- 3 minutes ago
Gone in Spring New
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I collapsed at Malcolm's engagement party.
00:02Glass, shards everywhere.
00:04Blood mixing with cake and champagne.
00:06When I woke up, I was in a hospital room.
00:09Malcolm stood over me with desperate eyes.
00:12The blood bank is empty, Lily.
00:14You're the only match.
00:15Please, save her.
00:18He wasn't talking about me.
00:19He meant Alicia, his fiancée.
00:21The woman whose wedding I had just destroyed.
00:24So I let them take my blood.
00:26Then the doctor looked at me.
00:27With a face you never want to see on a doctor.
00:30Mrs. Brooks, you have a brain tumor.
00:34It's getting worse.
00:35I didn't understand.
00:37So, he made it simple.
00:38It means two months to live.
00:40When I was born, I was diagnosed with intellectual disability.
00:44When I was eight, mom and dad brought home an adorable little boy named Malcolm Harrington.
00:49He had a real mean streak.
00:50When I offered him candy, he sank his teeth into my finger and bit off half of it.
00:55When I tried to help him clean up, he shoved my head into the sink and held it there.
00:59One day, I went to my uncle's house to play games.
01:02I was hoping to win some fancy chocolate for Malcolm.
01:05Then, without warning, Malcolm charged in frantically and bit down hard on my uncle's leg, drawing blood.
01:11He told me his home was far away in Chicago.
01:13I didn't understand what that meant.
01:15But at night, he would turn away from me and cry until his pillow was soaked.
01:19I figured he missed his family.
01:21So, I sneaked him out.
01:23I stuffed every piece of candy I'd saved into his pockets.
01:26I gave him a firm shove, urging him to run.
01:29When mom and dad caught me, they beat me with fists and sticks.
01:33As my blood mixed with the crushed candy, I just wanted to close my eyes and never wake up.
01:40But instead of leaving, Malcolm ran back and threw himself over me.
01:44His tears fell into my mouth, salty and bitter.
01:46He held a kitchen knife against his own throat.
01:48If you kill her, I die, too!
01:52After that, he never mentioned going home again.
01:55Then, when we were 18, a line of shiny black cars pulled up in front of the house.
02:00Men wearing armbands took mom and dad away.
02:02A beautiful woman who smelled like perfume cried as she pulled Malcolm into one of the cars.
02:06I knew he was going home.
02:08I held out the chocolates I'd been saving for six months.
02:11But he knocked them out of my hands.
02:13He pulled me into a crushing hug, his voice shaking.
02:18Lily, come with me.
02:21I'm taking you to the city.
02:23You like birds, right?
02:26There are so many beautiful birds there.
02:30Chicago was beautiful.
02:32The buildings were taller than the mountains back home.
02:35I stared at everything with my mouth hanging open, trying to take it all in.
02:39Malcolm told me it all belonged to his family.
02:41But there were no birds.
02:43And the woman, Rachel Harrington, kept digging her long fingernails into my hand.
02:48Scared, I tugged at his sleeve.
02:51Malk, when can I go home?
02:54His expression darkened, though his voice stayed soft.
02:57My home is your home.
02:59We are never going back to that place.
03:01Rachel's voice rose to a shriek.
03:04Malk, your father will never agree to adopt her.
03:07If it weren't of her, human trafficker and ferrets, you wouldn't have suffered in that
03:13slum for ten years.
03:15Malcolm's face was cold.
03:17The couple was at fault, not her.
03:19But she's retorted!
03:21Rachel waved a stack of papers in the air.
03:24Severe intellectual disability.
03:26She'll be a burden forever.
03:28Do you know how bad that looks for your father?
03:33I froze in fear, and then my pants felt warm and wet.
03:37A dark stain spread across the carpet.
03:40The servants covered their noses and stepped away, whispering to one another.
03:44I wanted to curl up and hide my shame.
03:46But then I noticed the white papers scattered on the floor.
03:49I dropped to my knees to pick them up.
03:51I carefully patted off the dust and handed them to Malcolm.
03:53He used to complain that his homework paper was too thin and tore easily.
03:56Now, he finally had good paper.
03:59Malk!
04:00White paper!
04:01You can do your homework now!
04:03His eyes turned red.
04:05He took the stack of papers, gripped my hand, and led me into the guest room.
04:09A few maids came over to change my pants.
04:12Clearly unhappy about it, I clutched my waistband tight.
04:15So they pinched my side hard.
04:17Ugh!
04:18Disgusting!
04:19Let go!
04:20Tears stung my eyes from the pain.
04:23But I remembered what Malcolm told me no one was allowed to touch my pants except him and me.
04:27The door was slightly ajar, and I heard Malcolm's icy voice coming from the hallway.
04:32Rachel, you know exactly how you got into my father's bed.
04:35And you know exactly why I went missing all those years ago.
04:41If you try to poison my father against Lily, I promise you, and your precious son, will
04:47be thrown out of the Harrington family.
04:49Rachel's face went pale, and she ran away crying.
04:51The hallway went quiet.
04:53When I came out in clean pants, Malcolm was slumped on the sofa.
04:56He looked at me and let out a long sigh.
04:58Malcolm was home now, so why wasn't he happy?
05:01Later, Malcolm's father came home.
05:03They stayed in the study for a long time.
05:05When Malcolm finally came out, he had a bright red handprint on his face.
05:09He locked himself in his room and refused to eat.
05:12I shook with fear.
05:13Back home, when Mom and Dad said I was bad and wouldn't feed me, Malcolm used to sneak
05:17his food to me.
05:17Once, he went hungry for a whole week until he passed out.
05:20I ran to tell Mom and Dad, but they beat me and accused me of starving him to death.
05:24When he woke up, he kept his mouth shut tight, no matter how much I begged him to eat.
05:29He waited until Mom and Dad finally brought me a plate of food, too.
05:32Only then did he open his mouth and let me feed him.
05:36I took a bread roll I'd hidden during dinner and sneaked into Malcolm's room.
05:40I tried desperately to push it into his mouth, but his eyes were red.
05:43He pulled me close, his hot tears dripping onto my neck.
05:47Lily.
05:48He might be my biological father, but he stopped caring about me a long time ago.
05:53No one here cares.
05:55I only have you.
05:57If they can't accept you, they won't accept me either.
06:00I didn't understand his complicated words, so I just used my sleeve to wipe his face.
06:06Let's leave.
06:07His voice was sudden and firm.
06:09Isn't this our home?
06:11Lily, anywhere I am with you is home.
06:14He took me and ran away.
06:16We lived under an overpass for three days, huddled together for warmth.
06:20Finally, Malcolm's father gave in and agreed to let me stay.
06:23But Rachel complained I was covered in germs.
06:25She wouldn't let me touch anything and made me stay in my room.
06:28Every night, Malcolm came to hold me while we slept, whispering that he was sorry.
06:33I didn't understand why.
06:35Even though there were no birds here, I had Malcolm.
06:37And that made me happy.
06:40But then Malcolm went to college and got very busy.
06:43He stopped coming home for dinner.
06:45He stopped reading me stories before bed.
06:47A pretty girl named Alicia Quinn started following him around.
06:50She had long hair and always smelled like flowers.
06:53The servants told me she was Malcolm's fiancée.
06:56I didn't know what a fiancée was.
06:58They laughed and told me.
07:00It means she's his bride.
07:02They'll sleep together and eat together every day.
07:05I tilted my head.
07:06Does that mean I'm Malcolm's fiancée too?
07:09Malcolm laughed and shook his head.
07:11That's different.
07:12When I asked him why, his face fell.
07:14And he looked at me with a strange expression.
07:18He didn't explain.
07:21After that, he stopped coming to hold me at night.
07:24I lay awake in the dark, staring at the ceiling, waiting for the door to open.
07:28It never did.
07:31I could only watch through the glass as Malcolm and Alicia sat on the garden swing.
07:35They were reading, feeding the fish by the pond, and walking that fluffy puppy of theirs.
07:40I wanted to be out there so bad it hurt.
07:42I missed Malcolm.
07:44But one time, Alicia had actually spotted me at the window.
07:49It startled her so bad she fell right to the ground, pointing at me and screaming that she'd seen a
07:54ghost.
07:55I panicked.
07:56I ran outside and almost got hit by a car.
07:58Malcolm was furious.
08:00He struck me hard with a clothes hanger.
08:03Why are you running around?
08:06Why won't you listen?
08:09After that, they covered the window with black cloth.
08:13I couldn't see anything anymore.
08:15The servants stopped bringing me food, and I started feeling dizzy from the hunger.
08:20They didn't let me out until the day of Malcolm's engagement party.
08:29Malcolm pulled me aside.
08:31When he saw how thin my face was, a flicker of guilt passed through his eyes.
08:35But his voice stayed harsh and cold.
08:39Today is my engagement party with Alicia.
08:42You just watch quietly.
08:44Understand?
08:46No eating with your hands.
08:48If you need the bathroom, tell a servant.
08:54Malcolm had forgotten again.
08:55The first time I ate with Alicia, I didn't know how to use a knife and fork.
09:00I remembered him saying we needed to make a good impression on her.
09:04I was starving.
09:05While I drank my juice, I secretly grabbed handfuls of food and stuffed them into my pocket
09:09to eat back in my room.
09:10Then, a sudden urge to pee hit me.
09:13I hurriedly told them I needed the bathroom.
09:15Rachel, who always had sharp eyes, grabbed me.
09:18What's that bulging in your pocket?
09:19Then she screamed.
09:21We feed and clothe you and you still steal?
09:23She yanked at me, and the food spilled all over the floor.
09:26That's when I felt a sudden warmth between my legs.
09:30Urine dripped down my calf.
09:34The room went dead silent.
09:36Guests covered their mouths in shock and backed away,
09:38their eyes full of disgust.
09:40The smell filled the air.
09:42Alicia went totally pale.
09:44She retched, covered her nose, and ran out.
09:47Forgetting all about being polite,
09:49Malcolm rushed after her.
09:50He didn't come back for a long time.
09:53When he finally returned,
09:54he stared at the mess on the floor with empty eyes.
09:57I'm begging you.
09:58His voice sounded exhausted.
10:00Just be normal, okay?
10:02Since that first incident,
10:04I had practiced using a knife and fork
10:06until my hands were covered in blood.
10:07I had learned to use the toilet by myself.
10:09I nodded obediently.
10:11He didn't look at me again.
10:12He turned to take Alicia's arm and chat with the guests.
10:15Malcolm looked tired,
10:15but his smile was bright.
10:17I was truly happy for him.
10:19Then Vincent Harrington,
10:20Malcolm's half-brother,
10:22whispered behind me,
10:23Malk hasn't eaten all day.
10:26If you bring him a piece of cake,
10:28he'll be even happier.
10:32My eyes lit up.
10:33I remembered when we were kids back in the village.
10:36A big boy named Brad told me to kneel and bark like a dog for a bite of cake.
10:39I had knelt until my knees bled,
10:41barking for a long time,
10:42just to present that cake to Malcolm like a treasure.
10:45Malcolm had stared at the cake and insisted I eat first.
10:48I wiped my mouth,
10:49smiling and lied that I had already eaten.
10:52Only then did he open his mouth.
10:54Cream stuck to the corner of his lips and he squinted at the sweetness.
10:58But the next day,
10:59he came home from school in a rage.
11:01He cried and shoved me, calling me shameless,
11:03saying I had no self-respect.
11:05He said he didn't have a sister like me.
11:07But a second later,
11:08he ran out to the riverbank and dug up wet herbs with red eyes.
11:12He applied the medicine to my knees.
11:14He glared at me.
11:15I hate cake.
11:16If you ever bring it to me again,
11:18I'll kill you.
11:19Watching his trembling hands,
11:21I couldn't help but smile.
11:22Malcolm was lying again.
11:24Happily, I went to cut the cake.
11:26Suddenly, my vision went black.
11:27I collapsed right into the cake,
11:29knocking over the champagne tower.
11:31It crashed down on me and the shards pierced my skin.
11:35Alicia screamed and jumped back.
11:38She looked terrified.
11:39Her gorgeous, red dress splattered with cream.
11:42Her eyes red.
11:43She looked at Malcolm.
11:45Malcolm!
11:46You said she would behave.
11:49Why did you let her ruin my engagement party?
11:52She covered her face and ran out.
11:54Malcolm's expression was terrifyingly cold.
11:56All I could think was that if Malcolm ate the cake,
11:59he would be happy.
12:00Fighting the intense pain of the glass shards in my body,
12:03I scooped the clean parts of the cake onto a plate.
12:06I had just lifted it up when Malcolm kicked the plate away.
12:08His eyes were bloodshot.
12:10Are you that obsessed with food?
12:14You couldn't wait a single moment?
12:17Are you not satisfied until you've ruined me
12:19and I'm stuck with you forever?
12:23I shook my head frantically,
12:25trying to grab his hand.
12:26But he shoved me away hard and stormed out without looking back.
12:30I fell onto the debris.
12:32Glass shards pierced my skin
12:33and the pain made tears stream down my face.
12:36Moments later,
12:37someone rushed in shouting,
12:39Mrs. Quinn has been in a car accident!
12:43The bodyguards hauled me into the hospital.
12:46Lily,
12:46the blood bank is empty
12:48and you're the only match.
12:50Malcolm's voice was desperate.
12:56I couldn't answer because I hurt too much.
12:58There was still glass from the accident stuck in my skin.
13:01Malcolm snapped.
13:03Alicia isn't me!
13:04She doesn't owe you a thing!
13:07You hurt her,
13:08so you have to pay for it!
13:10He shoved me toward the donation room.
13:13The doctor rolled up my sleeve.
13:14But when he saw my arm was covered in fresh blood,
13:17he froze.
13:18He looked like he wanted to stop.
13:20I remembered something I'd seen on TV once.
13:23I ducked my head and begged,
13:25I'll do it!
13:27I was wrong!
13:28I'm not scared of the pain!
13:31After a round of tests,
13:32the doctor looked grim.
13:35Mrs. Brooks,
13:38you have a brain tumor,
13:39and it's getting worse.
13:40I didn't get it.
13:41He sighed.
13:43It means you have two months to live.
13:47That part, I understood.
13:49Malcolm had told me once that dying meant going somewhere
13:51very far away farther than birds could fly.
13:53But he also said the birds come back in the spring.
13:56When they finished taking my blood,
13:58I wanted to tell him.
13:59I wanted to say I was going on a long trip
14:02and that he should remember to come get me in the spring.
14:04But then Alicia woke up.
14:06Before I could get the words out,
14:07he shoved past me and ran to her.
14:10The room spun,
14:11and I hit the floor.
14:12Through the crack in the door,
14:13I heard Alicia sobbing.
14:15I said I didn't mind her living with us
14:17after we got married,
14:18but I never agreed to risk my life for it.
14:21We've given her a luxury life for years.
14:24Whatever debt we owed is paid.
14:26Because you keep protecting her,
14:28your dad is about to give your inheritance to Vincent instead.
14:32I've compromised on everything for you,
14:35but do you ever think about how I feel?
14:38Do you know how people make fun of me?
14:41She's retorted.
14:43How much more do we have to accommodate her?
14:48Malcolm's voice sounded hoarse.
14:52She wasn't always like this.
14:55She got this way by saving me.
14:58No matter what I do,
15:00I can't give her a normal life back.
15:03Alicia went quiet for a second.
15:06Without you,
15:07her life would be way worse than this.
15:10She would have been sold off or told off,
15:12tortured to death.
15:13Send her to a care facility.
15:14They have professionals there.
15:17She'll be treated well.
15:18Malcolm buried his face in his hands.
15:24Let me think about it.
15:25We only have two months,
15:27Malk.
15:28If
15:29Vincent becomes the heir,
15:34I won't be able to marry you.
15:36They held each other and cried,
15:38like some unlucky couple being tested by fate.
15:40My chest suddenly ached.
15:42It hurt worse than when mom and dad used to hit me.
15:45Turned out,
15:46Malcolm was suffering so much because of me.
15:48I decided I didn't want him to come get me after all.
15:53My headaches had been getting worse lately,
15:55and I usually ended up sleeping the entire day away.
15:58My nose wouldn't stop bleeding either just these uncontrollable trickles of dark blood.
16:02It was a good thing Rachel hadn't let me leave my room.
16:05If Malcolm had seen me like that,
16:07he'd have just lost it again.
16:09Lying in bed,
16:10I reached under my pillow and dug out the little wooden bird he carved.
16:13Suddenly the door swung open.
16:15I panicked and shoved it back out of sight.
16:18The last time Malcolm got mad at me for running around,
16:21he threw it into the fire.
16:22I was so desperate to save it that I reached right into the flames.
16:25The skin on my palm had peeled right off.
16:30That night,
16:31he held me and cried until morning,
16:32asking over and over,
16:38Why are you like this?
16:40Why?
16:45Terrified he was about to lose his temper again,
16:47I started to tremble.
16:49Instead,
16:50he crawled under the covers and pulled me close.
16:52His voice was raspy.
16:56Hiding snacks again?
16:57I didn't want him to think I was greedy,
16:59so I shook my head fast.
17:01It's not food!
17:04I pulled out the wooden bird to show him.
17:07He froze for a second,
17:08then gave a bitter smile.
17:12It's just that...
17:13He paused,
17:14his voice catching in his throat.
17:17The wings are burned off.
17:21It can't fly away now.
17:22He buried his face in my shoulder.
17:24It has to stay right by my side for the rest of its life, doesn't it?
17:28I wanted so badly to tell him he was wrong.
17:30I was going on a long trip soon.
17:33I had secretly asked Alicia where the birds went.
17:35She said they flew south,
17:37to the village where Mom and Dad were.
17:39I wanted to go back there.
17:40I wanted to see if the bird had made it back to its nest.
17:43Alicia booked the ticket for me.
17:45She said I could finally go home.
17:49On Malcolm's birthday,
17:50I was allowed out of my room again.
17:52I filled a glass jar with all his favorite colorful candies
17:55and quietly left it in his bedroom.
17:57At the party,
17:58Alicia whispered to me,
18:03Do you want to make milk happy?
18:06I nodded eagerly.
18:07She handed me a glass of juice,
18:09a flicker of guilt in her eyes.
18:12Drink this,
18:13and Malcolm will get exactly what he wants.
18:17I didn't even think about it I drank at all in one go.
18:21Not long after,
18:22I felt dizzy and passed out.
18:24I was jolted out of my daze by a hard slap.
18:30The room was full of people pointing at me.
18:32Lily, Lily, that's what you're saying!
18:34Disgusting!
18:35She couldn't get Malcolm,
18:36so she went after Vincent instead.
18:38I thought she was supposed to be retarded.
18:40She looked sharp enough to me.
18:43My head was swimming.
18:44I couldn't understand what they were saying.
18:46I only saw Malcolm, his eyes bloodshot,
18:49clutching a torn dress.
18:50His voice trembled.
18:55Is this the birthday present you prepared for me?
19:03No, that wasn't it.
19:05Malcolm had it wrong.
19:08The present was in his room.
19:10I tried to get up to pull him there,
19:12only to realize I was only wearing my underwear.
19:15Beside me, Vincent was naked too.
19:17His face was flushed crimson.
19:19He slapped me across the face,
19:21hard enough that I tasted copper in the back of my throat.
19:23Have you no shame?
19:26You dared to drug me?
19:29I swallowed the blood in my mouth
19:30and watched him struggle to reach his trousers.
19:33I remembered Rachel saying Malcolm's brother,
19:35Vincent, had poor health
19:37and that I should always be helpful to him.
19:39So, I reached out, grabbed his pants,
19:41and tried to help him put them on.
19:43Malcolm yanked my hair back violently,
19:45his eyes glaring red.
19:47How the hell did you get this cheap?
19:49Huh?
19:50The pain made tears stream down my face.
19:53Vincent spat on me.
19:57Slut.
19:58Malcolm roared and lunged at him,
20:01punching him over and over
20:02until Vincent's face was covered in blood.
20:04The whole room erupted into chaos.
20:06Eventually, Vincent was taken away in a large white van.
20:12I was dragged into a small, dark room.
20:17Outside the door, I heard a man's cold voice.
20:20Last chance.
20:22Get rid of that woman.
20:23She has the mind of an eight-year-old.
20:27How could she possibly drug Vincent?
20:30It had to be him.
20:35He raped her.
20:36A heavy slap landed on Malcolm's face.
20:39You've lost your mind over her!
20:42Today, you broke your brother's nose tomorrow.
20:44Are you going to kill someone for her?
20:47If you don't send her away,
20:49I have my ways of making her disappear.
20:52Suddenly, it went quiet outside.
20:55The next day, Malcolm came for me,
20:57his eyes swollen.
21:02He stuffed me into a car
21:04and shoved a key and a bank card into my hand.
21:08His voice was incredibly hoarse.
21:11I bought you a house on the south side.
21:14Don't ever come back.
21:15Big tears started rolling down my face.
21:18He yanked his hand back as if I'd burned him.
21:21Enough!
21:22Alicia was right.
21:24I paid back everything I owed you long ago.
21:29I shook my head and tried to give the key and card back.
21:34Malk, I'm going home.
21:36He froze for a long time,
21:38then suddenly started screaming hysterically.
21:41Fine!
21:42Go home then!
21:43Don't you ever come back!
21:46He slammed the car door shut,
21:47sealing me off from him completely.
21:49From inside the car,
21:50I watched his figure grow smaller and smaller in the distance.
21:54The buildings of Chicago blurred past the window,
21:56but I didn't see any of them.
21:58All I saw was the spot where Malcolm had been standing,
22:01getting tinier and tinier until it was gone.
22:03My chest felt hollow,
22:05like someone had scooped everything out of it.
22:07I reached into my pocket and touched the ticket
22:09Alicia had secretly tucked in there.
22:11The edges were crisp and new.
22:13Home, I thought.
22:14I'm going home.
22:15I whispered to the driver in the front seat.
22:18Sir, please take me to the station.
22:24The driver met my eyes in the rearview mirror,
22:26shaking his head.
22:28His expression gave nothing away.
22:31No.
22:33His voice was flat.
22:36Mr. Harrington gave specific orders
22:38to drop you safely at the house.
22:41That's it.
22:43No matter how much I begged,
22:45he wouldn't listen.
22:46The yard was average-sized,
22:48and a middle-aged woman greeted me warmly at the door.
22:51At first, she treated me well and made me meals,
22:54though she wouldn't let me leave.
22:55But as time passed and no one came to visit,
22:58her attitude cooled.
23:00Eventually, she started just tossing bread into the room,
23:03glaring at me with disdain.
23:05You aren't some wealthy heiress.
23:08She sneered.
23:09If you want to eat, cook for yourself.
23:11The hunger became unbearable,
23:13so I gathered my courage and went into the kitchen.
23:16I didn't know what I knocked over,
23:18but flames suddenly flared up,
23:20instantly catching the curtains.
23:21Malcolm had told me that if there was ever a fire,
23:24I had to run.
23:27I grabbed the wooden bird carving from under my pillow
23:29and rushed toward the door.
23:32It was locked from the outside.
23:37I cried and pounded on the wood,
23:39but no one answered.
23:41The thick smoke forced me to the floor.
23:44The fire burned my heels,
23:46sizzling against my skin.
23:48Malcolm would be angry to see me like this.
23:52I slapped my face hard
23:53and forced myself to crawl toward the window.
23:59I smashed the glass with my head and blacked out.
24:07When I woke up,
24:08everything was white.
24:11Malcolm sat by the bed in a tuxedo.
24:13I couldn't help smiling when I saw him.
24:16I had finally found him again.
24:18A police officer stood nearby,
24:19reprimanding him sternly.
24:22You are Mrs. Brooks' guardian, correct?
24:27How could you lock a person
24:28with an intellectual disability alone in a house?
24:34Do you realize she nearly died?
24:37I froze,
24:38then shook my head hard,
24:39trying to explain.
24:43Malcolm looked drained of all energy.
24:46His red-rimmed eyes fixed on me,
24:48his voice sounding exhausted.
24:50What do you want me to do
24:52before you leave me alone?
24:58Do I have to obey you completely?
25:01Lillian,
25:03you have always hated me,
25:05haven't you?
25:06You regret helping me.
25:10I regret it too.
25:15I should have died back then.
25:17Malcolm always said things I didn't understand.
25:20If he died,
25:21who would pick him up in the spring?
25:23I wanted to correct him,
25:24but my throat hurt terribly.
25:27A doctor nearby explained.
25:30The patient inhaled too much smoke during the fire.
25:33Her vocal cords are moderately burned.
25:36Malcolm turned his head sharply.
25:40She can't speak?
25:42She might recover with rest,
25:44but her voice will likely remain permanently harsh.
25:48I looked at him,
25:49questioning him with my eyes.
25:51He glanced at me and understood immediately.
25:55You won't be able to speak or sing anymore.
25:57I stared blankly for a long time,
26:00then opened my mouth,
26:01trying to make a sound.
26:02He immediately covered my mouth,
26:04shouting in a panic.
26:05The doctor said you need total silence
26:07for the next two months.
26:09Do you want to be mute forever?
26:12Stop causing trouble for me.
26:16Warm tears dropped onto my face.
26:19I reached up with a trembling hand
26:20to wipe Malcolm's eyes.
26:22He caught my wrist and gave a sad,
26:24bitter smile.
26:25Since you cannot speak,
26:27my world is finally quiet.
26:30I don't have to answer meaningless questions
26:33or hear your bad singing.
26:36My chest ached.
26:38Malcolm used to love my singing.
26:41I remembered when he first came to our home.
26:44He broke things during the day
26:46and cried all night.
26:48I wiped his tears,
26:50but he swatted my hand away.
26:51I patted his back,
26:53and he told me to leave him alone.
26:55Then I sang the song Grandma taught me.
26:57The little bird sings,
27:01coming here every spring.
27:06You know what?
27:07He stopped crying.
27:10The next night,
27:12he hid his face in my arms and whispered,
27:14sing it again.
27:16I won't cry.
27:19Malcolm was only this sad
27:20because I couldn't sing anymore.
27:21The doctor looked at the report
27:23and frowned,
27:24about to speak.
27:25When Alicia rushed in wearing her wedding dress,
27:27she pointed at me crying.
27:29I never realized you were so manipulative.
27:32You did this on our wedding day
27:34to make him feel guilty
27:35so he would stay with you!
27:37Alicia had said that as long as I was in Chicago,
27:40Malcolm would never be happy.
27:41I didn't want Malcolm to be unhappy.
27:44I looked at her and Malcolm,
27:46and I smiled.
27:47I forced the words out
27:48through the searing pain in my throat,
27:50repeating what she had taught me.
27:52Yes,
27:54he owes me.
27:57He will never
27:59have a good life.
28:04Malcolm gripped my wrist
28:05so hard the pain bowed me over,
28:07sharp and crushing.
28:09Still,
28:15you are only good enough
28:18to stay right here
28:20and do as you're told.
28:24That broke him.
28:25His voice cracked,
28:27raw and shouting.
28:29I've degraded myself for you
28:31for ten years!
28:33I don't owe you a damn thing anymore!
28:37Get out!
28:39I never want to see you again!
28:42He bunched a fistful of my hair
28:43and hauled me roughly toward the exit.
28:45The doctor chased after us,
28:47yelling,
28:48Miss Brooks has severe burns,
28:49but she also has...
28:50The heavy thud of the door
28:52severed the rest of his sentence.
28:53Alicia fell into step beside him,
28:55her voice soft and persuasive.
28:58Let's send her to my family's nursing home.
29:01I know you care about her,
29:05but...
29:05please,
29:06stop thinking about bringing her home with us.
29:09Okay?
29:10Malcolm's shoulders dropped,
29:11and he let out a heavy sigh of surrender.
29:15He shoved me into the car,
29:17refusing to look me.
29:26At the moment Malcolm turned to lead Alicia away,
29:29a swarm of reporters descended.
29:37Mr. Harrington,
29:38did you leave your own wedding
29:40for your adopted sister?
29:41Are the rumors of a romance true?
29:44Does Miss Quinn know?
29:45Malcolm pressed his lips into a thin line,
29:47saying nothing.
29:49Alicia took his arm with practice poise,
29:51flashing a smile for the cameras.
29:56You must be joking.
29:57My husband is a man of integrity.
30:00He certainly wouldn't have an affair
30:02with a mentally disabled woman.
30:04He was simply repaying
30:05a past debt of gratitude.
30:08Bodyguards cleared a path back to the venue.
30:10Inside,
30:11the officiant's voice filled the grand hall.
30:14Mr. Harrington,
30:15do you take Mrs. Quinn?
30:17to be your wedded wife?
30:21To love and cherish her,
30:24in sickness and in health,
30:28for richer or poorer,
30:30as long as you both shall live.
30:33Alicia looked up at him,
30:35but the tenderness in his eyes
30:36wasn't meant for her.
30:40Mr. Harrington?
30:44The officiant's voice rose,
30:46pressing him again.
30:47Her hand trembled as she dug her nails
30:49into his palm.
30:50The sharp pain snapped him back to the present.
30:52He finally spoke,
30:54the words dragging.
30:57I
30:58do.
30:59The hall erupted in shears.
31:02The ceremony was flawless,
31:05burying the negative rumors
31:06already trending online.
31:09Malcolm's father nodded with satisfaction.
31:15It's about time.
31:18Follow the path I've laid out.
31:20Build your family and career
31:21and let the past stay dead.
31:28Don't disappoint me again.
31:35That night,
31:36Malcolm sat on the edge of the bed,
31:38his expression blank.
31:40Alicia tried her best to seduce him,
31:41but when he remained cold,
31:43she finally gave up.
31:51You won't admit it,
31:53but you love her, don't you?
31:57She sounded resigned.
32:00People like us
32:00don't get to live how we want.
32:03Just forget her.
32:05Live the life
32:06we're supposed to live.
32:10Even if it's just a duty.
32:12It's the best outcome
32:14for you,
32:15for me,
32:16and,
32:16and for her.
32:17He didn't answer.
32:19He just retreated
32:20into the bathroom
32:21chain-smoking.
32:23In the haze,
32:24his mind drifted back to
32:25when he was 15.
32:26He used to mimic
32:27the adults
32:28smoking raw tobacco
32:29at the village entrance.
32:30Whenever I smelled it on him,
32:32I'd wrinkle my nose,
32:33assuming he was dirty.
32:35I'd shove him toward
32:36a washbasin
32:37and scrub his back
32:37without hesitation,
32:38just like when they were kids.
32:40My clear gaze
32:41would wander over him,
32:43making his face burn.
32:45Don't you know?
32:46If you look at a man's body,
32:48no one will want to marry you.
32:50That wasn't actually true.
32:53I was beautiful.
32:55Even with my disability,
32:56plenty of men were willing
32:57to pay to make my their wife.
32:59But Malcolm had chased
33:00every suitor away with a stick.
33:01Then he lowered his head,
33:03his voice so quiet
33:04he wasn't sure
33:05who he was talking to.
33:10It doesn't matter
33:11if no one else wants you.
33:14I'll marry you myself.
33:18They put me in a white room
33:19with padded walls.
33:20The window was sealed shut,
33:22leaving just a few little holes
33:24drilled in for air.
33:25They let me out
33:26for a few hours a day, though.
33:27The place was packed
33:28with people wearing
33:29the same blue and white
33:30striped clothes I was.
33:32There was a middle-aged woman
33:33with two braids
33:34who'd stand on tables
33:35reciting poetry,
33:36and an old man
33:37who liked to smear his dinner
33:38on the walls
33:39like finger paint.
33:40But the one I saw the most
33:41was a little boy
33:42who didn't know
33:42how to use a fork.
33:43He always grabbed his spaghetti
33:45with his bare hands,
33:46smearing sauce
33:47all over his face.
33:48I crouched down next to him
33:50and took his small hand,
33:51prying his fingers open
33:52one by one
33:53to press the fork
33:54into his palm.
33:55You gotta hold it like this.
33:57I rasped, showing him.
33:59My brother taught me that.
34:01But while I was trying
34:02to teach him,
34:03tears slipped out
34:04and fell right into his plate.
34:05Spooked,
34:06he flipped the plate over
34:07and scrambled under the table,
34:09screaming.
34:09I reached underneath
34:10and pulled him out,
34:11rubbing his back gently.
34:15He bit my wrist,
34:17sinking his teeth deep.
34:18I hissed,
34:19but I kept humming
34:20that old nursery rhyme
34:21with my scratchy voice.
34:22A little bird sings
34:27coming here every spring.
34:31His jaw slowly relaxed.
34:33He leaned back
34:34against my chest
34:35and picked up the fork
34:36as I asked.
34:39The nurses there were gentle.
34:41They'd slip fruit candies
34:42under my pillow.
34:44But my stomach felt hard
34:46and blocked up
34:47and I threw up
34:48everything I ate.
34:49I saved the colorful wrappers anyway,
34:51hiding them under my mattress.
34:52The day the first snow fell,
34:54the little boy dragged me out
34:55to the courtyard,
34:56all excited.
34:58Snowflakes landed
34:59on his open palms.
35:01He tipped his head back
35:02and opened his mouth
35:03to catch them,
35:04eyes crinkling with joy.
35:06Lily!
35:08It's sweet!
35:09I did the same,
35:11tasting it myself.
35:12It was cold
35:13and tasted like nothing.
35:14Silly kid.
35:15I fished the last
35:17two candies out of my pocket,
35:18unwrapped one,
35:19and fed it to him.
35:20I wrapped the other one
35:21back up carefully.
35:23I had to save that one
35:25for Malcolm.
35:26He's loved sweets
35:27since he was little.
35:28Alicia came to visit
35:29while I was drifting
35:30in and out.
35:31She sat by my bed,
35:33faint dark circles
35:33shadowing her eyes.
35:36Lillian.
35:37Her voice was soft.
35:39Just blame this on me.
35:41Leave Chicago
35:42and go back home, okay?
35:44I didn't have the strength
35:45to speak,
35:46so I just nodded.
35:48I still wanted to go back
35:49and check if the little bird
35:50had returned to its nest
35:51in this cold.
35:52The car pulled away
35:53slowly in the snow.
35:54I leaned against the window,
35:56watching the flakes
35:57dance outside.
35:58My eyelids got heavier
35:59and heavier
36:00until I didn't want
36:00to open them anymore.
36:03I lost track of time
36:05before the car
36:05finally jerked to a stop.
36:07The driver,
36:07a middle-aged woman
36:09who'd clearly lost her patience,
36:11practically kicked me out
36:12onto the shoulder
36:12of the road.
36:14Clutching the heavy bags
36:15of bread the nurses
36:15had secretly shoved
36:16into my hands,
36:17I started the slow walk
36:19into the village.
36:20The dirt road
36:21hadn't changed.
36:22A few locals
36:23squatting in the sun
36:24craned their necks
36:24as I passed.
36:26Hey, isn't that Lillian?
36:29The Brooks slow girl?
36:31Didn't that city boy
36:32take her off
36:32to live the good life?
36:34Why's she back
36:35looking like such a wreck?
36:37The gossip made
36:37my ears ring.
36:38I covered them
36:39with my hands
36:40and ran the rest
36:41of the way,
36:42shouldering open
36:42the creaky wooden door
36:43of my house.
36:46My eyes went straight
36:48to the bird's nest
36:48tucked under the eaves.
36:51Panic set in.
36:53I dragged the ladder
36:54over and climbed,
36:55my legs shaking
36:56to look inside.
36:58It was completely empty.
37:00I burst into tears,
37:02sobbing uncontrollably.
37:05Why hadn't the bird
37:07come back?
37:07Did it get lost?
37:11The ladder wobbled
37:12and I tipped backward.
37:15A heavy pain
37:16slammed into my chest
37:17when I hit the ground
37:18and I coughed up
37:19a mouthful of blood.
37:22Through the haze
37:23of confusion,
37:24I heard clear,
37:24bright laughter.
37:25Lily, you dummy!
37:27You have to wedge
37:28the ladder
37:28into the groove!
37:29A teenage Malcolm
37:30was sitting on the roof,
37:31swinging his legs.
37:35When the birds
37:36lay eggs next year,
37:38I'll get them for you.
37:40We can raise
37:41a whole nest of them.
37:43Okay?
37:45Okay!
37:46I swallowed
37:47the metallic taste
37:47of blood,
37:48my voice hoarse.
37:50I struggled to sit up.
37:51The back of my head
37:52throbbed with a dull numbness.
37:54When I reached up
37:55to touch it,
37:56a clump of dry,
37:57yellowing hair
37:57came away in my hand.
37:59On the first day,
38:00I tried to clean the house,
38:01but my nose
38:02wouldn't stop bleeding.
38:03As the drops
38:04hit the dirt floor,
38:05I had to scratch away
38:06the dark red spots
38:07with my fingernails.
38:13On the second day,
38:14I found Malcolm's
38:15old textbook
38:16at the bottom of a trunk.
38:17He had spent
38:18a whole year
38:18teaching me
38:19one specific page
38:20that featured
38:20a drawing of a teacher
38:21with glasses.
38:24I remembered
38:24how he used to
38:25rub my hair
38:26and praise me.
38:28Lily,
38:29you're so smart.
38:32Brad couldn't recite
38:33this at school
38:33and his palms
38:34got swollen
38:35from the roller.
38:36We used to laugh
38:36about that,
38:37but now,
38:38staring at the
38:39dense rows of text,
38:40I couldn't recognize
38:41a single word.
38:42On the third day,
38:43the pain in my head
38:44was unbearable.
38:45I tried to roll over
38:46but tumbled right
38:47off the bed.
38:48I crawled across
38:49the cold floor,
38:50grabbed a piece
38:51of stale bread
38:51from the table
38:52and shoved it
38:53into my mouth.
38:54The door
38:54was kicked open.
38:55A tall figure
38:56stood silhouetted
38:57against the light.
38:58He looked down
38:58at me lying
38:59on the ground
38:59my face drained
39:00of color,
39:01my scalp showing
39:02through my thinning hair
39:02and blood staining
39:03the bread I was eating.
39:05His legs gave out
39:05and he dropped
39:06to his knees
39:06in the doorway,
39:07weeping loudly.
39:08Squinting through
39:09my failing eyes,
39:10I asked softly,
39:12Is that milk?
39:15He rushed over
39:16and hugged me tight,
39:17his whole body trembling.
39:19Why didn't you tell me
39:20you had a brain tumor?
39:24Is that how you
39:25want me to live?
39:28Carrying that guilt
39:29until I die?
39:30How could you be
39:31so cruel?
39:33Come on,
39:35I'm taking you
39:36to a doctor
39:36in Chicago right now.
39:38He tried to pull me up
39:39but froze when he realized
39:40how light and frail
39:41I was.
39:48I shook my head.
39:50I don't want to go anywhere.
39:53I'm just tired.
39:55Malcolm ignored me
39:56and lifted me
39:57into his arms.
39:58His hot tears
39:59fell onto my face.
40:01As we passed
40:02under the eaves,
40:03I tugged at his shirt.
40:12Milk,
40:13please look for me.
40:15Did the bird
40:16come back to the nest?
40:19He froze.
40:21With red eyes,
40:22he gently set me down
40:23on the bench in the yard
40:24and climbed the ladder.
40:34He stayed there
40:35for a long time
40:36before looking back
40:36with a forced smile.
40:40They're back.
40:42The birds are all back.
40:44Relief finally washed over me
40:46and I slowly closed my eyes.
40:49Lily?
40:50His voice shook
40:51as he tucked my cold feet
40:53against his chest
40:53to warm them.
40:56The birds really are back.
40:59Open your eyes
41:00and look.
41:06If you don't want to leave,
41:08I'll stay here with you.
41:18We can look for bird eggs
41:20together again
41:20next year, okay?
41:23I suddenly thought
41:25of that text
41:25from Malcolm's book
41:26and asked him
41:26to help me read it
41:27one last time.
41:28Malcolm.
41:31He stroked my head,
41:32his hand coming away
41:33with more loose hair.
41:35Choking back sobs,
41:37he began to read.
41:39Birds may fly away,
41:43yet they find
41:44their way back.
41:46Trees may doubt,
41:48yet their branches
41:49reach for the sun.
41:57Flowers may vanish,
42:00yet they rise
42:01in bloom again.
42:02I followed along,
42:04my voice breaking.
42:08But,
42:10Malk,
42:11you're the smart one.
42:16Tell me,
42:18why
42:19do our days
42:21never return
42:22once they're
42:23gone?
42:25I smiled
42:26after I said it.
42:28Turned out I remembered
42:29the words after all.
42:31He continued reciting,
42:33laughing and crying
42:33at the same time.
42:39But his voice
42:40sounded increasingly distant,
42:42like it was coming
42:43from far away.
42:44As he reached
42:45the final sentence,
42:46warm sunlight
42:47filled the courtyard,
42:48and a sudden
42:48fluttering sound
42:49came from the eaves.
42:50He looked up
42:51and saw two birds
42:52circling the old nest,
42:53busy building
42:54their home.
42:58He suddenly realized
42:59the body in his arms
43:00was cold,
43:01and her chest
43:02had stopped rising.
43:05He didn't speak.
43:06He just tightened
43:07his hold
43:07and stared blankly
43:08at the busy birds,
43:10remembering a song.
43:15The little bird sings,
43:17coming here
43:18every spring.
43:24I ask the bird
43:25why it comes,
43:26and the bird says,
43:30because the spring here
43:31is the most beautiful.
43:34and the bird says,
43:41and the bird says,
43:42and the bird says,
43:43and the bird says,
43:44and the bird says,
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