- 17 hours ago
#FULL EPISODE #shortfilm
FULL VERSION #High Quality
#FULL EP
- FULL EP 2026
FULL VERSION #High Quality
#FULL EP
- FULL EP 2026
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00The night before our wedding, I caught my fianc in our bed with his savior's sister, Sylvia Glenn.
00:05She was literally wrapped in our wedding sheets, her eyes still flushed with passion.
00:11I flung the pregnancy test, stripped away violently, hitting him in the face, and asked,
00:16Do you even want this baby?
00:18He smoked all night, but in the end, he said,
00:21She's just a responsibility. You're the one I love.
00:24After hearing this, for the sake of my child, I put on my wedding dress and decided to give him
00:30one last chance.
00:32But what about the wedding? He didn't even show up.
00:37His assistant rushed over and told me,
00:40I'm sorry, Miss Frost. The wedding is cancelled. Mr. Cross is on his way to the hospital. Miss Sevilla has
00:45suffered a heart attack.
00:46The bouquet fell to the ground and my dignity shattered into pieces.
00:49I chased after them, out of the manor, clutching my wedding dress, and hysterically screamed into the phone.
00:55Damien! If you go to her today, I'm going to the clinic tomorrow! Your family will never have this child!
01:03He didn't say a word. He just hung up.
01:05I walked back to the manor gate, still wearing my wedding dress.
01:09Damien's mother rushed over and grabbed me.
01:12Alara, get inside! Don't make a scene in front of everyone!
01:18The wedding is over.
01:21Nonsense! Damien is just confused. Sylvia's in critical condition. He had to go.
01:24So he can show up for her, but not for me?
01:27You're going to be a Cross. Learn to be tolerant.
01:30I'm done being Mrs. Cross.
01:33Leave today, and you are no longer a Cross!
01:36I walked away, without looking back.
01:39In the dressing room, I stripped off the white lace.
01:42The stylist carefully removed my headpiece.
01:45Miss Frost, your makeup?
01:47Leave it.
01:49I grabbed my bag and walked out.
01:51Under the gray Long Island sky, I hailed a cab.
01:57Press Mysterion Hospital, please.
02:00Damien's assistant, Owen chased after me.
02:02I ignored him. I already knew the script.
02:05Mr. Cross is busy.
02:06Mr. Cross didn't mean it.
02:08For 10 years, I've heard it all.
02:10Sylvia was his responsibility,
02:11because her brother died saving Damien's life, 5 years ago.
02:15I used to think his care for her was honorable.
02:17Now I realize some responsibilities have no boundaries.
02:22The cab pulled up at the hospital entrance.
02:24I paid the driver and walked straight into the ER.
02:27I found Damien on a bench outside the operating room.
02:29He saw me and stood up.
02:31Laura, you're here?
02:33Look, about today, I'm so...
02:35How is she?
02:38Acute heart failure.
02:39They're still trying to save her.
02:41It's not looking good.
02:44I see.
02:45Alara, don't be like this!
02:47Simus Glenn died for me!
02:49I can't just abandon Sylvia!
02:50She has no one else in this world!
02:52I'm not being anything, Damien.
02:54I just realized that our wedding isn't as important as a little sister you've known for 5 years.
02:59No!
03:00You're the most important thing to me!
03:03But she's dying!
03:05What did you never take home?
03:07The doctor never said she was dying.
03:10Just then, the ER doors swung open.
03:12Family for Sevilla?
03:13I am.
03:15The patient had an episode of rapid heart rate due to emotional stress.
03:19She's stable now.
03:20We're moving her to a regular room for observation.
03:23Damien let out a long breath.
03:25See?
03:25Look how fragile she is!
03:27Why can't you just be more understanding?
03:29At that moment, the nurses rolled her out on a gurney.
03:31Sylvia was lying there.
03:33She opened her eyes just a crack.
03:35Damien rushed to her side, clutching her hand.
03:37Sylvia, don't be scared.
03:39I'm here.
03:40I walked out of the hospital without looking back.
03:42The freezing wind hit my face.
03:45Only then did I realize
03:46my heart was racing.
03:49The next day, Damien didn't come home.
03:52The house we bought for our marriage was dead silent.
03:55I called a real estate agent and put the house on the market.
03:58Yes, a quick sale.
04:00That afternoon, Damien finally showed up.
04:02He looked exhausted.
04:04Alara, I'm apologizing for Sylvia.
04:06She didn't mean to ruin yesterday.
04:10Can't she apologize for herself?
04:13She's still very weak.
04:15Damien, let's stop talking about her.
04:18Let's talk about us.
04:19What about the wedding?
04:21What are we supposed to tell our friends and family?
04:23He fell silent for a moment.
04:24Let's just wait a bit.
04:25Once the drama dies down, we'll have a redo.
04:28A reboot?
04:29You think a wedding is something you can just reboot?
04:32Then what else can we do?
04:33It already happened, Delora.
04:35I know you're upset, but Sylvia just cheated death.
04:38Can't we just show a little more understanding?
04:40Understanding?
04:41Always with the understanding, I walked into the bedroom and pulled out my suitcase.
04:46I started packing my things.
04:49What are you doing?
04:53I'm selling the house.
04:56Damien's face darkened instantly.
04:58Alara, haven't you had enough of this little tantrum?
05:03I'm not throwing a tantrum.
05:05I just don't live here anymore.
05:07You're not going anywhere!
05:08This is our home!
05:10I looked at him expressionlessly and said,
05:12The second you abandon it for another woman, it stopped being a home.
05:16You are being completely irrational!
05:19Just then, his phone buzzed.
05:22He picked up, and his voice shifted instantly.
05:26What's wrong?
05:27Another nightmare?
05:29Don't be scared, I'm coming right now.
05:31He ended the call, a flicker of impatience on his face.
05:34Stop acting out, Alara.
05:36Sylvia is still unstable.
05:37I have to check on her.
05:38We'll talk when I'm back.
05:40He thought I'd cave in, like I always did.
05:43If you walk out that door today, don't bother coming back.
05:47Alara, my patience has its limits.
05:49Then, he left anyway.
05:51I listened to the sound of the door slamming shut.
05:54I placed the last piece of clothing into my suitcase and pulled the zipper.
06:00I moved back to my city studio, a red brick brownstone with my office downstairs and my life upstairs.
06:06Damien didn't call.
06:07I didn't reach out either.
06:09A week later, his mother, Vera, asked to meet.
06:12Ten million dollars.
06:14Leave Damien.
06:16Vera, between Damien and me, it was never about the money.
06:20I know you've been together for ten years.
06:22But, Elida, understand this.
06:24The Cross family needs a wife who is sensible, someone who supports Damien, not a troublemaker who creates scenes.
06:31And Sylvia?
06:32She's sensible?
06:33Sylvia is pure and kind.
06:35Her brother saved Damien's life.
06:37He should protect her.
06:39As his fiancée, you should support him, not fight him.
06:43I don't want the money.
06:44And I don't want Damien anymore either.
06:46I hope he and Sylvia have a long, happy life together.
06:49They deserve each other.
06:50I stepped out, changed my number, and dumped every Cross family business card into the trash.
06:56The world grew quiet.
06:58I started focusing all my energy on preparing for the Milan Jewelry Design Competition, three months away.
07:04It was my ultimate dream as a designer.
07:07My days were full and peaceful.
07:13Until the day an uninvited guest showed up at my studio.
07:16Alara, I'm here to apologize about the wedding.
07:20It was my fault.
07:20I shouldn't get to the point.
07:22Damien has been in a really bad place lately, drinking constantly.
07:25And I know it's all because of me.
07:26This is the card he gave me.
07:28I haven't spent a dime.
07:29Please, just don't be mad at him anymore, okay?
07:32Sylvia, do you think this is funny?
07:34I don't know what you mean.
07:35Every time you get sick, every emergency you have,
07:38it always happens exactly when Damien and I have a milestone.
07:41You've timed it all perfectly, haven't you?
07:43I didn't take your card and get the hell out of my studio.
07:46I know you hate me.
07:48But if Damien had been the one who died five years ago instead of my brother,
07:52how would you feel?
07:53Believe it or not, I never wanted to ruin you two.
07:57I'm just so lonely.
07:59She turned and left.
08:04I swiped that card straight into the trash.
08:08Allura!
08:09What the hell did you do to Sylvia?
08:16Allura!
08:17What the hell did you do to Sylvia?
08:19She slit her wrist the moment she got home.
08:21If the nurse he hadn't found her in time,
08:23she'd be dead!
08:25Are you satisfied now?
08:29I didn't do anything.
08:30You're still lying.
08:31She's so kind, she brought you all her savings to make amends
08:34and you still had to provoke her?
08:38Damien, do you trust her or me?
08:41I'm taking you to the hospital.
08:43Apologize to her.
08:44I'm not going.
08:45You don't have a choice!
08:46Damien, you've lost your mind!
08:48You're the one who's lost it!
08:49You weren't like this before!
08:50When did you become so vicious?
08:51So unreasonable?
08:52He was right.
08:53I wasn't like this before.
08:55The old me would have believed every word he said.
08:57I would have felt his pain as my own
08:58and taken all his problems on my shoulders.
09:01When did I change?
09:02He flung the car door open
09:04and tried to shove me inside.
09:06I used all my strength and ripped myself free.
09:11Damien,
09:14we're over.
09:16What did you say?
09:17I said, we're over.
09:18From now on, you and Sylvia have nothing to do with me.
09:21Alara, don't you dare regret this!
09:23My only regret is pulling you out of the mud ten years ago
09:26just for you to push me back in.
09:28I leaned against the door,
09:29listening to him pounding on it.
09:31Alara!
09:32Open the door!
09:33Then, the roar of an engine.
09:36He was gone.
09:36Suddenly, a sharp, searing pain shot through my lower abdomen.
09:40I looked down.
09:41Blood was trickling down my legs.
09:44Seven weeks pregnant.
09:45You're showing signs of a threatened miscarriage.
09:48Your stress levels are too high.
09:50My baby.
09:52Can it be saved?
09:53We need to observe you,
09:55but we need a family member to sign the papers.
09:57Where's your husband?
09:58He's away on business.
10:01Then call someone else.
10:07I had no one else.
10:09My parents died when I was young.
10:11My grandfather raised me,
10:13and he passed away five years ago.
10:15I thought I had Damien.
10:18Now, I have no one.
10:19Owen sent an envelope.
10:21Inside was a photo.
10:28And there was a note.
10:30Miss, Mr. Cross said he'll come find you once Miss Glenn is stable.
10:35Then, I stood up and walked back into the doctor's office.
10:39Doctor.
10:40Have you decided?
10:41I don't want the baby anymore.
10:44I lay down on the operating table.
10:46As the anesthesia kicked in,
10:48my last thought was,
10:50Damien, we're even now.
10:52I didn't go back to the studio.
10:55I went straight to the airport,
10:56and bought a one-way ticket to Milan.
11:00Before leaving,
11:01I left a note for Damien through my lawyer.
11:04The breakup agreement is on its way.
11:06I don't want the house, the car, or anything else.
11:09Just sign it.
11:10I sealed the envelope,
11:12leaving my past and those ten years behind.
11:14As the plane took off,
11:15watching the city shrink below,
11:17I told myself,
11:20Elora, you are reborn.
11:22Life in Milan was harder than I imagined.
11:25No friends, no money,
11:27and a massive language barrier.
11:29By day,
11:30I audited classes at the Jewelry Academy.
11:32By night,
11:33I washed dishes in a small bistro.
11:37It was grueling,
11:38but my mind was at peace.
11:41I poured every ounce of my love and pain
11:43from the last decade
11:44into my sketches.
11:46Three months later,
11:47I stood on the stage
11:48of the Milan International Jewelry Design Competition
11:51with my masterpiece,
11:52The Caged Bird.
11:54I won the gold medal.
11:55Standing under the spark lights,
11:57surrounded by camera flashes,
11:59I finally smiled.
12:00I was no longer the Elora
12:01who lived in Damien's shadow.
12:03I was Elora, the designer.
12:05Boss, Cross Group CEO,
12:06Damien Cross is here.
12:08Three years later,
12:08I returned home with my own brand,
12:10reflecting snow.
12:11He's in the front row.
12:12He hasn't taken his eyes off you.
12:13Oh, I took a sip of my drink
12:15and stayed silent.
12:16Anna, go get the finale piece ready.
12:18On it.
12:19He's lost a lot of weight.
12:20He looks exhausted.
12:24Ladies and gentlemen,
12:25please join me in welcoming
12:27the designer of tonight's show,
12:29Elora Frost!
12:33We held each other's gaze
12:34for three seconds.
12:35I gave him a faint smile,
12:38then turned
12:39and walked off the stage.
12:42Backstage, Anna told me,
12:44Damien wants to see you.
12:46Tell him I'm busy.
12:48He will wait
12:48as long as it takes.
12:51Then let him wait.
12:53I left the venue
12:54through the side exit
12:55and got into my car.
12:56After driving a good distance,
12:58I took one last look back.
13:00He was still there.
13:01Just as Anna said.
13:02He'd lost weight.
13:03He looked older.
13:04He wasn't that sharp,
13:06confident man
13:06I remembered anymore.
13:07A jazz song started playing
13:09on the car radio.
13:10I turned it off.
13:12My brand exploded
13:12in New York overnight.
13:14Orders started pouring in
13:15like a blizzard.
13:16I was buried in work.
13:18Damien tried everything
13:19to see me.
13:19He bought the cafe
13:20right under my studio
13:21just to sit by the window
13:22every day.
13:23He bought every single
13:24one of my designs.
13:25Wrap all of these up.
13:26I ignored him completely.
13:28One day,
13:28right after a meeting,
13:29Anna walked in.
13:30Boss,
13:31there's a Ms. Glenn
13:31downstairs here to see you.
13:33She said her name
13:33is Sylvia Glenn.
13:35My pen paused
13:36for a second.
13:38Tell her to come up.
13:40Years later,
13:41Sylvia changed.
13:42Elora,
13:43long time no see.
13:44She wore heavy makeup
13:45and designer suits.
13:46Her eyes now sharp
13:48been bitter.
13:48She wasn't that
13:49helpless little flower anymore.
13:51Did you come here
13:52for something?
13:53I'm here to ask you
13:54to leave New York!
13:55On what grounds?
13:56I asked calmly.
13:59Because Damien loves you now!
14:02Everything changed
14:03the moment you came back!
14:05He's trying to kick me out!
14:07He wants to break up!
14:09Isn't that perfect?
14:10You two were never
14:12meant to be anyway.
14:14No!
14:14I'm the one who stayed
14:15by his side
14:16these last three years!
14:18I was there
14:18when he hit rock bottom!
14:20What gives you the right
14:20to just walk back in
14:22and steal him away?
14:24I looked at her
14:25like she was a joke.
14:26Sylvia,
14:27have you forgotten?
14:28He was mine
14:29to begin with.
14:30But you threw him away!
14:34No.
14:35He gave up on me first.
14:37I had nothing left.
14:39She choked on her words,
14:40finally.
14:41She snatched a stack
14:42of photos from her bag
14:43and slammed them
14:44onto my desk.
14:44Don't get too smug, Alara!
14:46You think he actually
14:48loves you?
14:49It's just guilt!
14:50Take a good look at these!
14:53I picked up the photos.
14:55It was a headstone.
14:57The name on it,
14:58Silas Glenn.
15:00My mind went blank.
15:02The world seemed to explode.
15:03He actually,
15:04he built a monument
15:06for the baby
15:06who never had a chance
15:07to be born.
15:08He told me
15:09his biggest regret
15:10in life is that child.
15:11He's only trying
15:12to get you back
15:12to make amends.
15:13Alaya,
15:14you're just a tool
15:14for his guilt.
15:15My hands shook so hard
15:16I couldn't hold the photos.
15:18Get out!
15:19You're kicking me out?
15:21You can't win, Alara.
15:23As long as he owes
15:24my brother
15:25for saving his life,
15:26Damien can never
15:26truly leave me.
15:28I stood up,
15:28walked over to her,
15:30and slapped her hard
15:31across the face.
15:32She gasped,
15:33clutching her cheek
15:33in disbelief.
15:34You dared to hit me?
15:36She grabbed my hair.
15:37I pushed her away hard,
15:38and she stared at me
15:40in complete shock.
15:41That was for my unborn child.
15:43I picked up the office phone.
15:44Security,
15:45throw this woman out.
15:47Now.
15:48Alara,
15:49you'll pay for this!
15:50I'll make your life
15:51a living hell!
15:53Nameless grave,
15:54my tears finally broke.
15:56I fell ill,
15:56a fever that wouldn't break.
15:58Anna rushed me
15:59to the hospital.
15:59I lay in the hospital bed,
16:02drifting in and out
16:03of consciousness.
16:04It felt like I was back
16:05in that freezing operating room
16:07three years ago.
16:08The nightmares were relentless.
16:10Tiny baby kept crying
16:11in my dreams.
16:12Mommy,
16:13why didn't you want me?
16:15I was scared,
16:17awake.
16:18The first thing I saw
16:19was Damien.
16:20He was sitting by my bed,
16:21his face covered in dark stubble,
16:23his eyes bloodshot.
16:25Alara,
16:25you're awake.
16:27I pulled my hand away
16:28and turned my head.
16:30I'm sorry about the baby.
16:32I'm so sorry.
16:34Back then,
16:35I thought you aborted the child
16:37because you hated me.
16:39I was too afraid to ask,
16:40too afraid to find you.
16:42I thought it would only
16:43make you hate me more.
16:44I visit the grave every year.
16:46I even gave him a name,
16:48Snowcross.
16:50My entire body froze.
16:52I've been looking for you
16:53for three years, Alara.
16:56I know I messed up.
16:58Just give me one more chance,
17:00please?
17:00I kept silent,
17:02watching him.
17:03I'll handle Sylvia.
17:04I'll cut her out completely.
17:05I swear.
17:06From now on,
17:07my world will only be you
17:07and our child.
17:08Our child.
17:09The one who's already gone.
17:11How pathetic.
17:13Damien,
17:13just leave.
17:16I won't!
17:17He stood up
17:17and tried to pull me
17:18into his arms.
17:19I dodged him.
17:20Alara?
17:21You're right.
17:22I aborted the baby
17:24because I hated you.
17:25I hated you
17:26for walking out
17:27on our wedding.
17:28I hated you
17:30for throwing away
17:30our ten years together.
17:33I hated you
17:34for choosing her
17:35over and over again.
17:37So I gave up
17:38on your child.
17:39The color drained
17:40from his face instantly.
17:42No.
17:43No,
17:44you're not like that.
17:44You couldn't be.
17:46I am exactly like that.
17:48I watched his agony
17:49but felt nothing.
17:49There is no us anymore.
17:51The woman standing
17:52before you
17:53is Alara,
17:54the designer.
17:55Not the fool
17:56who would give up
17:57everything for you.
17:58That fool died
18:00on that operating table
18:01three years ago.
18:02She's gone.
18:03Anna walked in
18:04with my medication
18:05and froze
18:05when she saw Damien.
18:07Boss,
18:08are you okay?
18:10I need to rest.
18:12Please,
18:13get out.
18:14He stood there.
18:14His lips trembling.
18:16Finally,
18:16he gave me one last
18:18lingering look
18:18and turned to leave.
18:20His back was hunched
18:21as if he'd aged
18:22ten years
18:22in a single moan.
18:24After I was discharged,
18:25Damien stopped pestering me.
18:27I guess he finally gave up.
18:28I poured everything
18:29into my work.
18:30My brand went global,
18:32expanding into Europe.
18:33I spent most of my time abroad,
18:36only passing through New York
18:37for quick trips.
18:39I only heard about Damien
18:40through the financial news.
18:42He'd liquidated
18:43almost all of
18:43Cross Group's assets.
18:45His major investments
18:46were failing.
18:47Word is,
18:48Damien kicked Sylvia out
18:50without a penny.
18:50She's been trashing him
18:52to the press,
18:53claiming he's ungrateful
18:54and has a secret child.
18:55But no one believes her.
18:57She's hit rock bottom.
18:59I listened,
19:00feeling nothing.
19:01Known of it mattered
19:02to me anymore.
19:03A year later,
19:04my solo retrospective
19:05opened at the New York
19:06Museum of Art.
19:07Every milestone piece
19:09of my career
19:09was on display.
19:10The opening night
19:11was packed.
19:12I was in the lounge,
19:14prepping my speech,
19:15when Anna rushed in,
19:17looking pale.
19:18Boss,
19:19we have a problem.
19:20What is it?
19:22Sylvia's here.
19:23She's making a scene
19:24in the gallery,
19:25claiming your breakout piece
19:26was plagiarized.
19:27Has she lost her mind?
19:29She brought original sketches
19:31that look almost identical
19:32to yours,
19:33just with minor differences.
19:35The press is swarming her.
19:36I stood up
19:37and walked out of the lounge.
19:38The gallery was in chaos.
19:40Sylvia stood in front
19:41of the caged bird,
19:42sobbing for the cameras.
19:43This piece was designed
19:44by me and my brother,
19:46Silas Glenn.
19:47It was his final work.
19:49Allura was just an assistant
19:50in his studio back then.
19:52She stole his manuscript.
19:53Cameras flashed incessantly.
19:56My proof is the manuscript.
19:57It has my brother's signature on it.
20:01Sylvia.
20:03Allura,
20:04you thief.
20:05You actually showed up.
20:07You claim you and your brother
20:09designed this piece?
20:10Exactly.
20:11When?
20:12Six years ago.
20:14I smiled.
20:15Everyone,
20:16listen.
20:17The inspiration for this piece
20:19did come from someone.
20:21But it wasn't Simus Glenn.
20:23It was...
20:25Damien Cross.
20:28I created this piece
20:29in my darkest hours
20:31after our breakup.
20:32It symbolizes my trapped love
20:34and longing for freedom.
20:36As for Miss Glenn's evidence,
20:37I looked at her.
20:39I knew it was drawn by Damien.
20:41You're...
20:41You're lying!
20:43We can call a handwriting expert
20:45right now.
20:46Damien has been drawing
20:47for ten years.
20:49I could recognize his brushstrokes
20:51with my eyes closed.
20:53And I know that you...
20:57The gallery fell into a deathly silence.
21:00Everyone was too stunned to speak.
21:02Sylvia's eyes widened,
21:04staring at Damien in disbelief.
21:06I've been digging into that accident
21:08from five years ago.
21:09I tracked down the original officers
21:11and got the full investigation report.
21:14That truck had a brake failure.
21:16Only brake failure,
21:17no murder.
21:19Silas Glenn was driven to despair
21:20by $30 million in gambling debts.
21:23In his suicide nota,
21:25he told you clearly,
21:26Use my guilt to live a good life.
21:31He never told you
21:32to use that guilt
21:34to destroy
21:35the woman I love!
21:38Because of that guilt,
21:39I sacrificed my wedding.
21:41I sacrificed Alera.
21:44I lost my lover
21:46and I lost my child.
21:48I've lived my life
21:49as a total joke.
21:50Damien's eyes welled up,
21:52voice trembling.
21:53He lost the wedding.
21:54Lost me.
21:55Lost our unborn child.
21:57If your brother is watching you from above,
21:59do you think he would truly be at peace?
22:07Sylvia clutched her head
22:08and broke down hysterically.
22:10Cameras flashed non-stop,
22:12recording her humiliating collapse.
22:14Security dragged her away.
22:16The farce ended at last.
22:18Damien turned slowly,
22:19his eyes sweeping across
22:20every piece of my work.
22:22Deep,
22:23raw regret
22:24filled his gaze.
22:25Alera,
22:26the truth is out now.
22:29Can I,
22:30can I make it up to you?
22:32Can we
22:34start over?
22:35I looked at him.
22:36After a long,
22:37heavy silence,
22:38I shook my head.
22:39It's too late, Damien.
22:42With that,
22:43I turned and walked back into the lounge.
22:45I shut the door,
22:46leaving him,
22:47and everything else,
22:48behind me.
22:49After that day,
22:50Damien vanished.
22:52Cross Group went bankrupt
22:53and liquidated.
22:54He dismissed all staff,
22:56sold all assets,
22:57paid all debts,
22:59then left New York alone.
23:01No one knew his whereabouts.
23:03My life finally returned,
23:05to a state of peace.
23:06My brand went public in Paris,
23:08becoming a truly global name.
23:10Only occasionally hearing whispers of Damien,
23:13from Anna.
23:14Some said they saw him working in the fields
23:16on a ranch out west.
23:17Others saw him volunteering
23:18at a rural church in the south.
23:20It was as if he were living like a monk,
23:22punishing himself through labor.
23:24I listened,
23:25but felt nothing.
23:27Or paths had diverged for good.
23:29Five years later,
23:30I moved back to New York
23:31and bought a house with a garden.
23:34I adopted a little girl named Iris.
23:36She's precious,
23:37with two tiny dimples when she smiles.
23:39I love her dearly.
23:41We are happy.
23:44One winter afternoon,
23:46I took Iris to the park.
23:48The snow was falling heavily.
23:50Iris was building a snowman
23:51while I watched from a bench.
23:53Nearby,
23:54a man in a janitor's uniform
23:55was shoveling snow.
23:56He wore a hat and a mask,
23:58hiding his face.
23:59But his movements were slow,
24:01strained.
24:02He had a limp.
24:03Iris' snowball rolled to his feet.
24:05She ran over to pick it up.
24:07The man stopped his broom,
24:09leaned down,
24:09and handed it back to her.
24:13As he looked up,
24:14his mask slipped slightly.
24:16I saw his face.
24:17It was Damien!
24:19My heart didn't skip a beat.
24:20I just sat there quietly,
24:22watching him.
24:22Damien also froze when he saw me.
24:24His eyes widened,
24:26filled with shock,
24:27guilt,
24:27and a hint of embarrassment.
24:29He quickly pulled up his mask,
24:31turned around,
24:32and continued shoveling snow.
24:34His movements even more strained than before.
24:37Iris looked up at him,
24:38then at me,
24:39confused.
24:40Mommy, who is he?
24:42I smiled and stroked her head gently.
24:44Iris nodded happily and ran back to the snowman.
24:47I stood up,
24:48took one last glance at Damien's back.
24:50He was hunched over,
24:52shoveling snow,
24:53one slow,
24:54laborious stroke at a time.
24:55Iris, come here.
24:56It's time to go home.
24:58Mommy?
25:00That mister is crying.
25:05The past is gone.
25:06I have my life now,
25:07my iris,
25:08and a future full of hope.
25:10Damien's atonement,
25:11his regrets,
25:12they are no longer my burden.
25:14We finally parted ways,
25:16in the heavy snow,
25:17with no more entanglement.
25:18We finally parted.
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