- 1 day ago
Mom, I Died as You Wished New
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I was in a car accident with my younger sister.
00:03Her heart was ruptured.
00:04Surgery now!
00:06But mom, the hospital director, gathered every doctor around my sister's bedside instead.
00:11They examined Emily head to toe despite only having minor scratches.
00:15I begged mom to save me, but she looked at me like I was dirt.
00:19Can you stop pretending for attention?
00:22Do you know your sister almost broke a bone?
00:26In the end, I died alone, in a corner.
00:30No one even noticed.
00:31So why did the mom who hated me most go crazy when she saw my dead body?
00:37In the final three minutes of my life, my soul drifted to mom's side.
00:42She was sitting at my sister Emily's bedside, praying with worry.
00:47Emily, baby, don't scare mommy.
00:50Wake up, okay?
00:53If Sophia had actually done her job and protected her sister, Emily wouldn't be like this.
01:00Just wait.
01:01I'm gonna beat the hell out of the brat.
01:04Dad, you don't have to.
01:07I'm already dead.
01:09Killed by your indifference.
01:12Then, the doctors crowded around Emily's bed.
01:14Get a chest x-ray.
01:15They confirmed her injuries were only scrapes.
01:17One of the older doctors finally dared to bring me up.
01:21Director Susan, should we really not check on Sophia?
01:24Her injuries look pretty bad.
01:26What's she pulling now?
01:27Playing dead?
01:29Doesn't she get what she did to her own sister?
01:31I stared at her, stunned.
01:33My dead heart throbbed with pain.
01:35I was her daughter too.
01:37Did she really not care at all?
01:39Suddenly, mom grabbed her phone and called me.
01:42The nurse held the phone up to my ear.
01:44I waited for something.
01:46Anything that sounded like concern.
01:49Sophia, when are you going to crawl out of bed and apologize to your sister?
01:54Something inside me went cold.
01:56Right.
01:57She doesn't care.
01:58Of course she didn't.
02:00When they wheeled me into the ER, I begged her to save me.
02:03All she said was,
02:05Do you have to fight for attention even at a time like this?
02:09Didn't you realize your sister almost broke a bone?
02:12Then she walked off with every doctor to tend to Emily.
02:15He didn't look back once.
02:17She had no room left to love me.
02:20The nurse couldn't take it.
02:23She took the phone.
02:26Director!
02:28Sophia really isn't going to make it.
02:33How much did the little bitch pay you to put on this show?
02:38I can believe she's capable of something like this.
02:41Just as she finished speaking, Emily, who had been acting unconscious the whole time, finally woke up.
02:47She faked a weak voice and asked,
02:51Mom.
02:52Dad.
02:53How's Sophie?
02:54Mom looked at her perfect, well-behaved younger daughter.
02:58The disgust on her face deepened.
03:01Sophia!
03:02Why can't you be more like your sister?
03:04She nearly died because of you!
03:06Get over here in three minutes and apologize.
03:09Or don't bother coming home again.
03:12She hung up.
03:13Her chest was heaving with anger.
03:16Dad was right beside her, scowling.
03:18Why bother calling him?
03:20Isn't it enough that he nearly got Emily killed?
03:22Emily couldn't hide the smug curl at the edge of her mouth.
03:25She dropped her head and put on a guilt-stricken expression.
03:28Mom, Dad, don't be mad at her.
03:31Sophia's still hung up about how I took her overseas scholarship.
03:34She has every right to blame me.
03:38I almost laughed.
03:40I'm dead, and she's still poisoning Mom and Dad against me.
03:43But of course they couldn't see it.
03:45Emily was always the sweet one.
03:47The good daughter.
03:49Always.
03:50They'd never imagine that their innocent daughter
03:52was the one who'd pushed me into traffic.
03:56Hearing the scholarship thing, Mom's face went cold.
04:00What's the point of sending someone that selfish abroad?
04:03She'd come back ten times more rotten!
04:05Emily, sweet as honey.
04:08Mom, don't be angry.
04:11I'm sure Sophia has her reasons.
04:14Mom's eyes softened.
04:16Emily, you're too kind.
04:19That's why she's been able to bully you all your life.
04:22This was Emily.
04:24Always knew exactly what to say to win our parents' hearts.
04:27I knew even if I stood right in front of them
04:30and listed every cruel thing Emily had ever done,
04:34they'd slap me across the face.
04:36You're a liar!
04:38Why are you so jealous?
04:40After all these years, I'd gotten used to it.
04:44The door suddenly banged open.
04:46My older brother Eric came barreling in,
04:49eyes wild, scanning Emily for injuries.
04:51The second he'd heard, he'd jumped on a flight from out of state without a second thought.
04:56Same as Mom and Dad, his world began and ended with Emily.
05:01Once Eric confirmed Emily was fine, he let out a long breath.
05:05His face hardened.
05:07I've always said it, Sophia's a curse on this family.
05:11Since the day Emily was born, she's been hurting her again and again.
05:15Don't be mad, Eric.
05:18Even if Sophia did push me into the road,
05:21I'm sure she didn't mean it.
05:24What?
05:24She pushed you?
05:26That little bitch.
05:28I am not done with her.
05:30Eric's eyes turned to acid, as if he wished he could rip me into pieces.
05:33Emily's flinched, careful not to push too hard.
05:35Please don't be mad at Sophie, okay?
05:37Maybe I remembered it wrong.
05:39No matter what, she's still my sister.
05:42She wouldn't do something like that.
05:44You're too naive.
05:46You have no idea how cruel people can be.
05:48It's truly a blessing to have a daughter like you.
05:51Don't worry, we're done with Sophia.
05:54Just focus on getting better.
05:56The warm afternoon sun pooled gold across Emily's bed.
05:59I watched them, the perfect family of four, laughing, comforting each other.
06:02Something acid rose in my throat.
06:04I realized how out of place my soul truly was.
06:06Like I wasn't their family.
06:08Like I was a stray dog.
06:09I wanted to leave.
06:10But my soul was glued to mom.
06:12I couldn't move.
06:13Couldn't speak.
06:13I had to stand there and let them tear me apart.
06:16A few days later, after the family had nursed her tirelessly,
06:18Emily was discharged.
06:19Mom was busy packing her bags.
06:21Dad pulled the car right up to the hospital entrance,
06:23afraid Emily might have to walk even a single extra step.
06:25Eric knelt down to slip Emily's shoes onto her feet.
06:28On the drive home, mom muttered the whole way,
06:30Sophia is really something else.
06:32She doesn't even visit her sister at the hospital, let alone apologize.
06:36I'm going to teach her a lesson once we get home.
06:39Told you.
06:40Keeping that one at home is asking for trouble.
06:42She's going to get someone killed someday.
06:44The words, teach her a lesson, stuck in my chest.
06:46Many memories of the lesson flooded my mind.
06:49Since I was young, mom had favored Emily, always made me yield.
06:53Because the day Emily was born, I'd knocked over a glass of water.
06:56Mom slipped, went into labor early.
06:59Emily spent her first weeks in an incubator.
07:01The whole family's hearts was broke.
07:03The whole family that once loved me changed overnight.
07:07Dad was mad at me.
07:08You jinx!
07:09Your sister was born and you almost killed her!
07:12They were full of disappointment.
07:14I believed them.
07:15I thought I'd hurt my sister, so I did everything I could for her.
07:18I brushed her hair, gave her pony rides, and took her to and from school.
07:23But to my parents, it was never enough.
07:25In elementary school, dad locked me in my room and takes my supper away.
07:29You should reflect on yourself.
07:30And that was because Emily wanted my only doll.
07:34And for the first time, I said no.
07:36Dad had brought many toys home for Emily from a business trip and tossed me one as an afterthought.
07:42But I loved it.
07:43It was my only doll.
07:44Emily had boxes of toys she couldn't even fit in her room.
07:48But she had to have mine.
07:49When I wouldn't let go, she screamed and shoved me to the ground.
07:53Tears streamed down her face.
07:55Sophia, your sister has suffered enough because of you.
07:58What more do you want?
08:00I didn't!
08:01Mom, don't be mad.
08:03It's my fault.
08:04I shouldn't have fought Sophia for her toy.
08:07A cold-hearted girl like you isn't worth keeping.
08:10You'll bring this family down.
08:12That night, I curled up in the corner of my room.
08:15Hunger was eating me alive.
08:17And I thought it was my fault too.
08:19Crying, I begged them to let me out.
08:21I'm sorry, Emily.
08:22I'll never fight with you over anything again.
08:25But on the other side of the door, there was nothing.
08:27From that day on, every time Emily cried, the hungry and the dark night followed.
08:32After a while, I stopped crying.
08:35I stopped trying to explain.
08:36I stopped trying to win their love back.
08:38And now, they left me cold and lifeless on the operating table.
08:43Since I was young, Mom had favored Emily.
08:45Always made me yield.
08:46Because the day Emily was born, I'd knocked over a glass of water.
08:50Mom slipped.
08:51Went into labor early.
08:52Emily spent her first weeks in an incubator.
08:55The whole family's hearts was broke.
08:57The whole family that once loved me changed overnight.
09:01Dad was mad at me.
09:02You jinx!
09:03Your sister was born and you almost killed her!
09:06They were full of disappointment.
09:07I believed them.
09:09I thought I'd hurt my sister.
09:10So I did everything I could for her.
09:12I brushed her hair, gave her pony rides, and took her to and from school.
09:17But to my parents, it was never enough.
09:19In elementary school, Dad locked me in my room and takes my supper away.
09:23You should reflect on yourself.
09:24And that was because Emily wanted my only doll.
09:27And for the first time, I said no.
09:30Dad had brought many toys home for Emily from a business trip and tossed me one as an afterthought.
09:36But I loved it.
09:37It was my only doll.
09:38Emily had boxes of toys she couldn't even fit in her room.
09:41But she had to have mine.
09:43When I wouldn't let go, she screamed and shoved me to the ground.
09:47Tears streamed down her face.
09:49Sophia, your sister has suffered enough because of you.
09:52What more do you want?
09:54I didn't!
09:55Mom, don't be mad.
09:57It's my fault.
09:58I shouldn't have fought Sophia for her toy.
10:01A cold-hearted girl like you isn't worth keeping.
10:04You'll bring this family down.
10:06That night, I curled up in the corner of my room.
10:09Hunger was eating me alive.
10:10And I thought it was my fault too.
10:13Crying, I begged them to let me out.
10:15I'm sorry, Emily.
10:16I'll never fight with you over anything again.
10:18But on the other side of the door, there was nothing.
10:21From that day on, every time Emily cried, the hungry and the dark night followed.
10:26After a while, I stopped crying.
10:28I stopped trying to explain.
10:30I stopped trying to win their love back.
10:32And now, they left me cold and lifeless on the operating table.
10:36As soon as they got home from the hospital, Emily flopped onto the couch.
10:40The moment she said she was hungry, Eric bolted for the kitchen,
10:44declaring he'd show off something new he'd learned to cook.
10:47Eric had never entered the kitchen in his life.
10:50He scrolled through nutrition recipes on his phone,
10:52terrified of getting anything wrong for Emily.
10:55Dad even pulled out a brand new luxury handbag from this season.
10:58Said it was her welcome home gift to celebrate her near-death recovery.
11:02Mom cleaned Emily's room top to bottom.
11:05She brought in plants, said the fresh air would help her heal.
11:08Emily lounged on the couch, fiddling with the bag.
11:10The entire household was orbiting around her.
11:13And me, my soul, tethered to this place I'd known all my life.
11:18It had never felt so cold.
11:20Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
11:21I saw a face I knew better than my own.
11:24My boyfriend, Ethan.
11:26He came in and went straight to Emily.
11:30I'm so glad you're okay.
11:31I brought some things for you.
11:33I wanted to check in.
11:35Ethan, you didn't have to come all this way.
11:37I'm completely fine.
11:38The cold, untouchable boy I knew turned into something soft and brotherly when he was around Emily.
11:44I watched him.
11:46He was a stranger.
11:47Then he said it.
11:49Where's Sophia?
11:50If he hadn't mentioned me, I think they would have forgotten I existed.
11:54At my name, mom's face went dark.
11:57Why bring her up?
11:59I scolded her once, and she stomped out of the house!
12:09Fine by me.
12:10If she likes being out there so much, she can stay away forever.
12:14She can die out there for all I care.
12:19The house would finally be peaceful.
12:21Maybe that's for the best.
12:23So she doesn't disturb Emily's recovery.
12:28So, when are you breaking up with Sophia?
12:31You'd better lock our girl down before someone takes her.
12:33Actually, I was planning to tell her today while I was over here.
12:38A bitter, sour thing rose from my chest into my throat.
12:42I gave a quiet, self-mocking smile.
12:45Turned away.
12:46I couldn't look at any of them anymore.
12:48I had long grown used to the feeling of being unloved anyway.
12:52After dinner, mom grew irritable for some reason.
12:55She slipped into her room alone.
12:56Started scrolling on her phone.
12:58Hunting for something.
12:59I drifted over.
13:00She was looking for me.
13:02My contact.
13:03She dialed.
13:05Dialed again.
13:07Dialed again.
13:09Call failed.
13:10No one picked up.
13:12After a while, she slammed the phone down.
13:14She won't even pick up now.
13:16Do you think anyone actually cares about you?
13:21I wanted to say,
13:22Mom, I'm dead.
13:24Who would answer?
13:25Then she called the nurse from the hospital.
13:29Hello?
13:30Did Sean tell you what kind of stun he's trying to pull?
13:32Tell her to cut the crap.
13:35Tell her to come home and apologize to her sister and I'll let her back in.
13:39There was a long pause on the other end.
13:43Director, Sophia died over a week ago.
13:50Her heart ruptured in the accident.
13:52But you'd ordered all the doctors into your other daughter's room.
13:56There was no one left to do the surgery.
13:58Mom's pupils snapped wide.
13:59She froze.
14:00She refused to believe it.
14:02She started piecing the day back together.
14:04Spoke with cold confidence.
14:05That's not possible.
14:07They were in the same car.
14:10Emily's already home.
14:11Don't think I can't see through her little tricks.
14:13She's competing with her sister for attention.
14:15She wants me to worry.
14:17I am warning you.
14:19Both of you.
14:20Stop playing this game or you'll regret it.
14:23Director, I'm not lying.
14:25If you don't believe me, go down to the morgue yourself.
14:32All of you.
14:34Conspiring against me.
14:35You have no idea who you're messing with.
14:40Ethan's still here.
14:41What are you screaming about?
14:42Mom clutched her phone to her chest with both hands.
14:44Looked at Dad, helpless for the first time.
14:47The nurse said Sophia's dead.
14:50That can't be true, can it?
14:54How are you this glovable?
14:56If she'd really been hurt that bad,
14:58that little snake would have made sure to drag Emily down with her.
15:01Look at Emily.
15:02She's fine.
15:03Yeah, ma'am.
15:03She doesn't die easy.
15:05We're lucky she hasn't taken the rest of us down with her.
15:10If the annoying brap is dead, isn't that better?
15:12Why are you stressing about it?
15:14I'd known they all favored Emily,
15:15but to see what I was in their eyes,
15:17after all these years,
15:19even if they didn't love me,
15:20they should have known me.
15:22They should have known I'd never gamble with my own life
15:24just to win attention.
15:26They worked on Mom from all sides.
15:28She straightened her back.
15:29The arrogance came flooding back.
15:30First thing tomorrow,
15:31I'm going down to that hospital and exposing them.
15:34If Sophia isn't actually in that morgue,
15:36I'm breaking her legs.
15:37And firing that nurse on the spot.
15:40Maybe heaven took pity on me.
15:41Outside,
15:42a light rain started to fall.
15:44Their casual words landed on me like slaps across the face.
15:47Sharp.
15:48Ringing.
15:49But I had no voice to cry out.
15:51Now I understood.
15:52All of them.
15:53All of them had been hoping I'd die.
15:56The next morning,
15:57Mom didn't even eat.
15:58She drove straight to the hospital.
15:59Dad was uneasy and went with her.
16:01The whole way.
16:02Still making me run such a useless errand with her petty tricks.
16:05But the moment she stepped into the mug and saw my body,
16:09she staggered back.
16:10Slid down against the wall.
16:12Hugged herself.
16:12How could this be?
16:13How could this happen?
16:15She didn't look that hurt.
16:17She was even alert.
16:18I didn't look seriously hurt.
16:20Just a few scratches on my hands from holding my sister.
16:23But because I had totally healed her,
16:25cradling her beneath me,
16:26the full force of the impact shattered my heart.
16:29I looked alert because the adrenaline was off the charts.
16:33My organs were shredded.
16:34If Mom,
16:35the director of the entire hospital,
16:37had spared me one careful look,
16:40she would have seen it.
16:40But she only had eyes for Emily.
16:43Not once did she look at me.
16:44Dad reached out a hand,
16:45like he wanted to touch my face.
16:47Maybe my body was too disfigured.
16:49His hand stopped in midair.
16:50When they heard the news,
16:52Emily and Eric came rushing over.
16:54She bolted to my bedside,
16:56dropped to her knees,
16:57started wailing.
16:58Sophia, why?
17:00How could you be so stupid?
17:03Just because I took your study abroad spot two years ago,
17:05you hated me that much?
17:06You hated me enough to kill yourself?
17:08When she'd finished the performance,
17:10she sat back and started slapping herself across the face.
17:13I'm sorry, Sophia.
17:15It's my fault.
17:16They lunged to stop her.
17:18It's okay, Emily.
17:19It's not your fault.
17:20She did this to herself.
17:22She got what she deserved.
17:23Study abroad spot.
17:24My head went quiet.
17:25The memory pulled me back two years.
17:27I was four years older than Emily.
17:29Her senior year of high school
17:30was my senior year of college.
17:32I'd studied like my life depended on it,
17:34because it did.
17:35Four years,
17:36top of my class every semester.
17:38By the end,
17:39I had a guaranteed offer
17:40from one of the top grad schools in the world.
17:42Emily had coasted through high school.
17:45She didn't get into a decent college.
17:48But that day,
17:49she came home
17:50and told mom and dad
17:50she wanted to study abroad.
17:51They knew she'd just go overseas and party.
17:53They said yes anyway.
17:54That night,
17:55mom made me a huge dinner,
17:56kept piling food onto my plate.
17:59Sophia,
18:00we can only afford
18:01to send one of you abroad.
18:03Your sister just graduated high school.
18:05I put my fork down.
18:07Mom,
18:08even if you send Emily overseas,
18:10you're throwing money away.
18:11That's a top clear school I got into.
18:13It was the first time in my life
18:14I'd ever pushed back.
18:15Sophia,
18:16your dad and I raised you.
18:18Isn't it time you started thinking
18:19about how to take care of us?
18:20Can you really sit there
18:21and watch your sister
18:22with no school to go to?
18:23How heartless are you?
18:25Are you trying to put me
18:26and your father into the grave?
18:28She was working herself up.
18:29Maybe I was still clinging
18:31to that last sliver of love
18:32I thought she had for me.
18:33Mom,
18:34calm down.
18:35I'll give the spot to her.
18:36I regret it now.
18:37If I hadn't,
18:38I'd be overseas with a real job.
18:40I wouldn't have died like this.
18:42A few days later,
18:43out of guilt,
18:44mom held a passable funeral for me.
18:46A few relatives showed up,
18:48a few of mom's co-workers
18:49from the hospital.
18:50The nurse who'd helped me was there.
18:51She walked up to my casket
18:53with a bunch of flowers.
18:54I'm so sorry.
18:55If I'd been braver,
18:57maybe you wouldn't have died.
18:58Came not late.
18:59Just wait.
19:00What goes around,
19:01comes around,
19:02and the jerk's about
19:03to get what's coming.
19:04Sophia was always difficult.
19:06This time,
19:07she couldn't let go
19:08of an old grudge
19:09and tried to hurt her sister
19:11and got herself killed in the end.
19:13Everyone knew mom favored Emily.
19:15They knew what I'd been put through,
19:17but nobody wanted to start anything.
19:19They just nodded along.
19:20Then sirens cut through the chatter.
19:22A group of officers
19:23parted the crowd
19:24and walked straight up
19:25to mom and Emily.
19:26Officers,
19:27can I help you?
19:27Mom looked confused.
19:29The lead officer
19:29compared her face to a photo.
19:31Are you Susan Bennett?
19:31He held up an arrest warrant.
19:33You need to come with us.
19:34We received reports
19:35that you abused medical resources.
19:40What?
19:41Are you crazy?
19:42My mom is the most dedicated doctor I know.
19:44She'd never do something like that.
19:46You need evidence.
19:46She spun around,
19:47screaming.
19:49Who reported my mom?
19:50The nurse,
19:51who'd been standing in the back,
19:53stepped forward quietly.
19:54I did.
19:55Ma'am, calm down.
19:56We're doing this by the book.
19:57Pull that again
19:58and you're coming in too.
19:59You want evidence?
20:00We've got evidence.
20:01It was the security footage
20:03from outside the operating room.
20:04The video clearly captured
20:05the conversation I had that day
20:07with my mom
20:07and the nurse over the phone.
20:09There was no denying it.
20:10Mom went pale
20:11and pitched forward.
20:12Emily caught her.
20:13A second officer leaned in
20:14and murmured something to the lead.
20:16The lead pulled up another photo,
20:17studied Emily carefully.
20:19You're under arrest
20:19on suspicion of a premeditated murder.
20:21Please come with us as well.
20:22The whole crowd erupted.
20:24Even I was lost.
20:25Everyone had suspected mom of something.
20:27But Emily?
20:28The murder?
20:29Emily's face cracked.
20:30You're lying!
20:30I never did anything like that!
20:32Try me!
20:33Try me!
20:34I want to see your evidence!
20:35The officer calmly raised his phone again.
20:37It was another security footage
20:39outside our house.
20:40Emily sneaked over to my car.
20:42She tampered with the brake lines,
20:44muttering under her breath.
20:45Go to hell!
20:46She hadn't known that day.
20:47Mom had forced me
20:48to drive Emily somewhere.
20:50Emily had no choice
20:51but to get in.
20:52That's why she'd been
20:53so jumpy in the car.
20:55Why she kept telling me
20:56to drive slow.
20:57Eric collapsed to her knees,
20:59sobbing.
21:00Emily!
21:01Why?
21:02I think I know why.
21:04A few months earlier,
21:05Emily had racked up
21:06massive gambling debts.
21:08Loan sharks.
21:09She had nowhere to turn.
21:11She'd come to me.
21:12I didn't have that kind of money.
21:14Told her to confess to police.
21:17Don't please!
21:18They'll break my hands!
21:19They'll ruin me!
21:20Please, sis!
21:21Please help me!
21:22But I couldn't let her
21:22keep digging deeper.
21:24I couldn't let mom and dad's
21:25life faintings vanish
21:26into a black hole.
21:27No.
21:28Okay.
21:29You're right.
21:30I'll turn myself in.
21:32Just give me two days.
21:33I need time to prepare.
21:35I felt sorry for her.
21:36I softened.
21:37Yes.
21:39She used those two days
21:40to plan my murder.
21:41The officer pulled out
21:42one more video.
21:43Dashcam footage.
21:44He slid the phone
21:45toward mom.
21:46Look.
21:47This is the daughter
21:48you condemned to die.
21:50In the video,
21:50the second the car flipped,
21:52I twisted my body
21:53around Emily,
21:54locked her in tight,
21:55shielded her with my chest.
21:56Mom,
21:56Dad,
21:57Eric.
21:57All three of them
21:58turned slowly
21:58to look at Emily.
21:59The room went dead silent.
22:01Then mom snapped.
22:02She lunged at Emily
22:03and seized her by the collar.
22:04Murderer!
22:05How could you?
22:06How could you do that
22:08to your own sister?
22:09She tried to slap Emily.
22:11The officer caught her wrist.
22:12It was the first time
22:13in my entire life
22:14I'd seen mom raise a hand to her.
22:16Emily knew it was over.
22:17She tipped her head back
22:18and laughed.
22:19Then she looked mom
22:20dead in the eye.
22:21All the sweetness
22:21gone.
22:22Her eyes were ice.
22:23Evil?
22:25You're the one who taught me.
22:27Murdered her?
22:28On the day of the accident,
22:29you're the one who pulled
22:30every doctor into my room
22:31so they couldn't operate on her.
22:33If it weren't for you, mom,
22:34do you really think
22:35I could have killed her
22:36that easily?
22:37The words went through mom
22:38like a steel pin.
22:39Her body went rigid.
22:40Years of choices
22:41wrapped around her
22:42like a noose.
22:43Guilt landed all at once.
22:45And finally,
22:45finally,
22:46she felt something for me.
22:47She started yanking
22:48her own hair.
22:49Her eyes were enormous.
22:50She shook her head
22:51over and over.
22:53I'm sorry, Sophia.
22:54I'm so sorry.
22:55It's my fault.
22:56I wronged you
22:57for so many years.
22:59I'm the one who should die.
23:01Sophia, wake up.
23:02Wake up.
23:03Mommy's sorry.
23:04Mommy's begging you.
23:05Mommy's on her knees.
23:07You wanted to study abroad?
23:09Mommy will pay.
23:10Mommy will send you.
23:11No.
23:12Mommy will come with you.
23:13Mommy will go with you, okay?
23:15She slammed her head
23:16into the stone.
23:17The officers rushed
23:18to pull her back,
23:18but her blood was already
23:20on the photo.
23:20Bright red in the sunlight.
23:22As bright as the sun
23:23the day she'd held me
23:24as a newborn.
23:25If mom's apology
23:26had come earlier,
23:27maybe I could have known
23:28what a mother's love felt like.
23:29I was dead.
23:30My heart was dead.
23:32Whatever she said now,
23:33I would never forgive her.
23:35But mom,
23:36I don't blame you.
23:37I just can't make peace
23:38with all the hurt
23:39I lived through.
23:40I can't accept
23:41that my own mother
23:42let me die alone
23:43on an operating table.
23:44The officers took mom
23:46and Emily.
23:46Dad and Eric
23:47were brought in
23:48for questioning.
23:49The nurse walked to my grave.
23:50I was brave this time.
23:52The people who hurt you
23:53are gone.
23:53The law will give you justice.
23:55She was new on the job.
23:56New nurses always blame themselves
23:58when patients die.
23:59She reminded me of myself
24:00when I was first starting out
24:02taking everything
24:02onto my own shoulders.
24:04I patted her gently
24:05on the shoulder.
24:06It wasn't your fault.
24:07Just look forward.
24:08But I was just a soul.
24:09She couldn't feel it.
24:10Couldn't hear me.
24:10Two weeks later,
24:11the verdict came down.
24:13Emily got the death penalty.
24:14Mom got life.
24:15No parole.
24:16Maybe because justice
24:17had been done.
24:18My soul came loose.
24:19I could go wherever I wanted.
24:21I wasn't shackled
24:22to mom anymore.
24:23In her final days,
24:24Emily was eaten alive
24:25by the fear of dying.
24:26She didn't dare
24:27close her eyes at night,
24:28banging her head
24:29against the walls
24:29like a madwoman.
24:30She repeated over and over
24:31that she hadn't done
24:32anything wrong.
24:33In a single week,
24:34she wasted away to bones.
24:35In another lifetime,
24:37mom and dad and Eric
24:38would have been devastated
24:39to see her like that.
24:40But this time,
24:40nobody came.
24:41The day of her execution,
24:42I floated overhead
24:43and watched.
24:44The second she died,
24:45her soul lifted out
24:46of her body,
24:47exactly the way mine had.
24:49She saw me.
24:50Her eyes went huge
24:51with terror.
24:52Sis, I'm sorry.
24:52I was wrong.
24:53Please don't kill me.
24:55Don't kill me.
24:55Aren't you already dead?
24:57She looked down
24:57at her own body,
24:58screamed,
24:59and then her soul
25:00shattered into pieces
25:00and was gone.
25:01Only I could hear it,
25:02being a soul too.
25:04The girl who'd killed me
25:05wouldn't even get
25:06a next life.
25:07I'd call us even.
25:08Mom spent her days
25:09in prison,
25:10being tortured
25:11by her own mind.
25:13Crying one minute,
25:14laughing the next.
25:16Running.
25:18Raging.
25:19Sometimes,
25:21she hit the guards.
25:23Sometimes,
25:25she hit herself.
25:26It would take
25:27three of them
25:28to hold her down.
25:30Eventually,
25:31the prison brought
25:31in psychiatrists.
25:33Mom was diagnosed
25:34with trauma-induced psychosis.
25:36They moved her
25:37to a psychiatric hospital.
25:38It only got worse.
25:41My daughter's name
25:42is Sophia.
25:43She got into
25:44one of the top
25:45graduate schools
25:46in the world.
25:47She's studying abroad
25:48right now.
25:49When she comes home,
25:50I'll bring her
25:51to meet you.
25:53She's tall.
25:55She's beautiful.
25:57She's been the sweetest girl
25:58since the day
25:59she was born.
26:00Sometimes,
26:01she'd have a few
26:02minutes of clarity.
26:03She'd sit on her bed
26:04and stare out the window.
26:06Maybe it's a
26:07mother-daughter thing.
26:08I could feel her
26:09in those moments
26:10drowning.
26:12The years she'd thrown away
26:13were piling on top of her
26:15and they were never
26:16going to stop.
26:18Right before I moved on
26:19to my next life,
26:20Mom was sitting
26:21on the edge of her bed
26:22and this time,
26:23she saw me.
26:27Sophia,
26:29you came back.
26:33Did you come back
26:34to see Mommy?
26:38Mommy's so sorry, baby.
26:39Will you forgive Mommy?
26:41Mommy remembered.
26:42Used to love candy.
26:44Mommy saved these for you.
26:45When I was little,
26:46I had loved candy.
26:48But Mom only ever
26:49gave it to Emily.
26:50Never to me.
26:50Emily used to wave
26:51hers in my face
26:52when Mom wasn't looking.
26:53Then,
26:54she popped it in her mouth
26:55so I couldn't have any.
26:56After I grew up,
26:57I stopped eating candy entirely.
26:59Mom's hands twisted
27:01in her lap.
27:02You're all grown up now.
27:04Mommy still thinks of you
27:05as my little girl.
27:06I stared at her
27:07for a long time.
27:08Mom.
27:09Yes, baby.
27:11Mom,
27:12I don't blame you.
27:14But I'm never going
27:15to forgive you.
27:17Okay.
27:18That's okay.
27:19I owe you, baby.
27:22You're right not
27:22to forgive me.
27:24I was afraid
27:25I'd lose it.
27:26I turned
27:27and walked away.
27:28Didn't look back.
27:29That night,
27:30Eric got a phone call.
27:32Your mother.
27:33Her condition deteriorated.
27:35She slit her wrists
27:36and tried to kill herself.
27:37By the time we found her,
27:38she was gone.
27:39I'm so sorry.
27:40Our condolences.
27:41Sophia.
27:44You came back.
27:48Did you come back
27:49to see Mommy?
27:52Mommy's so sorry, baby.
27:54Will you forgive Mommy?
27:56Mommy remembered.
27:57Used to love candy.
27:59Mommy saved these for you.
28:00When I was little,
28:01I had loved candy.
28:02But Mom only ever gave it to Emily.
28:04Never to me.
28:05Emily used to wave hers in my face
28:07when Mom wasn't looking.
28:08Then,
28:08she popped it in her mouth
28:10so I couldn't have any.
28:11After I grew up,
28:12I stopped eating candy entirely.
28:14Mom's hands twisted in her lap.
28:27Of course.
28:28But I'm never going to forgive you.
28:32Okay.
28:33That's okay.
28:34I owe you, baby.
28:36You're right not to forgive me.
28:39I was afraid I'd lose it.
28:41I turned and walked away.
28:43Didn't look back.
28:44That night,
28:45Eric got a phone call.
28:47Your mother,
28:48her condition deteriorated.
28:50She slit her wrists
28:50and tried to kill herself.
28:52By the time we found her,
28:53she was gone.
28:53I'm so sorry.
28:55Our condolences.
28:56I had a little bit of time left.
28:58I drifted back to my own grave.
28:59I wanted to say something to myself.
29:01I wanted to say goodbye.
29:03Instead,
29:03I found Ethan.
29:05I scoffed.
29:06What's he doing here?
29:07He looked up.
29:07He could hear me now.
29:08Sophia,
29:09is that you?
29:10Can you see?
29:12I got revenge for you.
29:14After you died,
29:15I used visiting Emily as cover.
29:16I got into your house.
29:18I found the security footage
29:19of her cutting your brake lines.
29:20I gave it to the police.
29:21It hit me.
29:22After I died,
29:23he must have gone to the crash site.
29:25He'd loved working on cars his whole life.
29:27He would have seen the cut brake lines in seconds.
29:29He'd never betrayed me.
29:30He pretended to fall for Emily
29:32to get close enough to find proof.
29:34He helped me,
29:35but so what?
29:36After all these years of being his girlfriend,
29:38he always kept that cold expression,
29:40taking comfort in my care.
29:42I shouldn't have been so cold to you all the time.
29:44I really do love you.
29:46I've just gotten used to your devotion.
29:49If there's another life,
29:50I'll treat you better.
29:51Too late.
29:52If there's a next life,
29:55I want someone who truly loves me.
29:57He seemed to hear me
29:58and looked my way.
29:59No, no, Sophie.
30:01I love you.
30:02It's fine.
30:03Next life,
30:04I'll pursue you.
30:05I shook my head.
30:06If there's a new life,
30:08I will start completely new.
30:10I had nothing left holding me here.
30:12My body felt lighter and lighter.
30:14I started slipping past
30:15whatever had been keeping me together.
30:17I knew my time was up.
30:18A peace settled over me
30:20I'd never felt before.
30:22Like I was here to show the living
30:23that the end of a life
30:25isn't really an end.
30:26It's the start of the next journey.
30:28My soul drifted back
30:29to the day of the crash.
30:30This time,
30:31the surgery was a success.
30:33It ended my terrible life.
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