- 21 hours ago
صدقيني يا أمي
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00:00New Year's Eve, everything changed.
00:03On New Year's Eve, Mom was getting ready to take Mia to see the fireworks.
00:08A sudden, tearing agony hit my stomach.
00:12I curled up on the floor, begging,
00:15Mom, my stomach hurts so much. Please help me.
00:19But my band just frantically flashed red.
00:24She glared down at me, shivering in a cold sweat,
00:27cranked the shock dial to the absolute max, and spat.
00:31You're pretending to be sick just so you can come watch the fireworks with us?
00:34You never change!
00:36She turned, grabbed Mia, and slammed the door behind them.
00:41I couldn't help but think she was right.
00:43The band was red, so I must not actually be in pain.
00:47I was just making it up for attention again.
00:51I'm sorry, Mom. Next time around, I promise I'll be an honest kid.
00:55It hurts so much.
00:58I writhed in agony, my fingernails scratching pale marks into the floorboards.
01:09The doorknob turned.
01:11A glimmer of hope sparked in my eyes.
01:15Mom was spat.
01:17She was a doctor.
01:18She must have realized something was horribly wrong and came back to save me.
01:23Are you done yet?
01:25The fireworks are about to start.
01:27Mia's getting impatient.
01:28Mom.
01:29I called out weakly, reaching a trembling hand toward the door.
01:33It really hurts.
01:34It feels like my intestines are tearing apart.
01:38She just glanced at the frantic red light flashing on my wrists.
01:42Squatting down, she pinched my chin, her voice dripping with venom.
01:47Lily, how long are you going to keep up this act?
01:50You're a pathological liar.
01:52You can stay home and think about what you've done.
01:54Honey, hurry up.
01:56The fireworks are about to start.
01:59If Singha doesn't want to go, fine.
02:01Should we leave her some food?
02:02Mom stood up and dusted off her hands,
02:05like touching me had made her filthy.
02:08Leave her food for what?
02:09She has plenty of snacks in her room.
02:11She bought them with money she stole last time.
02:13She won't starve.
02:15Lock the door.
02:16Don't let her out until that bracelet turns green.
02:18But...
02:19But what?
02:20Spare the rob?
02:22Spoil the child?
02:23Look at Mia.
02:24She's perfectly honest.
02:25Her band is always green.
02:27Lily is rotten to the core.
02:29We have to correct her.
02:30But my closet was completely empty.
02:33Mia was the one who stole the cash,
02:36and she ate all the snacks.
02:39Mia had just stood there,
02:41her band glowing that soft green,
02:44and said,
02:45It wasn't me.
02:47And Mom believed her.
02:49When I tried to defend myself,
02:52and said I didn't take it either,
02:54the red light flashed,
02:55and I got shocked.
02:57I watched Mom turn around to leave.
03:02Mia peeked through the crack in the door,
03:05and stuck her tongue out at me.
03:08Bye, sis.
03:09We're going to see the pretty fireworks.
03:11Her band was glowing a vibrant green.
03:13It really was beautiful.
03:15The door slammed shut,
03:17followed by the heavy click of the deadbolt.
03:19The house went dead silent,
03:22leaving just me alone,
03:24with the saw tearing through my stomach.
03:27It hurts so much.
03:30Mom was right.
03:32Machines don't lie.
03:33The band is red,
03:35so I must be making this up.
03:37I'm not in pain.
03:39I'm really not in pain.
03:42Tears streaming down my face.
03:44I tried to brainwash myself.
03:47I don't know how much time passed,
03:50but it actually started to hurt less.
03:54Using my last breath,
03:55I dragged myself to the desk.
03:58I had to write my punishment lines.
04:02Those were the rules.
04:04Whenever the red light flashed,
04:07I had to write,
04:08I am a liar a thousand times.
04:11Once I finished,
04:13Mom would forgive me, right?
04:15She'd take me to the hospital then.
04:18With trembling hands,
04:19I flipped open my crumpled diary.
04:22The pages were crammed
04:25with all my previous apologies.
04:29I used to always write,
04:31I'm sorry, I was wrong.
04:33I won't lie again.
04:35But this time,
04:37I wanted to write the truth.
04:40My vision blurred.
04:42Crying,
04:43I used every last ounce of my strength to write,
04:48Mom,
04:48I really do love you.
04:51It hurts so much.
04:53Why won't you just believe me?
04:56Mom, please,
04:57just believe me this one time.
05:00The moment I finished the last word,
05:02the excruciating pain in my stomach
05:05completely vanished.
05:06My body felt light,
05:08and I began to float.
05:09I looked down and saw myself slumped over the desk,
05:14arm dangling in the air,
05:16completely motionless.
05:18The band on my wrist
05:20was still frantically flashing red,
05:22so I was dead.
05:25But I still hadn't learned
05:27how to be an honest kid.
05:30I'm sorry, Mom.
05:31I was awakened by a burst of laughter.
05:34It was my dad,
05:35my mom,
05:36and my sister.
05:37The fireworks were so beautiful tonight,
05:39especially the smiley face one.
05:41It was as cute as our Mia.
05:44There was a tenderness in Mom's voice
05:47that I had never heard before.
05:49I floated in midair,
05:50watching the front door open.
05:52Now a soul,
05:53I instinctively drifted toward them,
05:55wanting to bring them their slippers like I used to.
05:59It was a people-pleasing instinct
06:01carved into my bones.
06:02Mom.
06:03I opened my arms,
06:05wanting to hug the woman
06:06still carrying the chill of the night.
06:09I don't hurt anymore.
06:10I'll be good from now on.
06:12Please don't be mad.
06:14But my hands passed straight through her body,
06:17like trying to catch the wind.
06:19Mom shivered and frowned.
06:20Why is it so cold in here?
06:22Is the heat off?
06:23I froze,
06:24staring at my transparent palm.
06:26That's right.
06:27I was already dead.
06:29The dead can't hug the living.
06:32Go check on Lily.
06:33That girl hasn't come out to eat either.
06:35Don't let her really starve.
06:36Dad mentioned it casually.
06:37Dad was still the better one.
06:39I looked at Mom expectantly.
06:42If she found out I was dead,
06:43would she be sad?
06:45Would she regret it?
06:46Mom snorted and slipped into her house shoes,
06:49walking toward my room.
06:51She'd deserve it if she starved.
06:53Faking illness for attention is a bad habit
06:55that comes from being spoiled.
06:56She pushed my door open.
07:00She pushed my door open.
07:02She didn't turn on the light.
07:04By the light from the living room,
07:06she saw me slumped over the desk,
07:08motionless, as if asleep.
07:11Oh?
07:12Still lying there?
07:13You think lying on the desk
07:14pretending to be pitiful
07:16will make me carry you to bed?
07:18Lily, you're ten years old,
07:20not five.
07:21Mom!
07:22I'm not pretending to sleep!
07:24I'm dead!
07:25Look at me!
07:26Touch me!
07:27My body is cold!
07:29But Mom couldn't hear me.
07:31She only believed what she chose to see.
07:34My sister slipped in under her arm
07:36and raised her wrist proudly.
07:39Big Sat is a lazy pig!
07:41Look, my bracelet is green!
07:43Hers is still red!
07:45She's always lying!
07:47She even lies in her dreams!
07:49Mom patted her head.
07:50Dad peeked in from behind.
07:52Maybe carry her to bed?
07:53It's freezing.
07:54Carry her?
07:55For what?
07:55Kids these days are spoiled.
07:57This bracelet manufacturer say
07:58this is when you apply cold treatment.
08:00She has to realize her own mistakes.
08:02Look at that red light.
08:03It shows she's still in a state
08:05of extreme resistance.
08:06She hasn't reflected at all.
08:07That's enough.
08:08Go to bed.
08:09We're visiting Grandma tomorrow.
08:10Mom turned briskly
08:11and pulled the door closed again.
08:13I hovered beside my body,
08:15staring at the crimson light
08:17in the darkness,
08:18a sorrow deeper than death
08:19filling me.
08:20Mom,
08:21if you had just taken
08:23one step closer,
08:24just touched my hand,
08:26you would have known
08:26I was already cold.
08:28But you didn't.
08:30You trusted that cold machine
08:32more than the daughter
08:32you carried for ten months.
08:34Late at night,
08:35a rat crawled out
08:36from the empty cabinet.
08:37I used to be terrified of rats.
08:40I would scream
08:41every time I saw one.
08:42But now,
08:44I could only float
08:44near the ceiling
08:45and watch it roam freely
08:47over my corpse.
08:48I tried to shoo it away
08:49weakly,
08:50but no sound came out.
08:51The rat bit into my toe,
08:54dark purplish blood
08:55seeping out.
08:56I couldn't feel any pain.
08:58That was good.
08:59It finally didn't hurt anymore.
09:01I spoke to the pitiful shell
09:03below me.
09:03Don't be afraid.
09:05You can't feel pain anymore.
09:07It will all be over soon.
09:09The next morning,
09:10sunlight washed over
09:12my corpse,
09:13but it brought
09:14no warmth at all.
09:15Clattering sounds
09:16drifted in
09:18from the kitchen.
09:19Mom was
09:20making breakfast.
09:22The rich smell
09:23of frying bacon
09:24and eggs
09:25crept through the crack
09:27under my door.
09:28Normally,
09:28that was the smell
09:30I craved the most,
09:31but I was only ever
09:33allowed plain oatmeal
09:35because Mom said
09:36liars didn't deserve
09:38good food.
09:39Today,
09:39she was deliberately
09:41banging the spatula
09:42against the pan.
09:44I knew exactly
09:45what she was doing.
09:46She was trying
09:46to tempt me.
09:47She wanted me
09:49to give in
09:49to the hunger
09:50and crawl out
09:51to beg for forgiveness.
09:53In the past,
09:55I might have actually
09:56confessed to
09:58things I never did
09:59just for a single
10:01bite of food.
10:02But now,
10:02I didn't need
10:03to eat anymore.
10:04Lily still hasn't
10:05come out?
10:05Dad asked,
10:07reading the newspaper
10:08at the dining table.
10:09No.
10:11Stubborn as a mule.
10:12She's just spoiled.
10:14If she doesn't want
10:15to eat,
10:15she can starve.
10:16Mia took a sip
10:17of her milk,
10:18her eyes darting
10:19around mischievously.
10:21She intentionally
10:22ran over to my door.
10:24Mom!
10:25It smells so gross
10:26in Lily's room!
10:28Did she use the floor
10:29as a toilet?
10:30Floating by the door,
10:31I looked at my sister
10:33with a bitter smile.
10:34I had already started
10:36to smell after
10:37just one night.
10:38Mom marched over,
10:39her forehead
10:40deeply wrinkled
10:41in disgust.
10:43You actually
10:44soiled your own room?
10:45She pounded
10:47on the door
10:47and roared.
10:50You are unbelievable!
10:52You throw away
10:54your own dignity
10:55just to throw
10:56a tantrum at me?
10:57It reminded me
10:58of when I was little.
11:00Once,
11:01I had severe
11:02stomach flu
11:03and couldn't make
11:04get to the bathroom
11:05in time,
11:06messing my pants.
11:07She pointed at me
11:08and told the neighbors,
11:09Look at this child,
11:11dirty as a pig.
11:12And now,
11:13she thought
11:14I was being
11:16filthy again.
11:17Just leave her!
11:19Mom waved her hand
11:20in disgust
11:21like shooing away
11:22a fly.
11:23Better sit
11:23in her own stitch.
11:25See how she likes it.
11:27Dad put down
11:28his paper.
11:29The smell
11:29really is getting strong.
11:31Let me go check on her.
11:32Maybe a rat died
11:33in the walls.
11:34He stood up
11:35and walked
11:37toward my bedroom door.
11:38My ghost heart
11:40leaped into my throat.
11:42Dad,
11:42hurry,
11:43open the door!
11:44Please,
11:45look at me.
11:47I'm right behind
11:48the door.
11:50If you just
11:51turn that knob,
11:52you'll see
11:53I'm not moving anymore.
11:55You'll see
11:56my face
11:56has already
11:57turned bruised
11:58and dark.
11:59Dad's hand
12:00grasped
12:01the doorknob.
12:02His phone
12:02suddenly blared.
12:04What?
12:04It was his boss
12:05calling.
12:06The servers crashed?
12:07Okay,
12:08okay,
12:08I'm on my way.
12:10Honey,
12:11there's a massive
12:11emergency at work.
12:12I have to go.
12:13I might not be back
12:13for a few days.
12:14Wait,
12:14what about Lily?
12:16I froze
12:16in midair.
12:18It was so
12:20incredibly close.
12:22Just one second away.
12:24If that call
12:25had come
12:26just a moment later,
12:28they would have
12:28found me.
12:29Maybe then
12:30I wouldn't have
12:32to keep rotting
12:33in here.
12:33That afternoon,
12:35Mom took Mia
12:35out shopping,
12:37leaving my corpse
12:37alone in the house.
12:39They came back
12:39in the evening.
12:40As soon as they
12:41walked in,
12:42the stench
12:43hit them
12:44even harder.
12:44Are you trying
12:45to turn this house
12:46into a literal dumpster?
12:48Instead,
12:49she grabbed
12:49a roll of duct tape,
12:51crouched down,
12:51and viciously sealed
12:52the crack
12:53under my door tight.
12:54Since you love
12:55the stench so much,
12:56you can just sit in it!
12:57Mom dusted off
12:58her hands
12:58in satisfaction.
13:00Finally,
13:00some peace and quiet.
13:02Watching that
13:03duct tape door,
13:04the very last
13:05shred of hope
13:06in my heart
13:06suffocated
13:07right along
13:08with the seal.
13:09So this was it.
13:10In Mom's mind,
13:12my life and death
13:13mattered
13:14even less
13:15than a fancy dinner.
13:16She would rather
13:17seal me in
13:17like a tomb
13:18than check
13:18if I was actually
13:19dying inside.
13:21You win, Mom.
13:22I will never
13:23bother you again.
13:24By the morning
13:24of the third day,
13:26the warm winter sun
13:27spilled into
13:28the living room,
13:29but it couldn't
13:30dispel the dark gloom
13:32hanging over the house.
13:33The thermostat
13:34was cranked
13:35way up
13:36to almost
13:3680 degrees.
13:38The duct tape
13:39could no longer
13:40hold back
13:41the smell.
13:42It was
13:43a nauseating,
13:45thick,
13:46greasy stench
13:47of decay.
13:48Mom was trimming
13:49fresh flowers
13:50she had just bought,
13:51but no matter
13:52how strong
13:53the floral scent
13:54was,
13:55it couldn't mask
13:56the smell
13:56of a rotting corpse.
13:58Mom angrily
14:00snapped a rose stem,
14:02letting a thorn
14:03prick her finger.
14:05She had finally
14:07reached her
14:08breaking point.
14:09in her twisted logic,
14:11me not showering,
14:13using the room
14:14as a toilet,
14:15or even hiding
14:17dead rats in there.
14:18It was all
14:19just an act of rebellion
14:20to disgust her
14:21and challenge
14:22her authority.
14:23Lily,
14:24you are completely
14:25out of control.
14:27Mom stormed
14:28into the kitchen,
14:29grabbed a heavy
14:30wooden spoon,
14:32and marched
14:32furiously
14:33toward my room.
14:34Since the shock
14:35collar isn't
14:36working anymore,
14:37maybe you need
14:39some old-fashioned
14:40discipline!
14:42Floating right
14:42in front of her,
14:43looking at her
14:44contorted,
14:45furious face,
14:47I waved my hands
14:48frantically
14:48to stop her.
14:50Don't go in!
14:52Mom,
14:52please don't!
14:53I look awful!
14:55I'm rotting!
14:55You'll be scared!
14:57Even though
14:58she didn't love me,
14:59I still didn't want
15:00her to see me
15:01in such a horrific state.
15:03But she walked
15:05right through
15:06my spirit
15:07and viciously
15:08ripped the duct tape
15:09off the door frame.
15:10The sound of the
15:11adhesive tearing
15:13was piercing.
15:15She jammed
15:16the spare key
15:17into the lock
15:18and twisted.
15:19The door
15:20was violently
15:21shoved open.
15:23A sickening
15:25wall of
15:25concentrated death
15:26hit her
15:27instantly,
15:28like opening
15:29Pandora's box.
15:31Mom stumbled
15:32backwards
15:33gagging
15:34as the stench
15:35assaulted her.
15:36Lily!
15:37What the hell
15:38are you doing
15:39in here?
15:39She looked up
15:40and saw me
15:41still slumped
15:42over the desk
15:43in the exact same
15:44position from
15:45three days ago,
15:46my back to her
15:48completely motionless.
15:50To her,
15:51this was a
15:52silent provocation,
15:54pure,
15:55sheer arrogance.
16:00blinded by rage,
16:01she closed the
16:02distance in three
16:03steps,
16:04raising the heavy
16:05wooden spoon
16:06high in the air.
16:07But she didn't
16:09strike right away.
16:10She wanted to
16:11yank me up first
16:12to see the stubborn
16:14expression she was
16:15sure was on my face.
16:17Get up!
16:18She grabbed me
16:21roughly by
16:22the back
16:23of the collar,
16:24her fingers
16:25digging into my skin.
16:26The very next
16:28second,
16:28she froze.
16:30The moment she
16:30made contact,
16:32time seemed to
16:33stop completely.
16:35Through the thin
16:36fabric of my
16:37pajamas,
16:38her fingers
16:39didn't feel
16:40warm living
16:41skin,
16:41or soft
16:43flesh.
16:44Instead,
16:45she felt
16:46a block
16:47of ice-cold,
16:48rock-hard,
16:49dead meat.
16:50It was
16:51a bone-chilling,
16:53unnatural cold,
16:55entirely
16:56devoid
16:57of
16:58the warmth
16:59of life.
17:01Mom hesitated
17:03for a fraction
17:03of a second,
17:04but her momentum
17:06carried through,
17:07yanking backward
17:08with brute force.
17:10My stiff
17:11body was
17:12pulled backward,
17:14falling rigidly.
17:15Taking the
17:16heavy desk
17:17chair down
17:18with it,
17:19crash.
17:20The chair
17:21slammed loudly
17:22against the
17:23hardwood floor.
17:24My corpse
17:25fell perfectly
17:26stiff,
17:27like a toppled
17:28marble statue.
17:29And finally,
17:31my face
17:32was revealed.
17:34I was no longer
17:35the timid
17:36little girl
17:37she knew.
17:38My face
17:39was a bruised,
17:40sickly
17:41purple,
17:42my eyes
17:42bulging,
17:43my features
17:45completely
17:46contorted
17:48from the
17:49sheer agony
17:50of my
17:51final moments.
17:52Dried white
17:53foam and
17:54dark crusted
17:55blood
17:55stained the
17:56corners of
17:57my mouth.
17:57mouth, and
17:59there on my
18:01blackened
18:02wrist was
18:04the truth
18:04band
18:05mom was
18:06always so
18:07damn proud
18:07of.
18:08It hung
18:09there,
18:11lifeless.
18:12The skin
18:13underneath was
18:14scorched pitch
18:15black from the
18:16electricity.
18:17The melted
18:18rubber fused
18:19directly into my
18:20charred flesh.
18:21No more
18:22red lights,
18:23no more
18:24green lights,
18:26just dead
18:27heavy silence.
18:29Smack,
18:30a soft
18:31thud.
18:32My diary,
18:34which had been
18:34pinned under my
18:35arm,
18:36slipped out as
18:37my body fell.
18:38It landed
18:40right at
18:40mom's feet.
18:42It fell
18:43open,
18:45facing her
18:46perfectly.
18:47honestly,
18:48on that
18:49page,
18:51my messy,
18:52desperate
18:53handwriting
18:54stabbed into
18:56her eyes
18:57like daggers.
18:59Mom,
18:59my stomach
19:00really hurts.
19:01The band
19:01is broken.
19:02I swear I'm
19:03not lying.
19:04Please don't
19:05shock me
19:05anymore.
19:08It was
19:09a shriek
19:09that didn't
19:10even sound
19:11human,
19:12piercing and
19:13guttural like
19:14her throat was
19:15tearing apart.
19:16Mom,
19:17stumbled backward,
19:19her lower back
19:20slamming hard
19:21against the
19:21bookshelf.
19:22A glass vase
19:24crashed to the
19:25floor,
19:25shattering into
19:26a million pieces.
19:28But she
19:29didn't even
19:30flinch.
19:31Her eyes
19:32were wide
19:33with pure
19:34terror,
19:35locked onto
19:35my body
19:36on the
19:37floor.
19:38No,
19:39no way.
19:40She shook
19:41her head
19:42frantically,
19:43her hair
19:43falling around
19:44her face
19:45like a
19:45mad woman.
19:46You're
19:47still
19:47faking
19:48it.
19:48This is
19:49makeup.
19:50It's a
19:50trick.
19:52Lily,
19:53get up
19:53right now.
19:57Mummy
19:58isn't mad
19:58anymore.
19:59Stop
19:59scaring me.
20:01Trembling
20:02violently,
20:03she reached
20:04out trying
20:05to grab
20:05my stiff
20:06arm.
20:06but the
20:08split second
20:09her fingertips
20:10brushed my
20:11freezing skin.
20:13She recoiled
20:14like she
20:16just touched
20:17a hot stove.
20:18That
20:19sensation,
20:20it was
20:21undeniably
20:22real.
20:23It was
20:25the temperature
20:26of death.
20:27Martha,
20:28her neighbor,
20:29called the
20:30cops.
20:31She had
20:32rushed over
20:33after hearing
20:34mom's screams,
20:35took one look
20:36at the scene
20:37and collapsed
20:38right in the
20:39doorway.
20:40Sirens soon
20:41flooded the
20:42neighborhood.
20:43The police
20:44swarmed in.
20:45Forensics
20:46followed.
20:47Crime scene
20:48tape went
20:49up.
20:50I watched
20:50them hustle
20:51in and out,
20:52camera flashes
20:53exploding over
20:55my corpse.
20:56A female
20:57officer had to
20:59drag mom out
20:59to the living
21:00room couch.
21:02She was
21:04still babbling
21:05incoherently,
21:06trying to
21:07defend herself.
21:09Officer,
21:09I swear she
21:10was faking
21:11it.
21:12She's been a
21:12liar since
21:13she was a
21:13kid.
21:14The band
21:15was red.
21:15The machine
21:16doesn't lie.
21:17I was just
21:18disciplining her.
21:19I was doing
21:20it for her
21:20own good.
21:21Nobody even
21:22looked at
21:23her.
21:23Everyone just
21:24stared at
21:25her like she
21:25was an
21:26absolute
21:26monster.
21:27When the
21:29coroner tried
21:30to move
21:30my body,
21:31they ran
21:32into a
21:32problem.
21:33The truth
21:34band.
21:35The truth
21:36band.
21:37Because it
21:38had discharged
21:39high voltage
21:40electricity for
21:41so long,
21:42the intense
21:43heat had
21:44literally melted
21:45the rubber
21:46right into
21:46my skin.
21:48It was
21:49basically
21:49fused to
21:50my flesh.
21:51Jesus
21:52Christ.
21:53He had
21:54to grab
21:55a pair
21:55of medical
21:57shears
21:57to force
21:58it off.
21:59The
21:59sickening
22:00sound
22:00of skin
22:01tearing.
22:03Even
22:03though I
22:04was already
22:04dead,
22:05my phantom
22:06wrist throbbed.
22:07The band
22:08finally came
22:09off,
22:09taking a
22:10chunk of
22:11my charred
22:11flesh with
22:12it.
22:13A detective
22:13picked up
22:14my diary
22:15from the
22:15floor,
22:16flipping through
22:17it with
22:18gloved hands,
22:19his face
22:20growing darker
22:21by the
22:22second.
22:23Mom's
22:23eyes locked
22:24onto the
22:25notebook.
22:26Suddenly,
22:27she lunged
22:29at the
22:29detective
22:30like a
22:31rabid dog
22:32trying to
22:33snatch it.
22:34Those are
22:35her punishment
22:35lines!
22:36She definitely
22:37wrote it in
22:37there!
22:37She admitted
22:38she was
22:38lying!
22:39Read it!
22:39She confessed!
22:41The detective
22:42shoved her
22:42back hard
22:43and dropped
22:44the diary
22:45into an
22:45evidence bag.
22:47He glared
22:48at her with
22:49eyes as
22:50cold as
22:50ice,
22:51looking at
22:52her like
22:52she was
22:53pure
22:53garbage.
22:54We'll
22:55decide
22:55who
22:55was
22:55lying.
22:56Right
22:57then,
22:58Dad
22:58finally
22:59rushed
23:00back.
23:00He saw
23:01the
23:02black
23:03body
23:03bag
23:03being
23:04carried
23:04out
23:04the
23:05door.
23:05That
23:06long
23:07zipper
23:07sealing
23:08away
23:09my
23:09entire
23:10miserable
23:11life.
23:12Dad's
23:12legs
23:13gave
23:13out.
23:14He
23:15collapsed
23:15onto
23:16the
23:16lawn,
23:17literally
23:17wetting
23:18his
23:18pants
23:18in shock.
23:19Mia
23:20was
23:21standing
23:21to
23:21the
23:21side,
23:22sobbing
23:23in
23:23fear.
23:24She
23:25didn't
23:25even
23:26fully
23:26grasp
23:27what
23:28was
23:28happening.
23:29She
23:29just
23:29pointed
23:30at
23:31the
23:31bloody
23:31band
23:32left
23:33on
23:33the
23:33table
23:34and
23:34asked,
23:35Mommy,
23:36why is
23:37Lily's
23:37band
23:37black?
23:38And
23:38it's
23:39still
23:39green?
23:40She
23:40held
23:41up
23:41her
23:41wrist,
23:42the
23:42little
23:42green
23:43light
23:43still
23:43blinking
23:44cheerfully.
23:45It
23:46was
23:47a
23:47massive
23:49sickening
23:49irony.
23:51The
23:51police
23:51began
23:52an
23:52impromptu
23:53interrogation
23:54in the
23:55living room.
23:56Mom
23:57acted
23:58like she
23:58just
23:58found
23:59her
23:59lifeline.
24:00She
24:01pointed
24:01sharply
24:02at
24:02my
24:02bloody
24:03band,
24:04her
24:04voice
24:04shrill
24:05and
24:05desperate.
24:06Check
24:06the
24:07band.
24:07You
24:07have
24:08to
24:08check
24:08the
24:08band.
24:09It
24:09proves
24:09she
24:09was
24:09lying.
24:10Red
24:11means
24:11lie.
24:12I
24:12only
24:12ever
24:12shocked
24:13her
24:13when
24:13it
24:13turned
24:13red.
24:14I'm
24:15not
24:15abusive.
24:16The
24:16machine
24:16told me
24:17to
24:17do
24:17it.
24:17I
24:17was
24:17just
24:18teaching
24:18her
24:18a
24:18lesson.
24:19The
24:19detective
24:20scowled
24:21at
24:21her,
24:22completely
24:23disgusted.
24:24Ma'am,
24:26your
24:26daughter's
24:27body
24:28is
24:29covered
24:29in
24:29old,
24:31repetitive
24:31electrical
24:31burn
24:32scars.
24:32That
24:33was
24:33discipline!
24:34It
24:35was
24:35education!
24:36Mom
24:36shrieked,
24:38cutting
24:38him off,
24:39desperate
24:40to prove
24:40she was
24:41right.
24:42Desperate
24:43to prove
24:43she
24:43wasn't a
24:44murderer.
24:45she
24:46suddenly
24:47made
24:48the
24:48most
24:48insane
24:50demand.
24:51You
24:51don't
24:52believe
24:52me?
24:52That
24:53machine
24:53is
24:54flawless!
24:54I'll
24:55put it
24:55on
24:55right
24:55now!
24:56I'm
24:56telling
24:57the
24:57truth,
24:57so
24:57it's
24:58going
24:58to
24:58be
24:59green!
24:59She
25:00lunged
25:00for
25:00the
25:01table,
25:01snatching
25:02up
25:02the
25:02band
25:03that
25:03was
25:03still
25:04coated
25:04in
25:04my
25:05burnt
25:05skin
25:05and
25:06blood.
25:06completely
25:07ignoring
25:08the
25:08gore.
25:09Her
25:09hands
25:10shook
25:10wildly
25:11as
25:12she
25:12forced
25:12the
25:13strap
25:13around
25:14her
25:14own
25:14wrist.
25:15I'll
25:16show
25:16you,
25:16I'm
25:16innocent.
25:17If
25:18it's
25:18green,
25:18it
25:18means
25:18everything
25:19I've
25:19said
25:19is
25:19true.
25:20Trembling,
25:22she
25:22snapped
25:23the
25:23blood
25:23soap
25:24device
25:24into
25:25place.
25:26Locked
25:27tight,
25:28the
25:29freezing
25:29rubber
25:30pressed
25:30against
25:31her
25:31skin,
25:32sticky
25:33and
25:33slick
25:34with
25:34my
25:34blood.
25:35Mom
25:36took
25:36a
25:36deep
25:37breath,
25:38trying
25:38to
25:39force
25:39herself
25:39to
25:39calm
25:40down.
25:41She
25:41was
25:42so
25:42desperate
25:42to
25:43prove
25:43I
25:44deserve
25:44to
25:44die,
25:45to
25:46prove
25:46her
25:46twisted
25:47parenting
25:47was
25:48flawless.
25:49She
25:50held
25:50her
25:51wrist
25:51up
25:51to
25:51the
25:52cops,
25:53a
25:53gleam
25:53of
25:54manic
25:54confidence
25:55in
25:55her
25:56eyes.
25:57Watch
25:57closely.
25:59My
25:59name
25:59is
25:59Evelyn.
26:00I
26:01am
26:01Lily's
26:01mother.
26:02It
26:02was
26:02a
26:02pure
26:03fact.
26:04The
26:04absolute
26:05truth,
26:06but
26:07then
26:08a
26:09sharp
26:09ear
26:10piercing
26:10alarm
26:11instantly
26:12shrieked
26:12from the
26:13band.
26:13The
26:14long
26:14dead
26:14red
26:14light
26:15violently
26:15exploded
26:16to life.
26:17Mom
26:18was
26:18stunned.
26:19Her
26:19cocky
26:19expression
26:20froze
26:20instantly.
26:22She
26:22smacked
26:23the band
26:24hard,
26:24like hitting
26:25a glitching
26:25TV
26:26remote.
26:26What
26:26the
26:27hell?
26:27Is
26:27it
26:27broken?
26:28I'm
26:29telling
26:29the
26:29truth.
26:30I
26:30am
26:31Evelyn.
26:31Panic
26:32started
26:32setting
26:32in,
26:33her
26:33words
26:34spilling
26:34out
26:35faster.
26:35It
26:36has
26:36to
26:36be
26:37broken.
26:37That
26:38coroner
26:38must
26:39have
26:39busted
26:39it.
26:41Let
26:42me
26:42try
26:42again.
26:43I'm
26:43going
26:43to
26:44say
26:44it
26:44again.
26:45She
26:45swallowed
26:46hard,
26:46her
26:46voice
26:47pitching
26:47up in
26:47hysteria.
26:48I
26:49did
26:49not
26:49abuse
26:50my
26:50child.
26:51I
26:51was
26:51doing
26:51it
26:52for
26:52her
26:52own
26:52good.
26:53I
26:53loved
26:54her.
26:54The
26:55red
26:55light
26:55flashed
26:56even
26:56more
26:56violently
26:57blurring
26:58into
26:58a
26:58solid
26:58block
26:59of
26:59furious
26:59red
27:00and
27:00because
27:01it
27:01detected
27:02an
27:03extreme
27:03spike
27:04in
27:04heart
27:04rate
27:05the
27:05band
27:05automatically
27:06triggered
27:07a
27:07mild
27:07electric
27:08shock.
27:08Mom
27:09jolted
27:09her
27:10entire
27:10arm
27:11stagnant
27:11as
27:12she
27:12flinched
27:12hard.
27:13It
27:13hurt.
27:14Even
27:15just
27:15a
27:15low
27:16level
27:16shock
27:16was
27:17enough
27:17to
27:18cover
27:18her
27:18in
27:18goosebumps.
27:19It
27:20suddenly
27:20hit
27:20her.
27:21How
27:21I
27:21felt
27:22at
27:2210
27:23years
27:23old
27:23being
27:24hit
27:24with
27:24the
27:25absolute
27:25maximum
27:26voltage
27:26curling
27:27into
27:28a
27:28ball
27:28on
27:28the
27:28floor
27:29biting
27:29through
27:29my
27:30own
27:30lip
27:30just
27:30to
27:31keep
27:31from
27:31crying
27:31out.
27:32So
27:32this
27:33was
27:33how
27:33much
27:34it
27:34hurt.
27:35Mom
27:35completely
27:35lost
27:36her
27:36mind.
27:37Why
27:37is
27:38it
27:38red?
27:38Why?
27:40I'm
27:40telling
27:41the
27:41truth
27:41stupid
27:42thing.
27:43I'm
27:43telling
27:43the
27:43sin
27:44thing.
27:46Turn
27:47green
27:47you
27:47stupid
27:48thing.
27:48You
27:49broken
27:49piece
27:49of
27:50trash.
27:50You're
27:51setting
27:51me
27:51up.
27:52No
27:52matter
27:53how
27:53loud
27:54she
27:54shrieked
27:54the
27:55red
27:55light
27:56just
27:56kept
27:56frantically
27:57blinking.
27:58That's
27:59enough.
28:00You
28:00know
28:00what
28:01happens
28:01if
28:01that
28:01thing
28:01goes
28:02off.
28:03A
28:03forensics
28:04tech
28:04standing
28:04nearby
28:05finally
28:05spoke
28:06up,
28:06his
28:06voice
28:07ice
28:07cold.
28:08He
28:08honestly
28:09couldn't
28:10stomach
28:10it
28:11anymore.
28:11Stop
28:11trying.
28:13That
28:13thing
28:14isn't a
28:14lie
28:14detector,
28:15lady.
28:15He
28:15grabbed
28:16the
28:16instruction
28:16manual
28:17they'd
28:17found
28:18during
28:18the
28:18search
28:18and
28:19slammed
28:19it
28:19onto
28:20the
28:20coffee
28:20table.
28:21It's
28:21a cheap
28:21glavinic
28:22skin
28:22response
28:22and
28:23heart
28:23rate
28:23monitor.
28:24How
28:24it
28:24works
28:24is
28:24simple.
28:25When
28:25someone
28:25is
28:25nervous,
28:26anxious,
28:27terrified,
28:28or in
28:28extreme
28:28pain,
28:29their
28:29heart
28:30rate
28:30spikes.
28:30They
28:31sweat,
28:31their
28:31skin
28:32conductivity
28:32jumps,
28:33and the
28:33light
28:33turns
28:34red.
28:34Right
28:34now,
28:34you
28:35are
28:35panicking.
28:36You're
28:36terrified
28:36and your
28:37heart
28:37is
28:37racing.
28:38Of
28:38course
28:39it's
28:39flashing
28:39red.
28:40The
28:40tech
28:40took
28:41a
28:41slow
28:41step
28:42toward
28:42mom,
28:43who
28:43is
28:43now
28:44slumped
28:51daughter's
28:51appendix
28:51burst.
28:52She
28:52was
28:52wringling
28:53on the
28:53floor.
28:54Do you
28:54have
28:54any
28:54idea
28:55how
28:55agonizing
28:56a
28:56ruptured
28:56organ
28:57is?
28:57How
28:58fast
28:58do you
28:59think
28:59her
28:59heart
28:59was
28:59beating?
29:00How
29:00terrified
29:01do you
29:01think
29:01she
29:02was?
29:02But
29:02to
29:02you,
29:03the
29:03more
29:03pain
29:04she
29:04was
29:04in,
29:05the
29:05faster
29:05her
29:05heart
29:06beat
29:06and
29:06the
29:06brighter
29:07that
29:07red
29:07light
29:07got.
29:08You
29:09just
29:09assumed
29:09she
29:10was
29:10lying
29:10harder,
29:10so
29:11you
29:11cranked
29:11up
29:11the
29:12voltage.
29:12The
29:12shock
29:13caused
29:13more
29:13pain,
29:14which
29:14made
29:14her
29:15heart
29:15race
29:15faster,
29:16which
29:16made
29:16the
29:16light
29:16even
29:17brighter.
29:17She
29:17was
29:18begging
29:18you
29:18for
29:18help
29:19and
29:19you
29:19turned
29:20it
29:20into
29:20a
29:20torture
29:21device.
29:21You
29:22tortured
29:22your
29:22own
29:23daughter
29:23to
29:23death
29:23while
29:23she
29:24was
29:24begging
29:24you
29:24to
29:24save
29:25her.
29:26Mom's
29:26entire
29:26reality
29:27shattered
29:27into a
29:28million
29:28pieces.
29:29She
29:29sat
29:30paralyzed
29:30on
29:31the
29:31floor
29:31staring
29:32blankly
29:33at
29:33the
29:33red
29:33light
29:34flashing
29:34on
29:34her
29:34wrist.
29:35Finally
29:35it clicked
29:36for
29:37the
29:37last
29:37ten
29:38years.
29:38Every
29:39single
29:40time
29:40my
29:41band
29:41flashed
29:42red.
29:42It
29:42was
29:43just
29:43because
29:43I
29:43was
29:44scared,
29:44terrified
29:45of
29:45getting
29:45mad,
29:46terrified
29:46of
29:47being
29:47misunderstood,
29:49terrified
29:49of the
29:49food she
29:50forced
29:50down
29:50my
29:51throat.
29:51I
29:51was
29:52in
29:52pain.
29:53In
29:53so
29:53much
29:53pain
29:53my
29:54heart
29:54was
29:54racing
29:55and
29:55I
29:55was
29:55drenched
29:56in
29:56cold
29:56sweat.
29:57I
29:57was
29:58yearning,
29:59desperate
29:59for her
30:00to hug
30:00me,
30:01just
30:01once,
30:02the
30:02way
30:03she
30:03hugged
30:03Mia.
30:04Every
30:04single
30:05flutter
30:05of my
30:05heart
30:06had
30:06been
30:07twisted
30:07into
30:07proof
30:08of
30:08a
30:08lie.
30:12She
30:12started
30:13tearing
30:13frantically
30:14at the
30:14band
30:14on her
30:15wrist.
30:16Get
30:17off
30:17me!
30:20But
30:21the
30:21clasp
30:22jammed
30:22from being
30:23forced
30:24on
30:24and
30:24damaged
30:25from
30:25melting
30:25was
30:27completely
30:27stuck,
30:28locked
30:29around
30:29her wrist
30:29like a
30:30shackle.
30:31No
30:31matter
30:31how
30:31hard
30:32she
30:32clawed
30:32at
30:32it,
30:33it
30:33wouldn't
30:33budge.
30:34I'm
30:34sorry!
30:35I'm
30:36so
30:36sorry!
30:37Lily!
30:38Take
30:38it
30:38away!
30:39Mommy
30:40is
30:40sorry!
30:40I
30:41can't
30:41even
30:41handle
30:42this
30:42little
30:42bit
30:42of
30:42pain,
30:43mom.
30:43I
30:44had
30:44to
30:44live
30:44with
30:44it
30:45for
30:4510
30:45years.
30:46To
30:46establish
30:47the
30:47details
30:48of
30:49the
30:49abuse
30:49and
30:50build
30:50a
30:51solid
30:51case,
30:53the
30:53police
30:53opened
30:54the
30:54diary,
30:55now
30:55officially
30:56labeled
30:57as
30:58key
30:58evidence
30:59right
30:59in
30:59front
31:00of
31:00mom
31:00and
31:00dad.
31:01That
31:02notebook
31:02I
31:02used
31:02for
31:0310
31:03years
31:03filled
31:04with
31:04blood,
31:05tears
31:05and
31:06pure
31:06humiliation.
31:07The
31:07female
31:08officer's
31:09voice
31:09was
31:09soft,
31:10but
31:11every
31:11single
31:11word
31:12cut
31:12like
31:12a
31:13knife.
31:14February
31:1414th,
31:15sunny.
31:16mom
31:17mom
31:17made
31:17me
31:17eat
31:17celery,
31:18I'm
31:18allergic,
31:19it
31:19makes
31:19my
31:19throat
31:20swell
31:20up
31:20and
31:20I
31:20can't
31:21breathe.
31:22I
31:22told
31:22her
31:22I
31:23didn't
31:23want
31:23it.
31:23I
31:24didn't
31:24want
31:25it,
31:25that
31:25I
31:25felt
31:26sick.
31:27I
31:27don't
31:27care
31:28if
31:28you're
31:28sick,
31:28you
31:29will
31:29eat
31:29that
31:30celery.
31:30And
31:30the
31:30band
31:31turned
31:31red.
31:32Mom
31:32said
31:33I
31:33was
31:33just
31:33being
31:34a
31:34picky
31:34liar
31:34and
31:35forced
31:35me
31:35to
31:35eat
31:35the
31:35whole
31:36plate.
31:37That
31:37night
31:37I
31:38threw
31:38up
31:38blood.
31:39My
31:39throat
31:39felt
31:40like
31:40it
31:40was
31:40on
31:40fire.
31:41Mom
31:42saw
31:42it,
31:42said
31:43I
31:43sneaked
31:43tomato
31:44juice
31:44to
31:44fake
31:45being
31:45sick
31:45and
31:46shocked
31:46me
31:46for
31:46another
31:4710
31:47minutes.
31:48Mom
31:49covered
31:49her
31:50mouth,
31:50her
31:51entire
31:51body
31:51trembling
31:52violently.
31:53That
31:54night,
31:55she
31:55honestly
31:56thought
31:56it
31:56was
31:57just
31:57tomato
31:58juice.
31:59She
32:00hadn't
32:00even
32:01given
32:01my
32:01vomit
32:02a
32:02second
32:02glance
32:03before
32:03turning
32:04around
32:04to
32:04read
32:05Mia
32:05a
32:05bedtime
32:06story.
32:06It
32:07turned
32:08out
32:08it
32:09was
32:09blood.
32:10Blood
32:11from
32:11my
32:12swollen
32:14ruptured
32:15throat.
32:16The
32:16officer
32:17turned
32:17the
32:17page
32:18and
32:19kept
32:19reading.
32:20June
32:201st,
32:21Children's
32:22Day.
32:22Mia
32:23cut up
32:23mom's
32:24favorite
32:24dress.
32:25Mia's
32:25heartbeat
32:25was
32:26slow,
32:26so she
32:27got a
32:27green
32:27light.
32:28I
32:28was
32:28so
32:28frantic
32:29to
32:29explain,
32:30terrified
32:30of being
32:31beaten,
32:31so I
32:32only
32:32got
32:32read.
32:33Mom
32:34shocked
32:34me
32:34for
32:3410
32:34minutes.
32:35The
32:35dial
32:36was
32:36on
32:36level
32:365.
32:37It
32:38hurt
32:38so
32:38much,
32:39but I
32:39didn't
32:39dare
32:40cry.
32:40Because
32:41crying
32:41makes
32:42your
32:42heartbeat
32:42faster.
32:43Mom
32:44would
32:44think
32:44I
32:44was
32:44being
32:44defiant
32:45and
32:45shock
32:45me
32:45even
32:46harder.
32:46I
32:47just
32:47held
32:47my
32:48breath
32:48and
32:48pretended
32:49it
32:49didn't
32:49hurt.
32:50Mom
32:50said,
32:51See?
32:51She's not
32:52even making
32:52a sound.
32:53It
32:54doesn't
32:54even
32:54hurt.
32:55She's
32:55definitely
32:55faking.
32:56Dad
32:57finally
32:57couldn't
32:58listen
32:58anymore.
32:59This
33:00man,
33:01who had
33:01been
33:02completely
33:02invisible in
33:04this house
33:05for years,
33:06who had
33:07turned a
33:07blind eye
33:08to my
33:08suffering
33:09just for
33:10some peace
33:11and quiet,
33:12suddenly
33:13lunged
33:14forward.
33:16You
33:17absolute
33:17monster!
33:18Look at
33:19what you've
33:20done!
33:20He slapped
33:21Mom across
33:22the face
33:22with everything
33:23he had.
33:24Mom
33:24was knocked
33:25to the
33:25floor.
33:26That
33:27was your
33:28own
33:28daughter!
33:29You
33:30treated
33:30her like
33:30an
33:30animal!
33:31But
33:32she
33:33didn't
33:33fight
33:33back
33:34and she
33:34didn't
33:35cry.
33:36She
33:36just
33:37mumbled
33:37to
33:38herself,
33:39her eyes
33:39completely
33:40unfocused.
33:43It
33:44was
33:44Mia!
33:44Her
33:45band
33:45was
33:45always
33:46green!
33:46She
33:47was
33:47the
33:47honest
33:48one!
33:48She
33:49just
33:49misled
33:50me!
33:50If I
33:51didn't
33:51have
33:51her
33:51green
33:52light,
33:52if I
33:53didn't
33:53have
33:53her
33:53to
33:53come
33:54to,
33:54I
33:54wouldn't
33:54have
33:55trusted
33:55the
33:55red
33:55light
33:55so
33:56much!
33:56Every
33:57eye
33:57in
33:58the
33:58room
33:58snapped
33:59to
33:59Mia,
34:00the
34:00little
34:00princess
34:01who
34:02had
34:02always
34:02been
34:03held
34:03in
34:03the
34:03palm
34:04of
34:04mom's
34:05hand.
34:05A
34:06detective
34:07walked
34:07over
34:08to
34:08her.
34:09He
34:10unclasped
34:11the
34:11green
34:11band
34:12from
34:12her
34:12wrist,
34:13pulled
34:14out a
34:14screwdriver
34:15and
34:16pried
34:16it
34:16open
34:16right
34:17there
34:17on
34:17the
34:17spot.
34:18The
34:19plastic
34:19casing
34:20split
34:21open.
34:22There
34:22were
34:22no
34:22complex
34:23sensor
34:24chips
34:24inside.
34:25No
34:26heart
34:26rate
34:26monitors.
34:27Just
34:28two
34:29cheap
34:29LED
34:29lights
34:30and a
34:30couple
34:31of
34:31button
34:31batteries.
34:32The
34:33circuit
34:33board
34:34was
34:34hardwired.
34:35As
34:36long as
34:36it had
34:37power,
34:37it would
34:38only ever
34:39shine
34:39green.
34:39This
34:40is a
34:41two
34:41dollar
34:41plastic
34:42toy.
34:43Your
34:43younger
34:43daughter's
34:44band
34:44was
34:44factory
34:45set
34:45to
34:45stay
34:45green
34:46permanently.
34:47No
34:47matter
34:48what
34:48she
34:48says
34:48or
34:49does,
34:49she
34:49could
34:50commit
34:50murder
34:50and
34:50set
34:51a
34:51house
34:51on
34:51fire
34:51and
34:51it
34:52would
34:52still
34:52be
34:52green.
34:53Your
34:54so-called
34:54data-driven
34:55parenting
34:55is
34:56nothing
34:56but a
34:56complete
34:57biased
34:57joke.
34:58Mom
34:58stared
34:59at
34:59the
35:00pile
35:00of
35:00plastic
35:01shards.
35:02The
35:03truth
35:04she
35:04had
35:05blindly
35:05believed
35:06in
35:06for
35:07ten
35:07years.
35:08The
35:09sole
35:09evidence
35:09she
35:10used
35:10to
35:10sentence
35:11me
35:11to
35:12death.
35:12It
35:13was
35:13just
35:14a
35:14toy
35:14all
35:15along.
35:16My
35:16ten
35:17years
35:17of
35:18torment
35:18were
35:19dictated
35:20by
35:20a
35:20cheap
35:21toy.
35:21A
35:22rig
35:23game
35:23where
35:23I
35:24lived
35:24in
35:24hell
35:25and
35:26my
35:26sister
35:27lived
35:27in
35:28heaven.
35:29So
35:29I
35:30wasn't
35:31a
35:32liar.
35:32I
35:33wasn't
35:33a
35:33bad
35:34kid.
35:35Then
35:35what
35:36the
35:36hell
35:37was
35:37all
35:37my
35:37suffering
35:38for?
35:38I
35:39laughed
35:39and
35:40as
35:40I
35:40laughed
35:41I
35:41started
35:41to
35:42cry.
35:42It
35:43turns
35:43out
35:44ghosts
35:44have
35:45tears
35:46too.
35:47The
35:48final
35:48page
35:48of
35:49the
35:49diary
35:49was
35:50turned.
35:51The
35:51female
35:52officer's
35:53voice
35:53choked
35:53up.
35:54The
35:54handwriting
35:55is
35:55a
35:55mess.
35:56She
35:57must
35:57have
35:57written
35:57this
35:58right
35:58before
35:58she
35:58died.
36:00Mom,
36:00if I
36:01die,
36:01will
36:02the
36:02band
36:02finally
36:03turn
36:03off?
36:04Will
36:04you
36:04hug
36:04me
36:05then?
36:05I'm
36:06really
36:06not
36:06lying.
36:07My
36:07stomach
36:07hurts
36:08so
36:08bad,
36:09like
36:09there
36:09are
36:09knives
36:10twisting
36:10inside.
36:11Mom,
36:12please
36:12don't
36:13make
36:13me
36:13wear
36:13the
36:13band
36:14in
36:14my
36:14next
36:14life.
36:15I'm
36:15begging
36:15you.
36:16I
36:16just
36:17want
36:17to
36:17be
36:17a
36:17normal
36:17kid.
36:18I
36:18want
36:19to
36:19eat
36:19your
36:19braised
36:19pork.
36:21Mom
36:22stared
36:27questionable,
36:28honest,
36:29green
36:29light.
36:30Nothing
36:31more
36:32than a
36:32cheap
36:32plastic
36:33toy.
36:34Because
36:35of this
36:35toy,
36:36she
36:37spoiled
36:37Mia
36:38for
36:38ten
36:39years.
36:40And
36:41because
36:41of that
36:42damn
36:42red
36:43light,
36:43she
36:44tortured
36:44me
36:44for
36:45ten
36:45years.
36:46Mom
36:47suddenly
36:47burst
36:48into
36:48laughter.
36:49A
36:50shrill,
36:51horrifying
36:51laugh that
36:53looked worse
36:53than
36:57time,
36:58she
36:58truly
36:58went
36:59insane.
37:00My
37:00death
37:01became
37:01the
37:02biggest
37:02news
37:02story
37:03in
37:03the
37:03city.
37:04Martha,
37:05our
37:05neighbor,
37:06was
37:07kind
37:07hearted,
37:08but
37:08she
37:09also
37:09had
37:09a
37:09huge
37:10mouth.
37:11She
37:11posted
37:11everything
37:12she
37:13saw
37:13that
37:13day
37:14online.
37:15The
37:16headline
37:16was
37:17shocking.
37:18The
37:18girl
37:18shocked
37:19to
37:19death
37:19by
37:20a
37:20pseudoscience
37:21band.
37:22The
37:22article
37:23detailed
37:23the
37:24gruesome
37:24state
37:25of
37:25my
37:25corpse
37:26and
37:27the
37:27band
37:27melted
37:28right
37:28into
37:28my
37:29flesh.
37:29It
37:30went
37:30completely
37:31viral.
37:32The
37:32internet
37:32exploded
37:33in
37:34absolute
37:35fury.
37:37Mom
37:37got
37:37completely
37:38doxxed.
37:39Electric
37:40demon
37:40murderer
37:41doesn't
37:43deserve
37:43to be
37:44a
37:44mother.
37:45Countless
37:46death
37:46threats
37:47and
37:47insults
37:49flooded
37:49in
37:50like an
37:50avalanche.
37:51Our
37:52front
37:52door
37:52was
37:53splashed
37:54with
37:54red
37:55paint
37:56with
37:56the
37:57word
37:57die
37:58scrawled
37:58all
37:58over
37:59it.
37:59Dad
38:00was
38:00also
38:00taken
38:01in
38:01by
38:01the
38:01police
38:02investigated
38:02for
38:03criminal
38:03negligence
38:04and
38:05child
38:05endangerment.
38:06Although
38:07his
38:07alibi
38:07saved
38:08him
38:08from
38:08serious
38:09jail
38:09time,
38:10he
38:10lost
38:11his
38:11job
38:11and
38:12his
38:12reputation
38:12was
38:13completely
38:13ruined.
38:14His
38:14company
38:15fired
38:15him
38:16immediately
38:16to
38:17avoid
38:17the
38:17PR
38:18nightmare.
38:18Our
38:19family
38:19went
38:20bankrupt.
38:20They
38:21had
38:21to
38:21sell
38:22the
38:22house
38:22and
38:23the
38:23cars
38:24just
38:24to
38:26cover
38:26the
38:26legal
38:27fees
38:27and
38:28settlements.
38:29Unable
38:29to
38:29stand
38:30the
38:30crazy
38:30woman
38:31mom
38:31had
38:31become,
38:32dad
38:32took
38:33the
38:33last
38:33bit
38:33of
38:33money
38:34and
38:34left
38:34with
38:35Mia.
38:35Even
38:35if
38:36Mia
38:36was
38:37a
38:37bad
38:37seed,
38:38she
38:38was
38:38his
38:39only
38:39living
38:40bloodline
38:41left.
38:41Before
38:42leaving,
38:43Mia
38:43tried
38:44to
38:44grab
38:44her
38:45green
38:45band.
38:46Dad
38:47stomped
38:47it
38:47into
38:48pieces.
38:50Mia
38:51was
38:52dragged
38:53away
38:53crying.
38:55Mom
38:55was
38:56released
38:56on bail
38:57because
38:58psychiatric
38:59evaluations
39:00showed she
39:01was suffering
39:01from severe
39:02schizophrenia
39:03and PTSD.
39:05She
39:05was
39:05left
39:05alone
39:06in a
39:06cheap
39:07stinking
39:08rental
39:08apartment
39:09filled
39:10with the
39:10memory
39:10of my
39:11rotting
39:11corpse.
39:12Her
39:13mental
39:13state
39:13deteriorated
39:14rapidly.
39:15She
39:16constantly
39:17hallucinated
39:19that I
39:20was still
39:20in the
39:20house.
39:21She
39:22absolutely
39:23refused
39:24to take
39:24off my
39:25red
39:25band.
39:25In
39:26fact,
39:26she
39:26became
39:27addicted
39:27to it
39:28because
39:28she
39:29realized
39:29that
39:30only
39:30by
39:31wearing
39:31it,
39:32feeling
39:32the
39:32weak
39:33sting
39:33of
39:33the
39:34electric
39:34leaks,
39:35I
39:35floated
39:35in the
39:36room
39:36watching
39:37her
39:37daily
39:38descent
39:38into
39:39madness.
39:40She
39:40would
39:41cook
39:41a
39:42full
39:43table
39:44of
39:44food
39:45and
39:45yell
39:46into
39:46thin
39:46air.
39:47Lily,
39:47time
39:47to
39:48eat.
39:48I
39:49didn't
39:49put
39:49celery
39:49in
39:49it
39:49today.
39:50It's
39:51all
39:51braised
39:51pork,
39:52your
39:52favorite.
39:53Then
39:53she
39:54would
39:54pick
39:54up
39:54a
39:54piece
39:55of
39:55meat,
39:55her
39:56hands
39:56shaking
39:57violently.
39:58Triggered
39:58by her
39:58anxiety,
39:59the band
40:00would
40:00flash
40:01red.
40:02Mommy
40:02doesn't
40:02deserve
40:02to
40:03eat.
40:03Liars
40:04must
40:04be
40:04punished.
40:05She
40:05would
40:05put
40:06down
40:06her
40:07chopsticks
40:08and
40:09pick
40:09up
40:09the
40:09remote
40:10and
40:10press
40:11it
40:12against
40:12her
40:13own
40:13neck.
40:14Even
40:14though
40:15the
40:15battery
40:15was
40:15almost
40:16dead,
40:17she
40:17always
40:18managed
40:18to
40:19find
40:19fresh
40:19ones
40:20to
40:20put
40:20in.
40:21The
40:21intense
40:22voltage
40:22would
40:23make
40:23her
40:24convulse
40:25and
40:25foam
40:26at
40:26the
40:27mouth.
40:44Lily,
40:44forced
40:45herself
40:45to
40:45eat
40:46rancid,
40:47spoiled
40:48food.
40:49Even
40:49when
40:49she
40:49vomited
40:50blood,
40:50she
40:51swallowed
40:51it
40:51back
40:52down.
40:52I
40:53was
40:53locked
40:53in
40:53the
40:54dark,
40:54so
40:55she
40:55would
40:55lock
40:56herself
40:56in
40:57the
40:57bedroom
40:57without
40:58the
40:58lights
40:58on.
40:59Repeatedly
41:00bang
41:00her
41:00head
41:01on
41:01the
41:01floor
41:02in
41:02front
41:03of
41:03my
41:03memorial
41:04photo.
41:04Thud,
41:05thud,
41:06until
41:06her
41:07forehead
41:07was a
41:08bloody
41:08mess,
41:09leaving
41:10bloody
41:10prints
41:11all over
41:11the
41:11floorboards.
41:12Deep
41:13in
41:13the
41:13night,
41:14she
41:14would
41:14see
41:15the
41:15red
41:15light
41:15reflecting
41:16on
41:16the
41:17wall,
41:17like
41:17my
41:17bleeding
41:18eyes
41:18staring
41:19right
41:19back
41:19at
41:20her.
41:20On
41:21the
41:21back
41:21of
41:21the
41:21diary,
41:22she
41:23would
41:23frantically
41:24scribble
41:24in
41:24red
41:25ink.
41:25I'm
41:26sorry,
41:27mom
41:27was
41:27wrong.
41:28Red
41:29is
41:29pain,
41:30red
41:30is
41:30love.
41:31Please
41:32come
41:32back,
41:32just
41:33say
41:33it
41:33hurts
41:33one
41:34more
41:34time.
41:35Mommy
41:35will
41:35definitely
41:35save
41:36you.
41:36What
41:37a
41:37shame.
41:37I
41:38was
41:39already
41:39dead.
41:39and
41:40dead
41:41girls
41:41can't
41:42feel
41:42pain.
41:43Mom
41:43was
41:43eventually
41:44locked
41:44up
41:44in
41:45a
41:45psychiatric
41:45ward.
41:46Her
41:46severe
41:47self-harm
41:48reached
41:48the point
41:49where she
41:49nearly
41:50electrocuted
41:50herself
41:51to death
41:51at home.
41:53Adult
41:53Protective
41:53Services
41:54forced
41:55an
41:55intervention
41:56and had
41:57her
41:57committed.
41:58She
41:59was
41:59the
41:59most
41:59bizarre
42:00patient
42:01in
42:01the
42:01entire
42:02facility.
42:03Somehow,
42:05she
42:05had
42:05found
42:06a red
42:06plastic
42:07ring
42:07and
42:08jammed
42:08it
42:09tight
42:09around
42:09her
42:10neck.
42:10It
42:11was
42:11her
42:11homemade
42:12truth
42:13band.
42:14If
42:14anyone
42:15tried
42:15to
42:15take
42:16it
42:16off,
42:16she
42:17would
42:17bite
42:17them
42:18frantically
42:18like
42:19a
42:19rabid
42:20dog.
42:21Don't
42:21touch
42:21my
42:21light!
42:22Lily
42:22is
42:22watching!
42:23If
42:23you
42:24take
42:24it
42:24off,
42:24she'll
42:24get
42:25mad.
42:25She
42:26had
42:26developed
42:27a
42:27horrifying
42:28conditioned
42:29reflex.
42:31Whenever
42:31a nurse
42:32asked
42:32her,
42:33Evelyn,
42:34have
42:34you
42:34eaten?
42:35she
42:35would
42:35touch
42:36her
42:36neck
42:36first,
42:37then
42:37convulse
42:38and
42:39scream.
42:39Red
42:39light!
42:40Red
42:41light!
42:41Don't
42:42shock
42:42me!
42:43I'll
42:43eat!
42:44I'll
42:44eat!
42:45Even
42:45if it
42:45was
42:46boiling
42:46hot
42:46porridge,
42:47she
42:48would
42:48swallow
42:48it
42:49in
42:49one
42:49gulp.
42:50Even
42:50as
42:50it
42:51blistered
42:52and
42:52burned
42:52her
42:52esophagus,
42:54she
42:54didn't
42:54dare
42:55spit
42:55it
42:55out.
42:56She
42:57was
42:58mimicking
42:59me
42:59right
43:00before
43:00I
43:01died.
43:02She
43:02was
43:02using
43:03this
43:03to
43:03experience
43:04my
43:04personal
43:05hell
43:05over
43:06and
43:07over
43:07again.
43:08Years
43:09later,
43:10Mia
43:10grew up
43:11and she
43:13went
43:13completely
43:14off the
43:15rails.
43:16With no
43:17discipline
43:17and carrying
43:18that infamous
43:20reputation,
43:21she ended up
43:22scraping by
43:23at the very
43:24bottom of
43:25society.
43:26When she
43:27ran out of
43:28money,
43:28she remembered
43:29her mother
43:30sitting in the
43:31psych ward.
43:32she
43:32came
43:33to
43:33the
43:34hospital
43:34for
43:35a
43:35visit,
43:36not
43:36out
43:36of
43:36love,
43:37but
43:37for
43:38cash.
43:39Listen,
43:40you old
43:40lunatic,
43:41dad's
43:41dead.
43:42Give me
43:42the secret
43:42stash
43:43of
43:43money
43:43you
43:43hid.
43:44Mia
43:44was
43:45caked
43:45in
43:45heavy
43:45makeup,
43:46her
43:47face
43:47dripping
43:47with
43:48hostility.
43:49Looking
43:49at the
43:50absolute
43:50ghost
43:51her
43:51mother
43:52had
43:52become,
43:53she
43:53spat
43:54on
43:54the
43:54floor
43:55in
43:55disgust.
43:56You're
43:57disgusting,
43:58just like
43:59you're
43:59dead
44:00brat of
44:00a
44:00daughter.
44:01If
44:02you
44:02don't
44:02give
44:02me
44:03the
44:03money,
44:03I'll
44:03pull
44:03your
44:04plug
44:04and
44:04send
44:04you
44:05to
44:05keep
44:05her
44:05company.
44:06Mom,
44:07who had
44:07been
44:08completely
44:08catatonic,
44:09suddenly
44:10snapped
44:10her head
44:11up at
44:11those
44:11words.
44:12Her
44:13cloudy
44:13eyes
44:13suddenly
44:14cleared
44:15for a
44:15fraction
44:15of a
44:16second
44:16the
44:16moment
44:17she
44:17locked
44:17onto
44:17Mia.
44:18She
44:19remembered
44:19that
44:19plastic
44:20toy
44:20band
44:21that
44:21always
44:22shone
44:22green,
44:23the
44:24green
44:24light
44:24that
44:25had
44:25deceived
44:25her
44:26for
44:26ten
44:26years.
44:28It
44:29was
44:29you.
44:30You
44:31lied
44:31to
44:31me.
44:32You
44:32were
44:32the
44:33fake
44:33green
44:33light.
44:34You
44:34killed
44:35Lily.
44:36Give
44:36my
44:36Lily
44:36back
44:37to
44:37me.
44:37Her
44:38final
44:38lingering
44:40shred
44:40of
44:41maternal
44:41love
44:42twisted
44:43into
44:43the
44:43fangs
44:44of
44:44pure
44:44vengeance.
44:46Mom
44:46suddenly
44:47lunged,
44:49throwing
44:49herself
44:49at
44:50Mia
44:50and
44:51locked
44:52her
44:52hands
44:53in a
44:54death
44:54grip
44:54around
44:55her
44:56throat.
44:57Die!
44:58Go
44:58to
44:58hell!
44:58It
44:59should
44:59have
44:59been
45:00you!
45:00Help!
45:01Mia
45:02thrashed
45:03in
45:03terror,
45:03but she
45:04couldn't
45:04break the
45:05brute
45:05strength
45:06of a
45:06mad
45:06woman.
45:07It
45:08took
45:08doctors
45:08rushing
45:09in
45:09and
45:09injecting
45:10a
45:10heavy
45:10sedative
45:11to
45:11finally
45:12pry
45:12mom
45:13off
45:13her.
45:14Mia
45:14scared
45:16completely
45:16out of
45:17her
45:17mind,
45:18scrambled
45:19away
45:19and
45:20bolted.
45:21Maniacs,
45:22you're
45:22all
45:22crazy!
45:23Blinded
45:24by
45:24panic,
45:25she
45:25sprinted
45:26wildly
45:26at the
45:27hospital's
45:28front
45:28doors.
45:29A speeding
45:30delivery
45:30truck
45:31couldn't
45:31break in
45:32time.
45:33Bang!
45:33Mia was
45:34sent flying
45:36through the
45:37air.
45:38She survived,
45:39but both her
45:41legs were
45:42completely shattered.
45:43Condemned to
45:44spend the rest of
45:46her miserable
45:47life in a
45:48wheelchair,
45:49reduced to
45:50an absolute
45:52cripple.
45:53bed.
45:54As for
45:54mom,
45:55she was
45:56strapped
45:57to a
45:58restraint
45:58bed,
45:59tears
45:59silently
46:00rolling
46:00down
46:01her
46:01face
46:01as she
46:02stared
46:02at the
46:03ceiling.
46:03In
46:04her
46:04dreams,
46:05she
46:06finally
46:06saw
46:07me.
46:07The
46:08dreamy
46:08was
46:09still
46:09ten
46:09years
46:10old,
46:10wearing
46:11a white
46:11dress
46:12with no
46:13truth
46:13band
46:14on my
46:14wrist.
46:15Running
46:15toward
46:16her
46:16with a
46:16bright
46:17smile,
46:18overjoyed,
46:19she opened
46:19her arms
46:20to catch
46:21me,
46:21only to
46:22realize her
46:23hands were
46:23sparking with
46:24electricity.
46:25The second
46:26she touched
46:27me,
46:28my body
46:29burst into
46:30flames like
46:30dry paper,
46:32crumbling
46:33into ash.
46:34She jolted
46:35awake from
46:36the nightmare,
46:37sobbing,
46:37her heart rate
46:38spiking
46:39dangerously
46:40high.
46:40If she
46:41still wore
46:42the band,
46:42it would
46:43undoubtedly
46:43be a
46:44blinding,
46:45piercing
46:45crimson
46:46right now.
46:47It was
46:48an
46:49eternal,
46:50inescapable
46:51pain.
46:52I stood
46:52in the
46:53void,
46:54watching it
46:55all unfold.
46:57Watching
46:57mom tortured
46:58in the
46:59psych ward,
47:00watching
47:00Mia begging
47:01with shattered
47:02legs,
47:03watching dad
47:04drink himself
47:05into an
47:06early,
47:07pathetic
47:07grave.
47:09Yet,
47:10in my
47:10heart,
47:11I felt
47:12absolutely
47:13no thrill
47:14of revenge,
47:16just
47:16complete
47:17peace.
47:18Standing
47:19next to
47:20me was
47:21an old
47:21dog.
47:22It was
47:23Snowball,
47:24the puppy
47:25I had
47:25when I
47:26was little
47:26before mom
47:27threw him
47:28away.
47:29He had
47:29been waiting
47:30for me
47:30in the
47:30spirit world.
47:32Snowball
47:33nudged my
47:34leg and
47:34gave two
47:35soft barks,
47:36as if
47:37saying,
47:38let's go,
47:39don't look
47:40anymore.
47:41Yeah,
47:42it was
47:43time to
47:44go.
47:45This life
47:45had been
47:46too bitter.
47:46There was
47:47nothing left
47:48to hold
47:48on to.
47:49I floated
47:50to the
47:50window of
47:52mom's
47:52hospital room.
47:53It was
47:54for one
47:55final goodbye.
47:56Mom lay
47:57on the bed,
47:58looking like
47:59a skeletal
48:00ghost,
48:01her hair
48:01completely
48:02white.
48:03Sensing
48:04something,
48:05her cloudy
48:06eyes shifted
48:07to an empty
48:08spot in the
48:09air.
48:09The exact
48:10spot where I
48:11was standing.
48:13Lily,
48:14is that
48:14you?
48:15She reached
48:16out with a
48:17trembling hand,
48:18grasping
48:19blindly at
48:20the void.
48:22Mommy smashed
48:23the band.
48:24Mommy doesn't
48:25believe in that
48:25anymore.
48:26Please come
48:27back,
48:28okay?
48:28Mommy will
48:29cook for you.
48:31No celery.
48:32Mommy will
48:33buy you a new
48:34dress.
48:34I won't
48:35buy me a
48:36one.
48:37Tears
48:38slipped from
48:38the corners
48:39of her eyes,
48:39soaking into
48:40the pillow.
48:41I glanced
48:42at the
48:43bloody ring
48:43of scars
48:44around her
48:45neck and
48:46let out
48:47a soft
48:48sigh.
48:49I reached
48:50out,
48:51pressing an
48:51ice-cold
48:52finger against
48:53her forehead.
48:54It was
48:56the last
48:56ounce of
48:58mercy I
48:59had for
49:00her.
49:00Let her
49:01sleep.
49:02When you're
49:03asleep, it
49:04doesn't hurt
49:05anymore.
49:06She quieted
49:07instantly.
49:08Her heavy
49:09eyelids droop
49:10being shut
49:11as she fell
49:12into a deep
49:13sleep.
49:14A gust of
49:15wind blew
49:16through the
49:17room, flipping
49:18open the
49:19battered diary
49:20on the
49:20bedside table,
49:21the one
49:22possession the
49:23police had
49:24returned to
49:24her.
49:25On the
49:25very last
49:26page, right
49:28below my
49:28dying words,
49:30were a few
49:31new lines
49:32of jagged
49:34handwriting,
49:36written by
49:36Mom during a
49:37rare moment of
49:38clarity.
49:39Next life, let
49:40Mommy wear the
49:41band.
49:42Let Mommy be
49:43the liar.
49:44You can punish
49:45me.
49:46As long as you
49:47don't abandon
49:47Mommy, Mommy
49:48will do
49:49anything.
49:50I looked at
49:51those words,
49:52feeling absolutely
49:53nothing.
49:54It was too
49:56late.
49:57In the face of
49:58death, all the
49:59repentance in the
50:00world is pale and
50:02useless.
50:03Mom, I don't
50:04hate you anymore,
50:05but I don't
50:06love you either.
50:07Ma, let's
50:08them wear
50:09Meesters at
50:09Everest.
50:10I turned
50:11around, walking
50:13alongside Snowball.
50:15A door of
50:16pure light
50:17appeared in the
50:18distance.
50:19The gateway to
50:20the next
50:21reincarnation.
50:23I raised my
50:25wrist.
50:25The phantom
50:27truth band
50:27that had bound
50:29my soul, the
50:30nightmare that
50:31had imprisoned
50:31my entire life.
50:33I clenched my
50:34fists tight.
50:35It shattered,
50:37dissolving into
50:39stardust and
50:41vanishing into
50:42the air.
50:43I felt an
50:44unprecedented sense
50:45of relief.
50:46No red lights,
50:48no shocks,
50:50no lies,
50:52just freedom.
50:54I walked into
50:55the light without
50:56ever looking back.
51:00The morning sun
51:02spilled into the
51:03hospital room.
51:05A nurse pushed
51:06the door open
51:07for morning
51:08rounds.
51:09Evelyn, time
51:10for your meds.
51:11No response.
51:13The figure on
51:14the bed was
51:15completely still.
51:16The nurse
51:17stepped closer
51:18to check.
51:20Mom's hands
51:21were tightly
51:21clutching that
51:22broken diary.
51:24A single,
51:26crystalline tear
51:27hung at the
51:29corner of her
51:30eye.
51:31And on the
51:32heart monitor
51:33next to the
51:34bed, that
51:36jagged green
51:38wave representing
51:39life had
51:41flattened into
51:43one long
51:45straight line.
51:47I was born a
51:48liar, at least.
51:50That's the label
51:51Mom slapped on
51:52me.
51:53As a die-hard
51:54believer in
51:55data-driven
51:55parenting, she
51:57strapped truth
51:57bands on my
51:58twin sister Mia
51:59and me the
52:00day we were
52:01born.
52:01If we lied,
52:03the band
52:03flashed red, and
52:05Mom would hit a
52:06remote to shock
52:07us.
52:07Mia's band was
52:09always green.
52:10She could shred
52:11Mom's favorite
52:12dress to pieces,
52:14blame the cat,
52:15and her band
52:17would just glow a
52:19soft, gentle
52:20green.
52:21But for me,
52:23even if I just
52:24whispered,
52:25Mom, I'm
52:26hungry.
52:27My band would
52:28instantly explode
52:30into an angry
52:32red, followed
52:33by a piercing
52:34electric shock.
52:36I'm not a
52:37machine, Mom!
52:38I used to try to
52:39defend myself, but
52:41she'd always say,
52:43Machines don't
52:43lie.
52:44Pain is how you
52:45learn.
52:46I'm doing this for
52:47your own good.
52:48After thousands of
52:49shocks, I honestly
52:51started to believe I
52:53was just completely
52:54broken.
52:54New Year's Eve,
52:56everything changed.
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