- 3 hours ago
After the Quake, I Avenged Mom
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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 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
01:36to be. A 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. No! Mommy's still
01:50sleeping. I want to wait for her. My fingers locked in a death grip on the hem of her shirt.
01:56The fabric gave way. A man in an orange rescue vest hauled me against his chest. My mouth was
02:03crusted with dried, flaky red patches. It was the brown sugar water mommy had been feeding me.
02:10Lucy! Oh god, Lucy!
02:13A figure came stumbling through the debris. It was daddy. He was still wearing his expensive suit.
02:21It was dusted with concrete powder, making him look a little disheveled. He grabbed me from the
02:27rescue 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
02:42perfume. It was the smell mommy hated most in the world. She always said it was the smell of a
02:49bad
02:50woman. I squirmed against him. Daddy, mommy's still down there. She's asleep. Daddy froze. He
02:59didn't even glance at the rubble. Instead, he forced my face into his shoulder to block my view.
03:06Shh, sweetheart. Mommy. Mommy's gone to a better place. No, she didn't! She's right down there!
03:17I cried frantically, pointing at the pitch black gap in the concrete. Mommy gave me so much brown
03:23sugar water. She promised you'd come for us before it was all gone. All the color drained from daddy's
03:30face. He stared at the dark, crusted blood around my mouth, gulping hard. A heavy silence fell over the
03:37medics around us. One of the nurses clamped a hand over her mouth, tears spilling down her cheeks.
03:43But daddy just looked away. He couldn't meet my eyes. What was he so scared of? Was it because
03:50of the broken phone? The one that played his voice earlier, growling like a monster? The voice that
03:56said mommy was tough as nails and that leaving her behind wouldn't kill her. Daddy, why did you tell
04:04them to leave mommy behind? I leaned close to his ear and whispered, daddy recoiled, shoving me back like
04:12I had just burned him. There was no relief in his eyes anymore, only pure naked terror. The ambulance
04:19siren wailed as we sped down the road. I sat in the back, still clutching the torn scrap of mommy's
04:26shirt.
04:26Daddy sat across from me, wringing his hands nervously. His hands were perfectly clean,
04:32his nails neatly manicured. They looked nothing like mommy's hands, which were caked in mud and
04:37dried blood. Lucy, while you were down there, did you hear anything? Daddy asked tentatively,
04:43unable to meet my eyes. I licked my lips. That rusty taste was still in my mouth. I did. A
04:50visible
04:50shudder 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
05:14was just panicking. Really? I tilted my head, studying him. But who is Stella? Why is she more
05:22important than mommy? Daddy opened his mouth, but no words came out. He quickly turned to look out the
05:27window, pretending to wipe away a tear. When we arrived at the hospital, a massive crowd swarmed us.
05:34Camera flashes went 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, as long as
05:54my Lucy is safe.
05:55The reporters wiped their eyes and praised daddy for being such a good father. I rested my chin on his
06:01shoulder,
06:01watching the side of his face. He was wailing loudly, but his cheeks were completely dry. He looked just
06:09like a clown on TV. Once we got to the VIP ward, I finally saw his Stella. She was staying
06:16in a massive
06:17private hospital suite. She was wearing a frilly pink lace dress and happily eating a slice of strawberry
06:25cake. There wasn't a single scratch on her. Even her hair was perfectly brushed and shiny.
06:31A woman in a flowing white dress sat by her bedside. She was very pretty, and she radiated the exact
06:38same
06:38sickeningly 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.
06:52Daddy 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. Stella noticed me. She wrinkled her
07:08nose and pointed right at me. Mommy, is she the feral girl who drinks blood? She's so gross.
07:16Drinking blood. Feral girl. I stared at the smear of whipped cream on her lip. My empty stomach gave a
07:22low
07:22rumble. The woman, Camille, walked over and crouched down in front of me. You must be Lucy. Oh, you poor
07:30girl. Come let me give you a hug. She reached out to me. That's when I saw the gold bracelet
07:36gleaming on her
07:37wrist. It was the exact same bracelet Mommy had. Mommy told me Daddy had specially made it for her to
07:43celebrate
07:44their 10th wedding anniversary. So why was she wearing it? A sudden, blinding rage flared up in
07:49my chest. Like an enraged little animal, I lunged at her and bit down on her wrist. The bad woman
07:55shrieked, swinging her arm to violently shake me off. The sheer force sent me flying backward and my head
08:01slammed hard against the metal footboard of the hospital bed. A sharp, dizzying pain shot through me,
08:07but I didn't shed a single tear. I just sat on the floor, glaring at her with pure hatred. Lucy!
08:14Are you crazy? Daddy rushed over. He tenderly cradled the bad woman's injured arm. Camille,
08:20are you okay? Did she hurt you? He snapped his head back around, glaring at me with absolute fury.
08:27How could you behave like this? Apologize to her right now! I stayed slumped on the cold floor.
08:33A warm, trickle of liquid began sliding down my forehead. It was red too, just like the brown
08:40sugar water Mommy had fed me. Daddy, I'm bleeding too. Are you gonna make me wait a little longer too?
08:47The room went dead silent. Daddy's face turned beet red with rage. The 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.
09:00Victor, don't be mad at her. She just lost her mom. She can't handle the shock.
09:05She stroked my head, but her nails dug hard into my skin.
09:10Be good, Lucy. I don't mind. Let me buy you some candy later, alright?
09:15I slapped her hand away. I don't want candy!
09:19I have the brown sugar water Mommy gave me. The bad woman's smile vanished.
09:24Daddy, kick this freak out! She stinks!
09:27Daddy took a deep breath and buzzed for a nurse.
09:30Take her next door and get her cleaned up. And have someone examine her head. She's clearly lost her mind.
09:35Examine my head? Daddy thought I was crazy. A young nurse led me away.
09:40As she cleaned my wound, she quietly wiped away her tears.
09:45Sweetie, it won't hurt. I promise to be gentle.
09:49I looked up at her. Miss, is my mommy really dead?
09:53Her hand trembled. She pulled me into a tight hug and finally broke down sobbing.
09:58Your mommy was a great mother.
10:01That evening, my grandparents arrived. The moment Grandma saw me, she broke down and passed out from the shock.
10:09Grandpa leaned heavily on his cane, his hands shaking violently. He demanded to take me home with him.
10:16Dad, Lucy's been through a massive shock. She's talking nonsense right now. It's safer to keep her here for observation.
10:22But Daddy refused. But I knew the real reason. He was terrified I'd talk. Terrified I'd spill that secret.
10:29Late that night, the door to my room clicked open. It was Uncle Oscar, Daddy's personal assistant.
10:36Normally, he just trailed behind Daddy like a shadow, keeping his head down and his mouth shut.
10:41But tonight, the look in his eyes was completely different. He walked over to my bed and pulled something from
10:48his pocket.
10:48A phone with a badly shattered screen. Mommy's phone.
10:52Lucy, they dug this out of the rubble. It still works.
10:57I snatched the phone and hugged it tight against my chest. It smelled like mommy and there were patches of
11:03dried blood on the casing.
11:05Oscar gently stroked my hair.
11:07Lucy, do you want to help mommy get revenge? In a few days, it will be mommy's funeral. A lot
11:12of people will be there, and that bad woman will be there, too.
11:17That day, if Daddy speaks upstorn, press this triangle, okay?
11:21I stared at the little red play button and nodded hard.
11:25Okay, this was a game. A 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. The sky was gray. It looked like a dirty rag.
11:39I wore the black dress grandma bought me. A tiny white flower was pinned to my chest.
11:47The memorial hall was huge. It was packed with white flowers.
11:53Mommy's portrait hung right in the middle.
11:55She was smiling in the picture. Her eyes crinkled like little crescent moons.
12:03She stood at the very front. He wore a crisp black suit.
12:08He looked terrible. His eyes were sunken, his face unshaven.
12:15People said he was a deeply devoted man.
12:18That he had grown so thin just after losing his wife.
12:24The bad woman didn't show up, but Stella did.
12:28She wore a black lace dress.
12:31She mouthed the words,
12:34You don't have a mom anymore.
12:36She made mean faces at me.
12:38Yeah.
12:39I just stared blankly at her.
12:41I slipped my hand into my pocket.
12:44My fingers brushed the cold, shattered phone.
12:48The ceremony began.
12:50The somber music made my chest feel tight.
12:52Daddy walked up to the podium.
12:56He clutched a few sheets of paper.
12:59He started reading his eulogy.
13:01Irene, my beloved wife.
13:04He choked up on the very first line.
13:06The crowd wiped away their tears.
13:09They were moved by his heartbreaking true love.
13:13We'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,
13:28I would be by your side,
13:30holding your hand,
13:31and I would never let you face the darkness alone.
13:35He swayed, looking like he might collapse.
13:39A few relatives rushed up to hold him.
13:43They whispered words of comfort.
13:46Irene, how could you be so cruel?
13:49How could you leave Lucy and me behind?
13:52He beat his chest,
13:54wailing at Mama's back.
13:56I stood in the front row.
13:59Oscar was right beside me.
14:00He knelt down to fix my collar.
14:02He gave my hand a tight squeeze.
14:05His palm was slick with sweat.
14:07Are you ready, Lucy?
14:09He whispered.
14:10Only I could hear him.
14:12I looked up at Daddy on stage.
14:14He was giving the performance of a lifetime.
14:17I watched his fake tears and trembling shoulders.
14:23I remembered her slicing open her own fingers.
14:27She fed me her blood, smiling through the pain.
14:31I thought about the dark, cold rubble.
14:34I thought of Mommy's body growing cold.
14:37I remembered those cruel words.
14:40Waiting a little longer won't kill her.
14:42A massive wave of anger exploded inside me.
14:46I didn't fully understand hatred yet, but I knew I had to ruin his act.
14:53Clutching the shattered phone, I walked on stage.
14:57A hush fell over the crowd.
15:01They thought, I just wanted to comfort Daddy.
15:04Daddy saw me approaching.
15:06Panic flashed in his eyes, but he hid it.
15:09He dropped to one knee and opened his arms.
15:13Lucy, come here, sweetie.
15:15Daddy misses her, too.
15:17He wanted to pull me into a hug.
15:20He wanted to end his show with fake love.
15:24I stopped right in front of him.
15:26I didn't hug him.
15:28I raised the shattered phone instead.
15:32It was still stained with Mommy's dried blood.
15:36Daddy's pupils shrank in pure terror.
15:39He recognized the phone immediately.
15:42He lunged forward to snatch it.
15:45Lucy, that's dirty!
15:47Give it to Daddy right now!
15:49Right as his fingertips grazed the screen,
15:52my thumb slammed down on the red triangle.
15:56The Bluetooth is already synced to the giant speakers.
16:00The audio kicked in instantly.
16:02A harsh burst of static pierced the silence.
16:06Then, that familiar, cold voice boomed like thunder.
16:10Get Stella and the lightly injured first!
16:13The entire hall went dead silent.
16:16Every single eye locked onto Daddy.
16:19His hand froze in the air.
16:22The color completely drained from his face.
16:25The recording kept playing crystal clear.
16:29Leave Irene for later.
16:31She's tough as nails.
16:33Waiting a little longer won't kill her.
16:36Every word was a vicious slap across his face.
16:39Guests' jaws dropped in pure shock.
16:42They stared at this devoted husband.
16:47Furious whispers quickly filled the room.
16:49Is that Victor's voice?
16:51Oh my god, did he actually say that?
16:53Get Stella first?
16:54Who is Stella?
16:55Daddy collapsed to the floor like a rag doll.
16:59He scrambled up in a total panic.
17:03He tried to shut off the speakers.
17:05No!
17:06It's not real!
17:07It's a fake!
17:09It's just a sick prank!
17:11A heavy wooden cane slammed into Daddy's back.
17:15It was Grandpa.
17:17He beat Daddy over and over again.
17:20You bastard!
17:22You heartless bastard!
17:24Placed my daughter in your hands and this is how you treated her?
17:28She's tough!
17:29You made her wait!
17:30Do you know she bled to death down there?
17:33Tears streamed down Grandpa's face.
17:35Every strike was fueled by pure rage.
17:40Daddy cowered, shielding his head.
17:43Blood dripped from a nasty cut on his forehead.
17:46Nobody tried to stop it.
17:48They just watched with sheer disgust.
17:51The reporters finally snapped out of it.
17:54Camera flashes erupted like crazy.
17:58The tragic love story was dead.
18:02It was now a massive cheating scandal.
18:05Is Stella your legitimate daughter?
18:07Did you let your wife die for your mistress?
18:09Did you let your die for your mistress?
18:11Microphones were shoved right into his bloody face.
18:14He 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.
18:27He shielded me and backed away.
18:30Good job, Lucille.
18:31He whispered softly.
18:33I looked over Oscar's shoulder.
18:36I stared at Daddy on the floor.
18:38He looked so small and pathetic.
18:41Like a rat crushed under a boot.
18:44Stella burst into tears from the noise.
18:47She 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.
19:02What?
19:03He let his wife die for a bastard!
19:05They threw them right at Stella.
19:07The scene completely spiraled out of control.
19:11The police showed up after someone called 911.
19:16Grandma pulled me close, sobbing uncontrollably.
19:20Let's go home, Lucille.
19:22He's dead to us now.
19:24I didn't cry or throw a tantrum.
19:29I just watched everything in dead silence.
19:33Before we left, I looked back.
19:36Daddy was kneeling before Mommy's portrait.
19:39He reached out to touch her picture.
19:42Grandpa kicked him away.
19:44Don't touch her with your filthy hands!
19:47Daddy collapsed onto the floor.
19:50He looked at me with pure desperation.
19:55Lucy, Daddy was wrong.
19:58I completely ignored him.
20:01I turned my head to Mommy's portrait.
20:03Did you hear that, Mommy?
20:05Everyone 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.
20:18I just hugged Mommy's old clothes.
20:23I wouldn't eat.
20:24I only drank brown sugar water.
20:28If I ate anything else, I threw up.
20:32Everything tasted like rusty iron to me.
20:36Grandma cooked different meals every single day.
20:39But I couldn't take a single bite.
20:43I lost so much weight.
20:46I looked like a terrifying little skeleton.
20:50Daddy came by our house a few times.
20:53He was suspended from his company.
20:57His reputation was completely destroyed.
21:00People threw rotten eggs at his door daily.
21:03He wanted to see me.
21:05He begged my grandparents for forgiveness.
21:09Grandpa chased him off with a heavy broom.
21:13He kneeled outside our front door.
21:15I watched him through a crack in the curtains.
21:20He stayed on his knees all night long.
21:22It was pouring rain that night.
21:26Just like the day of Mommy's funeral.
21:29He was totally soaked to the bone.
21:31His wet hair plastered to his face.
21:34He looked like a pathetic drowned rat.
21:37Lucy!
21:38I know I messed up!
21:40Please just look at me!
21:41You're all I have left!
21:42He screamed through the pouring rain.
21:45His voice was totally hoarse.
21:48I thought it was hilarious.
21:50I'm all he has left?
21:52What about Stella?
21:54What about the bad woman?
21:56Did they abandon him already?
21:59Grandma walked into my bedroom.
22:02She held a warm cup of brown sugar water.
22:06Grandma asked me so carefully.
22:09Lucy, he's still out there.
22:12Do you want to see him?
22:13I took the cup from her hands.
22:16I took a tiny little sip.
22:20It was warm and sweet.
22:22But I still tasted a hint of blood.
22:25I shook my head at Grandma.
22:28I walked right up to the window.
22:32I pulled the curtains tightly shut in his face.
22:36I remembered being trapped under the rubble.
22:40I had screamed for him.
22:43Just like that, I screamed until my voice went hoarse.
22:48But he only cared about other people.
22:51Now it was his turn to scream.
22:54I was going to let him wait too.
22:57He could wait until he died.
22:59I sat in my room drawing pictures.
23:03I only used black and red crayons.
23:07I drew a pitch black box.
23:11A monster was trapped inside it.
23:14The monster was crying endlessly.
23:17But nobody paid any attention to it.
23:21Grandpa said daddy's company was going bankrupt.
23:26Everyone was boycotting his business.
23:29Nobody wanted to work with a murderer.
23:31Oscar dug up his fake accounting books.
23:35Turns out he wasn't just a terrible dad.
23:38He was a completely corrupt boss too.
23:43He embezzled tons of company money.
23:46He bought the bad woman a house and a car.
23:50I listened to my grandparents talking about it.
23:54I felt absolutely nothing inside.
23:56I just kept sipping my warm brown sugar water.
24:01Cup after cup.
24:03I drank until my stomach physically ached.
24:07Until the rusty iron taste finally faded.
24:11The bad woman got arrested.
24:13She was caught at the airport trying to flee.
24:17Dad's company was completely ruined.
24:19She drained his remaining bank accounts.
24:23She tried to take Stella out of the country.
24:27But Oscar was one step ahead of her.
24:31His police buddies caught her red handed.
24:35Grandpa took me to the police station.
24:39I had to give a statement about my custody.
24:44I saw the bad woman in the hallway.
24:47She was wearing shiny silver handcuffs.
24:50Her hair was a complete rat's nest.
24:54Her makeup was totally smeared.
24:58Stella was crying so hard she couldn't breathe.
25:01Snot was running all down her face.
25:03Mommy, I want to go home.
25:05I don't want to be here.
25:06Shut up.
25:07Shut up.
25:08Stop your crying.
25:10When she saw me, her eyes went bloodshot.
25:13She lunged at me like a total mad woman.
25:16It's all your fault, you little bastard.
25:18If it wasn't for your bitch mother,
25:20Victor wouldn't be completely bankrupt.
25:21I wouldn't be in this total mess.
25:24A police officer grabbed her instantly.
25:27He pinned her hard against the wall.
25:31Stay still.
25:31I hid behind grandpa and peeked out.
25:36Her face was completely twisted with rage.
25:39She looked like an ugly old witch.
25:42Daddy was there too.
25:44He was there as a witness.
25:47And as a victim, seeing her daddy charged forward, he tried to punch her right there.
25:56Camille, you vicious bitch.
25:58After everything I did for you, you cleaned out my accounts and ran?
26:02That's enough.
26:02Did right by me?
26:05Give me a break.
26:06If you really cared about me, you would have divorced Irina a long time ago.
26:11And you wanted me to give you a son.
26:14And what did you end up with?
26:16No son.
26:17So, that was the real truth.
26:20They tore into each other like rabid dogs.
26:24The cops couldn't watch it anymore.
26:27They forcibly dragged them apart.
26:29I looked at daddy's pathetic face.
26:31It was covered in spit and blood.
26:35Camille looked completely ruined too.
26:37So, suddenly, I felt something shift inside me.
26:42The heavy boulder in my chest lifted.
26:45I let go of grandpa's hand.
26:47I walked right up to the bad woman.
26:50You are so ugly.
26:53I finally spoke my first words in weeks.
26:57Even uglier than the rats in the ruins.
26:59Then, I turned around.
27:01Grandpa, I want to go home.
27:03I want my warm brown sugar water.
27:05Later, grandpa sorted through mommy's belongings.
27:10He found an old diary.
27:13It had a light pink cover.
27:17It was mommy's favorite notebook.
27:20Grandpa put on his reading glasses.
27:23He read it and cried hysterically.
27:26He cried until he almost passed out.
27:30I leaned in to look too.
27:32I couldn't read all those big words.
27:34But, I recognized mommy's drawings.
27:38Tucked inside the pages was a photo.
27:42It was a black and white ultrasound picture.
27:46It showed a blurry little shadow.
27:49He looked at me with tearful eyes.
27:52Lucy, this is your little brother.
27:56I was completely stunned.
27:59Or little sister.
28:01It turned out that on the day of the earthquake, mommy still had a baby in her belly.
28:05Grandpa read mom's diary out loud to me.
28:10Went in for a checkup today.
28:11The doctor said the baby looks perfect.
28:14I want to surprise Victor.
28:17I'll tell him on his birthday.
28:19I hope it's a boy.
28:20When he grows up, he can protect Lucy.
28:23Victor's been coming home later and later.
28:25He always smells like perfume.
28:28But I trust him.
28:29He promised he'd change.
28:31For my two children, I can endure anything.
28:34My tears came flooding out.
28:37I thought about the earthquake again.
28:39When that huge slab came crashing down, mom didn't lie flat.
28:46She curled herself into a bridge.
28:49She used her back to block the rocks.
28:54She shielded me and the baby underneath her.
28:57In the dark, she kept encouraging me.
29:00She fed me her blood.
29:02She never once said she was hurting.
29:06So that was the truth.
29:08She was protecting both of us.
29:11Me and the baby.
29:14But what did dad say?
29:16He said mom was tough.
29:18He said save Stella first.
29:21He killed his own wife.
29:23And his unborn child too.
29:27Somehow, dad found out.
29:29That night, he started wailing downstairs.
29:32He rolled around on the ground.
29:35He slammed his head into the wall.
29:38His forehead split open.
29:40God, just kill me!
29:41I'm guilty!
29:42I'm a bastard!
29:44He was confessing.
29:45But it was too late.
29:47Mom couldn't hear him anymore.
29:49The baby couldn't hear him either.
29:52And neither could I.
29:54I held the diary tight against my chest.
29:57Grandpa, I don't hate him anymore.
29:59Grandpa stared at me in shock.
30:02Hating someone takes strength.
30:04Because he's not worth it.
30:06He deserved to rot like garbage.
30:09Dad was going to prison.
30:11For financial crimes and embezzlement,
30:16The amount was massive.
30:19Before sentencing, he begged grandpa countless times.
30:25He wanted to see me once more.
30:29Grandpa didn't want to agree.
30:32But I nodded.
30:34We met on a park bench.
30:37It was autumn.
30:38The leaves had all turned yellow.
30:42The wind felt sharp and cold.
30:45Dad was wearing the detention center vest.
30:48Handcuffs hung from his wrists.
30:50Only a few months had passed.
30:53But he looked 60.
30:55His back was bent too.
30:57When he saw me, his eyes lit up.
31:00He tried to reach for me.
31:02He wanted to hug me.
31:04But I stepped back.
31:06His hand froze in midair.
31:08Then he pulled it back awkwardly.
31:11Lucy, you've gotten taller.
31:14His voice came out rough and broken.
31:18Dad's going somewhere far away.
31:22I may not back come for a long time.
31:24I said nothing.
31:25I just looked at him quietly.
31:27He was crying hard now.
31:29I failed you.
31:31I failed your mom.
31:33And I failed that unborn baby too.
31:35I'll never repay that debt.
31:37Tears and snot covered his face.
31:39I watched him sob uncontrollably.
31:43And strangely, I felt calm.
31:46It was strawberry hard candy.
31:50Mom used to give me those with medicine.
31:54Mom used to say, candy makes the bitterness go away.
31:59Dad looked at the candy.
32:01Then he broke down even harder.
32:04His shoulders shook violently.
32:06But for the rest of your life, all you'll know is bitterness.
32:10I looked him straight in the eye.
32:13Because you deserve it.
32:15Then I turned and walked away.
32:18Behind me, Dad screamed himself hoarse.
32:21Lucy!
32:22Lucy!
32:24I didn't turn around.
32:26The wind lifted the fallen leaves.
32:28They spun into the sky.
32:31Ten years passed.
32:33That's long enough for broken bones to heal.
32:35And long enough for a little girl to grow up.
32:38Grandma passed two years ago.
32:41She died peacefully in her sleep.
32:43Grandpa said she finally went to talk to Mom.
32:46Now it's just Grandpa and me.
32:48On my 15th birthday, I woke up early.
32:52It was also Mom's death anniversary.
32:56Just like every year.
32:58But at the door, I kicked something hard.
33:01It was a package.
33:02The return address looked familiar.
33:04Blackridge Prison.
33:05I carried it inside.
33:07Grandpa was coming out of the kitchen.
33:09He was holding a bowl of birthday noodles.
33:12Your noodles are ready.
33:14Who sent that?
33:16An old friend.
33:21A bank book and a letter.
33:24The bank book had a few thousand dollars.
33:26It was exactly the most a prisoner could save in ten years behind bars.
33:32The letter was written on cheap paper.
33:35The handwriting was shaky and crooked.
33:38Several spots were smeared with ink.
33:40Lucy, by the time you read this, I'll be gone.
33:42I'm going to your mother to beg her figness.
33:45For ten years, every time I close my eyes, I see the rubbles.
33:48I see your mother covered in blood.
33:50I hear her asking me again and again,
33:52And Victor, why didn't you save me?
33:54And I hear that unborn child crying too.
33:57I kept the candy you left for me.
33:59The money in the bank book is clean.
34:01Live well, Lucy.
34:03The letter was short.
34:04I read it word by word.
34:07Then I folded it neatly.
34:09I placed it beside the bank book on the table.
34:14Grandpa watched me quietly.
34:17He looked like he wanted to speak.
34:19But in the end, he only sighed.
34:22Then he shoved the chopsticks into my hand.
34:26Eat before the noodles get sagry.
34:29Unknown number.
34:30The area code was from the prison.
34:33I answered,
34:34Is this Lucy Cole?
34:35Yes.
34:36This is Black Ridge Prison.
34:38Your father, Victor Cole, died by suicide in prison at 5.43 this morning.
34:45The body, a family member needs to come handle the arrangements.
34:49He didn't leave much behind.
34:50Just one final message.
34:52What was it?
34:54He said,
34:55Save Irene first.
34:56Irene.
34:57My mother's name.
34:58He finally remembered to save mom first.
35:02Got it.
35:03I hung up.
35:04Then I kept eating.
35:06Grandpa's cooking hadn't changed in 10 years.
35:09It was still perfect.
35:11After I finished, I took the bowl and chopsticks away.
35:15I washed them clean in the kitchen.
35:18Then I boiled a kettle of water.
35:21From the top shelf, I took down the old metal candy tin.
35:25Inside was a single dark lump of brown sugar.
35:29I dropped it into mom's favorite glass.
35:32Then I poured in the boiling water, slowly melting away.
35:37A deep red drink.
35:38I carried the glass to the balcony.
35:41The autumn sunlight hit my skin.
35:44It warmed me all the way through.
35:46Mom, look.
35:48He said the brown sugar water was bitter.
35:50He couldn't drink it.
35:52But what did he know about bitterness?
35:54The pain you took for him?
35:55That was real bitter.
35:56I looked down and took a small sip.
35:59It was sweet.
36:00The clean scent of sugar cane spread across my tongue.
36:03That sickening taste of blood was gone.
36:06I took out the letter and a lighter from my pocket.
36:08The flame jumped up fast.
36:10It swallowed the thin paper hole.
36:13It swallowed 10 years of late remorse with it.
36:17The black ashes lifted in the wind.
36:20I drank the last sip of brown sugar water.
36:23So sweet.
36:24I looked into the distance.
36:26The sky was clear.
36:28Not a single cloud.
36:30So would my life.
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