- 5 hours ago
I Sold My Heart to Be Reborn 20 Eps
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00The third month, my family's kept me locked in the psych ward.
00:03Electrodes on my temples.
00:05Restraints cutting into my wrists.
00:07I'd lost count of how many shocks the doctor had given me.
00:10Please! Please! No, it's hurt!
00:12I'll be good!
00:14I promise! Stop!
00:16I struggled, I begged, but the doctor didn't even look up.
00:19The nurse pushed the door open, expressionless.
00:21I watched her white shoes come closer.
00:24Her family says, up the dose.
00:26The current hit.
00:27My body arched, then went limp.
00:30The last thing I saw was the white fluorescent light
00:32and the little red dot on the security camera blinking on and off.
00:36The line on the heart monitor went flat.
00:38I died.
00:39When I opened my eyes, I was standing in an old pawn shop.
00:42I looked down at my hands.
00:44Translucent.
00:45Welcome.
00:46A voice.
00:47Behind the counter.
00:48I looked up.
00:49A man.
00:4930, maybe.
00:50His eyes were pale gray like glass with no heat in it.
00:53The soul shop.
00:55The place where you get what you want most.
00:58He looked up at me.
01:00And what do you want?
01:01What do I want?
01:04I mumbled and clenched my fists.
01:06My nails dug into my palms, but I couldn't feel the pain anymore.
01:10I want to live again.
01:13He set the cloth down.
01:14It won't be cheap.
01:16Pulled out a sheet of parchment from beneath the counter.
01:18Slid it across to me.
01:20To live again, you trade something of equal value.
01:23Do you know what's worth the most about you?
01:27No.
01:28Your ability to love.
01:30I froze.
01:32He looked at me with those pale gray eyes, voice slow.
01:35You see?
01:36People like you are rare.
01:38You loved your parents.
01:39Loved your brother.
01:41Loved your fiancé.
01:42You even loved the sister who took everything from you.
01:45Stepped on.
01:45Spit on.
01:46And you kept handing them your heart.
01:48Over and over.
01:50You're mocking me.
01:52I'm doing business.
01:53He tapped the parchment with one fingertip.
01:55Terms.
01:56You surrender your ability to love.
01:58I give you one more life.
02:00Starting the day you turned 12.
02:02The day they brought your sister home.
02:04Why that day?
02:05For the first time, something flickered in his face.
02:07Almost interest.
02:08Because that's where your story went wrong.
02:10I was quiet for a long time.
02:12Then I looked up.
02:14Deal.
02:15I lifted my hand, pressed it to the parchment.
02:18A gold light bloomed where my fingerprint landed.
02:20He took the contract back.
02:22Gave me the smallest nod.
02:23I snapped.
02:24May this life find yourself.
02:26He snapped his fingers.
02:28The world began to fall apart.
02:30Shards of light drifted down like snow.
02:33White light swallowed everything.
02:35Anya, what are you spacing out for?
02:38Our new sister's almost here.
02:39Let's go down and meet her.
02:40Hearing that name again froze me for a second.
02:43My eyes snapped open.
02:45I hadn't been called Anya in six, seven years.
02:47I turned and looked at my twin brother, Cole, next to me.
02:51Sure enough, he'd reverted to his 12-year-old self.
02:53A half-grown boy in a perfectly tailored suit, eyes bright with anticipation.
02:58One of his hands was holding my hand.
03:00I looked down at his slim, clean fingers.
03:03In my head, I saw the handprint it had left on my face when we were older.
03:06I frowned, yanked my arm free.
03:09Cole looked at me confused.
03:10Anya, what's wrong?
03:12The front door opened.
03:13My parents' voices floated up.
03:15Cole!
03:16Anya, come down!
03:17We've brought your sister home!
03:20Cole's eyes lit up.
03:21He dropped me and ran down the stairs alone.
03:23I stood at the top and watched the four of them downstairs.
03:26One big, happy family.
03:28I pressed a hand to my chest.
03:30Strange.
03:32My heart was still beating calmly.
03:34But the knife-edged pain as before, it was totally gone.
03:37Cole and I are twins.
03:38For the first 12 years of our lives, my parents only had the two of us.
03:42Cole was older by two hours.
03:44He and our parents spoiled me into a real deal little princess.
03:47Someone joked to my father once.
03:49With a temper like your daughter's, thank God she's engaged to Felix already, or no one would dare marry her.
03:55My father's face went black.
03:57My daughter wasn't born to be married off.
03:59She can stay home for life.
04:01I can afford her.
04:03My mother and Cole didn't say a word.
04:05They just kept showering me with more nice things.
04:07A $3 million bracelet was an ordinary birthday gift back then.
04:11But it was also the last birthday gift I would ever get.
04:13The year I turned 12, an old friend of my father's died of illness.
04:17On his deathbed, he asked my father to take in his only daughter, Olivia.
04:22And after her coming, my family's love, trust, attention, all of it drifted away from me a little at a
04:27time.
04:28But I still treated her like my own sister before my 18th birthday.
04:31I loved her until the moment I saw her kissing my fiancé Felix in the garden.
04:38I snapped.
04:40Why are you doing this to me?
04:43Do you even see what you're like right now?
04:45You're a lunaturk.
04:47Cole's eyes were full of revulsion.
04:49My parents said nothing.
04:50They watched, like everyone else.
04:52The pain in my chest had me shaking head to toe.
04:54I went at Olivia with a knife, but Cole kicked me into a thicket of thorns.
04:58Every single person there crowded around Olivia, trying to calm her down, begging her not to cry.
05:03Nobody cared that what I'd had in my hand was just a plastic knife from the cake.
05:07My parents had me committed, said I was mentally ill.
05:10Cole's kick did real damage.
05:12I was coughing up blood day and night.
05:14I begged the doctor over and over to call my parents.
05:17Not a single call got answered.
05:19Then, after another round of electroshock, I stopped breathing.
05:22That was when I saw it.
05:24The soul shock.
05:25The one in the rumors.
05:26I traded everything I had to love with for one more chance.
05:29This time, no one gets to hurt me.
05:31Aina! Sweetheart, come on!
05:33You've been waiting for a little sister, haven't you?
05:35My mother holding Olivia's hand, smiling, waving me down.
05:38Olivia tipped up her clean little face and called me sister.
05:41I didn't react.
05:42I turned and walked back into my room.
05:44Left the four of them looking at each other in the living room.
05:47My father, confused.
05:49What's gotten into her now?
05:50Who upset her?
05:52My mother's voice went thin.
05:54Maybe she just needs a minute to get used to having a younger sister.
05:58It's fine.
05:59I'll go talk to her in a bit.
06:00Olivia's voice cracked.
06:02Mom, Dad, does my sister not like me?
06:05Maybe I should leave.
06:09Before my parents could say anything, Cole jumped in.
06:12Anya's just a little hot-tensured.
06:13Don't be sad.
06:14I'll go tell her off in a minute.
06:16Cole's so grown up.
06:17You take good care of your sister, okay?
06:20Their laughter floated up through the floor.
06:22I stood up and started going through my things.
06:24Too much time had passed.
06:25I couldn't remember everything 12-year-old me owned.
06:28A closer look.
06:29I was almost embarrassingly rich.
06:31No wonder Olivia loved taking my things.
06:33I scooped the jewelry off the vanity and dumped it into my bathtub.
06:36I picked up the bracelet and remembered the time she'd smashed it.
06:40That was the first time I'd slapped Olivia.
06:42She'd hidden behind the door with her eyes red, voice tiny, like I was the one who'd broken her favorite
06:46thing.
06:47Sister, I'm sorry.
06:49I really didn't mean to.
06:51I just wanted to look at it.
06:53It slipped.
06:54Then she'd burst into tears.
06:55My parents came running.
06:57Cole came running.
06:58She had wrapped herself around my mother's leg, sobbing like she was going to pass out.
07:02But the moment no one was watching, she looked up at me and smirked.
07:05I pointed at her, trying to tell them truth.
07:07Anna!
07:08How can you be cruel to her?
07:10It's just a bracelet.
07:11You couldn't have let her have it?
07:12Just a bracelet?
07:15That bracelet was the gift Cole had bought me with the prize money from his first IT competition, and he'd
07:20forgotten.
07:22By the time I'd packed up everything, there was a soft knock on my door.
07:25My mother, voice soft, almost too patient.
07:28Anya?
07:29Sweetheart, come out.
07:30Dinner's ready.
07:31I didn't answer.
07:32I just opened the door and let her walk me down to the dining room.
07:35My usual seat had Olivia in it.
07:37My father and Cole were both putting food on her plates.
07:40I turned to my mother.
07:41Should I eat on the floor?
07:43Every head snapped up.
07:45My mother's grip on my hand tightened.
07:48Of course not.
07:48My fault.
07:49I forgot to have them bring you a chair.
07:51Anna, please get Anya a chair.
07:52Olivia stood up, her wide, innocent eyes filling instantly.
07:55Sister, I'm sorry.
07:56I didn't know this was your seat.
07:58Here, take it.
07:59Cole jumped up and pushed her back into the chair, shooting me a hard look.
08:03Anna, it doesn't matter where you sit.
08:05Olivia just got here.
08:07Don't scare her.
08:08My parents said nothing.
08:09They were watching me.
08:10So this was tacit approval.
08:12I took the chair from the housekeeper and dragged it to the far end of the table, away from all
08:16of them.
08:17Cole's hands stalled midair over Olivia's plate.
08:20And he opened his mouth a few times, closed it.
08:22We finished dinner in that strange, frozen quiet.
08:25As I stood up to head back upstairs, my father called after me.
08:28He cleared his throat, tried to smile.
08:30Anya, Olivia just lost her parents.
08:33We're her family now.
08:35We should take care of her.
08:36My mother chimed in.
08:38Yeah, mom knows.
08:39You probably aren't used to having a sister yet.
08:42But look at her.
08:43She's so sweet.
08:45Try to spend time with her.
08:46You'll grow close.
08:47My voice came out flat.
08:49And?
08:50My mother froze.
08:51Maybe I'd never spoken to her in that tone before.
08:54My father took a sip of his coffee and forced a smile.
08:57Anya, sweetheart.
08:58Olivia just transferred to her new school.
09:00She's not doing well.
09:01So how about, how about you and Cole both drop back a grade so you can be in the same
09:05class as your sister?
09:06To sell it, he added quickly.
09:08Cole already said yes.
09:09We're just waiting on you.
09:11I looked at Cole and he was staring at the floor.
09:14Couldn't meet my eyes.
09:15Here we go.
09:16Last time around, it was the same.
09:19They made me and Cole, who were already in 7th grade, drop back to 6th with Olivia.
09:24A year later, my childhood sweetheart Felix, by then thick as thieves with Olivia,
09:28transferred into our class on the excuse that he wanted to look after me.
09:31After that, the three of them put on their little theater every day.
09:35Made up stories about how I was bullying Olivia, got the whole class to freeze me out.
09:39Brilliant.
09:40But I wasn't going to play with elementary schoolers this time.
09:42Waste of a life.
09:44I tilted my head.
09:45She needs two servants just to get through school.
09:49My father slammed his fork down.
09:51Anya, what did you just say?
09:53I said, since Cole's already volunteered to be her servant, you don't need to drag me into it.
09:58My mother grabbed her arm, eyes wide.
10:00Anya, what are you saying?
10:02What servant?
10:03Your dad just wants you all to spend time together.
10:06Get close.
10:07I have no obligation to get close to her.
10:09Whoever wants to wait on her, can wait on her.
10:12I stared at Cole.
10:13He'd been frozen like a deer in headlights this whole time.
10:17It's settled.
10:17The two of you go to elementary school.
10:19I'll stay in seventh grade.
10:21We leave each other alone.
10:22I turned and went upstairs.
10:24Left the four of them downstairs, consoling Olivia, who couldn't stop crying.
10:28Around nine that night, Cole knocked on my door.
10:31Anya, are you asleep?
10:33What?
10:34Could you open the door?
10:36No.
10:37The hall went quiet.
10:38Just as I thought he'd left, his voice came through again.
10:40Anya, you're upset, aren't you?
10:42No.
10:44You are?
10:44Anya, is it because I only paid attention to our new sister today and ignored you?
10:48I exhaled.
10:49Really?
10:50No.
10:51Cole, you can get close to whoever you want.
10:53I don't care.
10:53The hall went quiet again.
10:55After a long pause, his voice came back.
10:57There was something tired in it.
10:58Anya, Olivia, she's really pitiful.
11:00She's got such a soft heart.
11:01I'm scared she'll get pushed around.
11:03Anya, let me stay with her for a year.
11:05Once she settles in, I'll transfer back to your school, okay?
11:08Right, right, right.
11:09The school is funded by your family.
11:12You can do whatever you want.
11:13Slid my noise-canceling earplugs in, got into bed.
11:16The next morning, I walked into the living room with my suitcase and my backpack.
11:20Everyone froze.
11:23I looked up and saw Felix sitting next to Olivia, my future fiancé, the man who would one day betray
11:29me for Olivia.
11:30At 12, he was already a head taller than Cole.
11:32The moment he saw me, he jumped up, his soft, hazel eyes crinkling, voice all bright.
11:37Anya, I'm here to walk you to school.
11:39I looked down, saw Olivia's hand still wrapped around his arm.
11:43You don't need to walk me anywhere.
11:45Ever.
11:46If you want to walk someone else, go ahead.
11:47Why?
11:48I gestured at the suitcase behind me.
11:50Felix wasn't the only one looking lost.
11:52So were my parents.
11:53So was Cole.
11:54Anna?
11:55What's that?
11:56Cole's eyes were red-rimmed.
11:57Clothes.
11:58And some things I need.
12:00And my jewelry.
12:01I won't give them up this time.
12:02Forgot to mention, starting today, I'm leaving here.
12:06What?
12:07What?
12:08What?
12:08All of them at once.
12:11My father came over, cold-faced, and crouched down to look at me.
12:14Anya, why?
12:16Is home not good enough?
12:18Where do you even want to go?
12:19Boarding school.
12:20I set it flat.
12:21His hands on my hair was shaking a little, and he glanced back at Olivia, hesitant.
12:24Is it because...
12:25Because of Olivia?
12:27Before I could react, Olivia bit her lip and let out a soft, choked sob.
12:30What are you saying?
12:31Of course not!
12:32Anya, you tell us yourself.
12:34Why are you boarding at school?
12:35It can't be because of your sister.
12:37You love her, don't you?
12:38Every face in the room was waiting.
12:40Hopeful.
12:40They wanted me to say yes.
12:41I love her.
12:42I want to board because I'm being a brat, but I make it my job to disappoint people.
12:46No, I don't love her.
12:47I hate her.
12:48And it's not just her.
12:50I hate every single one of you.
12:52Their faces went bone white.
12:53Only Felix didn't really react.
12:54He looked like he thought I was throwing a jealous fit.
12:56His face was full of patience and rye indulgence.
12:58When I dragged my suitcase past him, he even reached out to help me carry it.
13:01I dodged.
13:02He didn't get angry, just kept trailing me.
13:04My parents tried to come after me, but Olivia's sobbing cut them off.
13:09Mom, Dad, send me to an orphan.
13:12I don't deserve to be here.
13:14Of course, more cooing, more comfort.
13:16The only odd thing was that Cole, for the first time, didn't say a word.
13:20Felix was still on my heels and climbed straight into my car.
13:22Get in your own car.
13:24No, I'm not going.
13:25I'm coming with you.
13:26My fingertips twitched.
13:28Last life around, the same.
13:29When everyone else turned on me, the only one who didn't take Olivia's side was Felix.
13:33He'd stand behind me when she set me up.
13:35He'd snap back at Cole when Cole yelled at me.
13:37When my parents got more and more disappointed in me, he'd hold me and say softly,
13:40Anya, don't be scared.
13:43You've got me.
13:44I'll always just love you.
13:45I'd clung to him like a drowning person clings to a piece of wood.
13:48Until our 14th birthday.
13:49Olivia collapsed out of nowhere.
13:51Felix, faster than anyone, shoved me out of the way and caught her.
13:54A fake medium he'd personally brought immediately took the chance and announced my name was bad luck
13:58and it was crushing Olivia's fortune.
14:00What a flimsy excuse.
14:01I still remember the shock and embarrassment on every guest's face that night.
14:05Every adult in the room could see it for what it was.
14:07A staged public humiliation.
14:09But my parents took me to get my name legally changed without a single argument.
14:12From that day forward, the name I'd had for 14 years, Anya, became a banned word in our house since
14:17they called me Mia.
14:18Mia.
14:18A name picked to protect Olivia.
14:20I hated it.
14:21I hated it until the day I died.
14:23I didn't answer Felix if he'd be transferring to Olivia's class in a few weeks anyway.
14:27I took my paperwork and my boarding fee straight to the dorm supervisor.
14:31When Felix saw me actually hand the money over, the casual look fell off his face.
14:35He finally got it.
14:35I wasn't joking around.
14:36Anya?
14:37Confusion was thick in his eyes.
14:39Why do you hate me too?
14:41What did I do wrong?
14:42His fingers caught at my sleeve carefully and I slapped his hand off hard, disgust all over my face.
14:47Wiped at my sleeve with a tissue, his voice caught in his throat.
14:49Anya.
14:50I walked off down the hallway to the head's office.
14:52Before first period started, I requested a transfer to a new class.
14:56When I came around the corner with an armful of books, I saw Felix again, eyes red.
15:01He looked at the books in my arms and his face crumpled.
15:04Anya, don't transfer, please.
15:07In that exact moment, a basketball came flying out of room 7B and clocked him square in the head.
15:12I dodged with the books and slipped into the classroom.
15:14Felix went down the hallway, paused a stir.
15:16A boy in the classroom was still in his shooting follow-through.
15:19His uniform hung loose on him.
15:21His mouth was stretched into an exaggerated...
15:22Whoa!
15:23Sorry, didn't mean to hit anyone.
15:25You good, man?
15:25I glanced at him, walked past with my books.
15:27I might have been imagining it, but his arm went stiff for a second.
15:30Then he leaned on a desk with one hand and pointed casually at the seat next to him.
15:34Voice all swagger.
15:35Past that is the trash can.
15:37Maybe sit next to me?
15:41I looked at him.
15:42He looked away fast.
15:44Uh, the teacher said a new student was coming.
15:47Told the class principal, me, to look out for her.
15:50He rubbed his face.
15:51Rubbed it so hard his ears went red.
15:53Class president of 7B, Jace, the certified troublemaker.
15:56The kids around me were either laughing at Felix on the floor or sneaking looks at us.
16:00I sighed.
16:017B's bad reputation was earned.
16:03I pressed my lips together.
16:05Thanks.
16:06I prefer to sit alone.
16:08I put my books down at the desk at the very back, against the wall.
16:11Jace looked annoyed at himself.
16:13His voice got urgent.
16:14Hey, you!
16:14Don't sit there.
16:15Trade with me.
16:16I'm taller.
16:17I'll block your view of the board.
16:18Before I could say no, Felix burst in, face streaked with dust, slammed his hands on my books.
16:23Anya, come back with me.
16:27Let go.
16:28No.
16:30Bro, are you done with the drama?
16:32Jace looked at him like he was something stuck to his shoe.
16:34She wants to be in our class.
16:36Who asked you?
16:37Someone from the doorway tossed Jace another ball.
16:39He balanced it on one finger, spinning, and gave Felix a look that was pure dare.
16:43Felix ground his teeth, looked down at me.
16:45I was already organizing my desk.
16:46Get out.
16:47The bell rang.
16:48Felix's hand clenched.
16:50Anya.
16:51I didn't answer.
16:51He gave up, shot Jace a venomous look, walked out, and I exhaled.
16:59Thanks.
17:00Wait.
17:00You talking to me?
17:02I nodded.
17:02He suddenly stood up straight as a board and chucked the basketball at the trash can behind me.
17:06I stared.
17:07Didn't know what just happened.
17:08His face went redder.
17:09Reflex.
17:09Don't mention it.
17:11I caught myself smiling.
17:12He went even stiffer.
17:14Jace ended up trading seats with me anyway.
17:17I told him over and over.
17:18It was winter.
17:19The trash got emptied often.
17:20There was no smell.
17:21But he was firm.
17:22He moved me up to the front.
17:23You're obviously a neat freak.
17:24And a good student.
17:26No way I'm letting you sit back there.
17:27Like he decided to be the world's most committed class president.
17:30He handled every detail of my class transfer.
17:32So when the teacher pulled us aside and asked if I could help bring his grades up, I hesitated, then
17:36nodded.
17:37School life was dry but full.
17:39To stay away from home, I signed up for every tutoring program I could find on weekends.
17:42Summer and winter breaks, I packed myself off to camps abroad.
17:46School work aside, I was starting to look outward.
17:48See the world.
17:48At first my parents came to school every few days.
17:50Then since I always looked at them blankly, they stopped coming.
17:53Every so often there was a phone call.
17:55They'd sigh into the phone.
17:58Anya, we just want you girls to get along.
18:01Olivia really misses you?
18:02You're not coming home this weekend?
18:04No.
18:05I didn't say much.
18:06Conversations got awkward fat.
18:07I'd just hang up.
18:08They said I'm weird and unlikable now.
18:10They were right.
18:10I didn't have the ability to be adorable, but my brother Cole came every day.
18:14Without fail, he carried meals from home, running between the elementary school and the middle school.
18:19Sometimes Olivia trailed after him out of breath.
18:21She looked at me like I was the villain.
18:22Sister, our brother is killing himself doing this.
18:26Just be nice and come to our class.
18:27I took the meal box from Cole and sat down to eat.
18:30Olivia bit her lip, eyes wet, looked at Cole.
18:32He wiped sweat off his forehead and gave her a generous big brother smile.
18:35It's nothing.
18:36Anya, the school food's terrible.
18:38I'll bring you home cooking every day.
18:40I ignored him.
18:41He didn't get angry.
18:42When I finished eating, he'd take the empty container and run back to elementary school.
18:45Felix came less and less.
18:47He stopped pushing me to engage with him.
18:48He just spent every break standing by the window, glancing over at me like he wasn't.
18:52I pretended I couldn't see.
18:55The days went by.
18:56The day before my 14th birthday, my parents showed up at the school.
18:59Unusually, Cole was with them.
19:01When they saw me, both of them did a little double take.
19:03My mother's hands shook a bit as she grabbed my arm.
19:05You've gotten taller again.
19:07Sweetheart, it's been so long since you came home.
19:10Her eyes went pink and set off my father's too.
19:12There was a catch in his voice.
19:14Yeah, Anya.
19:16Your birthday is tomorrow.
19:17We've got everything set up.
19:18Come home, okay?
19:19Like he was scared I'd refuse, Cole added quickly.
19:21You can invite your friends.
19:22Classmates, you didn't come home last year.
19:25We waited up the whole night.
19:27Right.
19:27On my birthday last year, Jace had found out somehow.
19:30He dragged the whole goofy crew from class and announced we were going horseback riding.
19:35Anya, can you, like, open up a little?
19:38I looked at him, lost.
19:39He pulled at the corners of his own mouth with two fingers.
19:42It's your birthday.
19:43Quit being all uptight.
19:45Smile.
19:45He was sitting up on a tall chestnut horse.
19:47Happy birthday.
19:48The sun behind him, head tilted to look at me.
19:50Thanks.
19:54I sat up on the horse, wind in my ears, felt something inside me that had been locked tight.
19:59Easy.
20:00It wasn't until the next day that I saw all the missed calls from my family and the pile
20:05of birthday gifts Cole had brought to the front of my classroom.
20:09I was surprised.
20:10Last time, my 12th birthday was the last time I got a gift.
20:13Anya, come home tomorrow.
20:15Cole kept going, but when I turned, I saw Olivia holding onto Felix's arm.
20:19That memorable naming ceremony night, the nausea was still in me.
20:22I frowned without meaning to.
20:24Felix yanked his arm out of her hand fast.
20:26I've been looking for you.
20:28Olivia said you were here.
20:29She brought me.
20:30I just...
20:31You don't have to explain.
20:32I cut him off.
20:33I'm busy tomorrow.
20:34I'm not coming home.
20:36Anya...
20:37I turned and went back into the classroom.
20:40Behind me, my mother had started crying.
20:42As I turned the corner, I heard a heavy sigh.
20:45Honey, did we...
20:47We do this wrong?
20:50But I don't care about them anymore.
20:52Right now, I had a butter knife in my hand, and I was carefully cutting into a cake that
20:55said, happy birthday, Anya.
20:56The class turned off the lights, and the warm wash of candlelight, everyone sang.
21:01Anya, make a wish.
21:03I closed my eyes for a second, wished, with my whole soul.
21:06Please, whoever's listening.
21:07Keep me far away from those people this lifetime.
21:10When I opened my eyes, Jace was standing in front of me with a small, wrapped box.
21:13Anya, happy birthday.
21:14Open it.
21:15I smiled and opened it.
21:17Froze.
21:18A hair clip studded with crystals.
21:19What?
21:20You don't like it?
21:20Should have asked you first.
21:21He scratched at his head, frustrated.
21:23The other day, I saw you staring at a hair clip on the sidewalk.
21:25That one was cheap, so I found a better one.
21:27I love it.
21:29He froze.
21:30I picked up the clip and put it in my hair.
21:34His eyes had that soft, littering thing happening.
21:37No problem.
21:38As long as you like it.
21:39It's really pretty.
21:40It was.
21:40Very pretty.
21:41A piece by the international designer, Victor, from his Starlight Collection.
21:45When I was 17, I'd seen it at an auction and fallen in love with it.
21:48I thought my mother would love it, too.
21:50I'd brought five years of saved up money.
21:52Started bidding.
21:53But that day, no matter what I bid, Olivia bid a dollar higher.
21:57In the end, my mother stepped in and bought the piece for $30 million.
22:02Absurd price.
22:03And she put it in Olivia's hair.
22:04They said,
22:05You have everything.
22:06Why fight a little girl over this?
22:08Olivia wore it in front of me every single day, showing off.
22:10Mia, it's the gift from Mom, but I can give it to you if you beg me.
22:15That hair clip became one of my obsessions.
22:17And here it was in my palm, three years earlier than it should have been.
22:21My eyes filled before I knew it.
22:23All of you.
22:25Really.
22:25It was strange.
22:26The heart I'd thought was dead started slowly to beat again.
22:32After that day, my family started bothering me less.
22:35Even Cole and Felix, the daily fixtures, disappeared for a long stretch.
22:39It took the class gossip queen to fill me in.
22:42Olivia got crazy.
22:44She couldn't bear my parents or Cole, leaving her side for a second.
22:47I heard your mom mention sending her to a school abroad, and she snapped.
22:51Like, totally.
22:51Word is, she's even tried to hurt herself.
22:54She wanted to recover at home, but she won't let Cole come to school either.
22:56Whole family has to camp at home with her.
22:58Felix, too.
22:58She won't let go of him.
22:59His family's having a huge fight with yours about it.
23:01I gripped my pen tighter.
23:02This was exactly what I'd done in my last life.
23:05The more they ignored you, the harder you reached for attention.
23:08Tantrums, screaming, all of it.
23:09Like a lunatic, except she was luckier than I'd been.
23:12Her family was patient with her, and I was relieved.
23:15Not that any of it was my problem.
23:16With no one bothering me, I dragged the whole class into intense study mode.
23:20If someone slacked, Jace intimidated them.
23:22Six months later, we all got into the best high school in the city.
23:25I didn't go home once that summer.
23:27I went up Mount Kazbek with Jace's family.
23:29Turns out his parents were professional climbers.
23:31They'd originally planned to summit Mont Blanc.
23:33But you had to be 16 to climb Mont Blanc.
23:35Jace and I were both too young.
23:37Anya, hot tea.
23:39Jace's mother had a soft spot for me from day one.
23:41The gorgeous woman with sharp eyes would pull me into a hug and refuse to let go.
23:45Anya, you're so cute, so pretty.
23:48I'm in love.
23:49Be my daughter.
23:49Did a family.
23:50Honestly, why is my kid a son?
23:52Doesn't make sense.
23:52Mom, please, be reasonable.
23:54Why is your kid a son?
23:55Because you don't have a daughter.
23:56His father's laugh thundered.
23:58The whole summit echoed with it.
24:00I caught my breath and looked out at the white world below.
24:03Jace shook out a blanket and wrapped it around my shoulders.
24:05I turned and saw his parents huddled together, grinning at us like idiots.
24:09But the moment we looked back, they snapped their heads away.
24:12Beautiful mountain.
24:13Beautiful snow.
24:15Beautiful young time.
24:18Jace's face was red and I couldn't help it.
24:20The corner of my mouth turned up.
24:24I didn't enroll in the private high school my family owned shares in.
24:27Cole lost it and he left Olivia, who was getting sicker by the day, and skipped a grade so he
24:31could be a high school freshman with me.
24:35Felix fought his own family.
24:36His mother locked him in his room.
24:38And that ridiculous engagement I'd already brushed off as a joke before summer break.
24:42Mrs. Adler, please, keep an eye on your son.
24:45Don't let him keep chasing me.
24:46I told his mother without mercy.
24:48I told the school in advance to turn away outside visitors.
24:51So in three years, I saw them maybe four or five times total.
24:54The day after the SAT, my parents, who I hadn't seen in forever, ambushed me at the school gate.
25:00I didn't get out fast enough.
25:01I don't know how, but the two of them looked like they'd aged 10 years.
25:05My mother walked toward me with this pleading smile.
25:07I stepped back without thinking.
25:10She froze, then covered her mouth and crumpled into my father's chest, sobbing.
25:14He started crying too.
25:17Anya, mom missed you so much.
25:19Let me hug you, please.
25:20I frowned without meaning to.
25:22Who do you miss?
25:23Who do you want to hug?
25:24Me?
25:25You already have a son and a daughter.
25:27Smart son who adores his sister.
25:28Sweet, well-behaved daughter who respects her parents.
25:31Why would you miss me?
25:33My mother's sobs stopped cold.
25:35She looked up at me, panic on her face.
25:37She started shaking.
25:40No, that's not, that's not real.
25:42That was a dream that wasn't real.
25:43She kept shaking her head, mumbling to herself.
25:46My father grabbed her, alarmed.
25:50Anya.
25:51What did you do to your mother?
25:52I'm a full meter away from her.
25:54I haven't laid a finger on her, Mr. Linster.
25:56What did you just call me?
25:57Mr. Linster?
25:58Anya, are you losing your mind?
26:00Your mother and I came all the way here for you, and this is how you-
26:02I thought my attitude was fine.
26:04Way better than how they'd treated me in my last life.
26:07I shrugged, stepped back.
26:08See you.
26:09Stop right there!
26:11He reached for my arm.
26:12I dodged.
26:15What, you want to hit me, Mr. Linchweski?
26:17I think we've spoiled you rotten.
26:19You need a lesson.
26:21His hand came up.
26:22My mother let out a scream that tore out of her chest.
26:25No!
26:26Don't hit her!
26:27She grabbed his arm, sobbing so hard her legs gave out and ended up on the ground.
26:31That's why she hates me so much.
26:33She covered her face with her hands and laughed and cried into the pavement.
26:37I turned to leave, and behind me, Jace's mother yelled joyfully,
26:40Sweetheart, over here!
26:42She and Jace's father were each holding a bouquet, waving at me hard.
26:46Jace also stood beside them.
26:47I went up on my toes and yelled back,
26:50Auntie!
26:50I ran to her.
26:52She tossed her flowers at Jace and grabbed me and spun me in a full circle.
26:56Feels better now that it's over, right?
26:57Take a few days.
26:58Then we Mont Blanc.
26:59Here we come.
27:00Um, yes.
27:01Jace took my bag.
27:02His dad pressed an ice cream into my hand.
27:04The four of us walked off together, laughing,
27:06and behind us, two figures stood frozen,
27:08getting smaller and smaller in the distance.
27:11The day we flew to France,
27:13Jace's dad was driving,
27:14his mom was in the passenger seat humming,
27:16and both of them lit up.
27:18Jace and I, on the other hand,
27:19hit the back seats and were out cold.
27:22I figured we'd sleep all the way to the airport,
27:24and then his dad slammed on the brakes,
27:26and our heads cracked into the seat back.
27:28When I opened my eyes,
27:29a dark figure had launched in front of the car.
27:32If his dad's brakes hadn't been fast,
27:33the guy would have gone flying.
27:37Insurance scam?
27:38We piled out,
27:39but the man on his knees in front of the car was Cole.
27:41I hadn't seen him in a year.
27:42The sight of him was a shock.
27:44He was so thin, painfully thin.
27:46Middle of summer,
27:47and he was bundled head to toe in heavy clothing,
27:49and his exposed face was covered in marks.
27:52Like claw marks, fingernails,
27:54old ones layered with new.
27:55A handsome face, basically ruined.
27:58I jumped.
27:59Jace and his dad immediately stepped in front of me and his mom.
28:02You sick, man?
28:03You wanna play in traffic?
28:04Jace went full volume,
28:05and I gave him a quiet thumbs up.
28:07He winked.
28:08Cole snapped like a stray dog gone feral.
28:10He slammed past Jace and threw himself at me,
28:12and his whole body was shaking,
28:13his red, raw eyes pouring tears.
28:15Please forgive us.
28:16Come home and see mom.
28:17She's dying.
28:18I'm begging you.
28:18He was strong out of his mind.
28:20Both Jace's parents together couldn't pull him off me.
28:23Jace lost it.
28:24He grabbed a tire iron out of the trunk
28:26and went to swing it at Cole's head.
28:28Jake, don't!
28:30I yanked Cole down with me toward the curb.
28:32Jake, drop it.
28:33Honey.
28:34His mother and I shouted at the same time,
28:36and it finally pulled him back.
28:37The tire iron fell,
28:39cracked the pavement.
28:40Was he insane?
28:41You go to prison for killing someone?
28:43I looked at Jace, heart still hammering.
28:46He was more shaken than I was,
28:47jaw locked, veins standing out in his neck.
28:50Something flickered.
28:51I felt like I'd seen this exact moment before,
28:54and I shook my head.
28:55Sweat ran down off my hairline,
28:56and I gave in, looked at Cole.
29:00I'll go with you.
29:01Let go.
29:02You're hurting me.
29:03Jace and his parents worried about me,
29:05so they drove me and Cole home.
29:07Cole was not okay.
29:08He huddled against the car window,
29:10shaking, mumbling garbled stuff.
29:12He turned to Jace.
29:15I've seen you before.
29:16It was you.
29:17It was you!
29:18I looked at Jace.
29:19His face was cold, blank.
29:21He also didn't look like himself.
29:23My heart skipped.
29:25I grabbed his arm.
29:26Jace?
29:26A grin appeared on his mouth.
29:28Your humble servant, at your command, my lady.
29:30Okay.
29:31Not body snatched.
29:32That weird.
29:33Definitely him.
29:34But Cole was looking at us with more horror now.
29:37He shrank further into the window.
29:38Already thin next to Jace's broader build,
29:40he looked like a ghost.
29:42I felt uneasy.
29:43So I took Jace's hand,
29:44and before I could say anything,
29:45his face flushed all the way to his ears.
29:47Idiot.
29:49Back at the Lindquist house,
29:51I didn't know where to look first.
29:52The front door,
29:53painted over with vicious letters in red.
29:55Die slow.
29:56Whole family burn.
29:58Hypocrites.
29:58Jace stepped around the paint,
30:00pushed the half-open door.
30:01The living room came into view.
30:02Tables.
30:03Smashed.
30:04Chairs.
30:04Broken.
30:05Couch.
30:05Scorched.
30:06The spiral staircase had bloody clothes
30:07scattered all the way up.
30:09I covered my mouth,
30:10came close to throwing up.
30:11Jace's mom was furious and scared at the same time.
30:13She wanted to take me right back out,
30:15but Jace, for once, stopped her.
30:16Mom,
30:18this needs an ending.
30:20This is Anya's call.
30:22Let her decide.
30:23I made a fist,
30:24looked at Cole,
30:25who'd been silent since we walked in.
30:26You dragged me here and now you've gone mute?
30:28Where are your parents?
30:29Where's your sister?
30:31His body swayed,
30:32his chapped lips trembled.
30:33Dad's in the ER.
30:35Mom's in her room.
30:36Olivia's is in a psych ward.
30:37My chest tightened.
30:38You lied to me.
30:40You said everyone was home.
30:41You said mom was just sick.
30:42It's not just my mom.
30:44She's our mom, Anya.
30:45She's not.
30:46I was breathing wrong.
30:47You brought me here for what?
30:48I tensed, shifted my weight,
30:50blocked Auntie behind me.
30:51No, no.
30:52I'm not here to hurt you.
30:53I swear.
30:54Mom is really dying.
30:56She...
30:57We didn't finish
30:58before my mother came stumbling out of her bedroom
31:00in a giant nightgown,
31:02hair everywhere,
31:02face hollowed out.
31:03The second she saw me,
31:04she nearly tumbled down the stairs.
31:07Anya.
31:07My Anya.
31:08Sweetheart.
31:09Are you hurt?
31:10Are you hurt?
31:11Anya.
31:13My baby girl.
31:14I'm so sorry.
31:16It's all my fault,
31:17my sweet girl.
31:18I shouldn't have let those people
31:20take you away.
31:21Were you scared?
31:23My Anya?
31:24Two tears fell from her eyes
31:26onto the back of her hand.
31:27Both of us froze.
31:28She knew she had the memory of last life.
31:30She was crying for the version of herself
31:32who watched her daughter
31:33get dragged into a psych ward,
31:34sobbing until she vomited blood,
31:36crying for the version of herself
31:37who let her daughter cling to a car door,
31:39begging to be hugged one more time,
31:41and turned away.
31:42Mia, stop with this insanity.
31:44Without you,
31:44I still have my son and daughter.
31:46My son is sweet and smart
31:47and adores his sister.
31:49My daughter is gentle and respectful.
31:50I can't imagine how I ended up
31:52with a neurotic mess like you.
31:53You're an embarrassment to this family.
31:55An embarrassment to this family.
31:56That was the last thing
31:57my mother had said to me in my last life.
31:59I'd realized a while back
32:00she was starting to get her memories back too.
32:02The headmaster had asked me once,
32:03confused if I had a nickname,
32:05Mia.
32:05Um, your mom texts me a lot,
32:07asked me to look after you.
32:09It was always normal.
32:10But the past two weeks,
32:11she keeps getting your name wrong.
32:12She'd thought it was a dream
32:13or she'd lied to herself
32:15that it was a dream.
32:16But then she heard me.
32:17She realized it had all really happened
32:18and she broke.
32:19Cole, send your mother to a psych ward.
32:22She's a better fit for the place
32:23than Olivia ever was.
32:24Cole, who had only been weeping,
32:26raised his head,
32:26looked at our increasingly unhinged mother
32:28and dropped to his knees.
32:30While we waited for the doctor,
32:32I finally pieced together
32:33from Cole's broken account
32:34what had happened.
32:35Three years ago,
32:36Olivia had overheard our mother
32:37say she regretted adopting her.
32:38That broke something in her.
32:39The soft sweetness vanished.
32:41She turned obsessive.
32:42Vicious.
32:43Vicious to everyone.
32:44Worse to herself.
32:45She started cutting herself.
32:46Middle of the night,
32:47she'd take a knife
32:47into our parents' bedroom,
32:49slice open her arm,
32:50bleed.
32:50Cutting and crying,
32:51telling them how her father
32:52had begged ours to take her in,
32:53saying she loved them,
32:54saying she couldn't be abandoned.
32:56The whole family was terrified.
32:57No one dared say the words,
32:59send her away again.
33:00They watched her even more carefully.
33:01Used to be out of love.
33:02Now it was fear.
33:04But she still felt unsafe.
33:05She started demanding
33:06everyone be with her,
33:07day and night.
33:08If anyone left,
33:09she screamed and clawed
33:10at whatever was in reach.
33:11Cole and Felix dropped out of school
33:13because she'd clawed up their faces.
33:14And that's why Felix's family
33:15had gone to war with mine
33:16a month before.
33:17My mother was already
33:18not right in the head.
33:19She would sit alone in a room
33:20and call out softly,
33:21my girl, my girl.
33:23Olivia, thinking her adoptive mother
33:24had finally come around,
33:25ran in to throw her arms around her.
33:27My mother shoved her hard
33:28onto the floor.
33:29The softness was gone.
33:30The way she looked at Olivia
33:31was pure revulsion.
33:32Olivia finally understood.
33:34She wasn't the girl being called.
33:35Her adoptive mother
33:36was calling someone else.
33:37Someone invisible.
33:38Her real daughter.
33:39Olivia couldn't take the humiliation.
33:40She started torturing
33:41all of them harder.
33:42When she overheard my parents
33:43talking about cutting her loose
33:45the day she turned 18,
33:46she got out the paint
33:47and ruined the whole front of the house.
33:48I'll expose you.
33:49You abused a dead man's daughter.
33:51May you all rot.
33:52The night before college application deadlines
33:54she demanded that Cole stay up
33:56and take her to a bar.
33:56When Cole flatly said
33:57he didn't want to
33:58she sliced her wrist.
33:59Cole panicked,
34:00bandaged her,
34:01and went.
34:02She drugged his drink.
34:03By the time Cole came to
34:04it was late the next afternoon.
34:05Cole,
34:07I matter more than the college, right?
34:09I'm the most important, right?
34:11Cole shut himself in his room
34:12and refused to come out.
34:13What was harder to believe
34:14was that she'd used my name
34:16to lure Felix out too.
34:17Cole said Felix's drink
34:18wasn't drugged.
34:19At least before he passed out
34:20Felix had been completely alert.
34:22Somehow Felix didn't make it
34:23to the application either.
34:25Felix's father showed up
34:26at our house with men.
34:27The men he brought stabbed my father
34:28and dragged Olivia to a psych ward.
34:31My mother was still wildly unstable
34:33especially after the doctors arrived.
34:35She wrapped both arms around me
34:36and wouldn't let go screaming
34:37don't take my daughter!
34:38Don't take me away!
34:40I pried her hands off me.
34:41First, I'm not your daughter.
34:43Second, my name isn't Mia
34:44and I hate that name
34:46about as much as I hate you.
34:47You and your husband
34:48weren't raising kids.
34:49You were running a fight ring.
34:50Last one alive gets to call you mom?
34:52And honestly, I'm baffled.
34:53Every kid you adopt,
34:54every kid you raise
34:55ends up a wreck.
34:56If you can't love your kids equally,
34:57why have them at all?
34:58She finally went silent.
34:59Eyes huge.
35:00Tears non-stop.
35:01In the end,
35:02like the last bit of air
35:02had been pushed out of her,
35:04she collapsed to her knees
35:05and let the doctors and nurses
35:06load her into the car.
35:07Past the bushes by the door,
35:08I could feel something burning into me.
35:10A stare.
35:11I turned.
35:11Just caught a limping figure
35:12walking away.
35:13The second I recognized that walk,
35:15Anya?
35:15Jace was calling me
35:16and I turned back.
35:17He was tilting or doubling.
35:19His outline split into two,
35:20three.
35:21No, not him.
35:21And it was me.
35:22Anya.
35:23My head was so heavy
35:24and I'd walked into fog
35:26like a stray ghost
35:27drifting,
35:27searching with nowhere to go.
35:29Anna.
35:29Anna.
35:30Anna.
35:31Someone calling me?
35:33But my name was Mia now.
35:34I'd had it changed.
35:35Anya.
35:36Don't scare me.
35:37Anya.
35:38Who was calling him?
35:38Sounded like a boy.
35:39Voice cracked with panic.
35:41Made me want to cry.
35:42I wanted to tell him.
35:43Don't cry.
35:43I'm not worth it.
35:44You are.
35:45You deserve to be loved.
35:47Anya.
35:48Is your real name Anya?
35:50It's beautiful.
35:51So much better than Mia.
35:52Anya.
35:53From now on,
35:54I'll only call you Anya.
35:55Don't be scared.
35:56If that psycho comes back,
35:57I'll throw him out.
35:57He tries to choke you again,
35:59touch you.
35:59I'll kill him myself.
36:01Hey, Anya.
36:01Don't cry.
36:02They just shocked me a couple times.
36:03I'm tough.
36:04I can take it.
36:04Doesn't hurt.
36:05Anya.
36:05What's wrong?
36:06Why are you coughing blood?
36:07You're scaring me.
36:08What?
36:09Where did these bruises come from?
36:10Your brother.
36:11Your brother kicked you.
36:12Is he even human?
36:14Anna.
36:15No.
36:16Don't close your eyes, please.
36:18The blurry voices in the fog,
36:19and one clear,
36:20sobbing voice overlapped.
36:22Oh, I know now.
36:23I see you.
36:25My chase.
36:26The boy who'd shared that psych ward
36:28with me once and last night.
36:30The boy who at 18 watched both his parents die,
36:33saving someone.
36:33The boy whose mind broke.
36:35The boy who,
36:36when Felix had a hand around my throat
36:38and his mouth on mine,
36:39broke out of his restraints
36:40and put a fist through Felix's temple.
36:42The boy who again and again
36:44sat through electroshock for me
36:46after I stopped breathing.
36:47He broke out of that godforsaken psych ward,
36:50set the Lindquist house on fire,
36:51watched them scream and run
36:52and shove each other in the flames
36:54all one by one,
36:55then took a piece of broken glass
36:56and dragged it across his own throat.
36:58We met again in the fog.
36:59He took my hand and led me forward step by step.
37:02Anya,
37:03why didn't I find you sooner?
37:04I love you.
37:05I love you.
37:06I love you so much.
37:07You deserve everything.
37:09Anya,
37:10if we get to do it over,
37:12stay far from what hurts you.
37:13Love yourself more than anyone.
37:15Promise me.
37:16Yes.
37:16I want to make the trade.
37:18Trade my whole soul
37:20for the love and feeling that girl pawned to you.
37:22She doesn't get to lose her ability to love.
37:25She has to love herself.
37:26She has to grow a heart that loves herself.
37:29Please,
37:29give it back.
37:30The sweet man looked up at the stubborn boy in front of him.
37:33His eyes held something almost like pity.
37:36All right.
37:37In fact,
37:39I'll make you a wager.
37:42How about it?
37:43I bet this girl,
37:44even this lifetime,
37:46doesn't learn to love herself.
37:47I'll take every memory of you out of her.
37:50And you,
37:50I'll send back with these memories.
37:52You'll watch her,
37:53day after day,
37:54walk the same path,
37:55unable to speak,
37:56unable to change anything.
37:57He held out a hand,
37:58a contract.
37:59You're wrong.
38:01She will learn to love herself.
38:03I'm sure of it.
38:04The boy didn't hesitate,
38:05gave him his heart.
38:07A flash of white light.
38:09I opened my eyes,
38:10a hospital ceiling,
38:11and then by the bed,
38:12Jace,
38:13slumped forward,
38:14gripping my hand like I might disappear.
38:16You're awake.
38:17My movement had woken him,
38:19and I looked at him,
38:19at the dark circles under his eyes,
38:21at the worry he was trying to hide.
38:23The tears came before I could stop them.
38:25I know.
38:26I know it was you.
38:28Before he could react,
38:29I threw myself into his arms.
38:31Two months later,
38:32I was discharged.
38:33The doctor said it was a short blackout
38:35caused by emotional overload.
38:36Jace and I got into the same university,
38:38just like we'd planned.
38:39In our free time,
38:40Jace put a lot of work
38:41into educating amateur climbers
38:42about the dangers of snow mountains
38:44and basic survival skills.
38:45The mountain rescue team we self-funded
38:47was now up and running,
38:48and his parents,
38:49still the same firecrackers
38:50they'd always been.
38:51I thought about asking them to stop climbing.
38:53Jace and I both worried
38:54they'd lose their lives saving someone again.
38:56Every time I tried,
38:57the light in their eyes shut me up.
38:58People need to love things,
39:00for forcing them to give it up
39:01is its own kind of cruelty.
39:03Luckily.
39:03The fall, we turned 18.
39:05They saved the climber,
39:06clinging to a cliff edge.
39:07This time,
39:08with a professional rescue team
39:10backing them up,
39:11nobody got hurt.
39:11I saw the headline pop on my phone
39:13and grabbed Jace
39:14and made him do three laps
39:15around the field with me.
39:16He finally dropped the casual front,
39:18knelt on the rubber track
39:19and cried and laughed
39:20for half an hour.
39:21I looked down,
39:22scrolled,
39:23a few headlines also popped out.
39:24Adler family declares bankruptcy.
39:26Patriarch sentence for hiring a hit.
39:28Murder for hire case takes a turn.
39:30Olivia Lindquist confesses
39:31she drugged Felix Adler
39:32and handed him to men
39:33known to prey on young men.
39:35Love and revenge entangled.
39:37Felix Adler strangles Olivia Lindquist
39:39in a psychiatric facility.
39:41Death penalty likely.
39:42Former child prodigy
39:43Cole Lindquist
39:44found dead at home.
39:45Suicide suspected.
39:46Hey,
39:47why aren't you comforting me?
39:49What are you reading?
39:49I gave up,
39:50took his hand.
39:51Comforting you?
39:52Not enough.
39:53What do you want?
39:54He leaned in.
39:56You?
39:58Shameless.
39:59Two months later,
40:00I was discharged.
40:01The doctor said
40:02it was a short blackout
40:03caused by emotional overload.
40:04Jace and I got into
40:05the same university
40:06just like we'd planned.
40:07In our free time,
40:08Jace put a lot of work
40:09into educating amateur climbers
40:10about the dangers of snow mountains
40:12and basic survival skills.
40:13The mountain rescue team
40:14we self-funded
40:15was now up and running
40:16and his parents,
40:17still the same firecrackers
40:18they'd always been.
40:19I thought about asking them
40:20to stop climbing.
40:21Jace and I both worried
40:22they'd lose their lives
40:22saving someone again.
40:24Every time I tried,
40:25the light in their eyes
40:25shut me up.
40:26People need to love things
40:27for forcing them to give it up
40:29is its own kind of cruelty.
40:31Luckily.
40:31The fall,
40:32we turned 18.
40:33They saved the climber
40:34clinging to a cliff edge.
40:35This time,
40:36with a professional rescue team
40:38backing them up,
40:39nobody got hurt.
40:39I saw the headline pop on my phone
40:41and grabbed Jace
40:42and made him do three laps
40:43around the field with me.
40:44He finally dropped
40:45the casual front,
40:46knelt on the rubber track
40:47and cried and laughed
40:48for half an hour.
40:49I looked down,
40:50scrolled,
40:50a few headlines also popped out.
40:52Adler family declares bankruptcy.
40:54Patriarch sentence
40:55for hiring a hit.
40:56Murder for hire case
40:57takes a turn.
40:58Olivia Lindquist confesses
40:59she drugged Felix Adler
41:00and handed him to men
41:01known to prey on young men.
41:03Love and revenge entangled.
41:05Felix Adler strangles
41:06Olivia Lindquist
41:07in a psychiatric facility.
41:09Death penalty likely.
41:10Former child prodigy
41:11Cole Lindquist
41:12found dead at home.
41:13Suicide suspected.
41:14Hey,
41:15why aren't you comforting me?
41:16What are you reading?
41:17I gave up,
41:18took his hand.
41:19Comforting you?
41:20Not enough.
41:21What do you want?
41:22He leaned in.
41:24You?
41:26Shameless.
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