- 16 hours ago
- #video
- #after
- #moviehot2026
- #trendingmovie
#video #After the Quake, I Avenged Mom - Full #moviehot2026 #trendingmovie
Category
📺
TVTranscript
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. I will never forget the earthquake. Years ago, he abandoned my mother
00:13and me to save his love. After the earthquake, mommy fell asleep. I curled up in her arms.
00:20She was getting so cold. We were hiding under a giant rock. I sucked on mommy's finger. She
00:27fed me warm brown sugar water. Daddy's voice came through the broken phone. Get Stella and
00:34the lightly injured first. Leave Irene for later. She's tough as nails. Waiting a little longer
00:39won't kill her. It was really daddy. Mommy said he would rescue us soon. But why did he make
00:45mommy wait? I whispered to the phone. Daddy, mommy went to sleep. She gave me lots of brown
00:55sugar water. It tastes like iron. But I'm not scared. Mommy said you'll come and save me
01:03before it all runs out. The phone went totally silent. I kept drinking the warm brown sugar
01:10water. Then daddy started screaming through the speaker. He ordered everyone to find me.
01:17Daddy. Daddy was coming to me. Found her. Over here. There's a kid still alive.
01:28Mommy, it's morning. Can we go home now? I pushed against her chest. It wasn't soft like it used to
01:36be.
01:37A whole section of it was crushed inward, covered in something warm and sticky.
01:42Hurry. Grab the kid first. Huge, rough hands reached in and tore me away from her.
01:49No! Mommy's still sleeping. I want to wait for her. My fingers locked in a death grip on the hem
01:55of her
01:55shirt. The fabric gave way. A man in an orange rescue vest hauled me against his chest. My mouth
02:03was crusted with dried, flaky red patches. It was the brown sugar water mommy had been feeding me.
02:09Lucy! Oh god, Lucy! A figure came stumbling through the debris. It was daddy. He was still
02:19wearing his expensive suit. It 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. Thank god. You're alive.
02:32I thought I'd lost you. He was sobbing, his whole body trembling. Then a scent hit me. A sickeningly
02:40sweet, overpowering perfume. It was the smell mommy hated most in the world. She always said it was
02:48the smell of a bad woman. I squirmed against him. Daddy, mommy's still down there. She's asleep.
02:57Daddy froze. He didn't even glance at the rubble. Instead, he forced my face into his shoulder to
03:04block my view. Shh, sweetheart. Mommy. Mommy's gone to a better place.
03:13No, she didn't! She's right down there! I cried frantically, pointing at the pitch
03:19black gap in the concrete. Mommy gave me so much brown sugar water. She promised you'd come for us
03:26before it was all gone. All the color drained from daddy's face. He stared at the dark, crusted blood
03:33around my mouth, gulping hard. A heavy silence fell over the medics around us. One of the nurses
03:40clamped a hand over her mouth, tears spilling down her cheeks. But daddy just looked away. He couldn't
03:46meet my eyes. What was he so scared of? Was it because of the broken phone? The one that played
03:53his voice earlier, growling like a monster? Voice that said mommy was tough as nails and that leaving
03:59her behind wouldn't kill her. Daddy, why did you tell them to leave mommy behind? I leaned close to his
04:08ear and whispered, daddy recoiled, shoving me back like I had just burned him. There was no relief in his
04:15eyes anymore. Only pure, naked terror. The ambulance siren wailed as we sped down the road. I sat in the
04:23back, still clutching the torn scrap of mommy's shirt. Daddy sat across from me, wringing his hands
04:29nervously. His hands were perfectly clean, his nails neatly manicured. They looked nothing like
04:35mommy's hands, which were caked in mud and dried blood. Lucy, while you were down there, did you hear
04:40anything? Daddy asked tentatively, unable to meet my eyes. I licked my lips. That rusty taste was still
04:48in my mouth. I did. A visible shudder ran through daddy. What did you hear? I heard you tell them
04:54to save Stella first. The air inside the ambulance instantly froze. The paramedic who had been wiping
05:01dust off my face stopped, her hand hovering in midair. She shot daddy a piercing, icy glare. Daddy forced an
05:09awkward smile that looked more like a grimace. You misheard, sweetie. The signal was bad. Daddy was
05:14just panicking. Really? I tilted my head, studying him. But who is Stella? Why is she more important
05:22than mommy? Daddy opened his mouth, but no words came out. He quickly turned to look out the window,
05:28pretending to wipe away a tear. When we arrived at the hospital, a massive crowd swarmed us. Camera flashes
05:34went off nonstop, so bright I couldn't open my eyes. Suddenly, daddy acted like a completely
05:41different person. He scooped me into his arms and began sobbing hysterically for the cameras.
05:47Thank God. Thank God for bringing my daughter back to me. I'd trade anything in the world,
05:53as long as my Lucy is safe. The reporters wiped their eyes and praised daddy for being such a good
05:59father. I rested my chin on his shoulder, watching the side of his face. He was wailing loudly, but his
06:05cheeks were completely dry. He looked just like a clown on TV. Once we got to the VIP ward, I
06:13finally saw
06:13his Stella. She was staying in a massive private hospital suite. She was wearing a frilly pink lace dress
06:22and happily eating a slice of strawberry cake. There wasn't a single scratch on her. Even her hair
06:29was perfectly brushed and shiny. A woman in a flowing white dress sat by her bedside. She was very pretty,
06:36and she radiated the exact same sickeningly sweet perfume I had smelled on daddy. The woman stood up.
06:45Victor, you're here. Her eyes were rimmed with red, making her look incredibly fragile and pitiful.
06:51Daddy set me down immediately and hurried over to her, taking her hands in his. Camille,
06:58how is Stella? She must have been terrified. I stood in the doorway, feeling like a piece of
07:03discarded trash. Stella noticed me. She wrinkled her nose and pointed right at me. Mommy, is she the
07:11feral girl who drinks blood? She's so gross. Drinking blood, feral girl. I stared at the smear of
07:19whipped cream on her lip. My empty stomach gave a low rumble. The woman, Camille, walked over and
07:25crouched down in front of me. You must be Lucy. Oh, you poor girl. Come let me give you a
07:31hug.
07:31She reached out to me. That's when I saw the gold bracelet gleaming on her wrist. It was the exact
07:38same bracelet Mommy had. Mommy told me Daddy had specially made it for her to celebrate their
07:4410th wedding anniversary. So why was she wearing it? A sudden, blinding rage flared up in my chest.
07:49Like an enraged little animal, I lunged at her and bit down on her wrist. The bad woman shrieked,
07:55swinging her arm to violently shake me off. The sheer force sent me flying backward and my head slammed
08:01hard against the metal footboard of the hospital bed. A sharp, dizzying pain shot through me, but I
08:08didn't shed a single tear. I just sat on the floor, glaring at her with pure hatred. Lucy! Are you
08:14crazy? Daddy rushed over. He tenderly cradled the bad woman's injured arm. Camille, are you okay?
08:21Did she hurt you? He snapped his head back around, glaring at me with absolute fury. How could you
08:27behave like this? Apologize to her right now! I stayed slumped on the cold floor. A warm trickle of
08:35liquid began sliding down my forehead. It was red too, just like the brown sugar water mommy had fed
08:41me. Daddy, I'm bleeding too. Are you gonna make me wait a little longer too? The room went dead
08:47silent. Daddy's face turned beet red with rage. The bad woman's eyes darted around. Ignoring the bite
08:54marks on her wrist, she put on a sickeningly sweet face and tried to help me up. Victor, don't be
09:00mad at
09:01her. She just lost her mom. She can't handle the shock. She stroked my head, but her nails dug hard
09:08into my skin. Be good, Lucy. I don't mind. Let me buy you some candy later, all right? I slapped
09:15her
09:15hand away. I don't want candy. I have the brown sugar water mommy gave me. The bad woman's smile
09:22vanished. Daddy, kick this freak out! She stinks! Daddy took a deep breath and buzzed for a nurse.
09:29Take her next door and get her cleaned up and have someone examine her head. She's clearly lost her
09:34mind. Examine my head? Daddy thought I was crazy. A young nurse led me away. As she cleaned my wound,
09:41she quietly wiped away her tears. Sweetie, it won't hurt. I promise to be gentle. I looked up at her.
09:50Miss, is my mommy really dead? Her hand trembled. She pulled me into a tight hug and finally broke
09:57down sobbing. Your mommy was a great mother. That evening, my grandparents arrived. The moment
10:05grandma saw me, she broke down and passed out from the shock. Grandpa leaned heavily on his cane,
10:11his hands shaking violently. He demanded to take me home with him. Dad, Lucy's been through a massive
10:18shock. She's talking nonsense right now. It's safer to keep her here for observation. But Daddy refused.
10:23But I knew the real reason. He was terrified I'd talk. Terrified I'd spill that secret. Late that night,
10:30the door to my room clicked open. It was Uncle Oscar, Daddy's personal assistant. Normally,
10:35he just trailed behind Daddy like a shadow, keeping his head down and his mouth shut. But tonight,
10:41the look in his eyes was completely different. He walked over to my bed and pulled something from
10:47his pocket. A phone with a badly shattered screen. Mommy's phone. Lucy, they dug this out of the rubble.
10:55It still works. I snatched the phone and hugged it tight against my chest. It smelled like mommy and there
11:02were patches of dried blood on the casing. Oscar gently stroked my hair. Lucy, do you want to help mommy
11:08get revenge? In a few days, it will be mommy's funeral. A lot of people will be there and that
11:13bad woman will be there too. That day, if Daddy speaks upstorn, press this triangle, okay? I stared
11:21at the little red play button and nodded hard. Okay, this was a game. A game only Oscar and I
11:28knew
11:28about. I was going to make sure everyone heard exactly what Daddy said that day. It rained on the day
11:34of mommy's funeral. The sky was gray. It looked like a dirty rag. I wore the black dress grandma
11:41bought me. A tiny white flower was pinned to my chest. The memorial hall was huge. It was packed
11:51with white flowers. Mommy's portrait hung right in the middle. She was smiling in the picture.
11:58Her eyes crinkled like little crescent moons. Daddy stood at the very front. He wore a crisp
12:06black suit. He looked terrible. His eyes were sunken. His face unshaven. People said he was
12:15a deeply devoted man. That he had grown so thin just after losing his wife. The bad woman didn't
12:25show up, but Stella did. She wore a black lace dress. She mouthed the words. You don't have a mom
12:35anymore. She made mean faces at me. I just stared blankly at her. I slipped my hand into my pocket.
12:44My fingers brushed the cold, shattered phone. The ceremony began. The somber music made my chest feel
12:52tight. Daddy walked up to the podium. He clutched a few sheets of paper. He started reading his eulogy.
13:01Irene, my beloved wife. He choked up on the very first line. The crowd wiped away their tears.
13:08They were moved by his heartbreaking true love. We've known each other for 10 years and loved each
13:15other for 10 years. You knew me better than anyone, and you were the person I loved most. The moment
13:21the
13:22earthquake struck, I wished I could have died in your place. If time could turn back, I would be by
13:28your
13:29side, holding your hand, and I would never let you face the darkness alone. He swayed, looking like he
13:37might collapse. A few relatives rushed up to hold him. They whispered words of comfort.
13:45Irene, how could you be so cruel? How could you leave Lucy and me behind? He beat his chest,
13:53wailing at Mommy's back. I stood in the front row. Oscar was right beside me. He knelt down to fix
14:01my
14:01collar. He gave my hand a tight squeeze. His palm was slick with sweat. Are you ready, Lucy? He
14:08whispered. Only I could hear him. I looked up at Daddy on stage. He was giving the performance of a
14:16lifetime. I watched his fake tears and trembling shoulders. I remembered her slicing open her own
14:26fingers. She fed me her blood, smiling through the pain. I thought about the dark, cold rubble.
14:33I thought of Mommy's body growing cold. I remembered those cruel words. Waiting a little longer won't kill
14:41her. A massive wave of anger exploded inside me. I didn't fully understand hatred yet, but I knew I had
14:51to ruin his act. Clutching the shattered phone, I walked on stage. A hush fell over the crowd. They thought,
15:01I just wanted to comfort Daddy. Daddy saw me approaching. Panic flashed in his eyes, but he hit it. He
15:09dropped
15:09to one knee and opened his arms. Lucy, come here, sweetie. Daddy misses her too. He wanted to pull me
15:17into a hug.
15:18He wanted to end his show with fake love. I stopped right in front of him. I didn't hug him.
15:27I raised the
15:29shattered phone instead. It was still stained with Mommy's dried blood. Daddy's pupils shrank in pure
15:38terror. He recognized the phone immediately. He lunged forward to snatch it. Lucy, that's dirty. Give it to
15:46Daddy right now. Right as his fingertips grazed the screen, my thumb slammed down on the red triangle.
15:55The Bluetooth is already synced to the giant speakers. The audio kicked in instantly. A harsh burst of
16:03static pierced the silence. Then that familiar cold voice boomed like thunder. Get Stella and the
16:11lightly injured first. The entire hall went dead silent. Every single eye locked onto Daddy. His
16:19hand froze in the air. The color completely drained from his face. The recording kept playing crystal
16:27clear. Leave Irene for later. She's tough as nails. Waiting a little longer won't kill her.
16:34Every word was a vicious slap across his face. Guests' jaws dropped in pure shock. They stared at this
16:43devoted husband. Furious whispers quickly filled the room. Is that Victor's voice? Oh my God,
16:51did he actually say that? Get Stella first? Who is Stella? Daddy collapsed to the floor like a ragdoll.
16:58He scrambled up in a total panic. He tried to shut off the speakers. No, it's not real. It's a
17:07fake.
17:08It's just a sick prank. A heavy wooden cane slammed into Daddy's back. It was Grandpa. He beat Daddy over
17:18and over again. You bastard. You heartless bastard. Placed my daughter in your hands and this is how you
17:26treated her. She's tough. You made her wait. Do you know she bled to death down there?
17:32Tears streamed down Grandpa's face. Every strike was fueled by pure rage. Daddy cowered, shielding his head.
17:42Blood dripped from a nasty cut on his forehead. Nobody tried to stop it. They just watched with sheer
17:49disgust. The reporters finally snapped out of it. Camera flashes erupted like crazy. The tragic love
17:59story was dead. It was now a massive cheating scandal. Is Stella, you're a legitimate daughter?
18:06Did you let your wife die for your mistress? Did you let your die for your mistress?
18:10Microphones were shoved right into his bloody face. He covered his face, refusing to look up.
18:16I stood in the dead center of the chaos. I still gripped the phone tightly. Oscar rushed up and
18:25scooped me up. He shielded me and backed away. Good job, Lucy. He whispered softly. I looked over Oscar's
18:34shoulder. I stared at Daddy on the floor. He looked so small and pathetic, like a rat crushed under a
18:43boot.
18:43Stella burst into tears. Stella burst into tears from the noise. She screamed from behind the marble
18:49pillar. Daddy, help me! The reporters finally snapped out of it. Is that Stella? She actually looks a bit
19:00like Victor. What? He let his wife die for a bastard! They threw them right at Stella. The scene
19:07completely spiraled out of control. The police showed up after someone called 911. Grandma pulled
19:16me close, sobbing uncontrollably. Let's go home, Lucy. He's dead to us now. I didn't cry or throw a
19:27tantrum. I just watched everything in dead silence. Before we left, I looked back. Daddy was kneeling
19:36before Mommy's portrait. He reached out to touch her picture. Grandpa kicked him away.
19:43Don't touch her with your filthy hands! Daddy collapsed onto the floor. He looked at me with pure
19:52desperation. Lucy, Daddy was wrong. I completely ignored him. I turned my head to Mommy's portrait.
20:02Did you hear that, Mommy? Everyone finally knows he's the bad guy. After that massive funeral scene,
20:09I got sick. The doctor said I had severe PTSD. I stopped talking entirely. I just hugged Mommy's old
20:21clothes. I wouldn't eat. I only drank brown sugar water. If I ate anything else, I threw up. Everything
20:31tasted like rusty iron to me. Grandma cooked different meals every single day, but I couldn't take a single
20:41bite. I lost so much weight. I looked like a terrifying little skeleton. Daddy came by our house
20:51a few times. He was suspended from his company. His reputation was completely destroyed. People threw rotten
21:00eggs at his door daily. He wanted to see me. He begged my grandparents for forgiveness. Grandpa chased him
21:10off with a heavy broom. He kneeled outside our front door. I watched him through a crack in the curtains.
21:19He stayed on his knees all night long. It was pouring rain that night. Just like the day of Mommy's
21:27funeral. He was totally soaked to the bone. His wet hair plastered to his face. He looked like a pathetic
21:35drowned rat.
21:36Lucy! Lucy! I know I messed up. Please just look at me. You're all I have left.
21:42He screamed through the pouring rain. His voice was totally hoarse. I thought it was hilarious.
21:49I'm all he has left? What about Stella? What about the bad woman? Did they abandon him already?
21:57Grandma walked into my bedroom. Grandma walked into my bedroom. She held a warm cup of brown sugar water. Grandma
22:06asked me so carefully.
22:08Lucy, he's still out there. Do you want to see him?
22:12I took the cup from her hands. I took a tiny little sip. It was warm and sweet. But I
22:22still tasted a hint of blood. I shook my head at Grandma. I walked right up to the window. I
22:32pulled the curtains tightly shut in his face.
22:35I remembered being trapped under the rubble. I had screamed for him just like that. I screamed until my voice
22:46went hoarse. But he only cared about other people.
22:50Now it was his turn to scream. I was going to let him wait too. He could wait until he
22:58died.
22:58I sat in my room drawing pictures. I only used black and red crayons. I drew a pitch black box.
23:10A monster was trapped inside it. The monster was crying endlessly. But nobody paid any attention to it.
23:20Grandpa said daddy's company was going bankrupt. Everyone was boycotting his business. Nobody wanted to work with a murderer. Oscar
23:32dug up his fake accounting books. Turns out he wasn't just a terrible dad. He was a completely corrupt boss
23:41too. He embezzled tons of company money. He bought the bad woman a house and a car.
23:49I listened to my grandparents talking about it. I listened to my grandparents talking about it. I felt absolutely nothing
23:54inside. I just kept sipping my warm brown sugar water. Cup after cup. I drank until my stomach physically ached.
24:06Until the rusty iron taste finally faded.
24:10The bad woman got arrested. The bad woman got arrested. She was caught at the airport trying to flee. Dad's
24:16company was completely ruined. She drained his remaining bank accounts. She tried to take Stella out of the country.
24:25But Oscar was one step ahead of her. His police buddies caught her red handed. Grandpa took me to the
24:36police station. I had to give a statement about my custody.
24:42I saw the bad woman in the hallway. She was wearing shiny silver handcuffs. Her hair was a complete rat's
24:52nest. Her makeup was totally smeared. Stella was crying so hard she couldn't breathe. Snot was running all down her
25:02face.
25:02Mommy, I want to go home. I don't want to be here. Shut up. Shut up. Stop your crying.
25:09When she saw me, her eyes went bloodshot. She lunged at me like a total mad woman.
25:15It's all your fault, you little bastard. If it wasn't for your bitch mother, Victor wouldn't be completely bankrupt. I
25:20wouldn't be in this total mess.
25:23A police officer grabbed her instantly. He pinned her hard against the wall.
25:29Stay still.
25:31I hid behind Grandpa and peeked out. Her face was completely twisted with rage. She looked like an ugly old
25:40witch.
25:41Daddy was there too. He was there as a witness and as a victim.
25:48Adam, seeing her, Daddy charged forward. He tried to punch her right there.
25:55Camille, you vicious bitch! After everything I did for you, you cleaned out my accounts and ran? That's enough!
26:01Did right by me? Give me a break. If you really cared about me, you would have divorced Irina a
26:09long time ago.
26:10And you wanted me to give you a son. And what did you end up with? No son.
26:16So, that was the real truth. They tore into each other like rabid dogs. The cops couldn't watch it anymore.
26:26They forcibly dragged them apart. I looked at Daddy's pathetic face. It was covered in spit and blood.
26:34Camille looked completely ruined too. Suddenly, I felt something shift inside me.
26:41The heavy boulder in my chest lifted. I let go of Grandpa's hand. I walked right up to the bad
26:49woman.
26:49You are so ugly!
26:52I finally spoke my first words in weeks.
26:55Even uglier than the rats in the ruins.
26:58Then, I turned around.
27:00Grandpa, I want to go home. I want my warm brown sugar water.
27:04Later, Grandpa sorted through Mommy's belongings.
27:09He 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.
27:22He read it and cried hysterically.
27:24He cried until he almost passed out.
27:28I leaned in to look too.
27:30I 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.
27:45It 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.
27:57Or 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.
28:35I 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.
29:50And, 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.
30:00Hating someone takes strength.
30:03Because he's not worth it.
30:05He deserved to rot like garbage.
30:07Dad was going to prison.
30:09For financial crimes.
30:12And, uh, embezzlement.
30:15The amount was massive.
30:18Before sentencing, he begged Grandpa countless times.
30:23He wanted to see me once more.
30:28Grandpa 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.
30:47Handcuffs 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.
31:11You've gotten taller.
31:12His 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.
31:41And, strangely, I felt calm.
31:45It 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.
32:03His shoulders shook violently.
32:04But, for the rest of your life, all you'll know is bitterness.
32:09I 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!
32:23I didn't turn around.
32:24The wind lifted the fallen leaves.
32:27They spun into the sky.
32:30Ten years passed.
32:31That'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.
32:56But, 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 10 years behind bars.
33:31The letter was written on cheap paper.
33:34The handwriting was shaky and crooked.
33:36Several 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 10 years, every time I close my eyes, I see the rubbles.
33:47I see your mother covered in blood.
33:48I 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.
34:03I 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.
34:18But 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 5.43 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,
34:53Save Irene first.
34:55Irene.
34:56My mother's name.
34:57He finally remembered to save mom first.
35:00Got it.
35:02I hung up.
35:02Then I kept eating.
35:04Grandpa'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 ten 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.
Comments