24Wouldn't budge.
19:25I can't get it off.
19:27Stella, take it back.
19:28I'm sorry.
19:29It's all my fault.
19:31This little bit of pain, and she was breaking.
19:34Mom, I suffered for ten years.
19:38The cops needed evidence for charges, so they opened my journal in front of my parents.
19:44February 14th.
19:45Sunny.
19:46Mom put celery on my plate.
19:48I'm allergic.
19:49My throat swells.
19:50I can't breathe.
19:51I said I can't eat it.
19:53But because I was scared of making her angry, my heart raced.
19:57Red light.
19:58Mom said I was picky.
20:00Lying.
20:01Made me eat the whole plate.
20:03That night, I threw up blood.
20:05My throat felt like it was on fire.
20:08Mom saw it and said I'd snuck tomato juice.
20:11That I was faking.
20:12She punished me for ten more minutes.
20:15Mom's hand flew to her mouth.
20:17She was shaking violently.
20:19She remembered that night.
20:21The officer turned the page.
20:23June 1st.
20:24Children's Day.
20:25Emma cut up Mom's dress.
20:27Emma's heart rate is always slow.
20:30Green light.
20:30I tried to explain, but I was scared of getting beaten, so my heart raced.
20:36Red light.
20:37Dad couldn't take it anymore.
20:39This man who'd been invisible for ten years, who always stayed out of it, he snapped.
20:55He lunged at Mom and slapped her across the face.
20:59You monster.
21:00What did you do?
21:02That was your daughter.
21:04You treated her like an animal.
21:06Mom fell to the floor.
21:08Blood at the corner of her mouth.
21:10But she didn't fight back.
21:12Didn't cry.
21:13She just stared into space, muttering,
21:16Not my fault.
21:17Not my fault.
21:19Then her eyes landed on Emma, cowering in the corner.
21:23It's her.
21:24It's Emma.
21:25Emma's band was always green.
21:27Emma was the good one.
21:29If it wasn't for that green light making me trust her, I wouldn't have believed the red light so much.
21:34This is Emma's fault.
21:36All eyes turned to Emma, that little princess we'd all protected.
21:41The cop walked over, gently removed the green Verity band from her wrist, took out a screwdriver, pried it open
21:48right there.
21:50Crack.
21:50The plastic shell split.
21:53Inside, no sensors, no chips, no heart rate monitor, just two cheap LED lights and a watch battery.
22:01The circuit was hardwired.
22:03Power on, green light.
22:06That's it.
22:07This is a $2 toy.
22:09Your younger daughter's band was factory set to always be green.
22:13No matter what she said, did, or lied about, it would glow green.
22:19Your so-called science-based parenting was a joke.
22:23A sick, biased joke.
22:26Dad couldn't.
22:27I laughed.
22:29Laughed until I cried.
22:31Turns out, ghosts can cry too.
22:34The officer turned to the last page of the journal.
22:37Her voice broke.
22:39The handwriting was a mess, clearly written while dying.
22:44Mom, if I die, will the band stop glowing red?
22:48Or if it turns green, will you hug me then?
22:53I'm not lying.
22:54My stomach hurts so much.
22:57Like knives.
22:59Next life, please don't make me wear the band.
23:02Please.
23:03Mom stared at the shattered pieces of plastic on the table.
23:07That green light she trusted without question?
23:10A cheap piece of junk.
23:13Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
23:14Mom started laughing, her voice cracking with every sound.
23:19But it was the laugh of someone breaking, worse than crying.
23:23Fake.
23:24All fake.
23:25I killed my honest daughter.
23:27And I worshipped a liar.
23:30She'd lost her mind.
23:31For real this time.
23:35my death became front page news mrs. Lisa the neighborhood gossip posted everything online
23:43title girls starved to death by fake science band she described my corpse in detail the band fused
23:53to rotting flesh the internet exploded monster murderer she doesn't deserve to be a mother
24:01comments poured in like an avalanche someone doxed mom our address got leaked people threw red paint on
24:11our door wrote death in huge letters dad got arrested too neglect failure to protect he wasn't there when
24:21I died so he got off light but his company fired him immediately to avoid the PR nightmare our family
24:29went bankrupt sold the house the car everything to pay legal fees dad couldn't stand living with that
24:37psycho anymore he took what little money was left and emma and disappeared emma was a bad seed sure
24:46but she was still his blood before they left emma tried to take her green band dad stomped on it
24:54why
24:54the hell would you want that piece of trash emma cried as he dragged her away my dad mom got
25:01out on
25:01bail the psych eval said she had severe ptsd and psychosis they left her alone in that rental
25:08apartment the one that still smelled like death her mental state deteriorated fast she started talking
25:16to me like i was still there and she refused to take off the red light band to punish herself
25:22she'd
25:23added a shock device to it one that delivered a jolt the second the light flashed red she said the
25:30small shocks were the only thing that eased her guilt she'd cook a whole table of food then talk to
25:36the empty air she'd pick up a piece of meat her hands shook the band flashed red she was anxious
25:44she smiled but her eyes were empty mom's heart is racing mom's lying liars don't deserve food picked up
25:55a remote one she'd rewired to trigger the shock on her wristband and shocked herself it hurts it hurts
26:04is this what stella felt i'm sorry mom got out mom started reenacting my diary entries
26:12i couldn't eat celery because of my allergy so she forced herself to eat spoiled food until she vomited
26:19blood then swallowed it back down i was locked in isolation so she locked herself in my old room
26:26lights off and bowed to my photo until her forehead bled over and over blood on the floor
26:36late at night she'd see the red glow of the band reflected on the wall to her it looked like
26:42my
26:42bloody eyes watching she scribbled in red pen on the back of my journal i'm sorry i was wrong red
26:51light
26:51means pain red light means love please come back and say it hurts one more time i'll save you i
26:59promise
27:00too bad i'm dead dead people can't cry for help
27:05eventually the state intervened mom's self-harm got so extreme she nearly killed herself that they
27:13committed her she ended up in a psychiatric facility she was the strangest patient there
27:20she'd found a red plastic ring somewhere and wore it around her neck like a collar her homemade band
27:28if anyone tried to remove it she'd bite them like a rabid dog don't touch my light stella's watching
27:35she'll be mad if you take it she developed a pavlovian response rachel time to eat mom would touch her
27:44neck
27:44then start convulsing screaming red light red light don't punish me i'll eat i'll eat even if the food
27:52was scalding hot she'd gulp it down burning her esophagus wouldn't spit it out she was reenacting my
28:00final moments living my hell on repeat mom started reenacting my diet years later emma grew up without
28:09proper guidance and with a trail of infamy behind her she ended up at the bottom of society when she
28:15ran out of money she remembered mom's still in that facility she showed up one day not for love for
28:23cash
28:31a crazy lady dad's dead give me your hidden stash disgusting just like your dead daughter if you
28:40don't give me money i'll pull your tubes and send you to join her for a moment mom's cloudy eyes
28:46cleared
28:48she looked at emma and suddenly remembered that band
28:52that always green toy, that decade of deception. It was you. Mom's voice was gravel. You lied.
29:03You're the fake green light. You killed Stella. Give her back. Give her back. The last shred of
29:12maternal love twisted into vengeance. Mom lunged, grabbed Emma by the throat. Die.
29:18You should have died. Not her. You. Help! Emma thrashed, but couldn't break free from a madwoman's grip.
29:28Orderlies rushed in. Sedated mom. Pulled her off. Emma stumbled out of the room, terrified.
29:35They're all insane! She bolted for the exit. A truck plowed into her. She survived. Barely.
29:45Both legs shattered beyond repair. Wheelchair for life. A total wreck. Meanwhile, mom was strapped to a
29:54bed, staring at the ceiling. Tears streaming. In her dreams, she finally saw me. I was 10 again. No
30:03band. White dress. Smiling. Mom! She reached for me, crying with joy. Stella! But her hands sparked with
30:14electricity. The second she touched me, I burst into flames. Turned to ash. No! She woke up screaming.
30:23Heart rate through the roof. If she'd been wearing that band, it would have been blood red. Eternal torment.
30:31Years later, I stood in the void, watching it all. Mom in the facility. Emma in a wheelchair,
30:39begging on the streets. Dad, drunk and dead in some gutter. I felt... nothing. No satisfaction.
30:50Just a flat, dead calm.
30:53Next to me was an old dog. Buddy, my childhood pet. Mom threw him out years ago. He'd been waiting
31:00for me
31:01at the boundary. Buddy nuzzled my leg. Barked twice. As if to say, let's go. Don't look back.
31:10Yeah. Time to leave. This life was too bitter. Nothing worth holding onto.
31:18I floated to mom's hospital room one final time. She looked ancient.
31:23Hair completely white. Frail as paper. She sensed something. Her cloudy eyes focused on a point in
31:33the air. Right where I stood. Stella? Is that you? Her trembling hand reached into the emptiness.
31:41Mom destroyed the band. I don't believe in it anymore. Come back, please. I'll cook for you. No celery.
31:48I'll buy you new dresses. Not Emma. Tears rolled down her face. I looked at the red marks on her
31:55neck
31:55from the homemade band. I sighed. Reached out. My cold, ghostly finger touched her forehead. Sleep,
32:05Mom. In sleep, there's no pain. A breeze blew through the room. The old journal on her nightstand flipped
32:13open. The last page, my dying words, stared up at the ceiling. But below it, in shaky handwriting,
32:22were new lines. Written by mom during a lucid moment. Next life, let me wear the band. Let me be
32:30the
32:30liar. Punish me however you want. Just don't leave me. I stared at those words. Felt nothing. Too late.
32:41Repentance means nothing to the dead. Mom, I don't hate you anymore. But I don't love you either.
32:50Let's not meet again. I turned away. Buddy wagged his tail. In the distance, a door of light appeared.
32:59The gateway to the next cycle. I looked at my wrist. The Phantom Verity Band. Still there,
33:07even in spirit form. I grabbed it. It shattered into stardust. I felt weightless. Free. No red light.
33:18No hunger. No lies. Just freedom. I flew. Morning came. A nurse pushed open the door. Rachel, time for
33:29your meds. No response. She walked closer. Rachel's hand clutched the torn journal. A single tear
33:35crystallized at the corner of her eye. On the heart monitor, the wavy line had gone flat.
33:42Passing through the light wasn't violent. No spinning. No chaos. Just warmth. Like sinking into a
33:49spring stream. Even the lingering ache in my soul, the phantom pains, started to fade. Buddy pressed into
33:56my palm. His fur wasn't translucent anymore. It was soft. Warm. Real. This was the living, breathing
34:04connection I'd craved as a kid. Come on, boy. I held his paw and walked toward the brightness. Behind me,
34:11the old life faded like a worn photograph. Mom's final tear. The red glow of the band. Blood on the
34:18diary
34:18pages. All of it blurred. Dissolved. I didn't look back. That 10-year nightmare was finally, truly, over.
34:27When I opened my eyes again, I was tiny. Wrapped in soft blankets. Someone was humming. A woman's voice.
34:37Gentle, off-key, but full of love. Her fingers brushed my cheek. The scent of gardenias. Not the sterile
34:45hospital smell of my old mom. Not the cold, clinical distance. I blinked up at her. She had kind eyes.
34:54A soft smile. She cradled me like I was made of glass. Grace is awake. She murmured. Honey, come quick.
35:03Our daughter just blinked. A man appeared. Tall, a little awkward, but his face lit up when he saw me.
35:10He touched my tiny hand with one finger. His voice was deep, warm. Hey, Grace. I'm your dad.
35:19Grace. Not Stella. No weight. No chains. No lies. Just Grace Sterling. A name that meant something light.
35:28Something cherished. When I opened my eyes again, this house was small, but clean. Cozy.
35:37Cartoon stickers on the walls. Plants on the balcony. Sunlight pouring through the windows, warm on the floor.
35:44I realized fast. This family was nothing like the last one. They never forced me to do anything.
35:52There were no Verity bands. I grew. Learned to crawl. To talk.
35:58Mama. And when I was three, Mom made sautéed celery. The green stalks on the plate triggered me.
36:05I flashed back to choking, throat swelling, vomiting blood. I stumbled backward, shaking. Tears came without
36:14permission. Mom immediately put down the spatula, crouched, pulled me into a hug.
36:21Grace, what's wrong? You don't like celery? I couldn't speak. Just shook my head, sobbing.
36:29Dad knelt too. Rubbed my back. Hey, it's okay. You don't have to eat it. Can you tell us why?
36:37Their eyes were patient, gentle. Finally, I choked out. It hurts my throat. Makes me bleed.
36:47They didn't say, the machine doesn't lie. They didn't accuse me of faking. They took me to the
36:53doctor immediately. Turns out, I really do have a celery allergy. Mild, but it can flare up with stress.
37:02After that, celery never appeared in the house again. Mom even added it to her phone notes.
37:08Grace's allergies, celery, mango. She checked every time she shopped. I lay in her arms that night,
37:16smelling gardenias, and realized, this is what it feels like to be believed. Love isn't measured by a
37:23machine. It's listening, even when the story sounds impossible. This house was small. When I was four,
37:29preschool had a health screening. Blood draw. I saw the needle and lost it. Flashes of the band
37:37burning my wrist. Flashes of starvation. I screamed, clung to dad's leg. The teacher sighed.
37:45Grace, it's just a little poke. All the other kids were brave. I couldn't stop shaking.
37:51Don't punish me. I'm not lying. Dad immediately scooped me up, shielding me from the nurse.
37:58Sorry, he said firmly. She's got trauma. We'll skip this for now and take her to a pediatric
38:05psychologist. On the drive home, dad didn't scold me for being weak. He just asked gently.
38:13Grace, did someone hurt you before? I buried my face in his shoulder, tears soaking his shirt.
38:21Mom, band, red light. I couldn't explain it clearly, but he listened, nodded. You've been through hell,
38:32haven't you? It's okay. Dad's here now. No one's ever hurting you again. From then on, they took me to
38:41a child therapist regularly. Severe PTSD, the doctor said. My parents never complained, never made me
38:50feel like a burden. They played honesty games with me, where I could say anything, true or false,
38:57and they'd just listen, guide me gently toward the truth. They bought me colorful bracelets, but never
39:04forced me to wear them. These are just accessories, Grace. Wear them if you want. Take them off if you
39:10don't. We'll love you either way. Slowly, I started to heal. I could say, I don't like this, without fear.
39:19I could say, I'm scared. I could say, I want that. I didn't have to worry about my heart racing
39:27being
39:27evidence of a lie. I started sharing my preschool stories with them. I cried when I didn't get a
39:34toy. I laughed when I got praise. I was finally just a kid. A normal, loved kid. When I was
39:43four,
39:44when I turned seven, I started elementary school. There was a girl in my class, Annie Sullivan.
39:50She looked exactly like Emma. Same eyes, but her hair was shorter, and she was timid, scared.
40:00The first time I saw her, my heart clenched. Flashbacks. Emma's smug grin, the green light
40:08mocking me. I stepped back instinctively. Annie noticed. She looked down, voiced barely a whisper.
40:16I'm Annie. Do you want to be friends? Her tone was so careful, so desperate to please,
40:24just like I used to be. I glanced at her wrist. She wore a cheap green cartoon bracelet. My stomach
40:32turned. Later, I found out Annie's mom was strict too, demanded honesty, locked her in her room without
40:40food when she made mistakes. One day, Annie accidentally broke the teacher's mug. She was
40:46trembling, too scared to admit it. I saw her face, red-rimmed eyes, barely holding back tears.
40:54I remembered myself at that desk, writing, I'm a liar, a thousand times. I walked over, took her hand.
41:03Annie, it's okay. Accidents happen. Let's tell the teacher together.
41:08She won't be mad. Annie looked at me, shocked. But mom says liars are bad kids.
41:15Being honest isn't about never making mistakes. It's about owning up when you do. And even if you
41:22tell the truth, you shouldn't be punished for it. If the teacher yells, I'll protect you. If your mom yells,
41:28come to my house. My parents will help. I gave her the courage I never had. She confessed. The teacher
41:36forgave her. Told her to be more careful next time. From that day on, we were best friends.
41:43When I told her, I brought Annie home to meet my parents. She saw how warm they were. How they
41:49didn't
41:50yell. Didn't punish over little things. I told her, you don't have to make everyone happy. You're
41:58allowed to feel things. Say things. One day, Annie's mom came to pick her up from school.
42:06She saw us together and her face twisted. She grabbed Annie's hand. Did you mess up again?
42:14Is Grace covering for you? Annie immediately looked down. I stepped in front of her.
42:21Ma'am, Annie didn't do anything wrong. She's a good kid. You shouldn't always assume the worst.
42:29She's scared of you. The mom froze, looked at me. Then at Annie's tear-filled eyes.
42:38Her expression softened. That night, she called my mom. Thanked her. You're welcome. Said I'd opened
42:47her eyes. Over time, Annie's mom got gentler. Started listening instead of yelling. And Annie?
42:57She blossomed. Confident. Happy. I watched her laugh freely one day and felt this warmth in my chest.
43:08I didn't get saved in my last life. I suffered alone in the dark. But this time, I could save
43:16someone else. I could stop another Stella from happening. Maybe that's the gift my past life
43:23gave me. The ability to see pain. And to heal it. When I was 10, my parents took me to
43:34visit grandma
43:34in the countryside. There was an old tree in her yard. Just like the one at my old grandma's house.
43:40I sat under it, watching sunlight filter through the leaves. Buddy dozed next to me.
43:47Then I saw her. An old woman. White hair. Hunched over a cane. Wearing a faded blue shirt.
43:56The second I saw her face, I froze. She looked exactly like Rachel. My old mom. Grandma noticed me too.
44:05Walked over slowly. Her eyes were hazy, but there was something familiar in them.
44:11What's your name, child? Grace Sterling. She repeated it softly. Grace. That's a beautiful name.
44:19She reached out like she wanted to touch my hair. Then hesitated. Pulled back. Like she was afraid of
44:26disturbing something sacred. My mom came over. Studied her. Mom, this is our daughter. Grace.
44:33Grace. So she was my grandma in this life. Over the next few days, grandma watched me constantly.
44:40Her expression unreadable. One day, she brought me a bowl of steak burger. Grace, eat up. This used to
44:48be your favorite. I stared at the bowl. In my last life, I wrote in my dying breath. I want
44:55to eat mom's
44:56steak burger. And here was grandma, saying those exact words. Tears blurred my vision. This wasn't some
45:04distant wish anymore. It was real. Right in front of me. I picked up a piece. Bit into it. Tender.
45:13Sweet.
45:14Perfect. Grandma smiled. A tired, guilty smile. That night, lying in bed with Buddy curled at my feet,
45:23I thought about Rachel's last words. Next life, let me be the one punished. Just don't leave me.
45:31I thought about her final tear. The torn journal. Honestly, I didn't hate her anymore. Hating someone
45:39is like locking yourself in the past. Chewing on pain forever. This life's happiness had already washed
45:47away the bitterness. I just felt... sad. Grandma stayed for a month, then went back home. Before she
45:55left, she held my hand. Grace, live well. Be happy. Her voice was soft, but heavy with meaning. I nodded.
46:06You too, grandma. I watched her walk away. And I felt... nothing. No anger. No grief. The grudges of my
46:16past
46:16life were like fallen leaves. Blown away by the wind. I wasn't Stella anymore. The girl trapped by a red
46:24light. I was Grace Sterling. Surrounded by love. Free. At 13, I graduated elementary school. Got into the
46:35best middle school in the city. My parents took me to the beach to celebrate. I stood at the edge
46:40of the
46:40ocean. Wind in my hair. Salt on my lips. I stretched out my arms, feeling the freedom. For a moment,
46:48I saw
46:49her. My ghost self. Floating. Desperate to hug someone, but passing right through. Grace, what are you
46:58thinking? Dad handed me a soda. I smiled. Just... I'm grateful. To be alive. To be with you guys. Mom
47:09hugged me.
47:10Silly girl. We're the lucky ones. Buddy chased the waves, barking joyfully. I looked at my parents. My dog.
47:18My future. I finally understood. The suffering of my past life taught me to treasure this one.
47:26The pain taught me what love really means. I didn't need to prove I wasn't a liar anymore.
47:32I didn't need to fear red lights. I could laugh. Cry. Speak freely. I had parents who loved me.
47:42A best friend. A healthy body. A bright future. This was the life I died wishing for. At 13,
47:50that night I wrote in my journal. Not the blood-stained confessions of my old life. This one was full
47:58of
47:58happiness. Growth. Love. I wrote, today I saw the ocean. It's huge. Blue. Free. I thought about my past self.
48:13That little girl locked in a room. Desperate to be loved. She'd never believe that I could be this happy.
48:21Mom and Dad love me. They taught me honesty and bravery. Annie is my best friend now.
48:29She's confident and bright. Grandma's healthy. She calls me often. Buddy's still a goofball,
48:36always nudging my hand. I don't hate anyone anymore. I don't cling to the past. Those painful
48:44memories are like footprints in the sand, washed away by waves. But they taught me to cherish
48:51every step forward. I know my old mom, sister, and dad got what they deserved. And I finally broke free.
49:01I found real freedom. I don't want to see them again. I don't want to relive that life.
49:07I just want to be Grace Sterling. Simple. Happy. Loved. That night, the ocean was beautiful.
49:19Life was beautiful. I closed my journal. Looked out the hotel window. Moonlight shimmered on the water
49:27like a thousand stars. Buddy's breathing was soft and steady beside me. I smiled.
49:35This life, I finally became who I wanted to be. No red lights. No starvation. No lies. Just love.
49:47Freedom. Happiness. And those scars from my past? They became badges of survival.
49:55People. Reminders that no matter how much darkness you face, if you don't give up on the light,
50:01you'll find your way to warmth. To freedom. The road ahead is long. But I'll walk it with courage.
50:10With joy. Towards something even brighter.
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