- 11 hours ago
Rehab For Loving You - Ep
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Roderick ripped my shirt open and froze.
00:03My back was covered in scars, old and new, all from whippings.
00:07What the hell happened here?
00:11I misbehaved. They punished me for it.
00:14My voice was flat, like I was talking about someone else's body.
00:18He stared at the scars he'd never seen.
00:21Then he said,
00:24You deserved it.
00:26He sent me to that place three years ago to cure me of loving him.
00:32I spent three years locked inside that place.
00:35Now, I stopped loving him, just as he wanted.
00:38Then he came running back and said,
00:40I regret it.
00:42For eight years, I was a fixture by Roderick Dunlap's side.
00:46Everyone said I was addicted to him.
00:48I was so obsessed with him that I'd run off any woman who got close to him,
00:52whatever it took.
00:53Once, I offered one of them money to leave Roderick.
00:58The woman laughed in my face.
01:00Being with Roderick meant an endless supply of cash.
01:03Why would anyone walk away for such a pathetic amount?
01:07Then that woman took a staged fall down a flight of stairs.
01:11Roderick thought I pushed her.
01:14And I ended up being sent to a rehab center by him.
01:22Others went there to quit smoking, drinking, or gaming.
01:25I was there to let go of Roderick.
01:28In the end, I succeeded only for him to tell me he regretted it.
01:32The moment I stepped out of the rehab center, I saw an Audi parked there.
01:37It looked totally out of place.
01:40I glanced at it and lowered my head, preparing to walk away.
01:43The person who got out of the car called out to me.
01:47It was Roderick.
01:49He had grown more mature in the last three years.
01:52I glanced at him once, then looked away.
01:55The staff at the center taught us that staring was rude, especially at someone we liked.
02:00Yes, after three years, I had been completely reformed.
02:08Roderick told me to get in, and I did so, sitting quietly in the back seat.
02:12I kept my head down, staring at my lap and not moving a muscle.
02:16Roderick sat beside me.
02:18I could feel the weight of his intense gaze.
02:20The car was dead quiet.
02:22I held my breath, scared to make a peep.
02:25But a cough escaped me anyway.
02:27It was just my old cough.
02:29The car pulled up at the Dunlap's mansion.
02:32Roderick's grandmother, Maggie Dunlap, lived there.
02:35Today, as I remembered, marked her 80th birthday.
02:39Then it hit me why Roderick had come to get me.
02:42He started to walk in.
02:44I hesitated for a second, then blurted out.
02:47Um, Roderick?
02:50I didn't bring a gift.
02:52When he turned around, my heart was pounding out of my chest.
02:57I quickly looked down.
02:59I knew my quickened heartbeat was from fear, not from affection.
03:04Somehow, I'd turned into a total coward.
03:06If someone even glanced my way, I'd get a jolt of fear.
03:12I'd toss and turn all night in nightmares, haunted by those staring eyes.
03:19Follow me.
03:20Roderick brushed off my worry.
03:22He was as cold as always.
03:24Or maybe he only saved that coldness for me.
03:27I had to jog a little just to keep up with him.
03:31Mari!
03:32You're back!
03:33Come in, dear!
03:34Maggie was right there at the front door.
03:36Waiting for me, Dot Maggie had always had my back.
03:39Always encouraged my crush on Roderick and even snuck me info on his plans.
03:44I walked over to her.
03:47Hello, Maggie.
03:47Mari, honey.
03:49Why are you being so distant?
03:51You're not mad at me for what happened, are you?
03:54Maggie stroked my hair, her eyes full of affection.
03:57I shook my head.
03:58I could never be mad at her three years ago.
04:00If Maggie hadn't threatened to harm herself,
04:02I probably would have been sent to jail instead.
04:07On the outside, it looked like a regular school,
04:10but only the people who'd been locked up there knew what real torture was like.
04:15During the meal, I kept my head down,
04:18shoveling down spaghetti as fast as I could.
04:20I didn't make a sound, didn't reach for anything else,
04:24just ate fast like I hadn't had a meal in a month.
04:28Marianne!
04:29Yes, sir!
04:30Hearing my name, I set down my fork and stood up straight.
04:34We all froze me, Roderick and Maggie.
04:36I met their shocked stares for a split second.
04:40Then I looked down at the silverware I'd set neatly on the table.
04:43Even with how panicked I was, I just stood there, confused.
04:48It hit me then I'd forgotten I wasn't at the center anymore.
04:51I had no idea why Roderick had called me.
04:54You scared her, you big idiot!
04:56Maggie swatted Roderick's arm before turning to me.
04:59Sit down, Mary.
05:00You're home now, sweetie.
05:02Just relax.
05:04I did what Maggie said and sat back down,
05:07but I couldn't eat another bite.
05:09Something about the way they looked at me told me they'd noticed.
05:12The girl who walked in three years ago was gone,
05:14and the one sitting here now was someone they didn't recognize.
05:20Grandma was talking to you.
05:21Why weren't you listening?
05:25Roderick's tone was sharp.
05:27I couldn't tell if he was mad I'd ignored Maggie,
05:30or just ticked off about getting swatted.
05:32I'm sorry, Maggie.
05:34I was just very hungry.
05:35I didn't hear you.
05:37I gave her an apologetic look.
05:39The counselors at the center always drilled it into us.
05:43Apologies have to be sincere.
05:45Only I knew the truth.
05:46It wasn't hunger.
05:47It was fear.
05:48Fear of getting punished for not eating fast enough,
05:51or for leaving food on my plate.
05:53I vaguely recalled her telling me to try the other food.
05:56I'd heard her, but I just couldn't react fast enough.
06:00So Roderick called out to me.
06:02By the time dinner was over,
06:03my forehead was covered in a light sweat.
06:06I wasn't sure if it was from the heat in the room,
06:08or my own anxiety.
06:10Three years in that place had taught me one thing.
06:13Never let your guard down, not even at a dinner table.
06:17After dinner, I returned to Grandpa's old house.
06:22Thank you for the ride.
06:24I gave Roderick a small bow.
06:26Maggie had wanted me to stay the night,
06:28but I'd turned her down.
06:30I didn't want any more contact with them than I had to,
06:32so I'd asked Roderick to drive me home.
06:36You really want to stay here?
06:38Roderick frowned.
06:39I glanced back at the house.
06:41It hadn't been touched in three years.
06:43Now it was completely overgrown with weeds.
06:46But I nodded.
06:47I had nowhere else to go anyway.
06:50I was flat broke,
06:51and the clothes I was wearing were from three years ago.
06:53The rehab center had given us uniforms,
06:55so these clothes had never even been worn out.
06:59I bent down to pull some weeds.
07:01The little critters living there scurried away.
07:03I saw cockroaches, mice,
07:05and a snake coiled in the corner,
07:07too lazy to move.
07:08Once upon a time,
07:09I would have jumped straight into Roderick's arms.
07:12Now, I just stared at them calmly
07:14and looked for a stick to shoo the snake away.
07:18Roderick pulled me back toward the car.
07:22What's wrong?
07:23I didn't even realize he was still there.
07:26Didn't you see that snake?
07:27A ride-hide-forgotten Roderick hated reptiles.
07:34I saw it.
07:36It's fine.
07:37I'll just shoo it away with a stick.
07:39If it bothers you,
07:41you can just leave!
07:43I caught myself reassuring him.
07:45I reached for the door handle,
07:47ready to hop out.
07:48But Roderick locked the doors and drove off.
07:52I quickly buckled my seatbelt.
07:54W-where are you taking me?
07:57He didn't say a word.
07:59I didn't dare ask again.
08:01He took me to his private apartment.
08:02He closed the door behind us without a word.
08:06I couldn't leave it was a keypad lock.
08:09He went straight to the shower,
08:11probably trying to wash off the creeps
08:13from seeing all those critters.
08:15I sat straight on the living room couch.
08:17About an hour later,
08:19Roderick came downstairs in pajamas,
08:21his hair still wet.
08:22I knew better than to stare.
08:24Stay here until your place is cleaned up.
08:27You can sleep here tonight.
08:28I thought about it for a second,
08:30then nodded.
08:33That house was a mess.
08:35Tackling it all alone
08:36would have kept me going way past midnight.
08:38He walked over.
08:39I stood up and stepped aside without thinking.
08:42Roderick grabbed my chin,
08:43forcing me to look at him.
08:46So you're over me?
08:47His expression was questioning.
08:50Yes, I didn't hesitate for a second.
08:53Any delay would have felt like an insult
08:55to everything I'd been through.
08:58That night, the nightmare returned.
09:00In my dream,
09:01countless eyes stared back at me,
09:03filled with hatred, disgust, and contempt.
09:06Every single one of them belonged to Roderick.
09:11The next day, when Roderick left for work,
09:14I asked him to drop me off downtown.
09:16He didn't seem to mind,
09:18as long as I wasn't in his way.
09:20I hesitated in front of a florist's hiring sign.
09:23I didn't have a college degree.
09:25I never finished college
09:27because Roderick had me sent to that rehab center.
09:30Hunting for a job?
09:31The shop owner noticed me staring at the sign
09:33but not coming in,
09:34so he finally asked.
09:36I nodded.
09:37The owner looked to be in his mid-twenties,
09:40and he seemed pretty nice.
09:41The pay was $3,000 monthly,
09:43and no diploma was required.
09:46I just had to be on time
09:47to help out at the shop every day.
09:49I asked the owner for a $1,000 advance.
09:52Money makes the world go round.
09:54I needed it for everything.
09:56My official start date was the next day,
09:58and to my surprise,
09:59he trusted me.
10:00I spent $400 on a used electric scooter
10:03from a local shop.
10:05Once upon a time,
10:06$400 wouldn't have meant squat to me.
10:09Now, I had to haggle
10:10just to get it for that price.
10:12It's not like I was an orphan or anything.
10:14Three years ago,
10:15my parents disowned me.
10:17To protect the company
10:18and the family's reputation,
10:20the only person who'd ever really loved me,
10:22Grandpa,
10:22was gone a long time ago.
10:24If he were still here,
10:25I probably never would have ended up like this.
10:29I rode the scooter back to Grandpa's old house.
10:32The weeds outside were already gone.
10:34Roderick must have sent someone to clear them.
10:37Inside, everything was covered
10:39in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs.
10:42It took me for hours
10:44just to make the place halfway livable.
10:47Most of the stuff inside
10:48was broken beyond fixing.
10:51I was trying to carry out the junk
10:52when I tripped.
10:56Everything went flying all over the floor.
10:58I was a mess my knee hurt
11:00and I was covered in dirt.
11:02I saw a pair of shiny leather shoes
11:04stop in front of me.
11:05I didn't even have to look up
11:06to know who they belonged to.
11:08I got up slowly,
11:10my knee throbbing with pain.
11:12Mr. Dunlop,
11:15can I help you with something?
11:16I'd gone from calling him Rod
11:18to Roderick
11:19and now to Mr. Dunlop.
11:21It was better this way
11:23keeping my distance.
11:24I never wanted to go back
11:25to that hellhole ever again.
11:27Grandma sent me to check
11:28on how you're doing.
11:30Roderick's brow was furrowed.
11:31Please tell her I'm fine
11:33and she doesn't have to worry about me.
11:35I crouched back down
11:36to clean up the mess
11:37that fall had just made everything worse.
11:42Roderick grabbed me
11:43by the back of my collar
11:44with a tear,
11:45my shirt split right open.
11:47It was the same shirt
11:48I'd worn yesterday
11:49and the same one
11:50I'd had three years ago.
11:51The fabric was so thin
11:53it tore almost instantly.
11:55Mr. Dunlop,
11:56have some respect!
11:57My voice was sharp with anger
11:59as I clutched the torn fabric.
12:01Thank God it was only
12:02the back that tore,
12:03but it was my only shirt.
12:05I hadn't had time
12:06to buy new clothes
12:07and now how was I supposed
12:08to go shopping?
12:09But Roderick's eyes
12:10were fixed on the scars
12:12on my back.
12:13What the hell
12:14happened here?
12:15I misbehaved.
12:17They punished me for it.
12:19My voice was flat
12:20like I was talking
12:21about someone else's pain.
12:23You deserved it.
12:25He walked out.
12:26I glanced over my shoulder.
12:27My back was covered
12:29in scars old and new,
12:30all from whippings.
12:31The newest ones
12:32were probably
12:33from a few days ago.
12:35I couldn't even remember
12:36exactly which day.
12:37They hadn't even
12:38fully healed yet.
12:42I found a dusty shirt
12:43in the closet,
12:44shook it off,
12:45and slipped it on
12:45right away.
12:46Pretty soon,
12:47I felt an itch
12:48on my back,
12:49right over the wounds.
12:50They probably got infected.
12:52Of course,
12:53just as I was heading out
12:54to buy new clothes,
12:55Roderick came back.
12:57Was he back
12:57to laugh at me?
12:58He tossed a bag at me?
13:02Change into these.
13:03I refused.
13:05He had a girlfriend,
13:06and it felt wrong
13:07for him to be
13:08buying me clothes.
13:08But it had been
13:09three years.
13:11Maybe Chelsea was
13:12his wife now,
13:12not that I cared.
13:14Roderick pulled me
13:15roughly back inside
13:15the house.
13:16I sat down
13:17and did what he told me.
13:19He cleaned the wounds
13:20on my back
13:20with antiseptic
13:21and rubbing alcohol.
13:22It stung.
13:23But I didn't make a sound,
13:25it was nothing next
13:25to what I'd been through.
13:27His hands were rough
13:28but strangely careful.
13:29Like he was trying
13:30to undo something
13:31he couldn't name.
13:35Why's this one
13:36right here
13:36across your waist?
13:37Roderick pointed
13:38to a particularly
13:39ugly scar.
13:40It wasn't just
13:41a surface scrape
13:42whoever hit me
13:42had aimed right
13:43for my kidneys.
13:44I shook my head.
13:45Um,
13:46I don't know.
13:48He finished up
13:48cleaning the wounds
13:49and helped pull
13:50my shirt down.
13:52Why did they do
13:53this to you?
13:54I was already
13:55wearing a new shirt.
13:58Because I misbehaved.
14:00Then,
14:01as if worried
14:02he might not believe me,
14:03I added,
14:06I said,
14:07but I'm good now.
14:08What did you do?
14:10Roderick pushed,
14:11clearly unsatisfied
14:12with my answer.
14:15One of the counselors
14:16caught me
14:17after I dropped
14:17some food on the table.
14:19Roderick frowned
14:20but said nothing.
14:21I glanced at him
14:22nervously
14:23after a long pause.
14:26Elsewhere,
14:27where else
14:28did they hurt you?
14:29I shook my head.
14:30It's not like
14:31they chose
14:31to go for my back.
14:32I'd curl up
14:33into a ball
14:34so my back
14:35was just the only
14:36part left exposed.
14:37It's getting late.
14:39You should go now.
14:40I didn't want
14:41to be in the same room
14:42as him.
14:42It felt suffocating.
14:44Besides,
14:45it was already
14:45dark outside.
14:47Oh, it's fine.
14:48I'll crash here
14:49for the night.
14:51Silence hung
14:51between us.
14:52I didn't argue.
14:54But I stayed awake
14:55long after
14:56the lights went out.
14:59I hadn't eaten
15:00since breakfast
15:01at his apartment.
15:02Using the groceries
15:03I'd picked up earlier,
15:05I whipped up
15:05a simple meal
15:06on the old hot plate.
15:08Thank God Grandpa
15:09never used gas otherwise.
15:11I'd have had
15:11nothing to eat.
15:13You're not
15:14at the center anymore.
15:15You don't have
15:16to eat so fast.
15:17Roderick's voice
15:17reached me
15:18as I hurried
15:18through the meal.
15:19But I was already
15:20finished,
15:21and Roderick
15:22had barely
15:22touched his food.
15:24Old habits
15:24die hard.
15:25Roderick took
15:26my bedroom,
15:27so I slept
15:27in Grandpa's
15:28old room.
15:29Late that night,
15:30my knee and back
15:30started throbbing,
15:31my head felt
15:32heavy and dizzy.
15:34When I opened
15:35my eyes again,
15:36I was staring
15:36at a white ceiling.
15:38The sharp smell
15:39of disinfectant
15:40was everywhere.
15:40I didn't have time
15:41to wonder
15:42how I'd gotten here.
15:43All I cared about
15:44was that I was
15:45gonna be late
15:45for my first shift.
15:47I tiptoed over
15:48to put on my shoes,
15:49careful not to
15:50wake Roderick.
15:51Roderick's sleepy
15:52voice stopped me
15:53right as I was
15:54almost out the door.
15:56Where are you
15:57off to?
15:58I got a job.
15:59I'm gonna be late
16:00for work.
16:00Do you even know
16:01you're running a fever?
16:02He sounded annoyed.
16:04Was it because
16:05he'd had to pay
16:06for the medical bills?
16:08Don't worry,
16:09Mr. Dunlop.
16:11I'll pay you back
16:12as soon as I get
16:12my first paycheck.
16:13I gave him a quick,
16:15polite bow
16:15and slipped out the door.
16:18Thankfully,
16:19I made it to work
16:20just in time.
16:23It was Valentine's Day
16:25and the flower shop
16:26was absolutely packed.
16:28My job was simple
16:29just working the register.
16:31I didn't know
16:31how to do anything else yet.
16:33The shop was small
16:34but the owner
16:35was amazing
16:36and customers
16:37just kept coming in.
16:38But out of all
16:39the people
16:40who could have
16:40walked in,
16:41I never thought
16:42I'd see Chelsea Harvey.
16:44arm in arm
16:45with Roderick
16:46laughing and talking
16:47up a storm.
16:48Chelsea,
16:49the same girlfriend
16:49Roderick
16:50had brought home
16:51all those years ago.
16:53Chels,
16:54Rod.
16:56The shop owner
16:57walked over
16:57to greet them politely.
16:59My mind went
17:00completely blank
17:01and I froze in place.
17:03It turned out
17:03the owner
17:04was Chelsea's brother.
17:05My life was starting
17:06to feel like
17:07a bad soap opera
17:08all over again.
17:09I'd suffered
17:10for three years
17:10because of Chelsea
17:11and now here
17:13I was
17:13working for her brother.
17:15How pathetic was that?
17:23Chelsea spotted me.
17:26Flinched in fake fear
17:27and buried her face
17:28in Roderick's chest.
17:30Cliffy,
17:31what is she doing here?
17:32She's,
17:33she's the one who
17:34Chelsea pointed
17:35a shaking finger
17:36right at me.
17:37Clifford Harvey
17:37stared at me in shock.
17:38Then his face
17:39twisted with disgust.
17:41He grabbed me
17:41by the arm
17:42and shoved me
17:43right out the door.
17:47It all happened
17:48so fast.
17:49I stumbled
17:49and crashed
17:50to the ground.
17:52Roderick just stood
17:53there and watched.
17:54Cold as ice.
17:56Humiliated,
17:57I got up
17:58and ran all the way
17:58back to the old house.
18:01I locked myself
18:02in grandpa's room.
18:03It was the only place
18:04I ever felt safe.
18:08Thanks to that,
18:10I had to find a new job
18:11and I had to pay back
18:12that $1,000 advance.
18:17I hated
18:18owing anyone anything.
18:22Job hunting
18:23sucked for days
18:24until I finally
18:25got hired
18:25as a dishwasher.
18:27It was tiring,
18:28but it kept me busy
18:29kept my mind
18:30off things.
18:32I thought maybe
18:33I could finally
18:34live a quiet life,
18:35but some people
18:36just couldn't stand
18:37to see me happy.
18:38Chelsea's shadow
18:39followed me
18:40wherever I went.
18:46The floor manager
18:47had told me
18:48to bring the clean dishes
18:49out to be sanitized.
18:57Well,
18:58look who it is.
18:59The Crawford Group Harris.
19:03Ah!
19:04Oh, wait.
19:05I mean,
19:06a pathetic little shadow
19:08nobody wants around.
19:09As I walked through
19:10the dining area,
19:11a few girls
19:12blocked my way.
19:13Their voices thick
19:15with sarcasm.
19:16They were my old
19:17college classmates,
19:18also Chelsea's
19:19little minions.
19:20Chelsea was standing
19:21right behind them,
19:23watching it all go down
19:24no sign of her
19:25usual innocent act.
19:29I tried to ignore them
19:31and walk past.
19:32I didn't want any trouble.
19:33Did I say you could leave?
19:35Someone yanked my hair
19:36so hard it sent
19:37a sharp pain
19:37shooting through my scalp.
19:39The noise set off
19:41a commotion.
19:43All I could think about
19:44was the plates.
19:46I'd have to pay for them.
19:48Roderick's voice
19:49cut through the noise
19:49from behind me.
19:50What's going on here?
19:52My hands,
19:53busy picking up
19:54the broken pieces,
19:55frolls for a second.
19:57I cut my finger
19:59on a shard.
20:00It didn't even hurt.
20:01I knew something
20:02way worse
20:03was about to happen.
20:06Sure enough,
20:07I heard Chelsea's
20:08fake sweet voice
20:09complaining to Roderick.
20:10We were just trying
20:10to make up with Mari.
20:15Just catch up a little.
20:17But then she...
20:23Before Chelsea could finish,
20:24another girl cut in.
20:26But then
20:27she lost her temper
20:28and tried to hit
20:29Chelsea with a plate!
20:41I kept picking up
20:42the broken pieces calmly.
20:46I knew I was going
20:47to lose this job too.
20:48The floor manager
20:49rushed over
20:50and chewed me out.
20:51I do knock out of Oins.
20:52I'm truthfully
20:52busting dunking!
20:54Munt!
20:54Nup!
20:55Dest!
21:00I handed over
21:01almost all the cash
21:02I had on me.
21:03All but ten bucks.
21:07I'm sorry.
21:09I'm sorry.
21:16With my last ten bucks,
21:18I stopped at a pharmacy,
21:19then headed home.
21:22Back at the house,
21:23I went into Grandpa's room.
21:31I picked up his photo
21:32and held it tight.
21:36I'm sorry, Grandpa.
21:38I didn't turn out
21:39the way you hoped I would.
21:44You taught me
21:45that loving someone
21:46means having the courage
21:47to go for them.
21:48So you never regret it.
21:53But Grandpa,
21:54I'm so tired.
21:55I can't do this anymore.
21:56I'm giving up.
22:00What if I come
22:01to be with you instead?
22:06You're not saying no,
22:07so I'll take that
22:07as a yes.
22:12I downed all the sleeping pills
22:13I'd bought at the pharmacy.
22:15I downed all the sleeping pills
22:17I'd bought at the pharmacy.
22:23I was scared Roderick
22:24would use this
22:24as an excuse
22:25to send me back
22:25to that center.
22:28I couldn't live
22:29like that anymore.
22:30I couldn't find
22:31a single reason
22:32to keep going anymore.
22:34but sleeping pills
22:35were supposed
22:35to put you to sleep.
22:45Why did it hurt
22:46so much instead?
22:50A sharp cramp
22:51hit my stomach
22:52and I could feel
22:53my eyes starting
22:54to close.
22:56Right as my eyes
22:57closed for good,
22:58I thought I saw
22:59Roderick standing
23:00in the doorway.
23:08When is she going
23:09to wake up?
23:09She's been asleep
23:10for days.
23:11When I came to,
23:12it seemed I heard
23:13Roderick's voice.
23:23Why was he still
23:24clinging to me
23:25even after death?
23:32It wasn't until
23:33a team of doctors
23:34began examining me
23:35that I understood.
23:43Roderick had rushed
23:44me here to have
23:44my stomach pumped.
23:51I'd been given
23:52a second chance.
23:59that figure I saw
24:00hadn't been
24:00an illusion.
24:02It was him.
24:09Are you sending
24:10me back?
24:12I looked at
24:13his darkened
24:13expression.
24:23The doctor says
24:24you may be
24:24suffering from
24:25depression.
24:28Roderick avoided
24:29my question.
24:32I nodded
24:33dot,
24:33but that wasn't
24:34the point.
24:42All I cared
24:43about was
24:43whether I had
24:44to be sent
24:44back.
24:51Why didn't
24:51you tell me?
24:52Why didn't
24:56would you have
24:56would you have
24:57believed me
24:57if I had?
25:01Telling him
25:02would only
25:02have made him
25:03think I was
25:03making excuses
25:04to leave that place.
25:15I had reached
25:16out to him.
25:18Each resident
25:19was granted
25:19a scheduled
25:19call to
25:20family twice
25:20a year.
25:29During my first
25:30six months,
25:31I called him
25:31once.
25:34I'm sick.
25:36I cough up
25:37blood sometimes
25:38and they
25:38hit us.
25:44Can I
25:45please come
25:46home?
25:52I promise
25:53I won't
25:53bother you
25:54anymore.
25:55What did
25:55he say
25:56back then?
25:58You come
25:59to...
26:00Find a better
26:01excuse next
26:02time.
26:05Then he
26:06hung up.
26:11After that
26:11call,
26:12I was
26:12beaten again.
26:15I never
26:16called him
26:16after that.
26:22Why did
26:23I cough
26:23up blood?
26:30their blows
26:31had landed
26:31on my back
26:32over and
26:33over.
26:34The internal
26:34damage
26:35eventually
26:35affected my
26:35stomach and
26:36lungs.
26:45Seeing
26:46Roderick fall
26:46silent,
26:47I knew
26:47he still
26:48didn't believe
26:48me.
26:49I lowered
26:50my head
26:50and didn't
26:51ask again
26:51whether he'd
26:52send me
26:52back.
26:54I moored
26:55me long,
26:55the pair
26:56in the
26:56sari
26:56that
26:56was out
26:56in
26:57sparing
26:57and
26:57disaviling
26:57functi.
26:58Should I
26:58be sent
26:59back,
26:59I won't
27:00leave
27:00alive.
27:04In a
27:05place like
27:05that,
27:06no one would
27:06notice whether
27:07a person was
27:07breathing.
27:09I thought
27:10once I got
27:10out,
27:11I could
27:11start over.
27:13But I was
27:14wrong.
27:15My peace
27:16was always
27:16shattered
27:17whenever
27:17Roderick came
27:18into the
27:18picture.
27:23The doctor
27:24called
27:24Roderick out,
27:26saying some
27:26test results
27:27were ready.
27:32The door
27:32swung open
27:33as Roderick
27:33strode back
27:34in.
27:43He yanked
27:44the blanket
27:44aside,
27:45then my
27:45hospital gown.
27:54An ugly,
27:55jaggy scar
27:55was exposed.
27:59Your
28:00kidney,
28:01where is
28:02it?
28:06His eyes
28:07were bloodshot,
28:08a vein
28:08throbbing on
28:09his forehead
28:09as he
28:10stared at
28:10me.
28:16He looked
28:17terrifying,
28:18just like
28:19at the
28:19staff at
28:19the center.
28:21They had
28:21that same
28:22look in
28:22their eyes.
28:33That look
28:34always came
28:35right before
28:35a beating.
28:37I pulled
28:38the blanket
28:38up and
28:39hid underneath
28:40it.
28:47The bed
28:48shifted as
28:49Roderick sat
28:49down beside
28:50me.
28:53He gently
28:54tug.
28:55He gently
28:56did the
28:56covers.
29:00Mary,
29:00come out.
29:01You'll
29:02suffocate.
29:06His voice
29:07softened,
29:07as if he'd
29:08realized he'd
29:09scared me.
29:13Promise
29:14you won't
29:14hit me?
29:22My voice
29:23was muffled
29:23under the
29:24blanket.
29:25Only after
29:25he promised
29:26did I
29:26poke my
29:26head.
29:36He asked
29:36again,
29:37patient this
29:38time.
29:39What
29:40happened
29:40to your
29:40kidney?
29:43I shook
29:44my head.
29:53Roderick took
29:54out his
29:54phone and
29:55said he
29:55would
29:55investigate
29:56this
29:56thoroughly.
29:59Ever since
29:59learning about
30:00my depression,
30:01Roderick had
30:02barely left
30:02my side.
30:04It was as
30:05if he was
30:05afraid I
30:05might try
30:06something
30:06again,
30:07but I
30:07saw that
30:08the rehab
30:08center had
30:09been shut
30:09down on
30:09television.
30:10No doubt
30:11it was
30:12Roderick's
30:12doing.
30:13It had
30:14posed as
30:14an educational
30:15institution.
30:16Behind
30:17closed doors,
30:18it ran
30:18vile operations.
30:20Did he do
30:21this to you
30:21too?
30:22Roderick pointed
30:23at the screen.
30:25Mari
30:25Kambai,
30:26VO.
30:27The man being
30:27interviewed was the
30:28infamous director.
30:29He spoke
30:30excitedly to
30:31the reporter.
30:31I was
30:32helping.
30:33They should
30:34be thankful
30:36without my
30:37guidance.
30:39Do you think
30:40they'd be so
30:40compliant now?
30:41Go ask their
30:42parents.
30:43Their children
30:44are model
30:44citizens now,
30:46aren't they?
30:47I took a
30:48kidney as my
30:48fair compensation.
30:50My method was
30:50simple.
30:51Add something to
30:51their bedtime
30:52milk,
30:52then proceed
30:53with the removal.
30:54I'd watch
30:55them wake up
30:56in agony.
30:57The man grew
30:58more animated
30:59as he spoke.
31:00I felt a wave
31:00of dread
31:00seep into my
31:01bones.
31:04The bloody
31:05scene felt
31:05like it had
31:06happened yesterday.
31:07That night,
31:08I went to bed
31:09as usual.
31:10Before lights
31:10out,
31:11we all had to
31:11drink the
31:11milk the
31:12attenders brought.
31:13Refusal
31:13meant a beating.
31:16In my sleep,
31:17I felt like I
31:18was being
31:18restrained.
31:20Then,
31:21slowly,
31:22a sharp pain
31:22pierced my
31:23side.
31:27My eyes
31:28flew open
31:28to see the
31:29director's
31:29horrifying face
31:30leaning over
31:31me.
31:31It wasn't a
31:32dream.
31:33He was staring
31:33intently at my
31:34waist.
31:35The pain made
31:35me black out.
31:38I didn't wake
31:38until the next
31:39day.
31:42He threatened
31:43me.
31:44If I ever
31:45spoke a word,
31:46my other kidney
31:46would meet the
31:47same fate.
31:48No wonder so
31:49many people there
31:49moved stiffly,
31:50and no one ever
31:51said a thing.
31:52Mari!
31:54I stared at
31:55him,
31:56my gaze
31:56empty.
31:56Then,
31:57a mouthful
31:58of blood
31:58surged up
31:58and spilled
31:59over.
32:01I collapsed.
32:06I had no
32:06idea how
32:07long I was
32:07out.
32:10When I woke
32:11up,
32:11I was still
32:12connected to
32:13a ventilator.
32:15I shifted
32:16my fingers,
32:17trying to wake
32:17Roderick.
32:19His weight
32:19was resting
32:20on my hand,
32:21and it had
32:21gone numb.
32:27You're awake.
32:28How do you
32:29feel?
32:29You were in
32:29shock,
32:30did you
32:30realize?
32:31But I was
32:32in shock.
32:33How would
32:33I know?
32:35But was
32:36this really
32:37Roderick?
32:39His jaw
32:40was shadowed
32:41with stubble,
32:42his eyes
32:42streaked
32:43with red.
32:45This wasn't
32:45the same
32:46cool,
32:46collected man
32:47I remembered.
32:48I tried
32:49to speak,
32:49but had
32:50no strength
32:51left.
32:51I just
32:51lay still,
32:54let the
32:54doctors and
32:55Roderick do
32:56what they
32:56needed to
32:56do.
32:58I learned
32:58I'd been
32:59unconscious
32:59for four
33:00days.
33:03Roderick had
33:03stayed by my
33:04side the
33:04whole time.
33:08That afternoon,
33:09a doctor removed
33:10the ventilator.
33:13I could talk
33:14again.
33:18What's the
33:19prognosis?
33:19Weeks?
33:20Months?
33:20I knew my
33:21time was
33:21running out.
33:23Roderick's
33:24hand,
33:24which had
33:24been holding
33:25a spoon
33:25to feed
33:25me broth,
33:26paused.
33:27After a
33:28long moment.
33:31Six months,
33:32maybe less.
33:36A faint
33:37smile of
33:38relief touched
33:38my lips.
33:40Good,
33:41I could get
33:41to see
33:41Grandpa
33:42soon.
33:43Lung
33:44cancer?
33:47I phrased
33:48it as a
33:48question,
33:49but I was
33:49sure.
33:50Even after,
33:51I'd learned
33:52to behave,
33:53and the
33:54beatings
33:54mostly stopped.
34:00I kept
34:01coughing up
34:02blood.
34:03The
34:03depression
34:03only made
34:04things worse.
34:10Roderick
34:10nodded.
34:14Can I
34:14get back
34:14to work?
34:16Is there
34:17any way
34:17you could
34:18keep your
34:18wife from
34:18interfering?
34:19If they
34:20just leave
34:20me alone,
34:21I could
34:22work in
34:22peace.
34:23I still
34:24owed
34:24Clifford
34:241,000
34:25after all.
34:27She's
34:28not my
34:28wife.
34:29Roderick
34:30frowned,
34:30putting a
34:31clear distance
34:31between
34:32himself and
34:32Chelsea.
34:33I didn't
34:34care what
34:34Chelsea was.
34:36I just
34:37needed her
34:37to stay
34:38away.
34:41I started
34:42a small
34:42street stall
34:43on a
34:43decent block,
34:44selling
34:45burritos.
34:48I had
34:49planned to
34:49find a
34:49regular job,
34:50but Roderick
34:51forbade it.
34:56when he
34:56set his
34:57mind to
34:57something,
34:57no one
34:58could
34:58change
34:58it.
35:05He
35:06offered me
35:06two
35:06options.
35:08Start my
35:08own small
35:09business,
35:10or stay
35:11home.
35:14Doing
35:15something I
35:15chose with
35:16the time I
35:16had left
35:17was a good
35:17idea.
35:18I stood
35:19nervously
35:19behind my
35:20cart,
35:20worried no
35:21customers would
35:21come.
35:22The location
35:22was close to
35:23campus.
35:25Steady foot
35:25traffic from
35:26students and
35:27professionals.
35:28It was a
35:29fully licensed
35:30area for
35:30street vendors
35:31to operate.
35:37Best of all,
35:38it was close
35:38to Grandpa's
35:39house.
35:45Hey,
35:46how much
35:46for a
35:46burrito?
35:48I was
35:48lost in
35:49thought when
35:49a guy
35:49with a
35:50brighty
35:50smile walked
35:50up to
35:51my
35:51stall.
35:55I looked
35:56up and
35:56met his
35:56clear eyes.
35:57He had
35:58faint dimples,
35:59wearing a
35:59basketball jersey,
36:00a ball in
36:01his hand,
36:01as if he'd
36:02just come
36:02from a
36:03game.
36:03I was
36:03caught off
36:04guard for
36:04a second.
36:07He spoke
36:07again before
36:08I came out
36:09of my
36:09trance.
36:10For some
36:10reason,
36:11looking into
36:11his eyes
36:12didn't make
36:12me uneasy
36:13at all.
36:15Usually,
36:15any eye
36:16contact filled
36:17me with
36:17dread,
36:18so many
36:19pairs of
36:19eyes
36:19haunted
36:20my
36:20nights.
36:27Would you
36:28like to
36:28try one?
36:28It's free.
36:30Why free?
36:31Is it because
36:32I'm so good
36:32looking?
36:32He grinned
36:33and rubbed
36:34his chin
36:34playfully.
36:35His playful
36:36tone made
36:37my face
36:37grow warm.
36:38No,
36:39it's my
36:39first day.
36:40If it turns
36:41out unpasteable,
36:42I couldn't
36:42possibly take
36:43your money.
36:47I'd
36:47practiced at
36:48home over
36:48and over,
36:49but doing
36:49it for real
36:50felt completely
36:51different.
36:53Oh,
36:54so I'm
36:55your
36:55gimme pee
36:56pig.
36:57No!
36:59I thought
37:00I'd scared
37:00him off.
37:01Just kidding,
37:02go ahead,
37:02I'll eat it
37:02however it
37:03turns out.
37:03He laughed
37:04warmly.
37:05Most vendors
37:06could make
37:06one in
37:06three to
37:07five minutes.
37:08My clumsy
37:09attempt took
37:09nearly seven.
37:10The outside
37:11was crispy,
37:12though not
37:13burnt.
37:13Maybe I
37:14should make
37:14you another
37:14one?
37:17He took
37:17the wrapped
37:18burrito and
37:18bit into it.
37:19This is
37:20perfect.
37:23It's
37:24great.
37:24Seriously,
37:25this is how
37:25it should be.
37:26Nice and
37:26crispy.
37:28His compliment
37:29made me
37:29smile.
37:31So,
37:31how much?
37:32You're not
37:33going to charge
37:33me an arm
37:33and a leg,
37:34are you?
37:34No.
37:35He widened
37:36his eyes
37:36in alarm.
37:36This one's
37:37complimentary.
37:38A lucky
37:38start for
37:39my first
37:39day.
37:40I'm
37:41Leonard
37:41Williams,
37:42by the
37:42way.
37:42As he
37:42turned to
37:43leave,
37:43he glanced
37:44back and
37:44waved.
37:45I watched
37:46him walk
37:46away.
37:47It struck
37:47me then how
37:48distant my
37:48own college
37:49days felt.
37:50If I
37:51hadn't been
37:51so reckless
37:52back then,
37:53I would
37:53have graduated
37:54a year ago.
37:59As the
37:59day went
38:00on,
38:00more customers
38:01came.
38:05I was
38:06almost too
38:07busy to
38:07keep
38:07up.
38:10But I
38:10got quicker
38:11and more
38:11confident
38:12with each
38:12one.
38:15I didn't
38:15pack up
38:16until I'd
38:16run out
38:16of
38:16ingredients.
38:23I'll
38:23drive you
38:24home.
38:24Roderick
38:24pulled up
38:25beside me
38:25in his
38:25car.
38:26It's
38:26fine.
38:26I have
38:27my scooter.
38:28I nodded
38:29toward my
38:29scooter
38:29parked
38:30out nearby.
38:30by.
38:33It's
38:33getting chilly
38:34tonight.
38:34You'll
38:34catch a
38:34cold.
38:35I won't
38:36die from
38:36it.
38:43Marianne,
38:44how long
38:44are you
38:44going to
38:45keep
38:45fighting me
38:45on
38:45everything?
38:47Roderick
38:48caught my
38:48wrist as I
38:49started to
38:49walk away.
38:52Mr. Dunlop,
38:53do not
38:53forget.
38:59I was
38:59the one
38:59who pushed
39:00your
39:00girlfriend
39:00down
39:01the
39:01stairs.
39:05I'm
39:05the one
39:06to blame.
39:13In
39:14that
39:14moment,
39:15to cut
39:15any last
39:16tie
39:16between
39:16us,
39:17I
39:17claimed
39:18the
39:18guilt.
39:20Mary,
39:21stop
39:21lying.
39:21I know
39:22the truth
39:22now.
39:23She fell
39:23on her
39:23own.
39:26Suddenly,
39:27his arms
39:27came around
39:28me from
39:28behind.
39:31Hadn't
39:32he told
39:32me to
39:32protect
39:33Chelsea?
39:37So you
39:38were protecting
39:38her?
39:40While I
39:40bore all
39:41the blame?
39:44No.
39:47I was
39:47afraid once
39:48you knew
39:48the truth,
39:48you'd hate
39:49me for not
39:50believing
39:50you sooner.
39:52I was
39:52wrong.
39:53I'm
39:54sorry.
39:55I'm
39:56sorry.
40:00His
40:01arms
40:01tightened
40:01around
40:01me.
40:03I only
40:04found out
40:04two days
40:05ago.
40:06I went
40:07to Chelsea
40:08to stay
40:08away from
40:08you,
40:09and we
40:09argued.
40:12She let
40:13it slip.
40:15I could
40:16no longer
40:16hold back
40:17my tears.
40:20They fell
40:20onto the
40:21back of
40:21his hand.
40:22At least
40:23I would
40:23clear my
40:23name before
40:24I died.
40:25Don't cry,
40:25Mari.
40:27he released
40:28me,
40:28bending
40:29down to
40:29wipe
40:29my
40:29tears.
40:32I sobbed
40:33uncontrollably
40:34in his
40:34arms.
40:39For a
40:40moment,
40:40neither of
40:41us spoke.
40:43Three
40:43years of
40:44silence.
40:45Three
40:45years of
40:46pain I'd
40:46swallowed
40:47without a
40:47word.
40:48And now,
40:49finally,
40:50someone
40:50believed
40:50me.
40:56Rod,
40:57here.
40:58I pointed
40:59to my
40:59chest.
41:01It
41:01doesn't
41:01beat for
41:02you
41:02anymore.
41:05Rod,
41:05if I
41:06could,
41:06I'd
41:06wish we
41:06had
41:07never
41:07met.
41:09I wiped
41:10my tears
41:11and gave
41:11a faint
41:12smile.
41:14This is
41:14the last
41:14time I'll
41:15call you
41:15that.
41:17From
41:17now on,
41:18let's
41:18each live
41:18our own
41:19lives.
41:21I'd
41:21treat
41:22this
41:22as a
41:22goodbye,
41:23a proper
41:23end to
41:24those
41:24eight
41:24years I
41:25spent
41:25loving
41:25him.
41:29I could
41:30never forget
41:30the three
41:31years in
41:31that place.
41:34And the
41:34person who'd
41:35sent me
41:35there was
41:36Roderick
41:36himself.
41:39Mary.
41:42He
41:42reached for
41:43me,
41:43but I
41:43stepped
41:44back.
41:45Mr.
41:45Dunlap,
41:45please don't
41:46disturb me
41:46again.
41:50I
41:50want my
41:51remaining
41:51time
41:52to be
41:53peaceful.
41:56With
41:56that,
41:57I left.
41:57I drove
41:58my scooter
41:58home.
42:01Roderick's
42:01car followed
42:02at a
42:02distance in
42:03the rearview
42:03mirror.
42:05I
42:06ignored
42:06him.
42:09I
42:09went to
42:10my stall
42:10as usual
42:10every
42:11day.
42:11I
42:12went to
42:16Roderick
42:17watched
42:17from a
42:17distance.
42:20I
42:20just
42:20ignored
42:21him.
42:25Hey,
42:26I'm
42:26back.
42:27Brought
42:27my
42:27classmates
42:28to try
42:28your
42:28burritos.
42:29It
42:30was
42:30Leonard,
42:31my
42:31first
42:31customer.
42:34I
42:35glanced
42:35at the
42:35two
42:35boys
42:35behind
42:36him
42:36and
42:36gave
42:37a
42:37slight
42:37nod
42:37in
42:37greeting.
42:38What
42:39kind
42:39would
42:39you
42:39like?
42:40A
42:40real
42:40sense
42:41of
42:41ease
42:41washed
42:41over
42:42me.
42:42Something
42:43I
42:43hadn't
42:43felt
42:43in
42:44a
42:44long
42:44time.
42:45Whatever
42:45you
42:45recommend.
42:54Maybe
42:55one of
42:55each?
42:55I'll
42:56take
42:56some
42:56back
42:56for
42:56my
42:56roommates
42:57too.
42:58One
42:59of
42:59his
42:59buddies
42:59said,
43:00eyeing
43:00the
43:00ingredients.
43:03So,
43:03how
43:04much?
43:04You
43:04didn't
43:05let
43:05me
43:05pay
43:05last
43:05time.
43:06You've
43:06got
43:06to
43:06charge
43:06me
43:06today
43:07or
43:07I
43:07won't
43:07come
43:07back.
43:09I
43:10hadn't
43:10said
43:10I
43:10wouldn't
43:11charge
43:11him.
43:12I
43:13still
43:13needed
43:13to
43:13pay
43:13back
43:14my
43:14debt.
43:15Six
43:15dollars
43:16each.
43:17Cash
43:18only
43:18though.
43:18If you
43:19don't
43:19have
43:19any,
43:19you can
43:19get
43:20change
43:20at the
43:20store down
43:20the block.
43:23I
43:23pointed to
43:23the sign
43:24on my
43:24cart and
43:24then toward
43:25the store
43:25down the
43:26block.
43:28Wait right
43:29here!
43:29I'll be
43:30back!
43:30I
43:31watched
43:31Leonard walk
43:32away
43:32inside.
43:33The
43:33young
43:34seemed
43:34so
43:34full
43:34of
43:35life.
43:35It
43:36was
43:36easy
43:36to
43:36forget
43:37I
43:37was
43:37only
43:37a
43:37year
43:38older
43:38than
43:38him.
43:39Yet
43:39my
43:40life
43:40felt
43:40worlds
43:40apart.
43:44Hey!
43:45Isn't
43:45he good
43:46looking?
43:46And
43:47he's
43:47single.
43:48Maybe
43:48give
43:48him
43:48a
43:48shot?
43:49His
43:50classmates
43:50clearly
43:50thought
43:51my glance
43:51at Leonard
43:51meant
43:52more than
43:52it
43:52did.
43:53I
43:53shook
43:53my
43:54head
43:54and
43:54stayed
43:54silent.
43:56I
43:56was
43:56making
43:56around
43:57three
43:57to
43:57four
43:57hundred
43:57dollars
43:58a
43:58day.
44:03Soon
44:03I
44:04had
44:04enough
44:04to
44:04repay
44:04my
44:05debt.
44:06Clifford
44:06seemed
44:06to have
44:07been
44:07waiting
44:07for
44:07me.
44:09He
44:09looked
44:09different.
44:10Guilty
44:11almost.
44:12I
44:13heard
44:13what
44:13really
44:13happened.
44:16Chelsea
44:16admitted
44:17the truth
44:17to
44:17Roderick.
44:19I'm
44:19sorry
44:19for
44:19what
44:20I
44:20did
44:20to
44:20you.
44:21I
44:21didn't
44:21reply.
44:23I
44:24placed
44:24the
44:24money
44:24on
44:24the
44:24counter
44:25and
44:25left.
44:31Finally
44:31I
44:32was
44:32free
44:32of
44:32that
44:32burden.
44:34Why
44:34did
44:34Leonard
44:35keep
44:35coming
44:35to
44:35my
44:35stall?
44:37Did
44:37he
44:38really
44:38love
44:38burritos
44:39that
44:39much?
44:41Do
44:42you
44:42really
44:42like
44:42burritos
44:43that
44:43much?
44:44I
44:44finally
44:45asked.
44:46No.
44:46Why?
44:48Taking
44:48another
44:49bite.
44:51Why
44:51do
44:51you
44:52come
44:52every
44:52day?
44:54Were
44:54you
44:54short
44:55on
44:55money
44:55for
44:55meals?
44:58But
44:58he
44:58didn't
44:58look
44:58like
44:59he
44:59was
44:59struggling.
45:01Because
45:02you're
45:02here.
45:02Between
45:02bites.
45:03I
45:04didn't
45:04fully
45:04process
45:05his
45:05words.
45:06Not
45:06until
45:06he
45:07swallowed,
45:07leaned
45:08closer,
45:08and
45:09looked
45:09at
45:09me
45:09seriously.
45:11Be
45:11my
45:12girlfriend?
45:15I
45:15froze
45:16for a
45:16second,
45:16then
45:17shook
45:17my
45:17head.
45:18I
45:18took
45:19his
45:19hand
45:19and
45:19placed
45:20it
45:20on
45:20my
45:20waist.
45:22I'm
45:22missing
45:22a
45:22kidney
45:23here.
45:25I
45:25have
45:26lung
45:26cancer
45:26here.
45:27He
45:28shrugged,
45:28unfazed.
45:30I
45:30know.
45:31I've
45:32always
45:32known.
45:33How
45:33could
45:33he
45:33know,
45:34reading
45:34my
45:35surprise?
45:36I'll
45:37tell you
45:37later.
45:38His
45:38hand
45:39lingered
45:39gently
45:39on
45:40my
45:40waist.
45:41Did
45:41it
45:41hurt?
45:43My
45:44eyes
45:44stung.
45:45No
45:45one
45:45had
45:45ever
45:45asked
45:46me
45:46that
45:46before.
45:48not
45:48Roderick,
45:49not
45:49my
45:50parents,
45:50not
45:51a
45:51single
45:51person
45:51in
45:52three
45:52years.
45:56But
45:57this
45:57young
45:57man
45:58did.
46:00Six
46:00months
46:01later,
46:01I held
46:01the medical
46:02record the
46:02doctor had
46:03just given
46:03me.
46:05He
46:06said the
46:06cancer cells
46:07were gradually
46:07receding.
46:11Leonard had
46:11made sure I
46:12ate three
46:12meals a
46:13day.
46:13He
46:14walked me
46:14to every
46:14checkup.
46:18For the
46:19first time
46:19in years,
46:20I wanted
46:21to live,
46:22and it
46:22showed.
46:25With a
46:25positive
46:26mindset,
46:27consistent
46:27medication,
46:28and no
46:28late-night
46:29depressive
46:29episodes,
46:31full
46:32recovery was
46:33possible.
46:36There
46:36were cases
46:37of people
46:37beating
46:38cancer.
46:39It just
46:40wasn't
46:40easy.
46:46But I
46:47had
46:47managed
46:47it.
46:52Hey,
46:52where are
46:53you?
46:53You're not
46:54at your
46:54stall
46:54today.
46:55My phone
46:56buzzed with
46:56a message
46:57from
46:57Leonard.
46:58He'd
46:58bought me
46:58this
46:58phone
46:59himself.
47:01He'd
47:01claimed it
47:02was a
47:02buy-one-
47:02get-one
47:03deal.
47:04That he
47:05had an
47:05extra,
47:05and if I
47:06didn't take
47:06it,
47:07he'd
47:07throw it
47:07away.
47:08Who
47:08believed
47:09that?
47:09I
47:10certainly
47:10didn't
47:13at the
47:13hospital.
47:19Half an
47:20hour later,
47:21Leonard came
47:22jobbing toward
47:22me in his
47:23basketball jersey.
47:28What did
47:28the doctor
47:29say?
47:31I put on
47:31a somber
47:32face,
47:32pretending
47:33to be
47:33downcast.
47:34I saw
47:35his expression
47:35dim,
47:36but he
47:36kept his
47:37voice
47:37steady.
47:40It's
47:40okay.
47:42I'll be
47:42with you
47:43every step
47:44of the
47:44way.
47:45I cut
47:46him off.
47:46Just kidding.
47:47The doctor
47:47says I'm
47:48doing really
47:48well.
47:51I couldn't
47:52bear to
47:52tease him
47:53for long.
47:56You've
47:57gotten
47:57mean.
47:58He
47:59pretended to
47:59be upset,
48:00but then he
48:01picked me up
48:01and spun
48:02me around
48:02twice.
48:10So,
48:11does this
48:12mean you'll
48:12say yes?
48:13He looked
48:14at me eagerly.
48:15Say yes
48:16to what?
48:18Interest
48:19at him
48:19playfully.
48:20Be my
48:21girlfriend.
48:22But I'm not
48:22completely healed
48:23yet.
48:24What if it
48:24comes back?
48:26I don't
48:26care.
48:30My job
48:31is to
48:31love you
48:31and make
48:32you happy.
48:34If you're
48:35happy,
48:35you'll get
48:36better.
48:37He hugged
48:38me tightly,
48:39nuzzling
48:39against me.
48:41Alright,
48:42I suppose
48:43I'll say
48:43yes.
48:46I wrapped
48:47my arms
48:47around him
48:48in return.
48:50I sounded
48:51as if I
48:51was doing
48:51him a favor.
48:53The truth
48:54was,
48:55he had
48:55been the
48:56one
48:56settling
48:56for me
48:56all along.
49:00As
49:01Leonard and
49:01I walked
49:02away
49:02hand in
49:02hand,
49:03I saw
49:03Roderick.
49:09I hadn't
49:10seen him
49:10in two or
49:11three months.
49:13He stood
49:14watching us,
49:14his eyes
49:15red.
49:21He'd
49:21pick me up
49:21to attend
49:22the service
49:22and that
49:23was it.
49:23I'd also
49:24repaid him
49:24for all
49:25the medical
49:25bills.
49:26Even the
49:27money for
49:27the food
49:28cart.
49:31I knew
49:31he'd been
49:32watching me
49:32from a
49:32distance.
49:35He tried
49:36to approach
49:36me a few
49:37times.
49:42But I'd
49:43threatened to
49:43harm myself
49:44each time
49:44and he'd
49:45finally stayed
49:46away.
49:47He'd
49:47away.
49:51Mari, who
49:52is this?
49:52His eyes
49:53were still
49:53red.
49:55He already
49:56knew the
49:56answer.
50:00My
50:00girlfriend.
50:01Leonard answered
50:02first, raising
50:03our joined
50:03hands.
50:06Is he good
50:07to you?
50:09Yes.
50:14I know
50:15what it
50:15looks like
50:15when you
50:15love
50:15someone,
50:16Mari.
50:18And I
50:18can see
50:19it's not
50:19me anymore.
50:21Took me
50:21a while to
50:22face it.
50:25Be happy.
50:28I wish
50:28you the
50:28same.
50:29He turned
50:30and walked
50:30away.
50:34I didn't
50:35look back.
50:35Some people
50:36are meant to
50:36be part of
50:37your story,
50:37but not
50:38your ending.
50:41I heard
50:41later that
50:42Roderick left
50:42to teach
50:42in a remote
50:43mountain.
50:45As for
50:46me, I
50:47was curled
50:47on the
50:47sofa, looking
50:48at the
50:48man in
50:49front of
50:49me.
50:50You
50:51said
50:51before
50:51that you
50:52knew
50:52about my
50:52health?
50:54How?
50:57I
50:57sprained
50:58my ankle
50:58during a
50:58game and
50:59ended up
50:59in the
50:59hospital.
51:02I was
51:03in the
51:03room next
51:04to yours.
51:04I overheard
51:05something while
51:06walking by,
51:06got curious,
51:07and looked
51:07through the
51:07glass.
51:13One
51:14look, and
51:14I just
51:14knew.
51:15He
51:15made it
51:16sound so
51:16casual.
51:17That's
51:17it?
51:18I
51:19didn't
51:19buy it.
51:20Your
51:20classmates
51:20mentioned
51:21something.
51:22My
51:23photo is
51:24your
51:24computer
51:24wallpaper,
51:25the one
51:25from when
51:26I was a
51:26sophomore.
51:27I
51:27meant the
51:28guys who
51:28had stopped
51:28by my
51:29stall for
51:29burritos.
51:30Sure
51:31enough,
51:32Leonard
51:32looked
51:32briefly
51:32embarrassed.
51:36he was
51:37probably
51:37cursing them
51:38in his
51:38head.
51:41fine.
51:44I was an
51:44exchange student
51:45at your
51:45university in
51:46my freshman
51:46year,
51:47doing a
51:48photography project.
51:50You were there
51:51that day,
51:51so full of
51:52life.
51:53I
51:53couldn't
51:54help but
51:54take a
51:54picture.
51:55Later,
51:55I heard
51:56you were
51:56with
51:56Roderick,
51:58so I
51:58kept my
51:59distance.
52:00I
52:00don't do
52:01home
52:01wrecking.
52:02He
52:02lifted his
52:02chin
52:03slightly.
52:04It
52:04wasn't
52:04until I
52:05saw you
52:05in the
52:05hospital
52:06that I
52:07realized
52:07how stupid
52:08I'd
52:08been all
52:08along.
52:09If I
52:09had
52:09stepped
52:09in
52:10back
52:10then,
52:11maybe
52:11none
52:11of
52:11this
52:11would
52:12have
52:12happened
52:12to
52:12you.
52:14After
52:14that,
52:15I
52:15kept
52:15an
52:15eye
52:15on
52:15you,
52:16waiting
52:16until
52:16the
52:16day
52:16I
52:16ran
52:16into
52:23Don't
52:24blame
52:24yourself.
52:25Some
52:25things
52:26were
52:26meant
52:26to
52:26happen.
52:27It
52:27wasn't
52:27your
52:28fault.
52:28I'd
52:28almost
52:29missed
52:29the
52:29chance
52:29to
52:29be
52:30with
52:30someone
52:30so
52:30wonderful.
52:31But
52:31in
52:31the
52:31end,
52:32nothing
52:32was
52:32too
52:32late.
52:33Other
52:33people
52:34go to
52:34rehab
52:34for
52:34drugs,
52:35alcohol,
52:36or
52:36gambling.
52:37I
52:37went
52:38to
52:38quit
52:38loving
52:39a
52:39man.
52:39In
52:40the
52:40end,
52:41I
52:41didn't
52:41just
52:42quit
52:42him.
52:43I
52:44learned
52:44to
52:44love
52:44myself
52:44again.
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