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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. 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
01:03me before 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. Daddy was
01:18coming to me. Found her! Over here! There's a kid still alive! Mommy, it's morning. Can we go home now?
01:32I pushed against her chest. It wasn't soft like it used to be. A whole section of it was crushed
01:39inward,
01:40covered in something warm and sticky. Hurry! Grab the kid first! Huge, rough hands reached in and tore me
01:48away from her. No! Mommy's still sleeping! I want to wait for her! My fingers locked in a death grip
01:54on
01:55the hem of her shirt. The fabric gave way. A man in an orange rescue vest hauled me against his
02:01chest.
02:02My mouth was crusted with dried, flaky red patches. It was the brown sugar water Mommy had been feeding me.
02:10Lucy! Oh God, Lucy! A figure came stumbling through the debris. It was Daddy. He was still wearing his
02:20expensive suit. It was dusted with concrete powder, making him look a little disheveled. He grabbed me
02:26from the rescue worker and crushed me against his chest. Thank God, you're alive. I thought I'd lost you.
02:34He was sobbing, his whole body trembling. Then a scent hit me. A sickeningly sweet, overpowering perfume. It was
02:43the smell Mommy hated most in the world. She always said it was the smell of a bad woman.
02:50I squirmed against him. Daddy, Mommy's still down there. She's asleep. Daddy froze. He didn't even glance
03:00at the rubble. Instead, he forced my face into his shoulder to block my view. Shh, sweetheart. Mommy.
03:09Mommy. Mommy's gone to a better place. No, she didn't! She's right down there! I cried frantically,
03:18pointing at the pitch black gap in the concrete. Mommy gave me so much brown sugar water. She promised
03:25you'd come for us before it was all gone. All the color drained from Daddy's face. He stared at the
03:32dark,
03:32crusted blood around my mouth, gulping hard. A heavy silence fell over the medics around us. One of the
03:39nurses clamped a hand over her mouth, tears spilling down her cheeks. But Daddy just looked away. He
03:46couldn't meet my eyes. What was he so scared of? Was it because of the broken phone? The one that
03:52played his
03:53voice earlier, growling like a monster. A voice that said Mommy was tough as nails and that leaving her
03:59behind wouldn't kill her. Daddy, why did you tell them to leave Mommy behind? I leaned close to his ear
04:08and whispered, Daddy recoiled, shoving me back like I had just burned him. There was no relief in his eyes
04:15anymore. Only pure, naked terror. The ambulance siren wailed as we sped down the road. I sat in the back,
04:23still clutching the torn scrap of Mommy's shirt. Daddy sat across from me, wringing his hands nervously.
04:30His hands were perfectly clean, his nails neatly manicured. They looked nothing like Mommy's hands,
04:36which were caked in mud and dried blood. Lucy, while you were down there, did you hear anything? Daddy asked
04:41tentatively, unable to meet my eyes. I licked my lips. That rusty taste was still in my mouth. I did.
04:49A visible shudder ran through Daddy. What did you hear? I heard you tell them to save Stella first.
04:56The air inside the ambulance instantly froze. The paramedic who had been wiping dust off my face
05:02stopped, her hand hovering in midair. She shot Daddy a piercing, icy glare. Daddy forced an awkward
05:09smile that looked more like a grimace. You misheard, sweetie. The signal was bad. Daddy was just panicking.
05:15Really? I tilted my head, studying him. But who is Stella? Why is she more important than Mommy?
05:23Daddy opened his mouth, but no words came out. He quickly turned to look out the window, pretending to
05:28wipe away a tear. When we arrived at the hospital, a massive crowd swarmed us. Camera flashes went off
05:35non-stop. So bright, I couldn't open my eyes. Suddenly, Daddy acted like a completely different
05:41person. He scooped me into his arms and began sobbing hysterically for the cameras. Thank God.
05:48Thank God for bringing my daughter back to me. I'd trade anything in the world as long as my Lucy
05:54is safe.
05:55The reporters wiped their eyes and praised Daddy for being such a good father. I rested my chin on his
06:01shoulder, watching the side of his face. He was wailing loudly, but his cheeks were completely dry.
06:07He looked just like a clown on TV. Once we got to the VIP ward, I finally saw his Stella.
06:14She was
06:15staying in a massive private hospital suite. She was wearing a frilly pink lace dress and happily eating
06:23a slice of strawberry cake. There wasn't a single scratch on her. Even her hair was perfectly brushed and
06:30shiny. A woman in a flowing white dress sat by her bedside. She was very pretty and she radiated the
06:37exact 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 sat me down immediately and hurried over to her, taking her hands in his. Camille, how is Stella?
06:59She must have been terrified. I stood in the doorway, feeling like a piece of discarded trash. Stella noticed
07:06me. She wrinkled her nose and pointed right at me. Mommy, is she the feral girl who drinks blood?
07:14She's so gross. Drinking blood, feral girl. I stared at the smear of whipped cream on her lip. My empty
07:21stomach gave a low rumble. The woman, Camille, walked over and crouched down in front of me.
07:27You must be Lucy. Oh, you poor girl. Come, let me give you a hug. She reached out to me.
07:33That's
07:34when I saw the gold bracelet gleaming on her wrist. It was the exact same bracelet Mommy had. Mommy told
07:41me Daddy had specially made it for her to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. So why was she wearing
07:46it? A sudden, blinding rage flared up in my chest. Like an enraged little animal, I lunged at her and
07:53bit
07:53down on her wrist. The bad woman shrieked, swinging her arm to violently shake me off. The sheer force
07:59sent me flying backward and my head slammed hard against the metal footboard of the hospital bed.
08:04A sharp dizzying pain shot through me, but I didn't shed a single tear. I just sat on the floor,
08:11glaring
08:11at her with pure hatred. Lucy! Are you crazy? Daddy rushed over. He tenderly cradled the bad woman's
08:18injured arm. Camille, are you okay? Did she hurt you? He snapped his head back around, glaring at me
08:25with absolute fury. How could you behave like this? Apologize to her right now! I stayed slumped on the
08:32cold floor. A warm trickle of liquid began sliding down my forehead. It was red too, just like the
08:39brown sugar water Mommy had fed me. Daddy, I'm bleeding too. Are you gonna make me wait a little
08:45longer too? The room went dead silent. Daddy's face turned beet red with rage. The bad woman's eyes darted
08:53around. Ignoring the bite marks on her wrist, she put on a sickeningly sweet face and tried to help me
08:59up.
08:59Victor, don't be mad at her. She just lost her mom. She can't handle the shock. She stroked my head,
09:06but her nails dug hard into my skin. Be good, Lucy. I don't mind. Let me buy you some candy
09:14later,
09:14all right? I slapped her hand away. I don't want candy. I have the brown sugar water Mommy gave me.
09:21The bad woman's smile vanished. Daddy, kick this freak out! She stinks! Daddy took a deep breath and
09:28buzzed for a nurse. Take her next door and get her cleaned up and have someone examine her head.
09:33She's clearly lost her mind. Examine my head? Daddy thought I was crazy. A young nurse led me
09:39away. As she cleaned my wound, she quietly wiped away her tears. Sweetie, it won't hurt.
09:47I promise to be gentle. I looked up at her. Miss, is my mommy really dead? Her hand trembled. She
09:54pulled me into a tight hug and finally broke down sobbing. Your mommy was a great mother.
10:01That evening, my grandparents arrived. The moment Grandma saw me, she broke down and passed out from
10:08the shock. Grandpa leaned heavily on his cane, his hands shaking violently. He demanded to take me home
10:15with him. Dad, Lucy's been through a massive shock. She's talking nonsense right now. It's safer to keep
10:20her here for observation. But Daddy refused. But I knew the real reason. He was terrified I'd talk.
10:27Terrified I'd spill that secret. Late that night, the door to my room clicked open. It was Uncle Oscar,
10:33Daddy's personal assistant. Normally, he just trailed behind Daddy like a shadow, keeping his head down
10:39and his mouth shut. But tonight, the look in his eyes was completely different. He walked over to my bed
10:46and pulled something from his pocket. A phone with a badly shattered screen. Mommy's phone.
10:52Lucy, they dug this out of the rubble. It still works. I snatched the phone and hugged it tight against
10:59my chest. It smelled like mommy and there were patches of dry blood on the casing. Oscar gently
11:05stroked my hair. Lucy, do you want to help mommy get revenge? In a few days, it will be mommy's
11:10funeral.
11:10A lot of people will be there and that bad woman will be there too. That day, if Daddy speaks
11:18up
11:18storm, press this triangle, okay? I stared at the little red play button and nodded hard. Okay, this
11:25was a game. A game only Oscar and I knew about. I was going to make sure everyone heard exactly
11:31what
11:32Daddy said that day. It rained on the day of mommy's funeral. The sky was gray. It looked like a
11:38dirty rag.
11:38I wore the black dress grandma bought me. A tiny white flower was pinned to my chest. The memorial hall
11:47was huge. It was packed with white flowers. Mommy's portrait hung right in the middle.
11:55She was smiling in the picture. Her eyes crinkled like little crescent moons. Daddy stood at the very
12:04front. He wore a crisp black suit. He looked terrible. His eyes were sunken. His face unshaven.
12:14People said he was a deeply devoted man. That he had grown so thin just after losing his wife. The
12:24bad woman
12:24didn't show up, but Stella did. She wore a black lace dress. She mouthed the words,
12:33You don't have a mom anymore. She made mean faces at me. I just stared blankly at her.
12:40I slipped my hand into my pocket. My fingers brushed the cold, shattered phone. The ceremony began.
12:49The somber music made my chest feel tight. Daddy walked up to the podium. He clutched a few sheets
12:57of paper. He started reading his eulogy. Irene, my beloved wife. He choked up on the very first line.
13:05The crowd wiped away their tears. They were moved by his heartbreaking true love.
13:12We've known each other for ten years and loved each other for ten years. You knew me better than
13:18anyone, and you were the person I loved most. The moment the earthquake struck, I wished I could have
13:24died in your place. If time could turn back, I would be by your side, holding your hand, and I
13:31would never
13:32let you face the darkness alone. He swayed, looking like he might collapse. A few relatives rushed up to
13:41hold him. They whispered words of comfort. Irene, how could you be so cruel? How could you leave Lucy
13:50and me behind? He beat his chest, wailing at Mama's back? I stood in the front row. Oscar was right
13:59beside
13:59me. He knelt down to fix my collar. He gave my hand a tight squeeze. His palm was slick with
14:06sweat. Are you ready, Lucy?
14:08He whispered. Only I could hear him. I looked up at Daddy on stage. He was giving the performance of
14:16a lifetime.
14:17I watched his fake tears and trembling shoulders. I remembered her slicing open her own fingers.
14:26She 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
14:40longer won't kill her. A massive wave of anger exploded inside me. I didn't fully understand
14:48hatred yet, but I knew I had to ruin his act. Clutching the shattered phone, I walked on stage. A
14:57hush fell over the crowd. They thought I just wanted to comfort Daddy. Daddy saw me approaching. Panic
15:06flashed in his eyes, but he hid it. He dropped to one knee and opened his arms. Lucy, come here,
15:13sweetie. Daddy misses her too. He wanted to pull me into a hug. He wanted to end his show with
15:22fake love.
15:23I stopped right in front of him. I didn't hug him. I raised the shattered phone instead.
15:31It was still stained with Mommy's dried blood. Daddy's pupils shrank in pure terror. He recognized the
15:40phone immediately. He lunged forward to snatch it. Lucy, that's dirty! Give it to Daddy right now!
15:48Right as his fingertips grazed the screen, my thumb slammed down on the red triangle. The Bluetooth
15:56is already synced to the giant speakers. The audio kicked in instantly. A harsh burst of static pierced
16:04the silence. Then that familiar cold voice boomed like thunder. Get Stella and the lightly injured first!
16:12The entire hall went dead silent. Every single eye locked onto Daddy. His hand froze in the air.
16:21The color completely drained from his face. The recording kept playing crystal clear.
16:28Leave 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 rag doll.
16:58He scrambled up in a total panic. He tried to shut off the speakers.
17:04No! It's not real! It's a fake! It's just a sick prank! A heavy wooden cane slammed into Daddy's back.
17:14It was Grandpa. He beat Daddy over and over again. You bastard! You heartless bastard!
17:23You placed my daughter in your hands and this is how you treated her! She's tough! You made her wait!
17:29Do you know she bled to death down there!
17:32Tears streamed down Grandpa's face. Every strike was fueled by pure rage.
17:39Daddy cowered, shielding his head. Blood dripped from a nasty cut on his forehead. Nobody tried to stop it. They
17:48just watched with sheer disgust. 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.
18:04Is Stella your legitimate daughter? Did you let your wife die for your mistress? Did you let your die for
18:09your mistress?
18:10Microphones were shoved right into his bloody face. He covered his face, refusing to look up. I stood in the
18:18dead center of the chaos. I still gripped the phone tightly. Oscar rushed up and scooped me up. He shielded
18:27me and backed away.
18:29Good job, Lucy. He whispered softly. I looked over Oscar's shoulder. I stared at Daddy on the floor. He looked
18:38so small and pathetic. Like a rat crushed under a boot. Stella burst into tears from the noise. She screamed
18:47from behind the marble pillar.
18:50Daddy, help me!
18:52The reporters finally snapped out of it.
18:56Is that Stella?
18:58She actually looks a bit like Victor.
19:01What?
19:02He let his wife die for a bastard!
19:04They threw them right at Stella. The scene completely spiraled out of control. The police showed up after someone called
19:13911. Grandma pulled me close, sobbing uncontrollably.
19:19Let's go home, Lucy. He's dead to us now.
19:22I didn't cry or throw a tantrum. I just watched everything in dead silence. Before we left, I looked back.
19:35Daddy was kneeling before Mommy's portrait. He reached out to touch her picture. Grandpa kicked him away.
19:42Don't touch her with your filthy hands.
19:46Don't touch her with your filthy hands. Daddy collapsed onto the floor. He looked at me with pure desperation.
19:53Lucy, Daddy was wrong. I completely ignored him. I turned my head to Mommy's portrait. Did you hear that, Mommy?
20:04Everyone finally knows he's the bad guy.
20:06After that massive funeral scene, I got sick. The doctor said I had severe PTSD. I stopped talking entirely. I
20:18just hugged Mommy's old clothes.
20:21I wouldn't eat. I only drank brown sugar water. If I ate anything else, I threw up. Everything tasted like
20:33rusty iron to me. Grandma cooked different meals every single day, but I couldn't take a single bite.
20:42I lost so much weight. I looked like a terrifying little skeleton. Daddy came by our house a few times.
20:52He was suspended from his company. His reputation was completely destroyed.
20:59People threw rotten eggs at his door daily. He wanted to see me. He begged my grandparents for forgiveness. Grandpa
21:09chased him off with a heavy broom. He kneeled outside our front door. I watched him through a crack in
21:18the curtains. He stayed on his knees all night long.
21:21It was pouring rain that night. Just like the day of Mommy's funeral. He was totally soaked to the bone.
21:30His wet hair plastered to his face. He looked like a pathetic drowned rat.
21:36Lucy! I know I messed up! Please just look at me! You're all I have left!
21:41He screamed through the pouring rain. His voice was totally hoarse. I thought it was hilarious. I'm all he has
21:51left?
21:51What about Stella? What about the bad woman? Did they abandon him already?
21:58Grandma walked into my bedroom. She held a warm cup of brown sugar water. Grandma asked 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.
22:24I shook my head at Grandma. I walked right up to the window. I pulled the curtains tightly shut in
22:34his 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.
22:47But he only cared about other people. Now it was his turn to scream. I was going to let him
22:55wait too. He could wait until he died.
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.
23:30Oscar dug up his fake accounting books. Turns out he wasn't just a terrible dad. He was a completely corrupt
23:40boss too.
23:42He embezzled tons of company money. He bought the bad woman a house and a car. I listened to my
23:50grandparents talking about it. I felt absolutely nothing inside.
23:55I just kept sipping my warm brown sugar water. Cup after cup. I drank until my stomach physically ached. Until
24:06the rusty iron taste finally faded.
24:10The bad woman got arrested. She was caught at the airport trying to flee. Dad's company was completely ruined.
24:18She drained. She drained his remaining bank accounts. She tried to take Stella out of the country. But Oscar was
24:28one step ahead of her.
24:30His police buddies caught her red-handed. Grandpa took me to the police station. I had to give a statement
24:41about 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.
24:57Stella was crying so hard she couldn't breathe. Snot was running all down her face.
25:02Mommy, I want to go home. I don't want to be here.
25:05Shut up! Shut up! Stop your crying!
25:08When she saw me, her eyes went bloodshot. She lunged at me like a total madwoman.
25:15It's all your fault, you little bastard! If it wasn't for your bitch mother, Victor wouldn't be completely bankrupt.
25:20I wouldn't be in this total mess!
25:23A police officer grabbed her instantly. He pinned her hard against the wall.
25:29Stay still.
25:30I hid behind Grandpa and peeked out. Her face was completely twisted with rage. She looked like an ugly old
25:40witch. Daddy was there too. He was there as a witness. And as a victim, seeing her, Daddy charged forward.
25:52He 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. And you wanted me to give you a son. And what did you end up with? No
26:15son.
26:16So, that was the real truth. They tore into each other like rabid dogs. The cops couldn't watch it anymore.
26:25They 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. The heavy boulder in my chest lifted. I
26:44let go of Grandpa's hand.
26:46I walked right up to the bad woman. You are so ugly. I finally spoke my first words in weeks.
26:55Even uglier than the rats in the ruins. Then, I turned around. Grandpa, I want to go home. I want
27:03my warm brown sugar water.
27:04Later, Grandpa sorted through Mommy's belongings. He found an old diary. It had a light pink cover. It was Mommy's
27:17favorite notebook.
27:18Grandpa put on his reading glasses. He read it and cried hysterically. He cried until he almost passed out. I
27:29leaned in to look too. I couldn't read all those big words.
27:33But, but I recognized Mommy's drawings. Tucked inside the pages was a photo. It was a black and white ultrasound
27:44picture. It showed a blurry little shadow. He looked at me with tearful eyes.
27:50Lucy, this is your little brother. I was completely stunned. Or little sister. It turned out that on the day
28:01of the earthquake, Mommy still had a baby in her belly. Grandpa read Mom's diary out loud to me.
28:08Went in for a checkup today. The doctor said the baby looks perfect. I want to surprise Victor. I'll tell
28:16him on his birthday. I hope it's a boy. When he grows up, he can protect Lucy.
28:22Victor's been coming home later and later. He always smells like perfume. But I trust him. He promised he'd change.
28:30For my two children, I can endure anything.
28:33My tears came flooding out. I thought about the earthquake again. When that huge slab came crashing down, Mom didn't
28:44lie flat. She curled herself into a bridge.
28:48She used her back to block the rocks. She shielded me and the baby underneath her. In the dark, she
28:57kept encouraging me.
28:59She fed me her blood. She never once said she was hurting. So that was the truth. She was protecting
29:08both of us. Me and the baby.
29:13But what did Dad say? He said Mom was tough. He said save Stella first. He killed his own wife.
29:22And his unborn child too.
29:25Somehow, Dad found out. That night, he started wailing downstairs. He rolled around on the ground. He slammed his head
29:36into the wall. His forehead split open.
29:39God, just kill me. I'm guilty. I'm a bastard.
29:42He was confessing. But it was too late. Mom couldn't hear him anymore. The baby couldn't hear him either. And
29:51neither could I. I held the diary tight against my chest.
29:56Grandpa, I don't hate him anymore.
29:58Grandpa stared at me in shock. Hating someone takes strength.
30:02Because he's not worth it.
30:05He deserved to rot like garbage. Dad was going to prison. For financial crimes and embezzlement, the amount was massive.
30:18Before sentencing, he begged Grandpa countless times.
30:23He wanted to see me once more. Grandpa didn't want to agree. But I nodded.
30:33We met on a park bench. It was autumn. The leaves had all turned yellow. The wind felt sharp and
30:42cold.
30:43Dad was wearing the detention center vest. Handcuffs hung from his wrists. Only a few months had passed. But he
30:53looked 60.
30:54His back was bent, too. When he saw me, his eyes lit up. He tried to reach for me. He
31:01wanted to hug me.
31:03But I stepped back. His hand froze in midair. Then he pulled it back awkwardly.
31:09Lucy, you've gotten taller. His voice came out rough and broken.
31:17Dad's going somewhere far away. I may not back come for a long time.
31:23I said nothing. I just looked at him quietly. He was crying hard now.
31:28I failed you. I failed your mom. And I failed that unborn baby, too. I'll never repay that debt.
31:35Tears and snot covered his face. I watched him sob uncontrollably.
31:42And strangely, I felt calm. It was strawberry hard candy. Mom used to give me those with medicine.
31:53Mom used to say, candy makes the bitterness go away.
31:58Dad looked at the candy. Then he broke down even harder. His 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! Lucy!
32:23I 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.
32:46On my 15th birthday, I woke up early.
32:50It 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.
33:48I hear her asking me again and again,
33:51Victor, why didn't you save me?
33:53And 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.
34:17But 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.
34:31I answered,
34:32Is 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.
35:01I 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.
35:30Then 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.
36:15The black ashes lifted in the wind.
36:18I drank the last sip of brown sugar water.
36:22So 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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