- 1 day ago
After the Quake, I Avenged Mom | FULL 2026 (ENG)
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🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00I pushed my father off the cliff.
00:03His body was impaled on a dead tree.
00:05I didn't leave until I made sure he was dead.
00:08I will never forget the earthquake.
00:10Years ago, he abandoned my mother and me to save his love.
00:15After the earthquake, Mommy fell asleep.
00:18I curled up in her arms.
00:20She was getting so cold.
00:22We were hiding under a giant rock.
00:25I sucked on Mommy's finger.
00:27She fed me warm brown sugar water.
00:30Daddy's voice came through the broken phone.
00:33Get Stella and the lightly injured first.
00:35Leave Irene for later.
00:36She's tough as nails.
00:38Waiting a little longer won't kill her.
00:39It was really Daddy.
00:41Mommy said he would rescue us soon.
00:44But why did he make Mommy wait?
00:46I whispered to the phone.
00:49Daddy, Mommy went to sleep.
00:53She gave me lots of brown sugar water.
00:57It tastes like iron.
00:58But I'm not scared.
01:01Mommy said you'll come and save me before it all runs out.
01:05The phone went totally silent.
01:08I kept drinking the warm brown sugar water.
01:11Then Daddy started screaming through the speaker.
01:14He ordered everyone to find me.
01:17Daddy was coming to me.
01:22Found her!
01:23Over here!
01:25There's a kid still alive!
01:28Mommy, it's morning.
01:31Can we go home now?
01:33I pushed against her chest.
01:35It wasn't soft like it used to be.
01:37A whole section of it was crushed inward,
01:40covered in something warm and sticky.
01:43Hurry!
01:43Grab the kid first!
01:44Huge, rough hands reached in and tore me away from her.
01:49No!
01:50Mommy's still sleeping!
01:51I want to wait for her!
01:53My fingers locked in a death grip on the hem of her shirt.
01:56We...
01:56The 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,
02:23making him look a little disheveled.
02:25He grabbed me from the rescue worker
02:27and crushed me against his chest.
02:30Thank God.
02:31You're alive.
02:32I thought I'd lost you.
02:34He was sobbing.
02:35His 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,
03:18pointing 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.
03:31He 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.
03:43But 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 phone?
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,
04:10Daddy recoiled, shoving me back like I had just burned him.
04:13There 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,
05:02her hand hovering in midair.
05:05She shot Daddy a piercing, icy glare.
05:08Daddy forced an awkward smile that looked more like a grimace.
05:12You misheard, sweetie.
05:13The signal was bad.
05:14Daddy was just panicking.
05:15Really?
05:16I tilted my head, studying him.
05:19But who is Stella?
05:21Why 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.
05:39Suddenly, Daddy acted like a completely different person.
05:42He scooped me into his arms and began sobbing hysterically for the cameras.
05:47Thank God!
05:48Thank God for bringing my daughter back to me!
05:50I'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?
07:13Dad? She's so gross.
07:15Drinking blood.
07:17Feral 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 a footboard of the hospital bed.
08:01A sharp, dizzying pain shot through me, but I didn't shed a single tear.
08:06I just sat on the floor, glaring at her with pure hatred.
08:10Lucy!
08:11Are you crazy?
08:12Daddy rushed over.
08:13He tenderly cradled the bad woman's injured arm.
08:16Camille, are you okay?
08:18Did she hurt you?
08:19He snapped his head back around, glaring at me with absolute fury.
08:24How could you behave like this?
08:26Apologize to her right now!
08:28I stayed slumped on the cold floor.
08:30A warm, trickle of liquid began sliding down my forehead.
08:34It was red too, just like the brown sugar water mommy had fed me.
08:39Daddy, I'm bleeding too.
08:41Are you gonna make me wait a little longer too?
08:43The room went dead silent.
08:45Daddy's face turned beet red with rage.
08:48The bad woman's eyes darted around.
08:50Ignoring the bite marks on her wrist, she put on a sickeningly sweet face and tried to help me up.
08:56Victor, don't be mad at her.
08:58She just lost her mom.
09:00She can't handle the shock.
09:02She stroked my head, but her nails dug hard into my skin.
09:06Be good, Lucy.
09:08I don't mind.
09:09Let me buy you some candy later, alright?
09:12I slapped her hand away.
09:13I don't want candy!
09:15I have the brown sugar water mommy gave me.
09:18The bad woman's smile vanished.
09:20Daddy!
09:21Kick this freak out!
09:23She stinks!
09:24Daddy took a deep breath and buzzed for a nurse.
09:26Take her next door and get her cleaned up.
09:28And have someone examine her head.
09:30She's clearly lost her mind.
09:32Examine my head?
09:33Daddy thought I was crazy.
09:34A young nurse led me away.
09:36As she cleaned my wound, she quietly wiped away her tears.
09:41Sweetie, it won't hurt.
09:44I promise to be gentle.
09:46I looked up at her.
09:47Miss, is my mommy really dead?
09:49Her hand trembled.
09:51She pulled me into a tight hug and finally broke down sobbing.
09:55Your mommy was a great mother.
09:58That evening, my grandparents arrived.
10:01The moment grandma saw me, she broke down and passed out from the shock.
10:06Grandpa leaned heavily on his cane, his hands shaking violently.
10:10He demanded to take me home with him.
10:13Dad, Lucy's been through a massive shock.
10:15She's talking nonsense right now.
10:17It's safer to keep her here for observation.
10:18But Daddy refused.
10:20But I knew the real reason.
10:22He was terrified I'd talk.
10:24Terrified I'd spill that secret.
10:26Late that night, the door to my room clicked open.
10:29It was Uncle Oscar, Daddy's personal assistant.
10:32Normally, he just trailed behind Daddy like a shadow, keeping his head down and his mouth shut.
10:37But tonight, the look in his eyes was completely different.
10:41He walked over to my bed and pulled something from his pocket.
10:45A phone with a badly shattered screen.
10:48Mommy's phone.
10:49Lucy, they dug this out of the rubble.
10:52It still works.
10:54I snatched the phone and hugged it tight against my chest.
10:57It smelled like mommy and there were patches of dried blood on the casing.
11:01Oscar gently stroked my hair.
11:03Lucy, do you want to help mommy get revenge?
11:05In a few days, it will be mommy's funeral.
11:08A lot of people will be there and that bad woman will be there too.
11:13That day, if Daddy speaks upstorn, press this triangle, okay?
11:17I stared at the little red play button and nodded hard.
11:21Okay.
11:22This was a game.
11:23A game only Oscar and I knew about.
11:26I was going to make sure everyone heard exactly what Daddy said that day.
11:30It rained on the day of mommy's funeral.
11:32The sky was gray.
11:34It looked like a dirty rag.
11:36I wore the black dress grandma bought me.
11:39A tiny white flower was pinned to my chest.
11:43The memorial hall was huge.
11:47It was packed with white flowers.
11:49Mommy's portrait hung right in the middle.
11:52She was smiling in the picture.
11:55Her eyes crinkled like little crescent moons.
11:59Daddy stood at the very front.
12:02He wore a crisp black suit.
12:05He looked terrible.
12:07His eyes were sunken, his face unshaven.
12:10People said he was a deeply devoted man.
12:14That he had grown so thin just after losing his wife.
12:21The bad woman didn't show up, but Stella did.
12:25She wore a black lace dress.
12:28She mouthed the words,
12:30You don't have a mom anymore.
12:32She made mean faces at me.
12:34Yeah.
12:35I just stared blankly at her.
12:37I slipped my hand into my pocket.
12:41My fingers brushed the cold, shattered phone.
12:44The ceremony began.
12:46The somber music made my chest feel tight.
12:49Daddy walked up to the podium.
12:52He clutched a few sheets of paper.
12:55He started reading his eulogy.
12:58Irene, my beloved wife.
13:00He choked up on the very first line.
13:02The crowd wiped away their tears.
13:05They were moved by his heartbreaking true love.
13:09We've known each other for ten years
13:11and loved each other for ten years.
13:13You knew me better than anyone,
13:15and you were the person I loved most.
13:18The moment the earthquake struck,
13:20I wished I could have died in your place.
13:23If time could turn back,
13:24I would be by your side,
13:26holding your hand,
13:27and I would never let you face the darkness alone.
13:31He swayed,
13:32looking like he might collapse.
13:35A few relatives rushed up to hold him.
13:39They whispered words of comfort.
13:42Irene, how could you be so cruel?
13:45How could you leave Lucy and me behind?
13:48He beat his chest,
13:50wailing at Mama's back.
13:52I stood in the front row.
13:55Oscar was right beside me.
13:57He knelt down to fix my collar.
13:59He gave my hand a tight squeeze.
14:02His palm was slick with sweat.
14:04Are you ready, Lucy?
14:05He whispered.
14:06Only I could hear him.
14:08I looked up at Daddy on stage.
14:11He was giving the performance of a lifetime.
14:14I watched his fake tears and trembling shoulders.
14:19I remembered her slicing open her own fingers.
14:23She fed me her blood,
14:26smiling through the pain.
14:28I thought about the dark, cold rubble.
14:30I thought of Mommy's body growing cold.
14:34I remembered those cruel words.
14:36Waiting a little longer won't kill her.
14:38A massive wave of anger exploded inside me.
14:43I didn't fully understand hatred yet.
14:46But I knew I had to ruin his life.
14:50Clutching the shattered phone,
14:52I walked on stage.
14:54A hush fell over the crowd.
14:57They thought,
14:58I just wanted to comfort Daddy.
15:00Daddy saw me approaching.
15:03Panic flashed in his eyes,
15:05but he hid it.
15:05He dropped to one knee and opened his arms.
15:09Lucy, come here, sweetie.
15:11Daddy misses her, too.
15:13He wanted to pull me into a hug.
15:16He wanted to end his show with fake love.
15:20I stopped right in front of him.
15:23I didn't hug him.
15:24I raised the shattered phone instead.
15:28It was still stained with Mommy's dried blood.
15:32Daddy's pupils shrank in pure terror.
15:35He recognized the phone immediately.
15:39He lunged forward to snatch it.
15:42Lucy, that's dirty.
15:43Give it to Daddy right now.
15:45Right as his fingertips grazed the screen,
15:49my thumb slammed down on the red triangle.
15:52The Bluetooth has already synced to the giant speakers.
15:56The audio kicked in instantly.
15:59A harsh burst of static pierced the silence.
16:01Then, that familiar, cold voice boomed like thunder.
16:07Get Stella and the lightly injured first!
16:10The entire hall went dead silent.
16:12Every single eye locked onto Daddy.
16:16His hand froze in the air.
16:18The color completely drained from his face.
16:22The recording kept playing crystal clear.
16:26Leave Irene for later.
16:27She's tough as nails.
16:29Waiting a little longer won't kill her.
16:32Every word was a vicious slap across his face.
16:35Guests' jaws dropped in pure shock.
16:38They stared at this devoted husband.
16:43Furious whispers quickly filled the room.
16:46Is that Victor's voice?
16:47Oh my God, did he actually say that?
16:49Get Stella first?
16:50Who is Stella?
16:51Daddy collapsed to the floor like a ragdoll.
16:55He scrambled up in a total panic.
16:59He tried to shut off the speakers.
17:01No, it's not real!
17:04It's a fake!
17:05It's just a sick prank!
17:07A heavy wooden cane slammed into Daddy's back.
17:11It was Grandpa.
17:13He beat Daddy over and over again.
17:17You bastard!
17:18You heartless bastard!
17:20Placed my daughter in your hands,
17:22and this is how you treated her?
17:24She's tough!
17:25You made her wait!
17:27Do you know she bled to death down there?
17:28Tears streamed down Grandpa's face.
17:32Every strike was fueled by pure rage.
17:36Daddy cowered, shielding his head.
17:39Blood dripped from a nasty cut on his forehead.
17:42Nobody tried to stop it.
17:44They just watched with sheer disgust.
17:47The reporters finally snapped out of it.
17:51Camera flashes erupted like crazy.
17:53The tragic love story was dead.
17:58It was now a massive cheating scandal.
18:01Is Stella your illegitimate daughter?
18:03Did you let your wife die for your mistress?
18:05Did you let your die for your mistress?
18:07Microphones were shoved right into his bloody face.
18:10He covered his face, refusing to look up.
18:14I stood in the dead center of the chaos.
18:18I still gripped the phone tightly.
18:20Oscar rushed up and scooped me up.
18:23He shielded me and backed away.
18:26Good job, Lucy.
18:28He whispered softly.
18:30I looked over Oscar's shoulder.
18:32I stared at Daddy on the floor.
18:34He looked so small and pathetic.
18:38Like a rat crushed under a boot.
18:41Stella burst into tears from the noise.
18:43She screamed from behind the marble pillar.
18:48Daddy, help me!
18:49The reporters finally snapped out of it.
18:54Is that Stella?
18:56She actually looks a bit like Victor.
18:58What?
18:59He let his wife die for a bastard!
19:01They threw them right at Stella.
19:03The scene completely spiraled out of control.
19:06The police showed up after someone called 911.
19:12Grandma pulled me close, sobbing uncontrollably.
19:16Let's go home, Lucy.
19:18He's dead to us now.
19:19I didn't cry or throw a tantrum.
19:25I just watched everything in dead silence.
19:29Before we left, I looked back.
19:32Daddy was kneeling before Mommy's portrait.
19:35He reached out to touch her picture.
19:38Grandpa kicked him away.
19:40Don't touch her with your filthy hands!
19:44Daddy collapsed onto the floor.
19:46He looked at me with pure desperation.
19:51Lucy, Daddy was wrong.
19:54I completely ignored him.
19:57I turned my head to Mommy's portrait.
20:00Did you hear that, Mommy?
20:01Everyone finally knows he's the bad guy.
20:04After that massive funeral scene, I got sick.
20:07The doctor said I had severe PTSD.
20:12I stopped talking entirely.
20:14I just hugged Mommy's old clothes.
20:19I wouldn't eat.
20:20I only drank brown sugar water.
20:24If I ate anything else, I threw up.
20:28Everything tasted like rusty iron to me.
20:32Grandma cooked different meals every single day.
20:35But I couldn't take a single bite.
20:39I lost so much weight.
20:42I looked like a terrifying little skeleton.
20:46Daddy came by our house a few times.
20:49He was suspended from his company.
20:53His reputation was completely destroyed.
20:56People threw rotten eggs at his door daily.
21:00He wanted to see me.
21:01He begged my grandparents for forgiveness.
21:05Grandpa chased him off with a heavy broom.
21:09He kneeled outside our front door.
21:11I watched him through a crack in the curtains.
21:16He stayed on his knees all night long.
21:18It was pouring rain that night.
21:22Just like the day of Mommy's funeral.
21:25He was totally soaked to the bone.
21:27His wet hair plastered to his face.
21:30He looked like a pathetic drowned rat.
21:33Lucy!
21:34I know I messed up!
21:36Please just look at me!
21:37You're all I have left!
21:38He screamed through the pouring rain.
21:41His voice was totally hoarse.
21:44I thought it was hilarious.
21:46I'm all he has left?
21:48What about Stella?
21:50What about the bad woman?
21:52Did they abandon him already?
21:55Grandma walked into my bedroom.
21:58She held a warm cup of brown sugar water.
22:02Grandma asked me so carefully.
22:04Lucy, he's still out there.
22:08Do you want to see him?
22:10I took the cup from her hands.
22:13I took a tiny little sip.
22:16It was warm and sweet.
22:18But I still tasted a hint of blood.
22:21I shook my head at Grandma.
22:24I walked right up to the window.
22:28I pulled the curtains tightly shut in his face.
22:32I remembered being trapped under the rubble.
22:36I had screamed for him just like that.
22:40I screamed until my voice went hoarse.
22:44But he only cared about other people.
22:47Now it was his turn to scream.
22:50I was going to let him wait too.
22:53He could wait until he died.
22:55I sat in my room drawing pictures.
22:59I only used black and red crayons.
23:04I drew a pitch black box.
23:07A monster was trapped inside it.
23:10The monster was crying endlessly.
23:14But nobody paid any attention to it.
23:17Grandpa said Daddy's company was going bankrupt.
23:21Everyone was boycotting his business.
23:26Nobody wanted to work with a murderer.
23:28Oscar dug up his fake accounting books.
23:31Turns out he wasn't just a terrible dad.
23:34He was a completely corrupt boss too.
23:39He embezzled tons of company money.
23:42He bought the bad woman a house and a car.
23:46I listened to my grandparents talking about it.
23:49I felt absolutely nothing inside.
23:52I just kept sipping my warm brown sugar water.
23:57Cup after cup.
23:59I drank until my stomach physically ached.
24:03Until the rusty iron taste finally faded.
24:07The bad woman got arrested.
24:09She was caught at the airport trying to flee.
24:12Dad's company was completely ruined.
24:15She drained his remaining bank accounts.
24:19She tried to take Stella out of the country.
24:23But Oscar was one step ahead of her.
24:27His police buddies caught her red-handed.
24:31Grandpa took me to the police station.
24:35I had to give a statement about my custody.
24:39I saw the bad woman in the hallway.
24:43She was wearing shiny silver handcuffs.
24:46Her hair was a complete rat's nest.
24:50Her makeup was totally smeared.
24:53Stella was crying so hard she couldn't breathe.
24:56Snot was running all down her face.
24:59Mommy, I want to go home.
25:01I don't want to be here.
25:02Shut up! Shut up!
25:04Stop your crying!
25:06When she saw me, her eyes went bloodshot.
25:09She lunged at me like a total madwoman.
25:12It's all your fault, you little bastard!
25:14If it wasn't for your bitch mother,
25:16Pinter wouldn't be completely bankrupt.
25:17I wouldn't be in this total mess!
25:19A police officer grabbed her instantly.
25:23He pinned her hard against the wall.
25:27Stay still!
25:28I hid behind Grandpa and peeked out.
25:32Her face was completely twisted with rage.
25:36She looked like an ugly old witch.
25:38Daddy was there too.
25:39He was there as a witness.
25:43And as a victim, seeing her, Daddy charged forward.
25:49He tried to punch her right there.
25:52Camille, you vicious bitch!
25:54After everything I did for you,
25:56you cleaned out my accounts and ran?
25:58That's enough!
25:58Did right by me?
26:01Give me a break.
26:02If you really cared about me,
26:04you would have divorced Irina a long time ago.
26:07And you wanted me to give you a son.
26:10And what did you end up with?
26:12No son.
26:13So, that was the real truth.
26:16They tore into each other like rabid dogs.
26:20The cops couldn't watch it anymore.
26:23They forcibly dragged them apart.
26:24I looked at Daddy's pathetic face.
26:27It was covered in spit and blood.
26:31Camille looked completely ruined too.
26:34Suddenly, I felt something shift inside me.
26:38The heavy boulder in my chest lifted.
26:41I let go of Grandpa's hand.
26:43I walked right up to the bad woman.
26:46You are so ugly.
26:49I finally spoke my first words in weeks.
26:52Even uglier than the rats in the ruins.
26:55Then, I turned around.
26:57Grandpa, I want to go home.
26:59I want my warm brown sugar water.
27:02Later, Grandpa sorted through Mommy's belongings.
27:06He found an old diary.
27:09It had a light pink cover.
27:13It was Mommy's favorite notebook.
27:16Grandpa put on his reading glasses.
27:18He read it and cried hysterically.
27:21He cried until he almost passed out.
27:25I leaned in to look too.
27:28I couldn't read all those big words.
27:30But, I recognized Mommy's drawings.
27:34Tucked inside the pages was a photo.
27:38It was a black and white ultrasound picture.
27:42It showed a blurry little shadow.
27:45He looked at me with tearful eyes.
27:48Lucy, this is your little brother.
27:52I was completely stunned.
27:55Or little sister.
27:56It turned out that on the day of the earthquake, Mommy still had a baby in her belly.
28:01Grandpa read Mom's diary out loud to me.
28:05Went in for a checkup today.
28:07The doctor said the baby looks perfect.
28:10I want to surprise Victor.
28:13I'll tell him on his birthday.
28:14I hope it's a boy.
28:16When he grows up, he can protect Lucy.
28:19Victor's been coming home later and later.
28:21He always smells like perfume.
28:24But I trust him.
28:25He promised he'd change.
28:27For my two children, I can endure anything.
28:31My tears came flooding out.
28:33I thought about the earthquake again.
28:35When that huge slab came crashing down, Mom didn't lie flat.
28:42She curled herself into a bridge.
28:45She used her back to block the rocks.
28:49She shielded me and the baby underneath her.
28:53In the dark, she kept encouraging me.
28:56She fed me her blood.
28:59She never once said she was hurting.
29:01So that was the truth.
29:04She was protecting both of us.
29:06Me and the baby.
29:10But what did Dad say?
29:12He said Mom was tough.
29:14He said save Stella first.
29:17He killed his own wife.
29:20And his unborn child too.
29:22Somehow, Dad found out.
29:25That night, he started wailing downstairs.
29:29He rolled around on the ground.
29:31He slammed his head into the wall.
29:34His forehead split open.
29:36God, just kill me.
29:37I'm guilty.
29:38I'm a bastard.
29:40He was confessing.
29:41But it was too late.
29:43Mom couldn't hear him anymore.
29:45The baby couldn't hear him either.
29:48And neither could I.
29:49I held the diary tight against my chest.
29:53Grandpa, I don't hate him anymore.
29:55Grandpa stared at me in shock.
29:58Hating someone takes strength.
30:00Because he's not worth it.
30:02He deserved to rot like garbage.
30:04Dad was going to prison.
30:06For financial crimes and embezzlement, the amount was massive.
30:15Before sentencing, he begged Grandpa countless times.
30:20He wanted to see me once more.
30:25Grandpa didn't want to agree.
30:27But I nodded.
30:30We met on a park bench.
30:33It was autumn.
30:35The leaves had all turned yellow.
30:37The wind felt sharp and cold.
30:40Dad was wearing the detention center vest.
30:43Handcuffs hung from his wrists.
30:45Only a few months had passed.
30:49But he looked 60.
30:51His back was bent too.
30:53When he saw me, his eyes lit up.
30:56He tried to reach for me.
30:58He wanted to hug me.
31:00But I stepped back.
31:02His hand froze in midair.
31:04Then he pulled it back awkwardly.
31:06Lucy, you've gotten taller.
31:10His voice came out rough and broken.
31:14Dad's going somewhere far away.
31:18I may not back come for a long time.
31:20I said nothing.
31:21I just looked at him quietly.
31:23He was crying hard now.
31:25I failed you.
31:26I failed your mom.
31:28And I failed that unborn baby too.
31:31I'll never repay that debt.
31:33Tears and snot covered his face.
31:35I watched him sob uncontrollably.
31:38And strangely, I felt calm.
31:43It was strawberry hard candy.
31:46Mom used to give me those with medicine.
31:50Mom used to say,
31:52Candy makes the bitterness go away.
31:55Dad looked at the candy.
31:57Then he broke down even harder.
31:59His shoulders shook violently.
32:02But for the rest of your life,
32:03All you'll know is bitterness.
32:06I looked him straight in the eye.
32:08Because you deserve it.
32:10Then I turned and walked away.
32:13Behind me, Dad screamed himself hoarse.
32:17Lucy!
32:18Lucy!
32:20I didn't turn around.
32:21The wind lifted the fallen leaves.
32:24They spun into the sky.
32:27Ten years passed.
32:28That's long enough for broken bones to heal.
32:31And long enough for a little girl to grow up.
32:34Grandma passed two years ago.
32:36She died peacefully in her sleep.
32:39Grandpa said she finally went to talk to Mom.
32:41Now it's just Grandpa and me.
32:43On my 15th birthday,
32:46I woke up early.
32:48It was also Mom's death anniversary.
32:51Just like every year.
32:54But at the door,
32:55I kicked something hard.
32:56It was a package.
32:58The return address looked familiar.
33:00Blackridge Prison.
33:01I carried it inside.
33:03Grandpa was coming out of the kitchen.
33:05He was holding a bowl of birthday noodles.
33:08Your noodles are ready.
33:10Who sent that?
33:12An old friend.
33:16A bank book and a letter.
33:19The bank book had a few thousand dollars.
33:22It was exactly the most a prisoner could save in ten years behind bars.
33:28The letter was written on cheap paper.
33:31The handwriting was shaky and crooked.
33:34Several spots were smeared with ink.
33:36Lucy, by the time you read this, I'll be gone.
33:38I'm going to your mother to beg her figness.
33:40For ten years, every time I close my eyes, I see the rubbles.
33:44I see your mother covered in blood.
33:46I hear her asking me again and again,
33:48Victor, why didn't you save me?
33:50And I hear that unborn child crying too.
33:52I kept the candy you left for me.
33:55The money in the bank book is clean.
33:57Live well, Lucy.
33:58The letter was short.
34:00I read it word by word.
34:03Then I folded it neatly.
34:05I placed it beside the bank book on the table.
34:10Grandpa watched me quietly.
34:12He looked like he wanted to speak.
34:15But in the end, he only sighed.
34:18Then he shoved the chopsticks into my hand.
34:21Eat before the noodles get sogry.
34:24Unknown number.
34:26The area code was from the prison.
34:29I answered,
34:29Is this Lucy Cole?
34:31Yes.
34:32This is Black Ridge Prison.
34:34Your father, Victor Cole, died by suicide in prison at 543 this morning.
34:40The body, a family member needs to come handle the arrangements.
34:44He didn't leave much behind.
34:46Just one final message.
34:48What was it?
34:49He said,
34:50Save Irene first.
34:52Irene.
34:53My mother's name.
34:54He finally remembered to save mom first.
34:57Got it.
34:58I hung up.
35:00Then I kept eating.
35:02Grandpa's cooking hadn't changed in 10 years.
35:04It was still perfect.
35:06After I finished, I took the bowl and chopsticks away.
35:10I washed them clean in the kitchen.
35:13Then I boiled a kettle of water.
35:17From the top shelf, I took down the old metal candy tin.
35:20Inside was a single dark lump of brown sugar.
35:24I dropped it into mom's favorite glass.
35:28Then I poured in the boiling water, slowly melting away.
35:33A deep red drink.
35:34I carried the glass to the balcony.
35:37The autumn sunlight hit my skin.
35:39It warmed me all the way through.
35:41Mom, look.
35:44He said the brown sugar water was bitter.
35:46He couldn't drink it.
35:47But what did he know about bitterness?
35:49The pain you took for him?
35:51That was real bitter.
35:52I looked down and took a small sip.
35:54It was sweet.
35:55The clean scent of sugar cane spread across my tongue.
35:59That sickening taste of blood was gone.
36:01I took out the letter and a lighter from my pocket.
36:04The flame jumped up fast.
36:06It swallowed the thin paper hole.
36:09It swallowed 10 years of late remorse with it.
36:13The black ashes lifted in the wind.
36:15I drank the last sip of brown sugar water.
36:18So sweet.
36:20I looked into the distance.
36:22The sky was clear.
36:23Not a single cloud.
36:25So would my life.
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