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From His Shadow to Her Light #FullMovie
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Short filmTranscript
00:02The night before our wedding, I caught my fianc in our bed with his savior's sister, Sylvia Glenn.
00:08She was literally wrapped in our wedding sheets, her eyes still flushed with passion.
00:14I flung the pregnancy test, strip away violently, hitting him in the face, and asked,
00:19Do you even want this baby?
00:21He smoked all night, but in the end, he said,
00:25She's just a responsibility. You're the one I love.
00:27After hearing this, for the sake of my child, I put on my wedding dress and decided to give him
00:33one last chance.
00:36But what about the wedding? He didn't even show up.
00:40His assistant rushed over and told me,
00:44I'm sorry, Miss Frost. The wedding is cancelled. Mr. Cross is on his way to the hospital. Miss Sevilla has
00:49suffered a heart attack.
00:50The bouquet fell to the ground and my dignity shattered into pieces.
00:53I chased after them, out of the manor, clutching my wedding dress, and hysterically screamed into the phone.
00:59Damien! If you go to her today, I'm going to the clinic tomorrow! Your family will never have this child!
01:07He didn't say a word. He just hung up.
01:09I walked back to the manor gate, still wearing my wedding dress.
01:13Damien's mother rushed over and grabbed me.
01:16Alara, get inside! Don't make a scene in front of everyone!
01:22The wedding is over.
01:25Nonsense! Damien is just confused. Sylvia's in critical condition. He had to go.
01:29So he can show up for her, but not for me?
01:31You're going to be a Cross. Learn to be tolerant.
01:35I'm done being Mrs. Cross!
01:37Leave today, and you are no longer a Cross!
01:41I walked away, without looking back.
01:44In the dressing room, I stripped off the white lace.
01:46The stylist carefully removed my headpiece.
01:49Miss Frost, your makeup?
01:52Leave it.
01:54I grabbed my bag and walked out.
01:56Under the gray Long Island sky, I hailed a cab.
02:02Press Mysterion Hospital, please.
02:04Damien's assistant, Owen chased after me.
02:07I ignored him.
02:08I already knew the script.
02:09Mr. Cross is busy.
02:11Mr. Cross didn't mean it.
02:12For 10 years, I've heard it all.
02:15Sylvia was his responsibility.
02:16Because her brother died saving Damien's life, 5 years ago.
02:20I used to think his care for her was honorable.
02:22Now I realize some responsibilities have no boundaries.
02:27The cab pulled up at the hospital entrance.
02:29I paid the driver and walked straight into the ER.
02:32I found Damien on a bench outside the operating room.
02:34He saw me and stood up.
02:36Laura, you're here?
02:38Look, about today, I'm so...
02:40How is she?
02:43Acute heart failure.
02:45They're still trying to save her.
02:46It's not looking good.
02:49I see.
02:50Alara, don't be like this!
02:52Simus Glenn died for me!
02:54I can't just abandon Sylvia!
02:56She has no one else in this world!
02:57I'm not being anything, Damien.
02:59I just realized that our wedding isn't as important as a little sister you've known for 5 years.
03:05No!
03:06You're the most important thing to me!
03:08But she's dying!
03:10What did you never take gone?
03:12The doctor never said she was dying.
03:15Just then, the ER doors swung open.
03:18Family for Sevilla?
03:19I am.
03:21The patient had an episode of rapid heart rate due to emotional stress.
03:25She's stable now.
03:26We're moving her to a regular room for observation.
03:29Damien let out a long breath.
03:31See?
03:31Look how fragile she is!
03:33Why can't you just be more understanding?
03:34At that moment, the nurses rolled her out on a gurney.
03:37Sylvia was lying there.
03:39She opened her eyes just a crack.
03:41Damien rushed to her side, clutching her hand.
03:43Sylvia, don't be scared.
03:45I'm here.
03:46I walked out of the hospital without looking back.
03:49The freezing wind hit my face.
03:51Only then did I realize
03:52my heart was racing.
03:56The next day, Damien didn't come home.
03:58The house we bought for our marriage was dead silent.
04:01I called a real estate agent and put the house on the market.
04:04Yes, a quick sale.
04:06That afternoon, Damien finally showed up.
04:09He looked exhausted.
04:11Alara, I'm apologizing for Sylvia.
04:13She didn't mean to ruin yesterday.
04:16Can't she apologize for herself?
04:19She's still very weak.
04:22Damien, let's stop talking about her.
04:24Let's talk about us.
04:26What about the wedding?
04:27What are we supposed to tell our friends and family?
04:29He fell silent for a moment.
04:31Let's just wait a bit.
04:32Once the drama dies down, we'll have a redo.
04:35A reboot?
04:36You think a wedding is something you can just reboot?
04:39Then what else can we do?
04:41It already happened, Alara.
04:42I know you're upset, but Sylvia just cheated death.
04:45Can't we just show a little more understanding?
04:48Understanding?
04:49Always with the understanding.
04:51I walked into the bedroom and pulled out my suitcase.
04:53I started packing my things.
04:56What are you doing?
05:00I'm selling the house.
05:03Damien's face darkened instantly.
05:05Alara, haven't you had enough of this little tantrum?
05:10I'm not throwing a tantrum.
05:12I just don't live here anymore.
05:14You're not going anywhere.
05:16This is our home.
05:17I looked at him expressionlessly and said,
05:20The second you abandon it for another woman,
05:22it stopped being a home.
05:24You are being completely irrational.
05:27Just then, his phone buzzed.
05:30He picked up and his voice shifted instantly.
05:34What's wrong?
05:35Another nightmare?
05:37Don't be scared, I'm coming right now.
05:39He ended the call.
05:40A flicker of impatience on his face.
05:42Stop acting out, Alara.
05:44Sylvia is still unstable.
05:45I have to check on her.
05:46We'll talk when I'm back.
05:48He thought I'd cave in, like I always did.
05:51If you walk out that door today,
05:53don't bother coming back.
05:55Alara, my patience has its limits.
05:57Then, he left anyway.
05:59I listened to the sound of the door slamming shut.
06:02I placed the last piece of clothing into my suitcase and pulled the zipper.
06:08I moved back to my city studio, a red brick brownstone with my office downstairs and my life upstairs.
06:14Damien didn't call.
06:15I didn't reach out either.
06:17A week later, his mother, Vera, asked to meet.
06:25Vera, between Damien and me, it was never about the money.
06:28I know you've been together for ten years.
06:31But, Elida, understand this.
06:33The Cross family needs a wife who is sensible.
06:36Someone who supports Damien.
06:37Not a troublemaker who creates scenes.
06:40And Sylvia?
06:41She's sensible?
06:42Sylvia is pure and kind.
06:44Her brother saved Damien's life.
06:46He should protect her.
06:47As his fiancé, you should support him, not fight him.
06:52I don't want the money.
06:53And I don't want Damien anymore either.
06:55I hope he and Sylvia have a long, happy life together.
06:57They deserve each other.
06:59I stepped out, changed my number, and dumped every Cross family business card into the trash.
07:05The world grew quiet.
07:07I started focusing all my energy on preparing for the Milan Jewelry Design Competition, three months away.
07:13It was my ultimate dream as a designer.
07:16My days were full and peaceful.
07:22Until the day an uninvited guest showed up at my studio.
07:26Alara, I'm here to apologize about the wedding.
07:29It was my fault.
07:30I shouldn't get to the point.
07:31Damien has been in a really bad place lately, drinking constantly.
07:34And I know it's all because of me.
07:36This is the card he gave me.
07:37I haven't spent a dime.
07:39Please, just don't be mad at him anymore, okay?
07:41Sylvia, do you think this is funny?
07:43I don't know what you mean.
07:45Every time you get sick, every emergency you have,
07:47it always happens exactly when Damien and I have a milestone.
07:51You've timed it all perfectly, haven't you?
07:53I didn't take your card and get the hell out of my studio.
07:56I know you hate me.
07:58But if Damien had been the one who died five years ago instead of my brother,
08:02how would you feel?
08:04Believe it or not, I never wanted to ruin you two.
08:07I'm just so lonely.
08:09She turned and left.
08:14I swiped that card straight into the trash.
08:18Alara!
08:19What the hell did you do to Sylvia?
08:26Alara!
08:27What the hell did you do to Sylvia?
08:29She slit her wrist the moment she got home.
08:32If the nurse he hadn't found her in time,
08:34she'd be dead!
08:35Are you satisfied now?
08:39I didn't do anything.
08:41You're still lying.
08:42She's so kind, she brought you all her savings to make amends
08:45and you still had to provoke her?
08:49Damien, do you trust her or me?
08:52I'm taking you to the hospital.
08:54Apologize to her.
08:55I'm not going.
08:56You don't have a choice!
08:57Damien, you've lost your mind!
08:58You're the one who's lost it!
08:59You weren't like this before!
09:00When did you become so vicious, so unreasonable?
09:03He was right.
09:04I wasn't like this before.
09:05The old me would have believed every word he said.
09:08I would have felt his pain as my own
09:09and taken all his problems on my shoulders.
09:11When did I change?
09:13He flung the car door open
09:14and tried to shove me inside.
09:17I used all my strength and ripped myself free.
09:22Damien,
09:25we're over.
09:27What did you say?
09:28I said, we're over.
09:29From now on, you and Sylvia have nothing to do with me.
09:32Alara, don't you dare regret this!
09:34My only regret is pulling you out of the mud ten years ago
09:37just for you to push me back in.
09:39I leaned against the door,
09:40listening to him pounding on it.
09:42Alara!
09:43Open the door!
09:45Then,
09:45the roar of an engine.
09:47He was gone.
09:48Suddenly,
09:48a sharp, searing pain shot through my lower abdomen.
09:51I looked down.
09:53Blood was trickling down my legs.
09:55Seven weeks pregnant.
09:56You're showing signs of a threatened miscarriage.
09:59Your stress levels are too high.
10:02My baby.
10:03Can it be saved?
10:05We need to observe you,
10:07but we need a family member to sign the papers.
10:09Where's your husband?
10:10He's away on business.
10:12Then call someone else.
10:19I had no one else.
10:21My parents died when I was young.
10:23My grandfather raised me,
10:25and he passed away five years ago.
10:27I thought I had Damien.
10:30Now,
10:30I have no one.
10:31Owen sent an envelope.
10:33Inside was a photo.
10:40And there was a note.
10:42Miss,
10:43Mr. Cross said he'll come find you once Miss Glenn is stable.
10:47Then,
10:47I stood up and walked back into the doctor's office.
10:52Doctor,
10:52Have you decided?
10:53I don't want the baby anymore.
10:57I lay down on the operating table.
10:59As the anesthesia kicked in,
11:01my last thought was,
11:03Damien,
11:03we're even now.
11:04I didn't go back to the studio.
11:07I went straight to the airport
11:09and bought a one-way ticket to Milan.
11:13Before leaving,
11:14I left a note for Damien through my lawyer.
11:16The breakup agreement is on its way.
11:19I don't want the house,
11:20the car,
11:21or anything else.
11:22Just sign it.
11:23I sealed the envelope,
11:24leaving my past
11:25and those ten years behind.
11:26As the plane took off,
11:28watching the city shrink below,
11:30I told myself,
11:33Elora,
11:33you are reborn.
11:35Life in Milan was harder than I imagined.
11:38No friends,
11:39no money,
11:40and a massive language barrier.
11:42By day,
11:43I audited classes at the jewelry academy.
11:45By night,
11:46I washed dishes in a small bistro.
11:50It was grueling,
11:51but my mind was at peace.
11:54I poured every ounce of my love and pain
11:56from the last decade
11:57into my sketches.
11:59Three months later,
12:00I stood on the stage
12:01of the Milan International Jewelry Design Competition
12:04with my masterpiece,
12:06The Caged Bird.
12:07I won the gold medal.
12:09Standing under the sparklights,
12:11surrounded by camera flashes,
12:12I finally smiled.
12:13I was no longer the Elora
12:15who lived in Damien's shadow.
12:16I was Elora,
12:18the designer.
12:18Boss,
12:19Cross Group CEO,
12:20Damien Cross is here.
12:21Three years later,
12:22I returned home with my own brand,
12:24reflecting snow.
12:25He's in the front row.
12:25He hasn't taken his eyes off you.
12:27Oh,
12:27I took a sip of my drink
12:28and stayed silent.
12:30Anna,
12:30go get the finale piece ready.
12:32On it.
12:33He's lost a lot of weight.
12:34He looks exhausted.
12:38Ladies and gentlemen,
12:39please join me in welcoming
12:40the designer of tonight's show,
12:42Elora Frost!
12:47We held each other's gaze
12:48for three seconds.
12:49I gave him a faint smile,
12:52then turned
12:53and walked off the stage.
12:56Backstage,
12:56Anna told me,
12:58Damien wants to see you.
13:00Tell him I'm busy.
13:02He will wait
13:03as long as it takes.
13:05Then let him wait.
13:07I left the venue
13:08through the side exit
13:09and got into my car.
13:10After driving a good distance,
13:12I took one last look back.
13:14He was still there.
13:15Just as Anna said.
13:17He'd lost weight.
13:18He looked older.
13:19He wasn't that sharp,
13:20confident man
13:21I remembered anymore.
13:22A jazz song started
13:23playing on the car radio.
13:25I turned it off.
13:26My brand exploded
13:27in New York overnight.
13:29Orders started pouring in
13:30like a blizzard.
13:31I was buried in work.
13:32Damien tried everything
13:33to see me.
13:34He bought the cafe
13:35right under my studio
13:36just to sit by the window
13:37every day.
13:38He bought every single
13:39one of my designs.
13:40Wrap all of these up.
13:41I ignored him completely.
13:42One day,
13:43right after a meeting,
13:44Anna walked in.
13:45Boss,
13:46there's a Ms. Glenn
13:46downstairs here to see you.
13:48She said her name
13:48is Sylvia Glenn.
13:50My pen paused
13:51for a second.
13:53Tell her to come up.
13:55Years later,
13:55Sylvia changed.
13:57Elora,
13:58long time no see.
13:59She wore heavy makeup
14:00and designer suits.
14:02Her eyes now sharp
14:03and bitter.
14:03She wasn't that
14:04helpless little flower
14:05anymore.
14:06Did you come here
14:07for something?
14:08I'm here to ask you
14:09to leave New York.
14:10On what grounds?
14:11I asked calmly.
14:15Because Damien
14:16loves you now.
14:17Everything changed
14:18the moment you came back.
14:21He's trying to kick me out.
14:22He wants to break up.
14:24Isn't that perfect?
14:26You two were never
14:27meant to be anyway.
14:29No.
14:30I'm the one who stayed
14:31by his side
14:32these last three years.
14:33I was there
14:34when he hit rock bottom.
14:35What gives you the right
14:36to just walk back in
14:37and steal him away?
14:39I looked at her
14:40like she was a joke.
14:42Sylvia,
14:43have you forgotten?
14:44He was mine
14:45to begin with.
14:46But you threw him away.
14:49No.
14:50He gave up on me first.
14:53I had nothing left.
14:55She choked on her words,
14:56finally.
14:57She snatched a stack
14:58of photos from her bag
14:59and slammed them
14:59onto my desk.
15:00Don't get too smug,
15:02Alara.
15:02You think he actually
15:04loves you?
15:05It's just guilt.
15:06Take a good look
15:07at these.
15:09I picked up the photos.
15:11It was a headstone.
15:13The name on it,
15:14Silas Glenn.
15:16My mind went blank.
15:18The world seemed
15:19to explode.
15:19He actually,
15:20he built a monument
15:22for the baby
15:22who never had a chance
15:23to be born.
15:24He told me
15:25his biggest regret
15:26in life is that child.
15:27He's only trying
15:28to get you back
15:28to make amends.
15:30Alaya,
15:30you're just a tool
15:30for his guilt.
15:31My hands shook so hard
15:33I couldn't hold the photos.
15:34Get out.
15:35You're kicking me out?
15:37You can't win,
15:38Alara.
15:39As long as he owes
15:41my brother
15:41for saving his life,
15:42Damien can never
15:43truly leave me.
15:44I stood up,
15:45walked over to her,
15:46and slapped her hard
15:47across the face.
15:48She gasped,
15:49clutching her cheek
15:50in disbelief.
15:51You dared to hit me?
15:52She grabbed my hair.
15:54I pushed her away hard,
15:55and she stared at me
15:56in complete shock.
15:58That was for my
15:58unborn child.
15:59I picked up
16:00the office phone.
16:01Security,
16:02throw this woman out.
16:04Now.
16:05Alara,
16:05you'll pay for this!
16:07I'll make your life
16:08a living hell!
16:10Nameless grave,
16:11my tears finally broke.
16:13I fell ill,
16:13a fever that wouldn't break.
16:15Anna rushed me
16:16to the hospital.
16:17I lay in the hospital bed,
16:19drifting in
16:19and out of consciousness.
16:21It felt like I was back
16:22in that freezing
16:23operating room
16:24three years ago.
16:25The nightmares
16:26were relentless.
16:27Tiny baby kept crying
16:28in my dreams.
16:29Mommy,
16:30why didn't you want me?
16:33I was scared,
16:34awake.
16:35The first thing I saw
16:36was Damien.
16:37He was sitting by my bed,
16:39his face covered
16:39in dark stubble,
16:41his eyes bloodshot.
16:42Alara,
16:43you're awake.
16:44I pulled my hand away
16:46and turned my head.
16:47I'm sorry about the baby.
16:49I'm so sorry.
16:51Back then,
16:53I thought you aborted
16:54the child because
16:55you hated me.
16:56I was too afraid
16:57to ask,
16:58too afraid to find you.
17:00I thought it would
17:00only make you
17:01hate me more.
17:02I visit the grave
17:03every year.
17:04I even gave him
17:05a name,
17:06Snowcross.
17:08My entire body
17:09froze.
17:10I've been looking
17:11for you for three years,
17:12Alara.
17:14I know I messed up.
17:16Just give me
17:17one more chance,
17:18please.
17:18I kept silent,
17:20watching him.
17:21I'll handle Sylvia.
17:22I'll cut her out
17:23completely.
17:23I swear,
17:24from now on,
17:25my world will only
17:25be you and our child.
17:26Our child.
17:28The one who's
17:28already gone.
17:29How pathetic.
17:31Damien,
17:31just leave.
17:34I won't.
17:35He stood up
17:36and tried to pull me
17:37into his arms.
17:37I dodged him.
17:39Alara?
17:40You're right.
17:41I aborted the baby
17:42because I hated you.
17:44I hated you
17:45for walking out
17:46on our wedding.
17:47I hated you
17:48for throwing away
17:49our ten years together.
17:51I hated you
17:52for choosing her
17:53over and over again.
17:56So I gave up
17:57on your child.
17:58The color drained
17:59from his face instantly.
18:00No.
18:02No,
18:02you're not like that.
18:03You couldn't be.
18:05I am exactly like that.
18:06I watched his agony
18:07but felt nothing.
18:08There is no us
18:09anymore.
18:10The woman standing
18:11before you
18:12is Alara.
18:12The designer.
18:14Not the fool
18:15who would give up
18:16everything for you.
18:17That fool died
18:18on that operating table
18:20three years ago.
18:21She's gone.
18:22Anna walked in
18:23with my medication
18:24and froze
18:24when she saw Damien.
18:27Boss,
18:27are you okay?
18:29I need to rest.
18:31Please,
18:32get out.
18:33He stood there,
18:33his lips trembling.
18:35Finally,
18:36he gave me
18:36one last lingering look
18:38and turned to leave.
18:39His back was hunched
18:40as if he'd aged
18:4110 years
18:42in a single moan.
18:43After I was discharged,
18:44Damien stopped pestering me.
18:46I guess he finally gave up.
18:48I poured everything
18:49into my work.
18:50My brand went global,
18:51expanding into Europe.
18:52I spent most of my time abroad,
18:55only passing through New York
18:56for quick trips.
18:58I only heard about Damien
19:00through the financial news.
19:01He'd liquidated
19:02almost all of
19:03Cross Group's assets.
19:04His major investments
19:06were failing.
19:07Word is,
19:08Damien kicked Sylvia
19:09out without a penny.
19:10She's been trashing him
19:11to the press,
19:12claiming he's ungrateful
19:13and has a secret child.
19:15But no one believes her.
19:17She's hit rock bottom.
19:18I listened,
19:19feeling nothing.
19:20None of it mattered to me
19:22anymore.
19:23A year later,
19:23my solo retrospective
19:25opened at the
19:26New York Museum of Art.
19:27Every milestone piece
19:28of my career
19:29was on display.
19:30The opening night
19:31was packed.
19:32I was in the lounge,
19:34prepping my speech,
19:35when Anna rushed in,
19:37looking pale.
19:38Boss,
19:39we have a problem.
19:40What is it?
19:42Sylvia's here.
19:43She's making a scene
19:44in the gallery,
19:45claiming your breakout piece
19:46was plagiarized.
19:48Has she lost her mind?
19:49She brought original sketches
19:51that look almost identical
19:52to yours,
19:53just with minor differences.
19:55The press is swarming her.
19:57I stood up
19:57and walked out of the lounge.
19:59The gallery was in chaos.
20:00Sylvia stood in front
20:01of the caged bird,
20:02sobbing for the cameras.
20:03This piece was designed
20:04by me and my brother,
20:06Silas Glenn.
20:07It was his final work.
20:09Allura was just an assistant
20:11in his studio back then.
20:12She stole his manuscript.
20:14Cameras flashed incessantly.
20:16My proof is the manuscript.
20:18It has my brother's signature on it.
20:21Sylvia.
20:24Allura,
20:25you thief.
20:26You actually showed up.
20:28You claim you and your brother
20:29designed this piece?
20:31Exactly.
20:32When?
20:33Six years ago.
20:34I smiled.
20:36Everyone,
20:37listen.
20:38The inspiration
20:39for this piece
20:40did come from someone,
20:41but it wasn't
20:43Simus Glenn.
20:44It was
20:46Damien Cross.
20:49I created this piece
20:50in my darkest hours
20:52after our breakup.
20:53It symbolizes
20:54my trapped love
20:55and longing
20:56for freedom.
20:57As for Miss Glenn's evidence,
20:59I looked at her.
21:00I knew it was drawn
21:01by Damien.
21:02You're...
21:03You're lying!
21:04We can call
21:05a handwriting expert
21:06right now.
21:07Damien has been
21:08drawing for 10 years.
21:10I could recognize
21:11his brushstrokes
21:12with my eyes closed.
21:14And I know
21:15that you...
21:18The gallery fell
21:20into a deathly silence.
21:21Everyone was
21:22too stunned to speak.
21:24Sylvia's eyes widened,
21:25staring at Damien
21:26in disbelief.
21:27I've been digging
21:28into that accident
21:29from five years ago.
21:31I tracked down
21:32the original officers
21:33and got the full
21:34investigation report.
21:35That truck
21:36had a brake failure.
21:38Only brake failure.
21:39No murder.
21:40Silas Glenn
21:41was driven to despair
21:42by $30 million
21:43in gambling debts.
21:45In his suicide
21:45nota,
21:46he told you
21:47clearly,
21:48use my guilt
21:49to live
21:50a good life.
21:53He never told you
21:54to use that guilt
21:56to destroy
21:57the woman I love.
22:00Because of that guilt,
22:01I sacrificed
22:02my wedding.
22:03I sacrificed
22:05Alera.
22:06I lost my lover
22:08and I lost
22:09my child.
22:10I've lived my life
22:11as a total joke.
22:13Damien's eyes
22:13welled up,
22:14voice trembling.
22:15He lost the wedding.
22:16Lost me.
22:17Lost our unborn child.
22:19If your brother
22:19is watching you
22:20from above,
22:21do you think
22:22he would truly
22:22be at peace?
22:30Sylvia clutched
22:31her head
22:31and broke down
22:31hysterically.
22:33Cameras flashed
22:34nonstop,
22:34recording her
22:35humiliating collapse.
22:37Security dragged
22:38her away.
22:39The farce
22:39ended at last.
22:40Damien turned
22:41slowly,
22:42his eyes sweeping
22:43across every piece
22:44of my work.
22:45Deep,
22:45raw regret
22:46filled his gaze.
22:48Alera,
22:48the truth is out now.
22:52Can I,
22:52can I make it up to you?
22:55Can we
22:56start over?
22:57I looked at him.
22:59After a long,
23:00heavy silence,
23:01I shook my head.
23:02It's too late,
23:03Damien.
23:05With that,
23:06I turned and walked
23:07back into the lounge.
23:08I shut the door,
23:09leaving him
23:10and everything else
23:11behind me.
23:12After that day,
23:13Damien vanished.
23:15Cross Group went
23:16bankrupt and liquidated.
23:17He dismissed all
23:18staff,
23:19sold all assets,
23:21paid all debts,
23:22then left New York
23:23alone.
23:24No one knew
23:25his whereabouts.
23:26My life finally
23:27returned
23:28to a state of peace.
23:30My brand went
23:30public in Paris,
23:31becoming a truly
23:32global name,
23:34only occasionally
23:34hearing whispers
23:35of Damien
23:36from Anna.
23:37Some said they
23:38saw him
23:38working in the
23:39fields on a
23:39ranch out west.
23:40Others saw him
23:41volunteering at a
23:42rural church in the
23:43south.
23:43It was as if he
23:44were living like a
23:45monk,
23:46punishing himself
23:47through labor.
23:48I listened,
23:49but felt nothing.
23:50Or paths had
23:51diverged for good.
23:53Five years later,
23:54I moved back to New
23:55York and bought a
23:55house with a garden.
23:57I adopted a little
23:58girl named Iris.
24:00She's precious,
24:01with two tiny dimples
24:02when she smiles.
24:03I love her dearly.
24:05We are happy.
24:08One winter afternoon,
24:10I took Iris to the
24:11park.
24:11The snow was
24:12falling heavily.
24:13Iris was building a
24:15snowman, while I
24:16watched from a bench.
24:17Nearby, a man in a
24:18janitor's uniform was
24:19shoveling snow.
24:20He wore a hat and a
24:22mask, hiding his
24:23face.
24:23But his movements
24:24were slow, strained.
24:26He had a limp.
24:27Iris' snowball rolled
24:28to his feet.
24:29She ran over to pick
24:30it up.
24:31The man stopped his
24:32broom,
24:32leaned down,
24:34and handed it
24:34back to her.
24:37As he looked up,
24:38his mask slipped
24:39slightly.
24:40I saw his face.
24:42It was Damien.
24:43My heart didn't
24:44skip a beat.
24:45I just sat there
24:45quietly, watching
24:46him.
24:47Damien also froze
24:48when he saw me.
24:49His eyes widened,
24:50filled with shock,
24:51guilt, and a hint
24:52of embarrassment.
24:53He quickly pulled
24:55up his mask,
24:56turned around,
24:56and continued
24:57shoveling snow.
24:59His movements
24:59even more strained
25:00than before.
25:01Iris looked up
25:02at him,
25:03then at me,
25:04confused.
25:05Mommy, who is
25:06he?
25:06I smiled and
25:07stroked her head
25:08gently.
25:09Iris nodded
25:09happily and ran
25:10back to the
25:11snowman.
25:11I stood up,
25:12took one last
25:13glance at Damien's
25:14back.
25:15He was hunched
25:16over,
25:16shoveling snow,
25:17one slow,
25:18laborious stroke
25:19at a time.
25:20Iris, come here.
25:21It's time to go
25:22home.
25:23Mommy?
25:25That mister
25:25is crying.
25:30The past is gone.
25:31I have my life now,
25:32my iris,
25:33and a future
25:34full of hope.
25:35Damien's atonement,
25:36his regrets,
25:37they are no longer
25:38my burden.
25:39We finally parted ways,
25:41in the heavy snow,
25:42with no more
25:43entanglement.
25:43.
25:44.
25:44.
25:44.
25:44.
25:44.
25:44.
25:45Amen.
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