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Short filmTranscript
00:00I pushed my father off the cliff. His body was impaled on a dead tree. I didn't leave until I
00:07made sure he was dead.
00:08I will never forget the earthquake. Years ago, he abandoned my mother and me to save his love.
00:15After the earthquake, Mommy fell asleep. I curled up in her arms. She was getting so cold.
00:22We were hiding under a giant rock. I sucked on Mommy's finger. She fed me warm brown sugar water.
00:30Daddy's voice came through the broken phone.
00:33Get Stella and the lightly injured first. Leave Irene for later. She's tough as nails. Waiting a little longer won't
00:39kill her.
00:39It was really Daddy. Mommy said he would rescue us soon. But why did he make Mommy wait?
00:46I whispered to the phone.
00:48Daddy, Mommy went to sleep. She gave me lots of brown sugar water. It tastes like iron. But I'm not
00:59scared.
01:01Mommy said you'll come and save me before it all runs out.
01:05The phone went totally silent. I kept drinking the warm brown sugar water. Then Daddy started screaming through the speaker.
01:14He ordered everyone to find me. Daddy was coming to me.
01:22Found her! Over here! There's a kid still alive!
01:28Mommy, it's morning. Can we go home now?
01:33I pushed against her chest. It wasn't soft like it used to be.
01:37A whole section of it was crushed inward, covered in something warm and sticky.
01:42Hurry! Grab the kid first!
01:45Huge, rough hands reached in and tore me away from her.
01:49No! Mommy's still sleeping! I want to wait for her!
01:53My fingers locked in a death grip on the hem of her shirt.
01:56Re...
01:57The fabric gave way.
01:58A man in an orange rescue vest hauled me against his chest.
02:02My mouth was crusted with dried, flaky red patches.
02:06It was the brown sugar water Mommy had been feeding me.
02:10Lucy!
02:12Oh God, Lucy!
02:13A figure came stumbling through the debris.
02:16It was Daddy.
02:18He was still wearing his expensive suit.
02:21It was dusted with concrete powder, making him look a little disheveled.
02:25He grabbed me from the rescue worker and crushed me against his chest.
02:30Thank God. You're alive.
02:32I thought I'd lost you.
02:34He was sobbing, his whole body trembling.
02:37Then a scent hit me.
02:39A sickeningly sweet, overpowering perfume.
02:43It was the smell Mommy hated most in the world.
02:46She always said it was the smell of a bad woman.
02:50I squirmed against him.
02:53Daddy, Mommy's still down there.
02:56She's asleep.
02:57Daddy froze.
02:59He didn't even glance at the rubble.
03:01Instead, he forced my face into his shoulder to block my view.
03:05Shh, sweetheart.
03:08Mommy.
03:10Mommy's gone to a better place.
03:13No, she didn't!
03:15She's right down there!
03:17I cried frantically, pointing at the pitch black gap in the concrete.
03:21Mommy gave me so much brown sugar water.
03:24She promised you'd come for us before it was all gone.
03:28All the color drained from Daddy's face.
03:30He stared at the dark, crusted blood around my mouth, gulping hard.
03:35A heavy silence fell over the medics around us.
03:39One of the nurses clamped a hand over her mouth, tears spilling down her cheeks.
03:44But Daddy just looked away.
03:46He couldn't meet my eyes.
03:47What was he so scared of?
03:49Was it because of the broken foam?
03:52The one that played his voice earlier, growling like a monster?
03:55The voice that said Mommy was tough as nails and that leaving her behind wouldn't kill her.
04:01Daddy, why did you tell them to leave Mommy behind?
04:06I leaned close to his ear and whispered,
04:09Daddy recoiled, shoving me back like I had just burned him.
04:14There was no relief in his eyes anymore.
04:16Only pure, naked terror.
04:18The ambulance siren wailed as we sped down the road.
04:22I sat in the back, still clutching the torn scrap of Mommy's shirt.
04:26Daddy sat across from me, wringing his hands nervously.
04:30His hands were perfectly clean, his nails neatly manicured.
04:34They looked nothing like Mommy's hands, which were caked in mud and dried blood.
04:38Lucy, while you were down there, did you hear anything?
04:41Daddy asked tentatively, unable to meet my eyes.
04:44I licked my lips.
04:46That rusty taste was still in my mouth.
04:49I did.
04:49A visible shudder ran through Daddy.
04:52What did you hear?
04:53I heard you tell them to save Stella first.
04:56The air inside the ambulance instantly froze.
04:59The paramedic who had been wiping dust off my face stopped, her hand hovering in midair.
05:04She shot Daddy a piercing, icy glare.
05:08Daddy forced an awkward smile that looked more like a grimace.
05:11You misheard, sweetie. The signal was bad. Daddy was just panicking.
05:15Really?
05:16I tilted my head, studying him.
05:19But who is Stella? Why is she more important than Mommy?
05:23Daddy opened his mouth, but no words came out.
05:26He quickly turned to look out the window, pretending to wipe away a tear.
05:29When we arrived at the hospital, a massive crowd swarmed us.
05:34Camera flashes went off non-stop, so bright I couldn't open my eyes.
05:38Suddenly, Daddy acted like a completely different person.
05:42He scooped me into his arms and began sobbing hysterically for the cameras.
05:47Thank God! Thank God for bringing my daughter back to me!
05:51I'd trade anything in the world, as long as my Lucy is safe!
05:55The reporters wiped their eyes and praised Daddy for being such a good father.
05:59I rested my chin on his shoulder, watching the side of his face.
06:03He was wailing loudly, but his cheeks were completely dry.
06:07He looked just like a clown on TV.
06:10Once we got to the VIP ward, I finally saw his Stella.
06:14She was staying in a massive private hospital suite.
06:19She was wearing a frilly pink lace dress and happily eating a slice of strawberry cake.
06:25There wasn't a single scratch on her.
06:28Even her hair was perfectly brushed and shiny.
06:31A woman in a flowing white dress sat by her bedside.
06:34She was very pretty, and she radiated the exact same sickeningly sweet perfume I had smelled on Daddy.
06:42The woman stood up.
06:45Victor, you're here.
06:46Her eyes were rimmed with red, making her look incredibly fragile and pitiful.
06:51Daddy sat me down immediately and hurried over to her, taking her hands in his.
06:58Camille, how is Stella? She must have been terrified.
07:00I stood in the doorway, feeling like a piece of discarded trash.
07:05Stella noticed me.
07:06She wrinkled her nose and pointed right at me.
07:10Mommy, is she the feral girl who drinks blood?
07:14She's so gross.
07:15Drinking blood, feral girl.
07:18I stared at the smear of whipped cream on her lip.
07:20My empty stomach gave a low rumble.
07:23The woman, Camille, walked over and crouched down in front of me.
07:27You must be Lucy.
07:28Oh, you poor girl.
07:30Come let me give you a hug.
07:31She reached out to me.
07:33That's when I saw the gold bracelet gleaming on her wrist.
07:37It was the exact same bracelet Mommy had.
07:40Mommy told me Daddy had specially made it for her to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary.
07:45So why was she wearing it?
07:46A sudden, blinding rage flared up in my chest.
07:49Like an enraged little animal, I lunged at her and bit down on her wrist.
07:54The bad woman shrieked, swinging her arm to violently shake me off.
07:58The sheer force sent me flying backward, and my head slammed hard against the metal footboard
08:03of the hospital bed.
08:04A sharp, dizzying pain shot through me, but I didn't shed a single tear.
08:09I just sat on the floor, glaring at her with pure hatred.
08:13Lucy!
08:14Are you crazy?
08:14Daddy rushed over.
08:16He tenderly cradled the bad woman's injured arm.
08:19Camille, are you okay?
08:21Did she hurt you?
08:22He snapped his head back around, glaring at me with absolute fury.
08:27How could you behave like this?
08:29Apologize to her right now!
08:31I stayed slumped on the cold floor.
08:33A warm trickle of liquid began sliding down my forehead.
08:37It was red too, just like the brown sugar water Mommy had fed me.
08:42Daddy, I'm bleeding too.
08:43Are you gonna make me wait a little longer too?
08:46The room went dead silent.
08:48Daddy's face turned beet red with rage.
08:51The bad woman's eyes darted around.
08:54Ignoring the bite marks on her wrist, she put on a sickeningly sweet face and tried to help me up.
08:59Victor, don't be mad at her.
09:01She just lost her mom.
09:03She can't handle the shock.
09:04She stroked my head, but her nails dug hard into my skin.
09:09Be good, Lucy.
09:10I don't mind.
09:13Let me buy you some candy later, alright?
09:14I slapped her hand away.
09:16I don't want candy.
09:18I have the brown sugar water Mommy gave me.
09:21The bad woman's smile vanished.
09:23Daddy, kick this freak out!
09:26She stinks!
09:27Daddy took a deep breath and buzzed for a nurse.
09:29Take her next door and get her cleaned up.
09:31And have someone examine her head.
09:33She's clearly lost her mind.
09:34Examine my head?
09:36Daddy thought I was crazy.
09:37A young nurse led me away.
09:39As she cleaned my wound, she quietly wiped away her tears.
09:43Sweetie, it won't hurt.
09:47I promise to be gentle.
09:49I looked up at her.
09:50Miss, is my mommy really dead?
09:52Her hand trembled.
09:54She pulled me into a tight hug and finally broke down sobbing.
09:58Your mommy was a great mother.
10:01That evening, my grandparents arrived.
10:04The moment Grandma saw me, she broke down and passed out from the shock.
10:09Grandpa leaned heavily on his cane, his hands shaking violently.
10:13He demanded to take me home with him.
10:16Dad, Lucy's been through a massive shock.
10:18She's talking nonsense right now.
10:20It's safer to keep her here for observation.
10:22But Daddy refused.
10:23But I knew the real reason.
10:25He was terrified I'd talk.
10:27Terrified I'd spill that secret.
10:29Late that night, the door to my room clicked open.
10:32It was Uncle Oscar, Daddy's personal assistant.
10:35Normally, he just trailed behind Daddy like a shadow, keeping his head down and his mouth shut.
10:40But tonight, the look in his eyes was completely different.
10:44He walked over to my bed and pulled something from his pocket.
10:48A phone with a badly shattered screen.
10:51Mommy's phone.
10:52Lucy, they dug this out of the rubble.
10:55It still works.
10:56I snatched the phone and hugged it tight against my chest.
11:00It smelled like Mommy, and there were patches of dried blood on the casing.
11:04Oscar gently stroked my hair.
11:06Lucy, do you want to help Mommy get revenge?
11:08In a few days, it will be Mommy's funeral.
11:11A lot of people will be there, and that bad woman will be there too.
11:16That day, if Daddy speaks up, Storn, press this triangle, okay?
11:20I stared at the little red play button and nodded hard.
11:24Okay, this was a game.
11:26A game only Oscar and I knew about.
11:29I was going to make sure everyone heard exactly what Daddy said that day.
11:33It rained on the day of Mommy's funeral.
11:35The sky was gray.
11:37It looked like a dirty rag.
11:38I wore the black dress Grandma bought me.
11:42A tiny white flower was pinned to my chest.
11:46The memorial hall was huge.
11:50It was packed with white flowers.
11:52Mommy's portrait hung right in the middle.
11:55She was smiling in the picture.
11:58Her eyes crinkled like little crescent moons.
12:01Daddy stood at the very front.
12:04He wore a crisp black suit.
12:08He looked terrible.
12:10His eyes were sunken.
12:12His face unshaven.
12:14People said he was a deeply devoted man.
12:17That he had grown so thin just after losing his wife.
12:23The bad woman didn't show up, but Stella did.
12:28She wore a black lace dress.
12:30She mouthed the words,
12:33You don't have a mom anymore.
12:35She made mean faces at me.
12:37Yeah.
12:38I just stared blankly at her.
12:41I slipped my hand into my pocket.
12:44My fingers brushed the cold, shattered phone.
12:47The ceremony began.
12:49The somber music made my chest feel tight.
12:53Daddy walked up to the podium.
12:55He clutched a few sheets of paper.
12:58He started reading his eulogy.
13:01Irene, my beloved wife.
13:03He choked up on the very first line.
13:06The crowd wiped away their tears.
13:08They were moved by his heartbreaking true love.
13:12We've known each other for ten years
13:14and loved each other for ten years.
13:17You knew me better than anyone.
13:19And you were the person I loved most.
13:21The moment the earthquake struck,
13:23I wished I could have died in your place.
13:26If time could turn back,
13:27I would be by your side,
13:29holding your hand.
13:31And I would never let you face the darkness alone.
13:34He swayed,
13:35looking like he might collapse.
13:38A few relatives rushed up to hold him.
13:42They whispered words of comfort.
13:45Irene, how could you be so cruel?
13:48How could you leave Lucy and me behind?
13:51He beat his chest,
13:53wailing at Mama's back.
13:55I stood in the front row.
13:58Oscar was right beside me.
14:00He knelt down to fix my collar.
14:02He gave my hand a tight squeeze.
14:04His palm was slick with sweat.
14:07Are you ready, Lucy?
14:08He whispered.
14:09Only I could hear him.
14:11I looked up at Daddy on stage.
14:14He was giving the performance of a lifetime.
14:17I watched his fake tears and trembling shoulders.
14:22I remembered her slicing open her own fingers.
14:27She fed me her blood,
14:29smiling through the pain.
14:31I thought about the dark, cold rubble.
14:33I thought of Mommy's body growing cold.
14:37I remembered those cruel words.
14:39Waiting a little longer won't kill her.
14:41A massive wave of anger exploded inside me.
14:45I didn't fully understand hatred yet,
14:50but I knew I had to ruin his act.
14:53Clutching the shattered phone,
14:55I walked on stage.
14:57A hush fell over the crowd.
15:00They thought,
15:01I just wanted to comfort Daddy.
15:03Daddy saw me approaching.
15:06Panic flashed in his eyes,
15:07but he hid it.
15:08He dropped to one knee and opened his arms.
15:12Lucy, come here, sweetie.
15:14Daddy misses her too.
15:16He wanted to pull me into a hug.
15:19He wanted to end his show with fake love.
15:23I stopped right in front of him.
15:26I didn't hug him.
15:27I raised the shattered phone instead.
15:31It was still stained with Mommy's dried blood.
15:35Daddy's pupils shrank in pure terror.
15:38He recognized the phone immediately.
15:42He lunged forward to snatch it.
15:45Lucy, that's dirty.
15:46Give it to Daddy right now.
15:48Right as his fingertips grazed the screen,
15:52my thumb slammed down on the red triangle.
15:55The Bluetooth is already synced to the giant speakers.
15:59The audio kicked in instantly.
16:01A harsh burst of static pierced the silence.
16:05Then, that familiar, cold voice boomed like thunder.
16:10Get Stella and the lightly injured first!
16:13The entire hall went dead silent.
16:15Every single eye locked onto Daddy.
16:19His hand froze in the air.
16:21The color completely drained from his face.
16:25The recording kept playing crystal clear.
16:29Leave Irene for later.
16:30She's tough as nails.
16:32Waiting a little longer won't kill her.
16:35Every word was a vicious slap across his face.
16:38Guests' jaws dropped in pure shock.
16:41They stared at this devoted husband.
16:46Furious whispers quickly filled the room.
16:49Is that Victor's voice?
16:50Oh my God, did he actually say that?
16:52Get Stella first?
16:53Who is Stella?
16:54Daddy collapsed to the floor like a ragdoll.
16:59He scrambled up in a total panic.
17:02He tried to shut off the speakers.
17:04No, it's not real!
17:06It's a fake!
17:08It's just a sick prank!
17:10A heavy wooden cane slammed into Daddy's back.
17:14It was Grandpa.
17:16He beat Daddy over and over again.
17:20You bastard!
17:21You heartless bastard!
17:23Placed my daughter in your hands,
17:25and this is how you treated her!
17:27She's tough!
17:28You made her wait!
17:29Do you know she bled to death down there?
17:31Tears streamed down Grandpa's face.
17:35Every strike was fueled by pure rage.
17:39Daddy cowered, shielding his head.
17:42Blood dripped from a nasty cut on his forehead.
17:45Nobody tried to stop it.
17:48They just watched with sheer disgust.
17:50The reporters finally snapped out of it.
17:54Camera flashes erupted like crazy.
17:56The tragic love story was dead.
18:01It was now a massive cheating scandal.
18:04Is Stella your illegitimate daughter?
18:06Did you let your wife die for your mistress?
18:08Did you let your die for your mistress?
18:10Microphones were shoved right into his bloody face.
18:13He covered his face, refusing to look up.
18:17I stood in the dead center of the chaos.
18:21I still gripped the phone tightly.
18:24Oscar rushed up and scooped me up.
18:26He shielded me and backed away.
18:29Good job, Lucy.
18:31He whispered softly.
18:33I looked over Oscar's shoulder.
18:35I stared at Daddy on the floor.
18:37He looked so small and pathetic.
18:41Like a rat crushed under a boot.
18:44Stella burst into tears from the noise.
18:46She screamed from behind the marble pillar.
18:51Daddy, help me!
18:53The reporters finally snapped out of it.
18:57Is that Stella?
18:59She actually looks a bit like Victor.
19:01What?
19:02He let his wife die for a bastard!
19:04They threw them right at Stella.
19:06The scene completely spiraled out of control.
19:09The police showed up after someone called 911.
19:15Grandma pulled me close, sobbing uncontrollably.
19:19Let's go home, Lucy.
19:21He's dead to us now.
19:22I didn't cry or throw a tantrum.
19:28I just watched everything in dead silence.
19:32Before we left, I looked back.
19:35Daddy was kneeling before Mommy's portrait.
19:38He reached out to touch her picture.
19:41Grandpa kicked him away.
19:43Don't touch her with your filthy hands!
19:46Daddy collapsed onto the floor.
19:48He looked at me with pure desperation.
19:54Lucy, Daddy was wrong.
19:57I completely ignored him.
20:00I turned my head to Mommy's portrait.
20:03Did you hear that, Mommy?
20:04Everyone finally knows he's the bad guy.
20:07After that massive funeral scene, I got sick.
20:11The doctor said I had severe PTSD.
20:15I stopped talking entirely.
20:17I just hugged Mommy's old clothes.
20:22I wouldn't eat.
20:23I only drank brown sugar water.
20:27If I ate anything else, I threw up.
20:31Everything tasted like rusty iron to me.
20:35Grandma cooked different meals every single day.
20:39But I couldn't take a single bite.
20:42I lost so much weight.
20:44I looked like a terrifying little skeleton.
20:49Daddy came by our house a few times.
20:52He was suspended from his company.
20:56His reputation was completely destroyed.
20:59People threw rotten eggs at his door daily.
21:03He wanted to see me.
21:04He begged my grandparents for forgiveness.
21:08Grandpa chased him off with a heavy broom.
21:12He kneeled outside our front door.
21:14I watched him through a crack in the curtains.
21:19He stayed on his knees all night long.
21:21It was pouring rain that night.
21:25Just like the day of Mommy's funeral.
21:28He was totally soaked to the bone.
21:30His wet hair plastered to his face.
21:33He looked like a pathetic drowned rat.
21:36Lucy!
21:37I know I messed up!
21:39Please just look at me!
21:40You're all I have left!
21:41He screamed through the pouring rain.
21:44His voice was totally hoarse.
21:47I thought it was hilarious.
21:49I'm all he has left?
21:51What about Stella?
21:53What about the bad woman?
21:55Did they abandon him already?
21:58Grandma walked into my bedroom.
22:01She held a warm cup of brown sugar water.
22:05Grandma asked me so carefully.
22:07Lucy, he's still out there.
22:11Do you want to see him?
22:13I took the cup from her hands.
22:16I took a tiny little sip.
22:19It was warm and sweet.
22:21But I still tasted a hint of blood.
22:24I shook my head at Grandma.
22:27I walked right up to the window.
22:31I pulled the curtains tightly shut in his face.
22:35I remembered being trapped under the rubble.
22:39I had screamed for him just like that.
22:43I screamed until my voice went hoarse.
22:47But he only cared about other people.
22:50Now it was his turn to scream.
22:53I was going to let him wait too.
22:56He could wait until he died.
22:58I sat in my room drawing pictures.
23:02I only used black and red crayons.
23:07I drew a pitch black box.
23:10A monster was trapped inside it.
23:13The monster was crying endlessly.
23:17But nobody paid any attention to it.
23:20Grandpa said Daddy's company was going bankrupt.
23:24Everyone was boycotting his business.
23:28Nobody wanted to work with a murderer.
23:31Oscar dug up his fake accounting books.
23:34Turns out he wasn't just a terrible dad.
23:37He was a completely corrupt boss too.
23:42He embezzled tons of company money.
23:45He bought the bad woman a house and a car.
23:49I listened to my grandparents talking about it.
23:52I felt absolutely nothing inside.
23:55I just kept sipping my warm brown sugar water.
24:00Cup after cup.
24:02I drank until my stomach physically ached.
24:05Until the rusty iron taste finally faded.
24:10The bad woman got arrested.
24:12She was caught at the airport trying to flee.
24:15Dad's company was completely ruined.
24:18She drained his remaining bank accounts.
24:22She tried to take Stella out of the country.
24:26But Oscar was one step ahead of her.
24:30His police buddies caught her red-handed.
24:34Grandpa took me to the police station.
24:38I had to give a statement about my custody.
24:43I saw the bad woman in the hallway.
24:46She was wearing shiny silver handcuffs.
24:49Her hair was a complete rat's nest.
24:53Her makeup was totally smeared.
24:57Stella was crying so hard she couldn't breathe.
25:00Snot was running all down her face.
25:02Mommy, I want to go home.
25:04I don't want to be here.
25:05Shut up! Shut up! Stop your crying!
25:09When she saw me, her eyes went bloodshot.
25:12She lunged at me like a total madwoman.
25:15It's all your fault, you little bastard!
25:17If it wasn't for your bitch mother,
25:19Victor wouldn't be completely bankrupt.
25:20Drops, I wouldn't be in this total mess!
25:22A police officer grabbed her instantly.
25:26He pinned her hard against the wall.
25:29Stay still!
25:31I hid behind Grandpa and peeked out.
25:35Her face was completely twisted with rage.
25:39She looked like an ugly old witch.
25:42Gaddy was there too.
25:42He was there as a witness.
25:46And as a victim,
25:48seeing her,
25:50Daddy charged forward.
25:52He tried to punch her right there.
25:55Camille, you vicious bitch!
25:57After everything I did for you,
25:59you cleaned out my accounts and ran?
26:00That's enough!
26:01Did right by me?
26:04Give me a break.
26:05If you really cared about me,
26:07you would have divorced Irina a long time ago.
26:10And you wanted me to give you a son.
26:13And what did you end up with?
26:15No son.
26:16So, that was the real truth.
26:19They tore into each other like rabid dogs.
26:23The cops couldn't watch it anymore.
26:26They forcibly dragged them apart.
26:28I looked at Daddy's pathetic face.
26:30It was covered in spit and blood.
26:34Camille looked completely ruined too.
26:37Suddenly, I felt something shift inside me.
26:41The heavy boulder in my chest lifted.
26:44I let go of Grandpa's hand.
26:46I walked right up to the bad woman.
26:49You are so ugly.
26:52I finally spoke my first words in weeks.
26:55Even uglier than the rats in the ruins.
26:57Then, I turned around.
27:00Grandpa, I want to go home.
27:02I want my warm brown sugar water.
27:05Later, Grandpa sorted through Mommy's belongings.
27:08He found an old diary.
27:12It had a light pink cover.
27:16It was Mommy's favorite notebook.
27:19Grandpa put on his reading glasses.
27:21He read it and cried hysterically.
27:24He cried until he almost passed out.
27:28I leaned in to look too.
27:31I couldn't read all those big words.
27:33But, I recognized Mommy's drawings.
27:37Tucked inside the pages was a photo.
27:41It was a black and white ultrasound picture.
27:44It showed a blurry little shadow.
27:48He looked at me with tearful eyes.
27:51Lucy, this is your little brother.
27:55I was completely stunned.
27:58Or little sister.
27:59It turned out that on the day of the earthquake, Mommy still had a baby in her belly.
28:04Grandpa read Mom's diary out loud to me.
28:08Went in for a checkup today.
28:10The doctor said the baby looks perfect.
28:13I want to surprise Victor.
28:16I'll tell him on his birthday.
28:17I hope it's a boy.
28:19When he grows up, he can protect Lucy.
28:22Victor's been coming home later and later.
28:24He always smells like perfume.
28:27But I trust him.
28:28He promised he'd change.
28:30For my two children, I can endure anything.
28:33My tears came flooding out.
28:36I thought about the earthquake again.
28:38When that huge slab came crashing down, Mom didn't lie flat.
28:45She curled herself into a bridge.
28:48She used her back to block the rocks.
28:52She shielded me and the baby underneath her.
28:56In the dark, she kept encouraging me.
28:59She fed me her blood.
29:02She never once said she was hurting.
29:04So that was the truth.
29:06She was protecting both of us.
29:09Me and the baby.
29:13But what did Dad say?
29:15He said Mom was tough.
29:17He said save Stella first.
29:20He killed his own wife.
29:22And his unborn child, too.
29:26Somehow, Dad found out.
29:28That night, he started wailing downstairs.
29:31He rolled around on the ground.
29:34He slammed his head into the wall.
29:37His forehead split open.
29:39God, just kill me!
29:40I'm guilty!
29:41I'm a bastard!
29:43He was confessing.
29:44But it was too late.
29:46Mom couldn't hear him anymore.
29:48The baby couldn't hear him either.
29:51And neither could I.
29:53I held the diary tight against my chest.
29:56Grandpa, I don't hate him anymore.
29:58Grandpa stared at me in shock.
30:01Hating someone takes strength.
30:03Because he's not worth it.
30:05He deserved to rot like garbage.
30:07Dad was going to prison.
30:10For financial crimes and embezzlement,
30:15the amount was massive.
30:19Before sentencing, he begged Grandpa countless times.
30:23He wanted to see me once more.
30:27Grandpa didn't want to agree.
30:31But I nodded.
30:33We met on a park bench.
30:36It was autumn.
30:38The leaves had all turned yellow.
30:40The wind felt sharp and cold.
30:43Dad was wearing the detention center vest.
30:46Handcuffs hung from his wrists.
30:49Only a few months had passed.
30:52But he looked 60.
30:54His back was bent, too.
30:56When he saw me, his eyes lit up.
30:59He tried to reach for me.
31:01He wanted to hug me.
31:03But I stepped back.
31:05His hand froze in midair.
31:07Then he pulled it back awkwardly.
31:10Lucy, you've gotten taller.
31:13His voice came out rough and broken.
31:17Dad's going somewhere far away.
31:21I may not back come for a long time.
31:23I said nothing.
31:24I just looked at him quietly.
31:26He was crying hard now.
31:28I failed you.
31:29I failed your mom.
31:31And I failed that unborn baby, too.
31:34I'll never repay that debt.
31:36Tears and snot covered his face.
31:38I watched him sob uncontrollably.
31:42And strangely, I felt calm.
31:46It was strawberry hard candy.
31:49Mom used to give me those with medicine.
31:53Mom used to say, candy makes the bitterness go away.
31:58Dad looked at the candy.
32:00Then he broke down even harder.
32:02His shoulders shook violently.
32:05But for the rest of your life, all you'll know is bitterness.
32:08I looked him straight in the eye.
32:11Because you deserve it.
32:13Then I turned and walked away.
32:16Behind me, Dad screamed himself hoarse.
32:20Lucy!
32:21Lucy!
32:22I didn't turn around.
32:24The wind lifted the fallen leaves.
32:27They spun into the sky.
32:30Ten years passed.
32:32That's long enough for broken bones to heal.
32:34And long enough for a little girl to grow up.
32:37Grandma passed two years ago.
32:39She died peacefully in her sleep.
32:42Grandpa said she finally went to talk to Mom.
32:44Now it's just Grandpa and me.
32:47On my 15th birthday, I woke up early.
32:51It was also Mom's death anniversary.
32:54Just like every year.
32:57But at the door, I kicked something hard.
32:59It was a package.
33:01The return address looked familiar.
33:03Blackridge Prison.
33:04I carried it inside.
33:06Grandpa was coming out of the kitchen.
33:08He was holding a bowl of birthday noodles.
33:11Your noodles are ready.
33:13Who sent that?
33:15An old friend.
33:19A bank book and a letter.
33:22The bank book had a few thousand dollars.
33:25It was exactly the most a prisoner could save in ten years behind bars.
33:31The letter was written on cheap paper.
33:34The handwriting was shaky and crooked.
33:37Several spots were smeared with ink.
33:39Lucy, by the time you read this, I'll be gone.
33:41I'm going to your mother to beg her figness.
33:43For ten years, every time I close my eyes, I see the rubbles.
33:47I see your mother covered in blood.
33:49I hear her asking me again and again,
33:51Victor, why didn't you save me?
33:52And I hear that unborn child crying too.
33:55I kept the candy you left for me.
33:58The money in the bank book is clean.
34:00Live well, Lucy.
34:01The letter was short.
34:02I read it word by word.
34:06Then I folded it neatly.
34:08I placed it beside the bank book on the table.
34:13Grandpa watched me quietly.
34:15He looked like he wanted to speak.
34:17But in the end, he only sighed.
34:21Then he shoved the chopsticks into my hand.
34:24Eat before the noodles get sogry.
34:27Unknown number.
34:29The area code was from the prison.
34:32I answered,
34:33Is this Lucy Cole?
34:34Yes.
34:35This is Black Ridge Prison.
34:37Your father, Victor Cole, died by suicide in prison at 543 this morning.
34:43The body, a family member needs to come handle the arrangements.
34:47He didn't leave much behind.
34:49Just one final message.
34:51What was it?
34:52He said, save Irene first.
34:55Irene.
34:56My mother's name, he finally remembered to save mom first.
35:00Got it.
35:01I hung up.
35:02Then I kept eating.
35:05Grandpa's cooking hadn't changed in 10 years.
35:07It was still perfect.
35:09After I finished, I took the bowl and chopsticks away.
35:13I washed them clean in the kitchen.
35:16Then I boiled a kettle of water.
35:20From the top shelf, I took down the old metal candy tin.
35:23Inside was a single dark lump of brown sugar.
35:27I dropped it into mom's favorite glass.
35:31Then I poured in the boiling water, slowly melting away.
35:36A deep red drink.
35:37I carried the glass to the balcony.
35:40The autumn sunlight hit my skin.
35:42It warmed me all the way through.
35:44Mom, look.
35:47He said the brown sugar water was bitter.
35:49He couldn't drink it.
35:50But what did he know about bitterness?
35:52The pain you took for him?
35:54That was real bitter.
35:55I looked down and took a small sip.
35:57It was sweet.
35:58The clean scent of sugar cane spread across my tongue.
36:02That sickening taste of blood was gone.
36:04I took out the letter and a lighter from my pocket.
36:07The flame jumped up fast.
36:09It swallowed the thin paper hole.
36:12It swallowed 10 years of late remorse with it.
36:16The black ashes lifted in the wind.
36:18I drank the last sip of brown sugar water.
36:21So sweet.
36:23I looked into the distance.
36:25The sky was clear.
36:26Not a single cloud.
36:28So would my life.
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