- 9 hours ago
The Life Swap englishsub fullmovie
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Short filmTranscript
00:00After I started high school, my mom gave me $5,000 a month as pocket money.
00:04My bestie got so jealous that she tricked me into swapping souls with her.
00:08She ran excitedly toward that black escalade like,
00:11Oh my God, the rich mom is going to be mine from now on!
00:14I quietly picked up her old canvas backpack and climbed into her mom's used Honda Accord,
00:19secretly breathing a sigh of relief.
00:23God, finally, I got away from my mom.
00:26Just before school let out, Jessica handed me a Starbucks and said,
00:29This is the first time I'm treating you.
00:31I saved up my allowance all week to get you the biggest size.
00:33Hope you don't mind.
00:34I hesitated for a sec, then politely took it and had a couple of tiny sips just to be nice.
00:39Thanks, it's really good.
00:41Right after I said that, a white light flashed in front of my eyes.
00:45When I opened them again, I freaked out.
00:48I had swapped souls with Jessica.
00:51Jessica, what the?
00:53Shh.
00:54From now on, you're Jessica and I'm Sophia.
00:58Sophia, the rich mom is all mine now.
01:01The rich mom is all mine now!
01:03Looking at the excited Jessica, it suddenly dawned on me.
01:05Not long ago, she'd borrowed two bucks from me for lunch and accidentally saw my six-fidger
01:09bank balance.
01:10She was so shocked, she counted the digits over and over.
01:14Sophia, how the hell do you have so much money?
01:16My mom gives me five grand a month.
01:18It just piled up.
01:18Your mom is loaded.
01:20What does she do?
01:21She runs a few companies.
01:22Wow, that's insane.
01:24You're so lucky.
01:26Jessica sipped her Coke and grumbled.
01:28My mom's a stay-at-home mom and super stingy.
01:30She only gives me five bucks a day for lunch.
01:32That's the only reason I had to borrow money from you.
01:35I stayed quiet, staring at the cola in Jessica's hand and swallowing hard.
01:39Because ever since I was 10, I've never drunk any beverages again, nor have I ever tasted
01:44the flavor of happiness.
01:48After that day, Jessica kept telling me she was so done with her mom and wanted to be
01:52my mom's daughter.
01:53I thought she was just saying stuff.
01:55But I never expected she'd literally swap souls with me just to steal my mom.
02:00Sophia, just accept it.
02:01You and I are never swapping back in this life.
02:04While I was still spacing out, Jessica had already chugged the rest of that spiked drink
02:08and sprinted toward the black escalade that picked me up from school every day.
02:12Watching her bouncing silhouette, I slowly shouldered her old canvas bag, spotted her mom's gray
02:17Honda in the crowd, and secretly let out that sigh of relief inside.
02:22God, I've finally escaped my mom.
02:25Jess, something good happened today?
02:27Jessica's mom opened the car door for me.
02:29She had no makeup on, wore a pair of worn-out sneakers and a black hoodie.
02:33She looked kind of thin and pale, but the way she looked at me was crazy gentle.
02:37Yeah, I just suddenly figured out this problem I couldn't solve before.
02:40I answered while sliding into the back seat and accidentally caught my backpack strap on the door handle.
02:44Jessica's mom saw it, stopped the car right away, and helped me untangle the strap.
02:48She didn't scold me at all.
02:50Instead, she pinched my nose playfully and said,
02:52You're such a little kid. Now sit tight.
02:55I sat up straight like she said.
02:56The tip of my nose where she'd touched felt a sudden sting.
02:59Since I was 10, I've been living on my own.
03:01My mom's super busy, flying all over the world.
03:03She never picked me up from school or let me waste her time acting cute.
03:06We haven't touched each other in forever.
03:08Our conversations were like CEO to intern.
03:10She gave orders. I executed.
03:12If I did well, she'd wire money.
03:14If I messed up, there'd be punishment.
03:16Thinking about all the punishments I'd been through, I shivered.
03:19That bone-deep fear instantly spread through my whole body.
03:21I quickly calmed myself down inside.
03:23Don't be scared. You're Jessica now, not Sophia.
03:26You won't have to go through that anymore.
03:27Back at Jessica's place, it was even smaller than I'd imagined.
03:31The living room was kind of messy, with kids' picture books and Lego pieces all over the couch.
03:36Oh, right. Jessica told me she has a little sister, who's not even three yet.
03:41Jess, you still mad at mom?
03:43Jessica's mom took out a shoe box and put it on the coffee table.
03:46Those shoes you wanted, I saved up and got them for you.
03:49Check and see if these are the ones.
03:51I opened the box.
03:52Inside was a knock-off pair of Golden Goose sneakers.
03:55I knew for sure it was fake, because just last week, my mom bought me the real ones,
04:00and ordered me to wear them to school on the 15th of every month.
04:03Even though I hated those shoes, I numbly followed her orders and wore the Golden Geest on the 15th.
04:08Back then, Jessica noticed my new shoes, looked up the price online, and sulked the whole day.
04:12Jess, did mom get the wrong ones?
04:15I looked at her hopeful eyes and felt a warmth rising in my chest.
04:18No, it's just, one of my classmates has the same pair.
04:22Could I pick out something else instead?
04:24Of course.
04:26Here's my phone.
04:27Add whatever you pick to the shopping chart.
04:29I gotta run to the neighbors to pick up your little sister first.
04:32She handed me her phone and headed out.
04:33So she had to leave her younger daughter with the neighbors every day just to have time to pick up
04:37her older one.
04:38But a 17 or 18-year-old girl can totally take the bus to and from herself.
04:42She didn't really need to drive me every day.
04:43Was it to save a little on gas?
04:45I stared at her phone.
04:47It was an old iPhone from three years ago, with two cracks on the screen.
04:50The lock screen and wallpaper were both photos of Jess and her little sister.
04:54You could tell she was crazy frugal and loved her two kids to pieces.
04:57This is so nice.
04:58A mom this great is gonna be mine from now on.
05:01Because I picked out cheap shoes and patiently read picture books with little sis,
05:05Jessica's mom made a huge plate of spaghetti and meatballs to reward me.
05:10That night, for the first time ever, I ate dinner however I wanted.
05:13I grabbed whatever I liked, ate as much as I wanted,
05:16instead of sticking to those scheduled, portion-controlled meals my mom forced on me.
05:20All those nutritious diet meals that ran through my whole teenage eves, they were perfect, but ice cold.
05:26Organic ingredients delivered from Whole Foods had zero motherly warmth.
05:29They couldn't even compare to this plate of homemade meatball pasta, cooked with so much love.
05:33Jess, what's wrong?
05:34You feeling okay?
05:35No, it's just...
05:36Mom, your meatball pasta is so freaking good, I almost can't bring myself to eat it.
05:40Silly girl.
05:42Have more if you like it.
05:43I'll make it again tomorrow.
05:48My eyes started stinging.
05:50Something broken inside me for a long, long time slowly began to heal.
05:54So this is what it feels like to be loved by a mom.
05:57Like a spring breeze in California.
06:00Like the California sun in winter.
06:02But just when I thought I could slowly pull myself out of hell in this cozy home,
06:07Jessica's mom got into a huge fight with her husband because of me.
06:13Two in the morning, the sound of the front door lock turning came from the living room.
06:17Jessica's mom quietly slipped out of bed.
06:21A girl, five bucks isn't enough for lunch.
06:24Jess loves meat.
06:25A single meat dish in the school cafeteria is three or four bucks now.
06:29Sometimes she needs stationery too, it's really not enough.
06:32A girl, five bucks isn't enough for lunch.
06:34Why the hell does she need more food money?
06:36Jess loves meat.
06:37A single meat dish in the school cafeteria is three or four bucks now.
06:40Sometimes she needs stationery too, it's really not enough.
06:43I work hard all day, you know, I'm not made of money.
06:45That's not the point, Mike, she's a growing girl.
06:47If she's so damn good at spending money, forget school and go work as a cashier at Walmart!
06:52It went quiet outside.
06:54My heart was pounding like crazy.
06:56I couldn't believe a father could say something so vicious.
06:59Mike, three years ago you made me quit my job to have a second kid promising me three grand a
07:04month for house expenses.
07:05Two years ago you said money was tight and cut it to $2,000.
07:07This year you only give me $12,000.
07:09So please make up the $2,000 and I'll add more for our daughter's lunch money.
07:13You three, nothing but a bunch of money grovers!
07:15You can't even give me a son, why should I spend $1,200 keeping you?
07:18I could keep a dog outside for $1,200 and at least it would wag its tail at me!
07:21Another stretch of suffocating silence.
07:23I thought after being humiliated like that she'd definitely ask for a divorce.
07:27But she didn't say a word, she just walked back into the room, completely crushed.
07:32I squeezed my eyes shut immediately.
07:34She didn't notice I was pretending to be asleep.
07:36She tucked the blanket around me, sat down beside me, and silently started crying.
07:40In that moment, I suddenly understood why Jessica wanted a rich mom so badly.
07:44The next morning, Jessica's mom apologized and told me,
07:47The neighbor had something come up and couldn't watch Little Sis, so I'd have to take the bus to school
07:51yourself.
07:52Mom transferred $10 to your Apple Pay. $2.50 for the bus, the rest is for lunch.
07:56Wait, not $5?
07:57Last night, Jessica's dad had clearly refused to increase her lunch money.
08:02You're still growing.
08:03I can't skimp on your food.
08:05It's only an extra $2.50 a day, like $60 or $70 more a month.
08:08I'll cover it.
08:09Jess, don't hold back at school.
08:12Buy whatever you feel like eating.
08:13The rough callus on her fingertips gently froshed with Keef, a little itchy, little pain.
08:18I couldn't help it and hugged her.
08:20Thanks, Mom.
08:20She froze for a second, then patted my back and mumbled,
08:23You silly kid. You're acting like a completely different person.
08:26I snapped back to reality instantly.
08:28I couldn't believe she'd noticed so fast.
08:31I practically fled the house and pulled out my phone, which I hadn't taken out all day yesterday.
08:38Unlocking it with Face ID, Jessica's messages started popping up one after another.
08:42My etiquette teacher just praised me, said I've improved a ton.
08:45I got three A's in French oral class.
08:47If it were you, you probably wouldn't get a single one, right?
08:50The shrink is so cute, lol.
08:51She actually seriously told me to get more sun.
08:54My life is so happy.
08:55Even if it rained every day, it wouldn't touch me.
08:57Hey, hey.
08:58You know what?
08:58The butler just reported to my mom that I aced all my Tuesday targets.
09:01Mom was super satisfied and randomly ordered me a Chanel Haute Couture set.
09:06Chanel Haute Couture?
09:07What's so great about that?
09:09There are over a dozen Haute Couture pieces hanging in the walk-in closet.
09:12Those expensive, fancy clothes are less comfortable to me than a school uniform.
09:16Because the second I put on those Couture pieces, my whole name just becomes Mrs. Walker's daughter.
09:21At those suffocating social events, I couldn't even own my own feelings or facial expressions.
09:26Jess, your mom couldn't drive you again today?
09:29Olivia from the next class called out to me.
09:31Her sympathetic voice pulled me out of those bad memories.
09:34I froze for a second, gave her a smile, and said,
09:38Yeah, my mom has to look after my little sister.
09:41How come you're not mad today?
09:42I thought you hated your little sister.
09:45Sister, read it.
09:47Hate my little sister?
09:48Jessica's little sister is like a squishy plush doll.
09:51When she blinked those big eyes and called me big sound her baby voice,
09:54my heart just melted.
09:56Why would Jessica hate her?
09:59Was it because of money again?
10:01On the bus, I kept reading G the messages from Jessica.
10:03Mom's coming back from Europe next week.
10:05When she does, I'll tell her I want to transfer back to private school,
10:08then go study in Switzerland.
10:10We've been besties for three years, so I guess we've got some kind of fate.
10:14As long as you keep everything about my high school years a secret,
10:17I can give you a chunk of hush money before I leave.
10:20Late at night, she sent a photo of the sparkling city view from her bedroom's floor-to-ceiling window.
10:24Jealous?
10:25This is the penthouse top floor you'll never, ever reach, Jessica.
10:29A life you'll never, ever have.
10:31The last two messages came five minutes ago.
10:34Princess has transferred $20 to you.
10:36Jessica, just saw you waiting for the bus.
10:39Your mom ditched you for your little sister again, right?
10:41So pathetic.
10:42Hurry up and Uber to school.
10:43I'll wait for you in the classroom.
10:45I hit receive and turned off the screen.
10:47It looked like Jessica had adapted to the Sophia identity perfectly.
10:50She could accept those tasteless custom health meals,
10:53those intense, suffocating three-on-one tutoring sessions,
10:56and that empty, lifeless home with no family or warmth at all.
11:00She was basically the perfect daughter Taylor made for my mom.
11:03My mom always wanted a daughter who obeyed her orders with AI-liked precision.
11:08After seeing Jessica's performance yesterday, she's finally satisfied, I guess.
11:14Wait, something suddenly hit me.
11:16I gripped my phone, cold sweat still seeping from my palms out of pure fear.
11:21Jessica made re-three fatal mistakes.
11:23I made it to school just in time, dropped my canvas bag, panting.
11:27Jessica, who was scrolling through TikTok, glanced up at me.
11:30You took the money. Why didn't you take an Uber?
11:32I frowned, snatched her phone, and nervously closed the short video app.
11:36Stop scrolling. Something bad's gonna happen.
11:38What could possibly happen from scrolling TikTok?
11:41Jessica glared at me, annoyed.
11:43Give me back my phone.
11:44All your social accounts are monitored in real time.
11:47There are cameras all over the house.
11:48She knows every single thing you do.
11:50I took a deep breath, trying my best to sound calm.
11:52You know what? You made three fatal mistakes.
11:54Knowing her personality, we're both screwed.
11:56You're just a little girl to her.
11:57She can get rid of you anytime.
11:59Stakes?
11:59My performance last night was absolutely perfect.
12:01Even the butler didn't notice anything off.
12:03Who are you trying to scare?
12:04I'm not trying to scare you.
12:05Can you just listen and listen to-
12:06I don't want to hear it, Jessica.
12:07Give me my phone back right now, or I'll make you buy me a new one.
12:11I was speechless.
12:13Suddenly, a guy's arm reached out.
12:14Ryan, the football captain Jessica had been crushing work forever,
12:17snatched the phone from my hand and smoothly hand it to her.
12:19Sophia, got your phone back for you.
12:22Oh.
12:23Jessica took the phone lukewarmly and placed it on the table.
12:26Ryan had no intention of leaving, though.
12:28Blushing, he asked quietly,
12:30Sophia, I heard you're really good at chess.
12:32Want to play a game after lunch?
12:35Nope, I'm busy.
12:37Jessica flat-out rejected Ryan's invite.
12:39After putting her phone away,
12:40she flipped open her AP English tux book
12:42without even glancing up at her former crush.
12:45I didn't get Jessica's reaction either.
12:47Just the day before yesterday,
12:48she was deliberately creating coincidental meetings
12:50and hoping to be in the same group as Ryan in gym class.
12:53How could she change so fast?
12:55Why is she being like this?
12:56She was all over him yesterday,
12:58and now she's acting like he doesn't even exist.
13:01I'm going to take over Walker Group someday.
13:03Ryan's nowhere near good enough for me.
13:05Noticing me staring,
13:06Jessica smugly lifted her chin.
13:08In my eyes right now,
13:09he's just like you.
13:10Nothing but an insignificant grain of sand,
13:13not leaving a single trace in my life.
13:16I realized Jessica had completely bought into being Sophia,
13:18and right now,
13:20she was totally enjoying everything I used to hate.
13:22This was exactly what I'd hoped for.
13:24As long as she could keep fooling my mom,
13:27we could both live the lives we wanted.
13:30That day,
13:30I warned her over and over that Catherine was nothing like the model mother described in Forbes magazine,
13:35but a cold-blooded,
13:36ruthless monster.
13:38But Jessica kept thinking I was just trying to drive a wedge between them because she'd stolen my mom.
13:45In the end,
13:46I had to give up.
13:47I spent the whole afternoon writing down all 121 house rules in a notebook and gave it to her.
13:52But before she even looked closely,
13:54she tore those pages to shreds.
13:56I'm not falling for this.
13:57This is just your way of trying to steal your life back.
13:59Even if it is true,
14:00I don't need your reminders.
14:01I'm confident I can make mom accept me.
14:03Maybe mom will notice I'm a little different from before,
14:05but that's just me changing after realizing my past mistakes.
14:08From now on,
14:08be a well-behaved,
14:09sensible daughter.
14:10I've read your text history,
14:11and I seriously don't get it.
14:13How could you want a mom who's just there by your side?
14:15I'd only feel grateful and heartbroken for my mom working her ass off out there every day.
14:19If my mom gave herself up to housework and kids like some stay-at-home housewives,
14:22I'd just be living like a homeless person,
14:24not even having bus feet.
14:25Jessica wasn't lying.
14:27Once during a downpour,
14:28her mom forgot to send her bus feet,
14:30and she had to borrow two bucks from me.
14:32Right then,
14:33a message popped up on my phone.
14:34Honey,
14:34mom's helping the neighbor with some cleaning.
14:36Can you take the bus home by yourself?
14:38I made your favorite Italian dumplings today.
14:40If you're hungry when you get home,
14:41boil some first.
14:42Even though she'd forgotten the bus fare again,
14:44I held my phone,
14:45and I don't know why,
14:46but just thinking about how she'd wrapped dumplings specially for me
14:49made me feel all warm inside.
14:51After school,
14:52Jessica noticed I was about to take the bus.
14:54She stopped me,
14:55all high and mighty.
14:57Your mom ditched you for your sister again?
14:58So pathetic.
14:59This young lady will transfer you another 20 bucks.
15:01Take an Uber home.
15:02Without waiting for my reply,
15:03she bossily sent over 20 bucks,
15:06then ran off to that black Escalade without looking back.
15:09I took the money,
15:10but had zero plans to take an Uber.
15:12Jessica's family isn't well of.
15:13Her mom even cleans for neighbors to earn extra cash.
15:17I wanted to save the money and give it to her.
15:20It was peak rush hour after school and work.
15:23The bus was totally packed.
15:25A bunch of students got on and off,
15:26but it stayed crazy crowded.
15:28So much that I didn't notice some guy in a baseball cap
15:31had been standing next to me for several stops.
15:36Hey,
15:37it's you.
15:37Sorry.
15:38Lost my balance.
15:41He acted like he knew Jessica,
15:42greeting me all casual.
15:44I pressed my lips together,
15:45said nothing,
15:46and turned my back to him.
15:48I thought that'd keep me safe,
15:50but his hand crawled onto my waist like an ant.
15:53Little girl,
15:53let your uncle just hold on,
15:55okay?
15:55Every hair on my body stood up.
15:57Instinctively,
15:58I grabbed that hand and held it tight.
15:59The Brazilian jiu-jitsu I'd trained since I was a killed
16:01finally came in handy today.
16:03I finally got why Jessica never wanted me to take the bus.
16:05She'd definitely been harassed too,
16:07which was why she made her mom drive her every day.
16:09But the second her mom couldn't pick her up
16:10because of some small thing,
16:12she was back in danger.
16:13But why didn't she ever call the cops
16:14or tell her family about this?
16:16What's going on?
16:17Three hours later,
16:19I got my answer.
16:20Jess,
16:20go home and take a shower first.
16:22Mom's got to pick up your little sister.
16:23It was already 9 p.m.
16:24when Jessica's mom brought me home from the police station.
16:27Looking at her puffy,
16:28red eyes,
16:29I felt so guilty.
16:30Truth was,
16:31I didn't get the short end of the stick at all.
16:33I actually kicked out two of that guy's front teeth.
16:35But she kept blaming herself
16:36the whole time
16:38for not picking me up.
16:41I need to report a case of harassment.
16:43My daughter was followed home from school today.
16:45Honestly,
16:46she did amazing.
16:47She rushed to the station right away
16:48in a dirty apron,
16:49trying her best to keep it together
16:50and handle it rationally.
16:51This is already the third time,
16:53isn't it?
16:53No one can do anything to me anyway.
16:56She lunged at him,
16:56trying to hit him,
16:57but two cops immediately held her back.
16:59Struggling,
16:59she screamed,
17:00I looked at this tiny woman
17:02and I saw something I'd never seen before.
17:04During all this,
17:04she called Mike.
17:05The response she got was,
17:07you're an embarrassment.
17:08Get your ass back home now.
17:10Honestly,
17:10I wasn't surprised by her husband's
17:11insane reaction anymore.
17:13What I didn't expect was,
17:14the second I opened the front door,
17:16he flew into a rage,
17:17rushed over,
17:17and slapped me across the face.
17:19You stupid brat out there
17:20seducing men all day.
17:21I told you to go back to Texas
17:22and marry my friend's son.
17:23His family promised to buy me
17:24a pickup truck,
17:25and now it's all ruined,
17:26and you knocked out
17:27two of his teeth.
17:28I'm not paying a forward
17:29to go single cent for you.
17:30If you can't afford,
17:31go sell yourself.
17:31I'm so damn unlucky,
17:32stuck with you three jixes.
17:34He didn't give a damn
17:34about what his daughter
17:35had been through.
17:36He actually thought her being harassed
17:37was just an embarrassment for him.
17:38Mike, have you lost your mind?
17:40This isn't her fault at all,
17:41it's that pervert
17:42who hurt our daughter.
17:43You said, Leia, son,
17:44it's all your fault
17:44for insisting she go to high school.
17:46What's the point of girls studying?
17:47It's being treated like...
17:50Mike, that's enough.
17:52What, Emily, you want a divorce?
17:53You can't bear to leave
17:55these two little Brits?
17:56Don't forget,
17:56you've got zero income right now.
17:58How the hell are you gonna survive
17:59with two kids?
18:00That half-hearted resistance
18:01just brought an even more
18:02vicious beating from Mike.
18:04I'll teach you to fucking
18:05talk back to me!
18:10Jess, murder is against the law.
18:13Pete, please stop fighting.
18:15Big sis hug.
18:17Don't be afraid, mom's here.
18:19The room fell silent.
18:20Mom soothed little sis
18:21and went to check on Mike.
18:23Frustrated, I grabbed her.
18:24Mom, can you just divorce him?
18:25Jess, just focus on your studies.
18:27Kids shouldn't meddle
18:28in grown-up stuff.
18:29In that moment,
18:29I felt so disappointed.
18:31But soon,
18:31I figured out
18:32what was holding her back.
18:33I took out my phone
18:34and texted Jessica,
18:35lend me 500 bucks.
18:36Dad's violent.
18:37We have nowhere to go.
18:38Wednesday night at 9.30,
18:39she should have just finished
18:40her business management class.
18:42Knowing her,
18:42she'd start scrolling her phone
18:43the second class ended.
18:44Sure enough,
18:45within a minute,
18:45she replied.
18:50I snapped a photo of Mike
18:51lying unconscious
18:52and sent it.
18:58It's okay, Emma.
19:03I calmly locked the screen.
19:05Years of harsh training
19:05had taught me
19:06to quickly steady my emotions
19:07in most situations.
19:08But this time,
19:09I was scared.
19:10Mom, if I stay here any longer,
19:11I'm scared I won't be able
19:12to stop myself
19:12from killing Dad.
19:15Can you come with me
19:16and stay somewhere else
19:17just for one night?
19:19Let's go.
19:20We're leaving right now.
19:27We spent the night
19:28at a Hampton Inn
19:29near school.
19:30The next day,
19:31I got to school
19:31even earlier than Jessica.
19:33You're not hurt?
19:34No.
19:35I suddenly remembered
19:36all the bruises
19:37that randomly showed up
19:38on Jessica
19:38over the past past three years.
19:40I lowered my gaze a little.
19:42What?
19:43Can't believe parents
19:43like that exist?
19:44Then let me tell you,
19:46your hard days
19:46are just beginning.
19:47And don't you dare dream
19:48of saving your mom.
19:49She's long used to this life
19:51and she's convinced
19:51she's staying
19:52for the kid's sake.
19:53Mom agreed to a divorce.
19:55Impossible.
19:55She doesn't have
19:56the guts to divorce.
19:57If you don't get a divorce,
19:58I will stop going to school.
20:00A daughter is Emily's weakness,
20:01but she can also be her armor.
20:03Emily really does love Jessica.
20:05Do you want your daughter
20:06to go to the magnet school?
20:07Fine.
20:08Resign and have a second child
20:09and I'll sign the papers.
20:10I only found out
20:11when I threatened to drop out
20:12to pressure her into a divorce.
20:14Three years ago,
20:15she'd agreed to quit her job
20:16and have a second child
20:17just so her husband
20:18would let Jessica
20:18go to this highly ranked
20:19magnet school.
20:20Jess, you can't drop out.
20:22Getting into college is your...
20:23She was afraid of losing custody,
20:24but she was even more afraid
20:26of her daughter
20:26marrying young like she did
20:28and going through
20:28the same painful life.
20:30I bet right.
20:30Even though she wasn't ready at all,
20:32she still promised me
20:33as long as I kept studying,
20:35she'd get divorced.
20:36Loving your kids
20:37more than yourself,
20:38maybe that's a trait
20:39of most stay-at-home moms,
20:40unlike Catherine,
20:41who only cares about herself.
20:43I gripped my pen,
20:44wanting to write something
20:44to calm down.
20:45Jessica, you must really
20:46want to swap back.
20:47That's why you're telling me
20:48all this?
20:49Don't waste your energy.
20:50My mom comes back in four days
20:51and then I'm off
20:52to an elite private school.
20:54Congrats to you then.
20:55I didn't tell her
20:56what was waiting for her
20:57in four days.
20:58On the very first day
20:59of the swap,
20:59Jessica made three fatal mistakes.
21:01First, she got three A's
21:03in French oral class.
21:04The reason I never got A's
21:05in my other courses
21:06was that the second I did,
21:07Catherine would raise the bar,
21:09except for oral class.
21:10Even if I wanted an A,
21:12I couldn't get one
21:12because I'm not good
21:14at expressing myself.
21:15Most of the time,
21:16I just quietly listened
21:17to the teacher
21:18and avoided talking
21:19as much as possible.
21:20Second, she opened the curtains.
21:22After mom and dad divorced,
21:24she made an enemy
21:24out of the Morgan family.
21:27All these years,
21:28the Morgans have been
21:28spying on us,
21:29so my curtains have
21:30never been opened
21:31and they're not allowed
21:32to be opened.
21:33That night,
21:34when Catherine saw
21:34on the surveillance footage
21:35that Jessica had opened
21:37the curtains
21:37and was standing by the window
21:38taking photos,
21:39she definitely got suspicious.
21:41Third, she took out
21:42her phone at home.
21:43Every corner of that house
21:44has cameras,
21:45including the bedroom.
21:47So I never take my phone out
21:49after I get home
21:49because the punishment
21:50for wasting time
21:51is beyond terrifying.
21:53I never want to go
21:53through that again.
21:54And Jessica sent me
21:55all those messages that night.
21:57She's about to face
21:57my mom's harshest punishment.
21:59That's Catherine's style.
22:01Cold with clear rewards
22:02and punishments.
22:03You can eat.
22:04She allows you to mess up
22:06and she won't correct you
22:07right away,
22:07but she'll use other methods
22:09to make you remember
22:09that mistake forever,
22:11making you submit to her
22:12completely in despair.
22:13I told you,
22:14junk food is forbidden.
22:15Since you ate it,
22:16swim for two hours
22:18and burn that junk off.
22:20Half an hour later,
22:21I collapsed from exhaustion
22:22and nearly drowned.
22:23If the doctor and assistant
22:25hadn't been watching,
22:26I'd probably be dead.
22:28This went on from age 10
22:29all the way to senior year.
22:31Eight whole years.
22:32I'd reached my breaking point
22:33long ago.
22:34I never imagined
22:35I'd accidentally swap souls
22:36with Jessica.
22:37Since she likes Catherine so much,
22:39let Catherine be her mom forever.
22:40The next day,
22:41halfway through class,
22:42I spotted Laura,
22:43the assistant,
22:44outside the classroom.
22:45Sophia,
22:46your mom called in a leave for you.
22:47Like the fading at the school gate,
22:49you can head out first.
22:50Jessica was too excited to notice.
22:52She thought her rich mom
22:53was taking her to a private school.
22:54She looked at me smugly.
22:56We won't be seeing each other again.
22:57I didn't respond.
22:58Every muscle in my body tensed up,
23:00my mind replaying over and over
23:03whether I'd done anything wrong.
23:05Even though I was Jessica now,
23:06my fear of Catherine was like a nightmare
23:08I just couldn't shake.
23:10The second I hear her name,
23:11I get physically sick.
23:12The moment I see her,
23:14I'm like a drowning fish,
23:15gasping for air.
23:16I can only breathe again once she's gone.
23:20Same this time.
23:21It wasn't until I watched Jessica
23:23get into Catherine's Maybach
23:24and saw that car drive away
23:26that my tense nerves
23:27finally started to relax.
23:29But deep down,
23:29I silently prayed,
23:31I hope Jessica really can do what she said,
23:33get Catherine's approval,
23:34and those two can be locked together forever
23:36as mother and daughter.
23:38The next day,
23:39Jessica didn't show up for class.
23:41The day after that,
23:42she still didn't come.
23:46I tentatively asked the counselor
23:47if Sophia had transferred schools.
23:49No, Sophia's mom said she's sick
23:51and needs to rest up at home for a few days.
23:53But the counselor said,
23:54sick, rest up for a few days.
23:56When I ran away from home in eighth grade
23:58and got caught,
23:59Catherine used the exact same excuse
24:00with my counselor.
24:01Then I got thrown into the reflection room.
24:03The reflection room
24:04was a converted first floor guest bedroom.
24:07No windows,
24:07just a chair,
24:08a desk,
24:09and a bedpan.
24:09Once locked in,
24:10I had to write self-criticism letters every day
24:13exactly as Catherine demanded.
24:15And I wouldn't be let out
24:15until she was satisfied.
24:17There's a huge chance
24:18Jessica's been locked
24:19in that reflection room right now.
24:21I hope she just repents
24:22like a good girl.
24:23If she stubbornly refuses to admit fault,
24:25the butler and other staff
24:27will all be sent in turns
24:28into the reflection room
24:29to persuade her,
24:30eating,
24:30drinking,
24:31and doing their business
24:32right there with her.
24:33It's as terrifying as it gets.
24:34But the butler and staff
24:36all volunteer for it.
24:37They get a $500 bonus
24:39for each day they spend in there.
24:40Only I got breakdowns
24:41and despair out of it.
24:43The more I thought about it,
24:44the more freaked out I got.
24:45The second school let out,
24:47I bolted back to the rental.
24:48Jess,
24:49your dad and I went to the courthouse
24:50to file for divorce today,
24:51and Walker Group
24:52sent me a job interview invitation.
24:54I really didn't expect them
24:55to give me a shot at 37.
24:57Mom, 37 is nothing.
25:00Walker's a woman-friendly company.
25:01A lot of employees
25:02are women over 40,
25:03including plenty of stay-at-home moms
25:04returning to work.
25:05You'll see when you get there.
25:06I haven't worked in three years.
25:08I don't know if I can do it.
25:10Mom, relax 100%.
25:11Walker has onboarding training.
25:14HR will decide based on that
25:15whether you start work
25:16or keep training.
25:17If you really can't handle
25:18the current position,
25:19they'll reassign you
25:20based on your here strengths.
25:22Really?
25:23Jess, with all the school stress
25:25you're under,
25:25you still specially help mom
25:26look into work stuff.
25:28Mom really feels so bad for you.
25:30Mom, you were always too scared
25:31to divorce before,
25:32but now that you've actually done it,
25:33don't you see divorcing's
25:34not that scary
25:35and going back to work
25:36is not that scary either?
25:37Once you take that first step,
25:38the way ahead clears up.
25:39You're right.
25:40If I really want what's best
25:41for you and Emma,
25:41I need to set a good example
25:42for you both.
25:43A bad marriage isn't worth
25:44hanging onto or missing.
25:45Even if I'm almost 40,
25:46I still have a chance
25:47to fix my mistakes.
25:49For my daughters,
25:50there's nothing I'm not
25:50willing to risk.
25:51Just for her daughters?
25:53I actually wanted to tell her
25:54she could make these changes
25:55for herself too.
25:56But in that moment,
25:57I thought of Catherine again.
25:58I can understand the perseverance
26:00and pressure of a working mom,
26:01and I can understand the hard work
26:03and sacrifice of a stay-at-home mom.
26:05But I'll never, ever understand Catherine.
26:07She wouldn't spend time with me,
26:08yet controlled me every second.
26:10She was like a truly
26:11pathological extreme.
26:15After dinner,
26:16I pulled out my phone
26:17and casually opened Instagram.
26:18Right then,
26:19I scrolled onto a live stream
26:20of the Walker Group's
26:21Lakeside Charity Auction,
26:22and I was shocked speechless.
26:24Not because this event,
26:25usually fixed in winter,
26:27had suddenly been moved up
26:28by over half a year,
26:29but because Catherine
26:30had not only brought
26:31Jessica to the event,
26:32but also allowed her
26:33to answer reporters' questions freely.
26:35Jessica was wearing
26:36that new Chanel haute couture
26:38Catherine brought back from Paris,
26:40looking like a proud white swan.
26:41It seemed like she and Catherine
26:43were getting along pretty well.
26:44This can't be,
26:45just as I thought.
26:46Jessica,
26:47who'd been elegantly
26:47answering questions,
26:48suddenly snatched the microphone
26:49from the host.
26:51Catherine Walker,
26:52you're a goddamn
26:53through and through psycho!
26:55Sophia,
26:55why are you calling
26:55Mrs. Walker a psycho?
26:56She's your mother.
26:57She's not my mom.
26:58She's insane.
26:59Look at this,
27:00and you'll see
27:00just how crazy she is.
27:02Even blood sugar
27:03has to be monitored
27:03in real time.
27:04No wonder it's pushed
27:05her to this state.
27:07For three days straight,
27:09Catherine locked me
27:09in a windowless reflection room
27:10and played videos of my life
27:11after age 10
27:12from morning to night.
27:13I wasn't allowed to eat
27:14or sleep until I finish them,
27:15but those videos
27:16add up to over 3,000 hours.
27:17How can I possibly finish that?
27:19She wants to drive me insane.
27:20She just wants to push me to death.
27:22Mrs. Walker,
27:23is what Sophia said true?
27:24Our group always claims
27:25to be a woman-friendly company.
27:27Doesn't this behavior
27:27smack of abusing a minor?
27:31First,
27:32my daughter was born
27:33on January 31, 2007,
27:34so she's already an adult.
27:36Second,
27:36teen girls can be
27:37a bit rebellious,
27:37and my daughter
27:38is no exception.
27:40Catherine,
27:41this isn't rebellion.
27:42In just three days,
27:43I'm already on the verge
27:44of a breakdown.
27:44What normal mother
27:45installs this many cameras
27:46at home to spy on her daughter?
27:47What normal mother
27:48enforces 121 house rules
27:50on her daughter?
27:50What mother uses
27:51a lie detector on her daughter,
27:53forces her to undergo hypnosis?
27:54And what normal mother
27:55edits together
27:55a combination of her daughter's
27:56failures, mistakes,
27:58moments of fear and tears,
27:59and plays it over and over
28:00to torture her
28:00whenever she misbehaves?
28:02Catherine,
28:02you're not normal.
28:03You're a monster.
28:04You need to see a psychiatrist.
28:06Sophia,
28:07the one who needs
28:07to seriously see a shank
28:09is you.
28:10Dr. Nelson's
28:11psychological evaluation report
28:12shows you're currently
28:13severely suicidal.
28:21Truth is,
28:21I'd done this before too,
28:23exposed Catherine
28:24as a control freak in public.
28:25It was totally useless.
28:27My mom's an expert
28:28at mental torture.
28:28I had no physical evidence
28:30to accuse her of abuse.
28:31And most people
28:32didn't buy it either,
28:33that Catherine,
28:34who championed
28:35women supporting women,
28:36could treat her own daughter
28:37in such a sick way.
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