- 5 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 and
00:14me to save his love. After the earthquake, mommy fell asleep. I curled up in her arms. She was
00:21getting so cold. We were hiding under a giant rock. I sucked on mommy's finger. She fed me
00:28warm brown sugar water. Daddy's voice came through the broken phone. Get Stella and the
00:34lightly 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
01:11water. 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.
01:29Mommy, it's morning. Can we go home now? I pushed against her chest. It wasn't soft like it used to
01:37be.
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
01:56shirt. 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.
02:10Lucy! 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.
02:26He 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 the
02:48smell 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 black gap in the
03:21concrete. 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,
03:35gulping 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? The voice that said mommy was tough as nails and that leaving her behind wouldn't kill her.
04:01Daddy, why did you tell them to leave mommy behind?
04:07I leaned close to his ear and whispered, daddy recoiled, shoving me back like I had just burned him.
04:13There was no relief in his eyes anymore. Only pure, naked terror. The ambulance siren wailed as we sped down
04:22the road.
04:22I sat in the back, still clutching the torn scrap of mommy's shirt. Daddy sat across from me, wringing his
04:29hands
04:29nervously. His hands were perfectly clean, his nails neatly manicured. They looked nothing like mommy's hands,
04:36which were caked in mud and dried blood.
04:38Lucy, while you were down there, did you hear anything? Daddy asked tentatively, unable to meet
04:43my eyes. I licked my lips. That rusty taste was still in my mouth. I did. A visible shudder ran
04:51through daddy. What did you hear? I heard you tell them to save Stella first. The air inside the
04:57ambulance instantly froze. The paramedic who had been wiping dust off my face stopped, her hand hovering in
05:04midair. She shot daddy a piercing, icy glare. Daddy forced an awkward smile that looked more like a
05:11grimace. You misheard, sweetie. The signal was bad. Daddy was just panicking. Really? I tilted my head
05:17studying him. But who is Stella? Why is she more important than mommy? Daddy opened his mouth, but no
05:25words came out. He quickly turned to look out the window, pretending to wipe away a tear. When we arrived
05:31at
05:31the hospital, a massive crowd swarmed us. Camera flashes went off nonstop, so bright I couldn't open
05:38my eyes. Suddenly, daddy acted like a completely different person. He scooped me into his arms and
05:44began sobbing hysterically for the cameras. Thank God. Thank God for bringing my daughter back to me.
05:51I'd trade anything in the world as long as my Lucy is safe. The reporters wiped their eyes and praised
05:57daddy for being such a good father. I rested my chin on his shoulder, watching the side of his face.
06:03He was
06:04wailing loudly, but his cheeks were completely dry. He looked just like a clown on TV. Once we got to
06:11the
06:12VIP ward, I finally saw his Stella. She was staying in a massive private hospital suite. She was wearing a
06:21frilly pink lace dress and happily eating a slice of strawberry cake. There wasn't a single scratch
06:28on her. Even her hair was perfectly brushed and shiny. A woman in a flowing white dress sat by her
06:34bedside. She was very pretty and she radiated the exact same sickeningly sweet perfume I had smelled on
06:42daddy. The woman stood up. Victor, you're here. Her eyes were rimmed with red, making her look incredibly
06:50fragile and pitiful. Daddy set me down immediately and hurried over to her, taking her hands in his. Camille, how
06:59is
06:59Stella? She must have been terrified. I stood in the doorway, feeling like a piece of discarded trash. Stella noticed
07:06me.
07:06She 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
07:22gave a low rumble. The woman, Camille, walked over and crouched down in front of me. You must be Lucy.
07:28Oh, you poor girl. Come let me give you a hug. She reached out to me. That's when I saw
07:35the gold bracelet
07:36gleaming on her wrist. It was the exact same bracelet mommy had. Mommy told me daddy had
07:42specially made it for her to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. So why was she wearing it?
07:47A sudden, blinding rage flared up in my chest. Like an enraged little animal, I lunged at her and bit
07:53down on her wrist. The bad woman shrieked, swinging her arm to violently shake me off. The sheer force sent
07:59me
07:59flying backward and my head slammed hard against the metal footboard of the hospital bed. A sharp,
08:05dizzying pain shot through me, but I didn't shed a single tear. I just sat on the floor, glaring at
08:12her 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 brown
08:40sugar water mommy had fed me. Daddy, I'm bleeding too. Are you gonna make me wait a little longer too?
08:46The 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
08:59me up. Victor, don't be mad at her. She just lost her mom. She can't handle the shock. She stroked
09:05my
09:06head, but her nails dug hard into my skin. Be good, Lucy. I don't mind. Let me buy you some
09:14candy
09:14later, all right? I slapped her hand away. I don't want candy. I have the brown sugar water
09:20mommy gave me. The bad woman's smile vanished. Daddy, kick this freak out! She stinks! Daddy took
09:28a deep breath and buzzed for a nurse. Take her next door and get her cleaned up and have someone
09:33examine her head. She's clearly lost her mind. Examine my head? Daddy thought I was crazy. A young
09:38nurse led me away. As she cleaned my wound, she quietly wiped away her tears. Sweetie, it won't
09:46hurt. I promise to be gentle. I looked up at her. Miss, is my mommy really dead? Her hand trembled.
09:54She pulled me into a tight hug and finally broke down sobbing. Your mommy was a great mother. That
10:02evening, my grandparents arrived. The moment grandma saw me, she broke down and passed out
10:08from the shock. Grandpa leaned heavily on his cane, his hands shaking violently. He demanded
10:14to take me home with him. Dad, Lucy's been through a massive shock. She's talking nonsense right
10:20now. It's safer to keep her here for observation. But Daddy refused. But I knew the real reason.
10:25He was terrified I'd talk. Terrified I'd spill that secret. Late that night, the door to my room
10:31clicked open. It was Uncle Oscar, Daddy's personal assistant. Normally, he just trailed behind Daddy
10:38like a shadow, keeping his head down and his mouth shut. But tonight, the look in his eyes was
10:43completely different. He walked over to my bed and pulled something from his pocket. A phone with a
10:49badly shattered screen. Mommy's phone. Lucy, they dug this out of the rubble. It still works. I snatched
10:58the phone and hugged it tight against my chest. It smelled like Mommy and there were patches of
11:03dried blood on the casing. Oscar gently stroked my hair. Lucy, do you want to help Mommy get revenge?
11:09In a few days, it will be Mommy's funeral. A lot of people will be there and that bad woman
11:14will be
11:15there too. That day, if Daddy speaks up, Storn, press this triangle, okay? I stared at the little red
11:22play button and nodded hard. Okay, this was a game. A game only Oscar and I knew about. I was
11:30going to
11:30make sure everyone heard exactly what Daddy said that day. It rained on the day of Mommy's funeral.
11:35The sky was gray. It looked like a dirty rag. I wore the black dress Grandma bought me. A tiny
11:43white flower
11:44was pinned to my chest. The memorial hall was huge. It was packed with white flowers. Mommy's portrait hung
11:54right in the middle. She was smiling in the picture. Her eyes crinkled like little crescent moons. Daddy
12:02stood at the very front. He wore a crisp black suit. He looked terrible. His eyes were sunken, his face
12:13unshaven.
12:14People said he was a deeply devoted man. That he had grown so thin just after losing his wife.
12:24The bad woman didn'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. I slipped
12:42my hand into my
12:43pocket. My 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.
13:00Irene, 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 ten years and loved each other
13:16for ten years. You knew me better than anyone, and you were the person I loved most. The moment the
13:22earthquake
13:22struck, I wished I could have died in your place. If time could turn back, I would be by your
13:29side,
13:29holding your hand, and I would never let you face the darkness alone.
13:34He swayed, looking like he might collapse. A few relatives rushed up to hold him. They whispered words of
13:44comfort. Irene, how could you be so cruel? How could you leave Lucy and me behind? He beat his chest,
13:53wailing at Mama'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
14:09whispered. 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.
14:34I 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
14:52to ruin his act. Clutching the shattered phone, I walked on stage. A hush fell over the crowd.
15:00They thought, I just wanted to comfort Daddy. Daddy saw me approaching. Panic flashed in his eyes,
15:08but he hid it. He dropped to one knee and opened his arms. Lucy, come here, sweetie. Daddy misses her
15:15too.
15:16He wanted to pull me into a hug. He wanted to end his show with fake love. I stopped right
15:25in front
15:25of him. I didn't hug him. I raised the shattered phone instead. It was still stained with Mommy's
15:34dried blood. Daddy's pupils shrank in pure terror. He recognized the phone immediately. He lunged
15:43forward to snatch it. Lucy, that's dirty. Give it to Daddy right now. Right as his fingertips grazed the
15:52screen, my thumb slammed down on the red triangle. The Bluetooth is already synced to the giant speakers.
15:59The audio kicked in instantly. A harsh burst of static pierced the silence. Then, that familiar
16:07cold voice boomed like thunder. Get Stella and the lightly injured first. The entire hall went dead
16:14silent. Every single eye locked onto Daddy. His hand froze in the air. The color completely drained from
16:24his face. The recording kept playing crystal clear. Leave Irene for later. She's tough as nails.
16:32Waiting a little longer won't kill her. Every word was a vicious slap across his face. Guests' jaws dropped
16:40in pure shock. They stared at this devoted husband. Furious whispers quickly filled the room. Is that Victor's
16:50voice? Oh my god, did he actually say that? Get Stella first? Who is Stella? Daddy collapsed to the floor
16:57like a ragdoll. He scrambled up in a total panic. He tried to shut off the speakers. No, it's not
17:06real.
17:07It's a fake. It's just a sick prank. A heavy wooden cane slammed into Daddy's back. It was Grandpa. He
17:17beat
17:17Daddy over and over again. You bastard. You heartless bastard. Placed my daughter in your hands,
17:25and this is how you treated her. She's tough. You made her wait. Do you know she bled to death
17:31down
17:31there? Tears streamed down Grandpa's face. Every strike was fueled by pure rage. Daddy cowered,
17:41shielding his head. Blood dripped from a nasty cut on his forehead. Nobody tried to stop it. They just
17:48watched with sheer disgust. The reporters finally snapped out of it. Camera flashes erupted like crazy.
17:57The tragic love story 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
18:09for your mistress? Microphones were shoved right into his bloody face. He covered his face, refusing to
18:16look up. I stood in the dead center of the chaos. I still gripped the phone tightly. Oscar rushed up
18:25and
18:25scooped me up. He shielded me and backed away. Good job, Lucy. He whispered softly. I looked over
18:34Oscar's shoulder. I stared at Daddy on the floor. He looked so small and pathetic, like a rat crushed
18:42under a boot. Stella burst into tears from the noise. She screamed from behind the marble pillar.
18:51Daddy, help me! The reporters finally snapped out of it. Is that Stella? She actually looks a bit like
19:01Victor. What? He let his wife die for a bastard. They threw them right at Stella. The scene completely
19:08spiraled out of control. The police showed up after someone called 911. Grandma pulled me close, sobbing
19:18uncontrollably. Let's go home, Lucy. He's dead to us now. I didn't cry or throw a tantrum. I just watched
19:30everything in dead silence. Before we left, I looked back. Daddy was kneeling before Mommy's portrait.
19:38He reached out to touch her picture. Grandpa kicked him away. Don't touch her with your filthy hands!
19:46Daddy collapsed onto the floor. He looked at me with pure desperation. Lucy, Daddy was wrong. I
19:58completely ignored him. I turned my head to Mommy's portrait. Did you hear that, Mommy? Everyone finally
20:05knows he's the bad guy. After that massive funeral scene, I got sick. The doctor said I had severe PTSD.
20:14I stopped talking entirely. I just hugged Mommy's old clothes. I wouldn't eat. I only drank brown sugar water.
20:27If I ate anything else, I threw up. Everything tasted like rusty iron to me. Grandma cooked different meals every
20:38single day. But I couldn't take a single bite. I lost so much weight. I looked like a terrifying little
20:49skeleton.
20:49Daddy came by our house a few times. He 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.
21:09Grandpa chased him off with a heavy broom. He kneeled outside our front door. I watched him through a crack
21:18in 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.
21:28He was totally soaked to the bone. His wet hair plastered to his face. He looked like a pathetic drowned
21:35rat.
21:36Lucy! 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?
21:58Grandma 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?
22:13I 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.
22:36I 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.
22:59I 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.
23:13The monster 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
23:35out he wasn't just a terrible dad.
23:37He was a completely corrupt boss, too. He embezzled tons of company money. He bought the bad woman a house
23:48and a car. I listened to my grandparents 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
24:07the 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. She
24:19drained his remaining bank accounts.
24:21She 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.
24:42I 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 madwoman.
25:15It's all your fault, you little bastard! If it wasn't for your bitch mother, Victor wouldn't be completely bankrupt. I
25:21wouldn't be in this total mess!
25:23A police officer grabbed her instantly. He pinned her hard against the wall.
25:30Stay still!
25:31I hid behind Grandpa and peeked out. Her face was completely twisted with rage. She looked like an ugly old
25:41witch.
25:42Daddy 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.
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.
26:19They 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.
26:50You 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. He found an old diary. It had a light pink cover.
27:16It was Mommy's favorite notebook. Grandpa put on his reading glasses. He read it and cried hysterically.
27:25He cried until he almost passed out.
27:28I 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.
27:45It showed a blurry little shadow. He looked at me with tearful eyes.
27:51Lucy, this is your little brother.
27:55I 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.
28:04Grandpa read Mom's diary out loud to me.
28:09Went in for a checkup today. The doctor said the baby looks perfect.
28:14I want to surprise Victor. I'll tell him on his birthday. I hope it's a boy.
28:19When he grows up, he can protect Lucy.
28:21Victor's been coming home later and later. He always smells like perfume.
28:27But I trust him. He promised he'd change.
28:30For my two children, I can endure anything.
28:34My tears came flooding out. I 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.
28:48Mom, what's that?
28:49She used her back to block the rocks.
28:53She 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.
29:05So that was the truth.
29:06She was protecting both of us.
29:10Me 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.
29:23And his unborn child too.
29:26Somehow, Dad found out.
29:28That night, he started wailing down stairs.
29:32He rolled around on the ground.
29:35He 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.
29:51And neither could I.
29:53I held the diary tight against my chest.
29:55Grandpa, I don't hate him anymore.
29:58Grandpa stared at me in shock.
30:01Hating someone takes strength.
30:03Because he's not worth it.
30:05He deserved to rot like garbage.
30:08Dad was going to prison.
30:10For financial crimes and 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.
30:41The wind felt sharp and cold.
30:44Dad was wearing the detention center vest.
30:47Handcuffs hung from his wrists.
30:49It's only 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, you'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.
31:30I 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.
31:42And strangely, I felt calm.
31:46It was strawberry hard candy.
31:49Mom used to give me those with medicine.
31:53Mom used to say,
31:55Candy makes the bitterness go away.
31:58Dad looked at the candy.
32:00Then he broke down even harder.
32:03His shoulders shook violently.
32:05But for the rest of your life,
32:07all 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.
32:17Behind 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.
32:31That'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.
32:40She 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,
32:49I woke up early.
32:50It was also Mom's death anniversary.
32:55Just like every year.
32:57But at the door,
32:58I kicked something hard.
32:59It was a package.
33:01The return address looked familiar.
33:03Blackridge Prison.
33:05I 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.
33:49I 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.
34:18But in the end, he only sighed.
34:21Then he shoved the chopsticks into my hand.
34:25Eat before the noodles get sogry.
34:28Unknown 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,
34:54Save Irene first.
34:55Irene.
34:56My mother's name.
34:57He finally remembered to save mom first.
35:01Got it.
35:02I hung up.
35:03Then I kept eating.
35:05Grandpa's cooking hadn't changed in 10 years.
35:07It was still perfect.
35:10After 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.
35:24Inside was a single dark lump of brown sugar.
35:28I 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.
35:43It warmed me all the way through.
35:45Mom, 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.
35:58It was sweet.
35:59The 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.
36:19I 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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