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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
00:06until I made sure he was dead. I will never forget the earthquake. Years ago, he abandoned
00:12my mother and me to save his love. After the earthquake, mommy fell asleep. I curled up in
00:19her arms. She was getting so cold. We were hiding under a giant rock. I sucked on mommy's finger.
00:26She fed me warm brown sugar water. Daddy's voice came through the broken phone. Get Stella
00:34and the lightly injured first. Leave Irene for later. She's tough as nails. Waiting a little
00:38longer won't kill her. It was really daddy. Mommy said he would rescue us soon. But why did
00:45he make mommy wait? I whispered to the phone. Daddy, mommy went to sleep. She gave me lots
00:54of brown sugar water. It tastes like iron. But I'm not scared. Mommy said you'll come
01:02and save me before it all runs out. The phone went totally silent. I kept drinking the warm
01:10brown sugar water. Then daddy started screaming through the speaker. He ordered everyone to find
01:17me. Daddy was coming to me. Found her. Over here. There's a kid still alive. Mommy, it's morning.
01:31Can we go home now? I pushed against her chest. It wasn't soft like it used to be. A whole
01:37section
01:38of it was crushed inward, covered in something warm and sticky. Hurry, grab the kid first. Huge,
01:45rough hands reached in and tore me away from her. No, mommy's still sleeping. I want to wait for her.
01:53My fingers locked in a death grip on the hem of her shirt. The fabric gave way. A man in
01:59an orange
02:00rescue vest hauled me against his chest. My mouth was crusted with dried flaky red patches. It was the
02:07brown sugar water mommy had been feeding me. Lucy! Oh god, Lucy! A figure came stumbling through the
02:15debris. It was daddy. He was still wearing his expensive suit. It was dusted with concrete powder,
02:23making him look a little disheveled. He grabbed me from the rescue worker and crushed me against his
02:29chest. Thank god. You're alive. I thought I'd lost you. He was sobbing, his whole body trembling.
02:37Then a scent hit me. A sickeningly sweet, overpowering perfume. It was the smell mommy hated most in the
02:46world. She always said it was the smell of a bad woman. I squirmed against him. Daddy, mommy's still
02:54down there. She's asleep. Daddy froze. He didn't even glance at the rubble. Instead, he forced my face into
03:03his shoulder to block 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 black gap in the
03:20concrete. Mommy gave me so much brown sugar water. She promised you'd come for us before it was all
03:27gone. All the color drained from daddy's face. He stared at the dark, crusted blood around my mouth,
03:34gulping hard. A heavy silence fell over the medics around us. One of the nurses clamped a hand over her
03:41mouth, tears spilling down her cheeks. But daddy just looked away. He couldn't meet my eyes. What was he so
03:48scared of? Was it because of the broken phone? The one that played his voice earlier, growling like a
03:55monster. A 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? I leaned close to his ear and whispered,
04:09Daddy recoiled, shoving me back like I had just burned him. There was no relief in his eyes anymore,
04:16only 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
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
04:40hear anything? Daddy asked tentatively, unable to meet my eyes. I licked my lips. That rusty taste was
04:48still in my mouth. I did. A visible shudder ran through Daddy. What did you hear? I heard you tell
04:54them to save Stella first. The air inside the ambulance instantly froze. The paramedic who had
05:00been wiping dust off my face stopped, her hand hovering in midair. She shot Daddy a piercing, icy
05:07glare. Daddy forced an awkward smile that looked more like a grimace. You misheard, sweetie. The signal
05:14was bad. Daddy was just panicking. Really? I tilted my head, studying him. But who is Stella?
05:21Why is she more important than mommy? Daddy opened his mouth, but no words came out. He quickly turned
05:27to look out the window, pretending to wipe away a tear. When we arrived at the hospital, a massive
05:32crowd swarmed us. Camera flashes went off nonstop, so bright I couldn't open my eyes. Suddenly, Daddy
05:40acted like a completely different person. He scooped me into his arms and began sobbing hysterically
05:46for the cameras. Thank God. Thank God for bringing my daughter back to me. I'd trade anything in the
05:52world as long as my Lucy is safe. The reporters wiped their eyes and praised Daddy for being such a
05:59good father. I rested my chin on his shoulder, watching the side of his face. He was wailing loudly,
06:05but his cheeks were completely dry. He looked just like a clown on TV. Once we got to the VIP
06:12ward, I finally
06:13saw his 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 was perfectly
06:30brushed and shiny. A woman in a flowing white dress sat by her bedside. She was very pretty and she
06:36radiated 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 sat me down immediately and hurried over to her, taking her hands in his.
06:58Camille, how is Stella? She must have been terrified. I stood in the doorway, feeling like a piece of
07:04discarded trash. Stella noticed me. She wrinkled her nose and pointed right at me.
07:10Mommy, is she the feral girl who drinks blood? She's so gross. Drinking blood, feral girl. I stared at
07:19the smear of whipped cream on her lip. My empty stomach gave a low rumble. The woman, Camille,
07:25walked over and crouched down in front of me. You must be Lucy. Oh, you poor girl. Come let me
07:31give you a hug. She reached out to me. That's when I saw the gold bracelet gleaming on her wrist.
07:37It was
07:38the exact same 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.
07:50Like an enraged little animal, I lunged at her and bit down on her wrist. The bad woman shrieked,
07:56swinging her arm to violently shake me off. The sheer force sent me flying backward,
08:00and my head slammed hard against the metal footboard of the hospital bed. A sharp, dizzying pain shot through
08:07me. But I didn't shed a single tear. I just sat on the floor, glaring at her with pure hatred.
08:13Lucy! Are you crazy? Daddy rushed over. He tenderly cradled the bad woman's injured arm.
08:20Camille, are 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 sugar
08:40water 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. Be good, Lucy. I don't mind.
09:13Let me buy you some candy later, alright? I 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! Daddy 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. 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.
10:24But 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,
10:36he just trailed behind Daddy like a shadow, keeping his head down and his mouth shut. But tonight,
10:42the 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.
10:56It still works. I snatched the phone and hugged it tight against my chest. It smelled like mommy,
11:02and there were patches of dried blood on the casing. Oscar gently stroked my hair. Lucy,
11:07do you want to help mommy get revenge? In a few days, it will be mommy's funeral.
11:11A lot of people will be there, and that bad woman will be there too.
11:17That day, if Daddy speaks upstorn, press this triangle, okay? I stared at the little red play
11:23button and nodded hard. Okay. This was a game. A game only Oscar and I knew about. I was going
11:30to
11:30make sure everyone heard exactly what Daddy said that day. It rained on the day of Mommy's funeral.
11:36The sky was gray. It looked like a dirty rag. I wore the black dress Grandma bought me. A tiny
11:43white
11:44flower was pinned to my chest. The memorial hall was huge. It was packed with white flowers. Mommy's
11:53portrait hung right in the middle. She was smiling in the picture. Her eyes crinkled like little crescent
12:01moons. Daddy stood at the very front. He wore a crisp black suit. He looked terrible. His eyes were sunken,
12:12his face unshaven. People said he was a deeply devoted man. That he had grown so thin just after losing
12:23his wife.
12:24The bad woman didn't show up, but Stella did. She wore a black lace dress. She mouthed the words,
12:34You don't have a mom anymore. She made mean faces at me. I just stared blankly at her. I slipped
12:42my hand
12:43into my pocket. My fingers brushed the cold, shattered phone. The ceremony began. The somber music made my
12:52chest feel tight. Daddy walked up to the podium. He clutched a few sheets of paper. He started reading his
13:00eulogy.
13:01Irene, my beloved wife. He choked up on the very first line. The crowd wiped away their tears.
13:09They were moved by his heartbreaking true love. We've known each other for 10 years and loved each
13:16other for 10 years. You knew me better than anyone, and you were the person I loved most. The moment
13:22the
13:22earthquake struck, I wished I could have died in your place. If time could turn back, I would be by
13:29your
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. Irene, how could
13:47you be so cruel? How could you leave Lucy and me behind? He beat his chest, wailing at Mama's back.
13:56I stood in the front row. Oscar was right beside me. He knelt down to fix my collar. He gave
14:03my hand
14:04a tight squeeze. His palm was slick with sweat. Are you ready, Lucy? He whispered. Only I could hear him.
14:12I looked up at Daddy on stage. He was giving the performance of a lifetime. I watched his fake tears
14:21and trembling shoulders. I remembered her slicing open her own fingers. She fed me her blood,
14:29smiling through the pain. I thought about the dark, cold rubble. I thought of Mommy's body
14:36growing cold. I remembered those cruel words. Waiting a little longer won't kill her. A massive wave of
14:44anger exploded inside me. I didn't fully understand hatred yet, but I knew I had to ruin his act.
14:53Clutching 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
15:09hid it. He dropped to one knee and opened his arms. Lucy, come here, sweetie. Daddy misses her too.
15:17He wanted to pull me into a hug. He wanted to end his show with fake love. I stopped right
15:25in front of him.
15:26I didn't hug him. I raised the shattered phone instead. It was still stained with Mommy's dried blood.
15:36Daddy's pupils shrank in pure terror. He recognized the phone immediately. He lunged forward to snatch it.
15:45Lucy, 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.
15:56The Bluetooth was already synced to the giant speakers. The audio kicked in instantly.
16:02A harsh burst of static pierced the silence. Then, that familiar cold voice boomed like thunder.
16:10Get Stella and the lightly injured first! The entire hall went dead silent. Every single eye locked onto Daddy.
16:19His hand froze in the air. The color completely drained from his face. The recording kept playing crystal clear.
16:29Leave Irene for later. She's tough as nails. Waiting a little longer won't kill her.
16:35Every word was a vicious slap across his face. Guests' jaws dropped in pure shock. They stared at this
16:44devoted 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.
16:59He scrambled up in a total panic. He tried to shut off the speakers. No! It's not real! It's a
17:08fake!
17:09It's just a sick prank! A heavy wooden cane slammed into Daddy's back. It was Grandpa. He beat Daddy over
17:19and over again.
17:20You bastard! You heartless bastard! Placed my daughter in your hands, and this is how you treated her? She's tough!
17:29You made her wait! Do you know she bled to death down there?
17:33Tears streamed down Grandpa's face. Every strike was fueled by pure rage. Daddy cowered, shielding his head.
17:43Blood dripped from a nasty cut on his forehead. Nobody tried to stop it. They just watched with sheer disgust.
17:51The reporters finally snapped out of it. Camera flashes erupted like crazy. The tragic love story was dead. It was
18:02now a massive cheating scandal.
18:05Is Stella your legitimate daughter? Did you let your wife die for your mistress? Did you let your die for
18:10your mistress?
18:11Microphones were shoved right into his bloody face. He covered his face, refusing to look up.
18:17I stood in the dead center of the chaos. I still gripped the phone tightly. Oscar rushed up and scooped
18:26me up. He shielded me and backed away.
18:30Good job, Lucerne. He whispered softly. I looked over Oscar's shoulder. I stared at Daddy on the floor. He looked
18:39so small and pathetic, like a rat crushed under a boot. Stella burst into tears from the noise.
18:47She screamed from behind the marble pillar. Daddy, help me!
18:53The reporters finally snapped out of it.
18:57Is that Stella?
18:59She actually looks a bit like Victor. What?
19:03He let his wife die for a bastard!
19:05They threw them right at Stella. The scene completely spiraled out of control.
19:10The police showed up after someone called 911. Grandma pulled me close, sobbing uncontrollably.
19:20Let's go home, Lucy. He's dead to us now.
19:24I didn't cry or throw a tantrum. I just watched everything in dead silence.
19:32Before we left, I looked back. Daddy was kneeling before Mommy's portrait. He reached out to touch her picture. Grandpa
19:42kicked him away.
19:44Don't touch her with your filthy hands!
19:47Daddy collapsed onto the floor. He looked at me with pure desperation.
19:54Lucy, Daddy was wrong.
19:58I completely ignored him. I turned my head to Mommy's portrait. Did you hear that, Mommy? Everyone finally knows he's
20:06the bad guy.
20:07After 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.
20:22I 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.
20:36Grandma cooked different meals every single day, but I couldn't take a single bite. I lost so much weight. I
20:46looked like a terrifying little skeleton.
20:50Daddy came by our house a few times. He was suspended from his company. His reputation was completely destroyed.
21:00People threw rotten eggs at his door daily. He wanted to see me. He begged my grandparents for forgiveness. Grandpa
21:10chased him off with a heavy broom.
21:13He kneeled outside our front door. I watched him through a crack in the curtains. He stayed on his knees
21:21all night long.
21:22It was pouring rain that night. Just like the day of Mommy's funeral. He was totally soaked to the bone.
21:31His wet hair plastered to his face. He looked like a pathetic drowned rat.
21:42He screamed through the pouring rain. His voice was totally hoarse. I thought it was hilarious. I'm all he has
21:51left? What about Stella? What about the bad woman? Did they abandon him already?
21:58Grandma walked into my bedroom?
22:02Grandma walked into my bedroom. She held a warm cup of brown sugar water. Grandma asked me so carefully,
22:09Lucy, he's still out there. Do you want to see him?
22:13I took the cup from her hands. I took a tiny little sip. It was warm and sweet. But I
22:23still tasted a hint of blood. I shook my head at Grandma. I walked right up to the window. I
22:33pulled the curtains tightly shut in his face.
22:36I remembered being trapped under the rubble. I had screamed for him just like that. I screamed until my voice
22:47went hoarse. But he only cared about other people.
22:51Now it was his turn to scream. I was going to let him wait too. He could wait until he
22:59died. I sat in my room drawing pictures.
23:03I only used black and red crayons. I drew a pitch black box. A monster was trapped inside it. The
23:14monster was crying endlessly. But nobody paid any attention to it. Grandpa said Daddy's company was going bankrupt.
23:25Everyone was boycotting his business. Nobody wanted to work with a murderer. Oscar dug up his fake accounting books. Turns
23:36out he wasn't just a terrible dad. He was a completely corrupt boss too. He embezzled tons of company money.
23:46He bought the bad woman a house and a car. I listened to my grandparents talking about it. I felt
23:54absolutely nothing.
23:55I just kept sipping my warm brown sugar water. Cup after cup. I drank until my stomach physically ached. Until
24:07the rusty iron taste finally faded. The bad woman got arrested. She was caught at the airport trying to flee.
24:16Dad's company was completely ruined. She drained his remaining bank accounts.
24:22She tried to take Stella out of the country. But Oscar was one step ahead of her. His police buddies
24:32caught her red-handed. Grandpa took me to the police station. I had to give a statement about my custody.
24:43I saw the bad woman in the hallway. She was wearing shiny silver handcuffs. Her hair was a complete rat's
24:53nest. Her makeup was totally smeared. Stella was crying so hard she couldn't breathe. Snot was running all down her
25:03face.
25:03Mommy, I want to go home. I don't want to be here. Shut up! Shut up! Stop your crying!
25:10When she saw me, her eyes went bloodshot. She lunged at me like a total mad woman.
25:16It's all your fault, you little bastard! If it wasn't for your bitch mother, Victor wouldn't be completely bankrupt. I
25:21wouldn't be in this total mess!
25:23A police officer grabbed her instantly. He pinned her hard against the wall.
25:30Stay still!
25:32I hid behind Grandpa and peeked out. Her face was completely twisted with rage. She looked like an ugly old
25:41witch.
25:43Daddy was there too. He was there as a witness. And as a victim, seeing her, Daddy charged forward.
25:53He tried to punch her right there.
25:56Camille, you vicious bitch! After everything I did for you, you cleaned out my accounts and ran? That's enough!
26:02Did right by me? Give me a break. If you really cared about me, you would have divorced Irina a
26:10long time ago.
26:11And you wanted me to give you a son. And what did you end up with? No son.
26:17So, that was the real truth.
26:20They tore into each other like rabid dogs. The cops couldn't watch it anymore.
26:27They forcibly dragged them apart. I looked at Daddy's pathetic face. It was covered in spit and blood.
26:35Camille looked completely ruined too. Suddenly, I felt something shift inside me.
26:42The heavy boulder in my chest lifted. I let go of Grandpa's hand. I walked right up to the bad
26:50woman.
26:50You are so ugly!
26:53I finally spoke my first words in weeks.
26:56Even uglier than the rats in the ruins.
26:59Then, I turned around.
27:01Grandpa, I want to go home. I want my warm brown sugar water.
27:05Later, Grandpa sorted through Mommy's belongings. He found an old diary. It had a light pink cover. It was Mommy's
27:19favorite notebook.
27:20Grandpa put on his reading glasses. He read it and cried hysterically. He cried until he almost passed out.
27:29So, I leaned in to look too. I couldn't read all those big words. But, I recognized Mommy's drawings.
27:38Tucked inside the pages was a photo. It was a black and white ultrasound picture. It showed a blurry little
27:48shadow.
27:49He looked at me with tearful eyes.
27:52Lucy, this is your little brother.
27:56I was completely stunned. Or, little sister.
28:00It 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. The doctor said the baby looks perfect.
28:14I want to surprise Victor.
28:17I'll tell him on his birthday. I hope it's a boy.
28:20When he grows up, he can protect Lucy.
28:22Victor's been coming home later and later.
28:25He always smells like perfume.
28:28But, I trust him.
28:30He promised he'd change.
28:31For my two children, I can endure anything.
28:35My 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.
28:53She shielded me and the baby underneath her.
28:57In the dark, she kept encouraging me.
29:00She fed me her blood.
29:03She never once said she was hurting.
29:06So that was the truth.
29:07She was protecting both of us.
29:11Me and the baby.
29:13But, 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.
29:26Somehow, 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.
30:39The 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.
31:12Lucy, 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.
31:30I failed your mom.
31:32And 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.
31:47It 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 fire.
32:05But for the rest of your life, all you'll know is bitterness.
32:10I looked him straight in the eye.
32:12Because you deserve it.
32:14Then I turned and walked away.
32:18Behind me, Dad screamed himself hoarse.
32:21Lucy!
32:22Lucy!
32:23I didn't turn around.
32:26The wind lifted the fallen leaves.
32:29They 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.
32:45Now 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.
33:27It 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,
33:52Victor, 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 sogry.
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 543 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?
34:53He said, save Irene first.
34:56Irene.
34:57My mother's name, he 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 ten 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?
35:53The 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.
36:05I took out the letter and the lighter from my pocket.
36:08The flame jumped up fast.
36:10It swallowed the thin paper hole.
36:13It swallowed ten 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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