- 23 hours ago
The DNA Truth New
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Short filmTranscript
00:01i hadn't spoken to my parents in 10 years not since the day they screamed at me to get lost
00:05and never come back so when my business partner told me the brit group my father's company had
00:10requested me personally as their wedding photographer i almost laughed then i saw
00:14the groom's name jeffrey beasley the boy who used to climb over my backyard fence with candy in his
00:19pocket the one who promised when we grow up i'll take you away from here we'll see the world
00:26she's marrying my sister at the reception my mother marched into my dressing room with tears
00:30in her eyes elon we raised you for 18 years how can you be so heartless i looked up at
00:38her calm as ice
00:39mrs brit please release me i have work to do her face went ghost white good let her feel a
00:45fraction
00:45of what i felt at 12 years old when they packed my bags and sent me to live alone in
00:49an old house
00:50while my sister took my bedroom my piano my parents love but what they don't know yet what none of
00:54them
00:54know is that i'm not adopted at all i'm their biological daughter and today i'm bringing the
00:59dna proof to destroy a wedding at a wedding shoot i ran into my parents i hadn't spoken to them
01:06for a
01:06decade they were mingling with other guests their smiles freezing the instant their eyes landed on me
01:12once the reception ended they marched straight into the backstage dressing room why haven't you come
01:17home for the past 10 years mom blurted out her accusation her eyes were rimmed red as she glared at
01:23me i didn't answer or look up i focused on cleaning my camera lens the next second she stepped forward
01:28and seized my wrist her voice rose to a raw pitch elon we're your parents we raised you for 18
01:34years
01:35how can you be so heartless i lifted my head with a frown i was confused by her outburst 10
01:40years ago
01:40they were the ones who told me to get lost and never come back i'd done exactly that so what
01:44were
01:44they upset about now dad stood behind mom his eyes darted between my face and my camera equipment
01:51he was clearly torn after a moment he spoke as if grasping for a neutral topic
01:56that's quite the camera eileen it must have cost a lot right it's a tough business for a young woman
02:03you must be struggling there was hesitation in his voice i remained silent i screwed the lens cap on
02:10firmly infuriated by my lack of response mom tightened her grip on my wrist her voice rose further
02:14eileen are you even listening 10 years not a single call or message what is wrong with you
02:24even a pet would show more gratitude i studied her contorted expression a sharp pain shot through my
02:29wrist a decade had passed yet their method of interrogation remained the same i lifted my gaze
02:37i spoke with deliberate calm mrs brit please release me i have work to do mrs brit she released
02:44my wrist as if burned she staggered back all color draining from her face i'm your mom how dare you
02:52that's enough dad stepped in he steadied her trembling shoulders he frowned at me exhaustion and
02:58approach heavy in his tone eileen how can you speak to your mom like that we realize there may
03:07have been misunderstandings back then but she hasn't stopped missing you for the past 10 years
03:13she's there were no misunderstandings i cut him off my voice was soft as i placed the camera in its
03:19case
03:19i followed your instructions get lost and never come back i did exactly as you told me i fixed my
03:28eyes
03:29on them with cold indifference i stayed away for 10 years just as you demanded so what is this about
03:38they stood frozen their faces were ghastly pale mom's lips quivered but before she could speak
03:44dad tightened his hold on her arm dad drew a shaky breath he forced a strained conciliatory smile
03:52ely sorry we shouldn't have said that back then but we are family mel is getting married next month
04:00you'll be there right if you don't want to attend as her sister maybe you could photograph the wedding
04:06the last words were a hesitant hopeful whisper i stared at them i was struck by the sheer absurdity of
04:13it all my schedule is booked please give melanie my best wishes i won't be intruding with that i
04:23turned and pushed open the door the sound of mom's broken accusations and dad's frantic attempts to calm
04:28her faded behind me i walked straight to the elevator without looking back only when the doors closed did
04:33i breathe a sigh of relief i leaned against the cold metal wall a dull ache began to throb at
04:38the base of
04:38my skull it was a lingering after effect of a severe fever years ago it always flared up on rainy
04:44days
04:46back at my temporary apartment i finally unwound my phone vibrated it was kimberly cooley my business
04:53partner eily the final payment for today's wedding just came through oh about that couple who confronted
04:59you is everything okay they looked really upset it's fine i said keeping my voice level they're
05:07just my adoptive parents kimberly paused before replying all right listen we just got a very firm
05:14non-negotiable collaboration request from the brit group they're insisting you personally photograph
05:19a high-profile wedding the brit group was owned by my dad my heart sank a crushing sense of helplessness
05:26washed over me kimberly sounded worried i'm afraid we can't turn it down i gripped the phone until my
05:33knuckles turned white 10 years i had thought i'd gone far enough to escape their shadow yet with a
05:38single move they could still disrupt the life i had fought so hard to build understood send me the
05:44details i said my throat tight okay kimberly replied softly after a pause the wedding itinerary arrived a few
05:51minutes later when my eyes landed on the groom's name jeffrey beasley the tears i'd held back all day
05:56finally fell jeffrey was the boy who had been my only comfort during the darkest years of my youth
06:01kimberly's message flashed again eily are you okay do you want me to come over i took a deep breath
06:07i wiped my face i typed back i'm fine please compile the client's specific requests we'll discuss tomorrow
06:16morning she replied quickly okay eily whatever you decide i'm with you i put the phone down and
06:23walked to the window the night air was cool against my skin it helped to clear the chaos in my
06:28mind
06:28jeffrey and i were so close once he lived next door we grew up together whenever i got scolded by
06:34my
06:35parents or pushed aside by melanie brit i'd hide in the backyard and cry he'd always climb over the low
06:40fence he'd pull a piece of candy from his pocket like a magician don't cry eily have this
06:47when we grow up i'll take you away from here we'll see the world we'll both get into new york
06:55university
06:56we'll always be together jeffrey was the only person who showed me kindness and care
07:00he was the only one who when the whole world made me feel worthless would look me in the eye
07:05and say
07:07you're good enough eily
07:11you always have been but now he was marrying melanie
07:14memories long held back came rushing in until i was seven i was the happiest child
07:19when i was five i got into a fight at preschool over a swing
07:23i bit the other kid's arm terrified of getting in trouble i hid under the slide in our complex after
07:29school dad found me he wasn't angry he actually whispered tips on how to win a fight next time
07:35that evening when mom found out she made us both stand in the corner
07:39dad winked at me when she wasn't looking i thought that warmth would last forever
07:43then when i was seven melanie came home
07:48i went from being their only child to being the adopted one
07:51melanie was three years older she'd been kidnapped when she was three
07:54with her return my world was never the same
07:57my parents had kept my adoption a secret but afraid melanie would feel insecure
08:02they told her the truth one afternoon she stood before me her voice was young but cold
08:09alene did you know you're not their real daughter they adopted you because i was gone
08:13they were so sad without me so they got you to take my place
08:19they're my mom and dad not yours for a moment i was too shocked to move then i ran i
08:26had to find my
08:26parents and hear them say it wasn't true i prayed they would hug me and say don't listen to her
08:31nonsense sweetheart you're our baby girl but mom looked away dad was silent for a long time before
08:37he confirmed it his voice was hoarse ilie it's true we adopted you because we missed mel so much
08:44but we love you too i hated that word in that moment after that nothing was the same
08:52the carefree mischievous girl vanished i became quiet and cautious i stopped laughing loudly i stopped
09:00asking for things at meals i only took the food closest to me i studied relentlessly i brought home
09:07one award after another i believed good girls didn't get abandoned i learned to please them
09:12and melanie i gave her the new hair clip mom bought i handed over the cool toy dad brought back
09:18from a
09:19business trip but melanie's eyes held nothing but resentment no matter what i did she saw me as the
09:25one who had stolen her life and my parents attention and affection poured almost entirely into their
09:31returned biological daughter they worried she might feel insecure and neglected so i the adopted daughter
09:37naturally became the one who could be overlooked the atmosphere at home grew tense and heavy i never
09:43stood in the corner with dad again i was too afraid to make any mistake i lived like a frightened
09:49bird i was
09:50constantly terrified of being cast aside once more then when i was 12 my worst fear came true
10:01i got back from school that day to find melanie in my room she was holding my diary what are
10:07you doing
10:07i rushed to grab it back she easily sidestepped me a faint smirk played on her lips just seeing what
10:15my
10:15dear little sister writes about every day she began to read my diary i wish things were like before
10:23why don't mom and dad love me anymore it's so unfair my voice trembled give it back that diary held
10:31all my secrets and my fragile side she stood up she held it above her head maybe mom and dad
10:37should see
10:38what their adopted daughter complains about every day with that she darted out of the room the diary
10:45was in her hand i chased after her in the rush she stumbled her foot caught she tumbled down the
10:53stair
10:56her scream echoed through the house
11:00my parents burst from the study at the same time
11:03mom reached her first when she saw melanie's leg bent at an unnatural angle her own shook
11:11melanie wept dramatically she pointed a shaky finger straight at me i was still standing at the top of
11:18the stairs she pushed me she blames me for everything in her diary and now this that's not true i
11:28didn't
11:29i rushed to explain enough dad's roar was louder than i'd ever heard mom's gaze was icy it frightened
11:36me i tried to explain diary she read my diary without so you pushed her mom cut me off alien
11:43how could
11:44you be so cruel i didn't push her the tears finally spilled over she fell mom's hand came up still
11:53lying
11:54she struck my face hard the sting on my cheek was nothing compared to the ache in my chest
11:59dad stood behind her his gaze was full of disappointment
12:04elie we always thought you were a sensible girl
12:09even though you're not our blood we never treated you poorly
12:14but you
12:15i said it wasn't me my voice rose to a shout why won't you ever believe me believe you mom's
12:27laugh
12:27was cold a liar the ambulance arrived
12:32as the paramedics carried melanie down on a stretcher she was still sobbing
12:38mom i'm scared does elie hate me
12:44don't be afraid sweetheart i'm here mom held her hand tightly she didn't once look back at me
12:50my parents returned from the hospital late that night i heard their footsteps stop outside my door
12:58pack your things mom pushed the door open her tone was frighteningly calm
13:04mom you're moving to the old house tomorrow i stared frozen then i dropped to my knees
13:09no please mom dad don't send me away i'm sorry i'll be good i promise
13:17mom looked down at me coldly mel needs peace to recover seeing you will upset her i won't bother her
13:25i cried i clutched at her legs i can stay in the storage room i can come home after you're
13:33all asleep
13:34oh please don't make me leave
13:43dad sighed elie this is for the best for you and for this family i won't go this is my
13:52home i was
13:53sobbing uncontrollably now mom pried my hands away the housekeeper will bring meals each week
14:01we'll transfer an allowance on time i don't want money
14:09i want you i turned to dad i grasped his sleeve
14:14dad you used to love me most you said you'd always protect me
14:20he turned his face away his voice was choked be reasonable eileen
14:27once mel is feeling better she'll never better she's lying i screamed in despair why won't you
14:35believe me mom's voice cut through sharply elene if you make another scene you can leave right now
14:42i knelt on the floor i looked at their distant looks i finally understood what true hopelessness
14:49felt like no matter how much i begged they didn't want me anymore
14:56the first night i moved into the old residence i had a high fever
15:00my forehead was burning i shivered all over i grabbed my phone and called my mom
15:05mom i'm having a fever i was so weak that my voice was hardly audible the other end of the
15:12line was
15:12silent for a while then my mom replied there are fever reducers in the old house find them
15:18melanie has just undergone surgery she needs a good rest knock it off with that mom hung up listening to
15:27the hang-up beeps i felt a chill all over it started raining outside the rain splattered the window as
15:33if
15:33weeping for me for the next week i was invalid on the bed alone the fever went back and forth
15:39the
15:40housekeeper found something was wrong with me when she came to cook she took me to the hospital i lived
15:45all alone since i was 12 till i was 18. for parent teacher conferences the seat with my name on
15:55it was
15:55always empty melanie went to the same school as i did yet my parents always showed up for her sometimes
16:01i ran into them in the hallway mom would look away with embarrassment dad would pretend he didn't see
16:07me in those six years jeffrey was the only light ray in my life he would secretly climb over the
16:13short
16:13wall of the old house and bring me snacks don't worry everything will be okay he had comforted me
16:21ely let's apply to new york university together in new york no one can separate us i had believed him
16:30i studied as hard as i could after the set i walked past a downtown hotel i saw a large
16:36striking banner
16:38congratulations on melanie britt's good grades nicely dressed my parents were receiving guests
16:43at the entrance they were beaming melanie stood between them like a real princess standing in a
16:49corner across the street i watched the celebration that had nothing to do with me i had thought i was
16:55inside but why did it still hurt so much it didn't matter though i'd be gone soon anyway
17:10the day i received the acceptance letter from the university i opened it swiftly with excitement
17:15but it was the badge of the usc that i saw my blood turned cold instantly i recalled my parents
17:21odd behavior from several days ago it dawned on me that they had altered my application form without
17:27hesitation i barged into the so-called home it was the home from which i had been away for a
17:32long
17:32time i slammed the letter on the coffee table why usc i demanded what's wrong with it mom replied
17:39nonchalantly it's close in a trembling voice i snapped why did you change my application why
17:47because we're your parents just then dad walked out of the study he explained melanie also applied to
17:54new york university with you around she'll feel insecure it's because of her again the years of pent-up
18:02anger in my chest erupted her insecurity is the reason for everything you said she read my diary
18:09because she felt insecure she fell down the stairs because she felt insecure now i have to go to a
18:16different university because she feels insecure
18:23elan mind your tone mom sprang to her feet what about my tone what tone should i speak in tears
18:30streamed down my cheeks i tried to hold them back you kicked me out of the house when i was
18:3512.
18:37you've neglected me for the past six years now you're trying to destroy my future what kind of
18:47parents are you we've raised you for 18 years dad said his face livid raise it was more like charity
18:56my voice became hoarse from anger in your eyes only melanie is your daughter i'm only an unwanted
19:05substitute i wish you'd never adopted me out of the blue dad slapped me hard across the face
19:14mom hissed with red eyes she pointed at the door since you hate us so much don't ever come back
19:20again
19:21i ran out i sobbed in the rain until i was soaking wet why didn't they love me
19:28why was i adopted where were my biological parents i cried and cried
19:34at midnight i snuck back for my id i happened to overhear my parents conversation outside their bedroom
19:47we shouldn't have told mel that eily was adopted mom cried but what's the point of being regretful now
19:53i was too sad after mel got lost i didn't find out i was pregnant with eily dad sighed mel
20:01was so
20:02sensitive when she returned we could only lie i that ellie was adopted at least eily was loved and
20:10happy before she was seven but mel couldn't be she owes mel stunned i had to press my hands against
20:20the wall for support my back slid down along the wall it turned out i was their biological daughter
20:26it turned out i had never stolen anybody's happy childhood it was mine then why did i have to
20:32suffer these years that day i left home and never came back after i reached usc i changed my phone
20:39number i put my parents contact information on the block list jeffrey and i went to different
20:44universities due to the distance our relationship was nipped in the bud afterward i heard that he had a
20:51girlfriend now it seemed he was dating melanie back then i opened my eyes i wiped my tearful face
20:58the side of the message stung i wondered if melanie knew the truth but it didn't matter
21:05i went to the drawer i took the dna test report done many years ago since they'd invited me i'd
21:11go to
21:11the wedding they destroyed my life for melanie's happiness i'd see how happy she was
21:22the light from the glaring chandelier on the ceiling of the hotel hall spilled on the lens of my camera
21:27it reflected my tense side face my employee fiona blevens was crouching to open the device case
21:34the clear clicking of the plastic clip couldn't ease my fidget this was melanie's wedding of course
21:41the whole team should be here i should have known better elen came a female voice as sharp as a
21:49needle my hands paused while holding the camera when melanie turned around the skirt of her wedding
21:56dress swept across my feet the pearls on the decoration hurt lifting her skirt with pale hands she stared at
22:03me
22:03in disbelief as if i were something filthy that had barged into her life jeffrey stood behind her
22:13one of the buttons on the cuff of his sleeve was loose upon seeing me he swiftly shifted his gaze
22:19to
22:19the dessert table far away who asked you to come melanie raised her voice and took a step forward
22:29the guests all turned their heads to watch you don't even have a decent job you think you're good
22:36enough to be the photographer of my wedding frowning fiona attempted to step forward and make a retort
22:49i pulled at her blouse gently the coolness calmed me down a bit my fingertip touched the camera belt
22:57the host invited me the host melanie scoffed you mean my parents why would they invite an ingrate who
23:05refused to come home in the past 10 years her remarks hammered my heart they caused a dull pain the
23:12past
23:12flashed across my mind one day when i was 12 i had begged her on my knees not to tell
23:17on me
23:19she had also smirked like that and said
23:23you're unwelcome in this family anyway familiar footsteps came from the door my parents walked
23:30over mom was in a crimson dress she was oblivious to the fact that her pearl necklace was askew
23:38dad wore his tie loosely at the sight of me mom stopped in her tracks she had a complicated look
23:46in
23:46her eyes your dad and i invited ellie she's a good photographer and her price is fair she said to
23:54melanie melanie turned around abruptly and glared at mom mom are you out of your minds she
24:08she's your younger sister dad interrupted melanie his tone was lukewarm he didn't spare a look at me
24:15it was as if i were just an insignificant stranger
24:20the wedding is about to begin knock it off with a livid face melanie stared at me malevolently
24:30she's a good photographer she barely gets by with a camera mom and dad raised you for 18 years and
24:38you
24:39were away for 10 years now that you have a little money you think you're better than us who bought
24:44dresses for you when you were a child who took you to kindergarten did you forget the guests talked
24:50with each other as she spoke louder and louder i tightened my grip on the camera the blood drained
24:57from my knuckles how i wish mom and dad could interfere even if it was as simple as stop it
25:06to my dismay mom just turned her head to look at the mccarrens on the dessert table
25:12dad took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket then he tucked it back in restlessly mel the wedding
25:19first he urged there was no explanation neither of them defended me nor did they display a tinge of guilt
25:28i looked down at my reflection in the mirror i realized how pathetic i was ten years had passed
25:35and i was still expecting them to be fair fiona handed a cloth to me i took it and wiped
25:41the lens
25:42slowly with it i tried to repress the surging sadness i'd come to work not to settle accounts with them
25:51i told myself
25:57after shooting the first section of the wedding i drank water in a corner of the lounge
26:03the warm water in the plastic bottle was bland
26:07like the meager concern my parents showed at this time mom walked over with a glass of orange juice
26:15beads of juice clung to the body of the glass she handed it to me the beads fell onto my
26:21pants
26:23they left wet marks on them
26:28ily don't take what mel said to heart she was nervous about the wedding
26:35instead of taking the glass of orange juice i took out my phone to transfer money
26:41i'd calculated the amount countless times
26:45eighty thousand dollars
26:48including tuition from primary school to high school
26:53monthly allowances
26:56occasional meals the housekeeper made for me in the six years
27:01money couldn't buy back my youth
27:04it couldn't make my altered application for university right
27:09but at least the accounts between us were even now
27:13the notification for the successful transfer sounded particularly loud in the quiet lounge
27:20mom's face colored as she read the notification
27:24her hand shook the juice stained her dress
27:27but she paid no heed to it
27:30staring at me she asked
27:32aline what do you mean
27:35we raised you for 18 years you think we're even now
27:43what else
27:44i put my phone back into my pocket
27:47in a calm yet cold voice i continued
27:52you raised me for 18 years and i repaid you with eighty thousand dollars
27:58the extra is the interest
28:01with the account settled now we're square
28:07square
28:08mom said in a choking voice
28:12her eyes read she attempted to touch my arm
28:15i took a step back to move away her hand frozen midter
28:20tears ran down her face they dropped on the floor
28:25do you hate us so much
28:30is there no familial finishing for us at all in your heart
28:35you had a fever when you were five
28:37your dad carried you on his
28:39or electors three can take you to the hospital
28:44the first time you won a prize eyes
28:48i took you out to buy you a new dress
28:51did you forget all about this
28:54scenes from the past flashed across my mind like an old movie
28:58carrying me on his back dad ran in the rain
29:02but his back felt extremely warm
29:05there were floral patterns on the rim of the pink dress mom bought me
29:09sadly these warm memories had waned after melanie returned
29:16yes looking her in the eye i declared slowly
29:20i hate you for driving me into the old house when i was 12
29:26i hate you for altering my application when i was 18
29:30i hate you for asking me to knock it off when i had a fever of 39 degrees
29:42mom stopped crying
29:44her face was as pasty as death
29:48dad took her arm to support her he looked at me
29:52his eyes dripped with disappointment
29:55ely we were wrong but what you're doing is ruthless
30:00suddenly melanie marched over she pointed at me and yelped
30:06dad and mom raised you for 18 years first you left without saying goodbye
30:14now you want to cut ties with them as an adopted daughter you should be grateful that they didn't let
30:20you starve how dare you talk about fairness with them
30:27what in great an adopted daughter i turned to my parents
30:35my heart was racing finally the right time had come
30:40is that what i am in your eyes mom's lips moved but no words came out dad nodded with a
30:46sigh
30:47ely we were wrong but you're indeed adopted don't fixate on it
30:53laughing snidely i took a step forward i looked them in the eye
30:58in which children's home did you find me where are the adoption formalities
31:06can i have a look a deathly silence ensued the blood drained from mom's face
31:13dad clenched his fists tightly his knuckles went pale
31:20dumbfounded melanie shook mom's arm
31:25mom tell her where you adopted her show her the formalities neither mom nor dad spoke
31:32they just stared at me panic was plain in their eyes
31:37the last tad of hope in my heart was shattered as i met their gaze
31:42they couldn't even come up with a good lie
31:53my fingers trembled as i fumbled the laminated dna test report in my purse
32:00i'd kept it for five years
32:03i cried in bed every time i read the result
32:08the possibility of paternity is in excess of 99.999 percent
32:17i wasn't a substitute for melanie
32:20i was their biological daughter that was the truth however they wouldn't admit it
32:27you can't say it i will
32:31i handed the report to my parents under the light the plastic cover glared
32:37they couldn't open their eyes mom was breathing rapidly
32:42dad wanted to take the report
32:46but he withdrew his hand on second thought
32:52you claim i'm i'm adopted i continued in a flat voice it expressed my 10 years of sadness
33:00then why is the possibility of paternity 99.999 percent
33:06why does the dna test report say you're my biological parents
33:11melanie dashed over and snatched the report away
33:15her fingers trembled violently as she read it
33:20no
33:23this can't be true
33:26this can't be true this report must be a forgery you're using it to take everything away from me
33:32a forgery
33:36i looked at my parents
33:39ask your parents
33:44tears streamed down mom's cheeks they stained the report dad's face was as pale as paper his lips were
33:52trembling
33:54he was too emotionally overwhelmed to speak
33:58afraid to hurt melanie's feelings you told her i was adopted
34:02i believed you
34:05i thought you'd love me all the same as long as i was obedient and humored her
34:12however you turned my bedroom into a sunroom for her
34:16you moved my piano into the storage room
34:21you changed my application and university to us behind my back
34:26when i was furious you couldn't be bothered to check on me
34:30you asked me to find the medicine on my own
34:33more and more guests gathered around us
34:36they whispered to each other
34:39some of them took photos of this scene
34:42others pointed at my parents
34:44they're playing favorites
34:47how could they treat their own daughter so horribly
34:50poor girl for 10 years she didn't know her adoptive parents were her biological parents
34:56suddenly mom dropped to her knees
34:59she clutched the leg of my pants
35:03i was wrong
35:06we all were
35:09your dad and i were confused
35:14we felt sorry for mel and neglected you
35:19will you forgive us
35:23we'll give you the house the company anything you want
35:30i brushed mom's hands away i took a step back
35:35her hands were cold and calloused
35:39however the touch failed to invoke the familial affection inside me
35:43my heart could never be warm again
35:46i don't want your house or company
35:49i announced in a hoarse voice
35:53i want the truth
35:55why did you lie to me
35:57i'm also your daughter
36:00why do you only love her
36:05dad also knelt tearfully
36:08elie i'm sorry i let you down
36:11when mel just came back she cried every day
36:16she was afraid that we wouldn't like her
36:21out of options we told her you were adopted
36:27we thinking things would turn around when she grew up
36:31sadly that didn't happen
36:36we never meant to put you through all this
36:39you never meant to
36:41i laughed
36:43but tears streamed down my face
36:46at 12 i had to live alone in the old house
36:50and i was too terrified to sleep
36:54i could have been admitted to nyu but i had to go to ucla
37:01you know why i was away for a decade
37:04because you told me to never come back
37:07not because i didn't want to return home
37:14you think you can undo all this by your simple apology
37:19nice try
37:27suddenly melanie tore the dna test report
37:31she tore it once then again
37:35shreds of paper scattered across the floor like snow
37:40she shrieked
37:41i don't believe it i'm your daughter she's not the wedding is off
37:50her face was twisted with rage and terror
37:53for 18 years she had been the real daughter
37:56her the cherished one the one they sacrificed everything for
38:02and now in one moment she had become the lie
38:06she pulled off the veil she tossed it onto the floor
38:11she ran off after a dazed moment jeffrey went after her
38:16the director of the wedding ran to my dad in a fluster
38:21mr brit the wedding
38:24it's cancelled
38:26holding the camera i said to fiona
38:29put away the devices we're done here
38:33when i walked out of the lounge mom's sobs came from behind me
38:38the guests were whispering but i didn't look back
38:43the years of agony were finally off my chest today
38:47it might have happened too late
38:50but at least i was no longer the adopted daughter
38:57at the entrance to the hotel the cold autumn wind blew in my face
39:02it brought a sense of desolation
39:06fiona carried the devices for me she walked briskly afraid to bother me
39:13as soon as i reached the roadside urgent footsteps came from behind me
39:17elene wait someone called i turned around it was jeffrey
39:24he had his suit jacket hanging from his arm
39:27his hair was a mess his forehead was sweaty
39:30he ran to me he was huffing and puffing his chest was heaving violently his eyes were full of guilt
39:39i'm sorry he apologized in a husky voice
39:44i'm sorry i didn't go to find you back then
39:47i'm sorry i got together with melanie i gazed at him
39:54under the sunshine the fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were obvious
40:00when we were little he was always saying i had big doe eyes
40:06now the glitter in his eyes was gone
40:09one day in my senior year in high school he climbed over the tall wall with a candy in his
40:14hand
40:14he said to me
40:17elie after we're both admitted to new york university i'll take you to the sea
40:22the sweetness of the candy was vivid in my mind for many years
40:32why were you with her my low voice faded in the wind
40:37when i was in college she found me one day she told me you'd forgotten me she said you'd gone
40:43to
40:43los angeles and would never come back jeffrey clutched his jacket his knuckles were pale
40:52she said you hated me for not putting in a good word for you i i panicked
40:59i looked for you but you changed your phone number and the old house was empty i i thought
41:07i thought you didn't want to see me anymore
41:11an unbearable pang ran through my heart
41:16the day i enrolled at usc i came to new york university
41:21i assumed he'd be waiting for me at the entrance
41:24to my disappointment i waited there all day he never showed up
41:30afterward i learned that he was already with melanie back then
41:38i wanted to be with you
41:41jeffrey's eyes reddened they brimmed with tears
41:46after the sst i went to the old house to find you
41:52your parents told me you'd left and would never come back
41:56i waited at the gate to the old house all night
42:00the candy in my hand melted
42:08melted like our terminated long gone relationship
42:13melanie and i have broken up the wedding is off he took a step forward to hold my hand
42:19i retreated and moved away
42:21ely can we start over i was wrong i'll cherish you all the more
42:34i looked at jeffrey calmly
42:38my youth adoration for him and expectations of our future had elapsed with time
42:44they had worn out in lies
42:49jeffrey were not meant to be he stiffened to hear my words his face gradually went pale
42:56all the color drained away like a photograph left too long in the sun
43:01his lips parted slightly but no words came out of his mouth he just stood there he looked at me
43:09despair was plain in his eyes the boy who used to climb over my fence with candy in his pocket
43:17the teenager who waited all night at the gate of the old house with a melting sweet in his hand
43:24the man who was about to marry my sister they were all the same person
43:32and none of them were the person i needed anymore i didn't eat the candy
43:38i turned around i said to fiona let's go i left resolutely without looking back
43:48ely i regret it he said softly in the wind i knew that but what difference did it make
43:55some things were lost forever like new york university like the teenager himself
44:04over the next few days my phone kept ringing non-stop
44:09all calls were from my parents i set my phone to silent i put it in the drawer i didn't
44:18want to
44:18hear their apologies it was too late i didn't need them anymore kimberly would tell me about their
44:25situation every day this morning your mom was crying downstairs at the studio she was holding a
44:32photo of you as a child your dad came to he was leaning on a cane he looked much older
44:42i just nodded
44:43i asked her to keep them outside i didn't let them in to disturb my work on friday night after
44:50working
44:50overtime i left the studio as soon as i turned into the alley i heard familiar sounds of arguing
44:57it was melanie and my parents why do you get to apologize to her why do you give her the
45:03house
45:04i'm your daughter melanie's voice was choked with tears it was sharp as nails scraping glass
45:10she was the one who pushed me down the stairs she wrote in her diary to insult me have you
45:16forgotten
45:16how can you take her side she didn't push you dad's voice was louder than ever it was filled with
45:25exhaustion and anger you fell on your own you admitted it just yesterday you even lied to us
45:33saying she changed your homework saying she stole your necklace how many things have you kept from us
45:39i hid around the corner of the alley i felt nothing in particular just a sense of irony after all
45:46these
45:47years they finally learned the truth but i stopped caring long ago so what if i admit it melanie's
45:55screamed she took my place for seven years if not for her all your love would have been mine
46:01i wanted her to suffer changing her college choices driving her away it was all me who made you do
46:06it
46:07why blame me now you spoiled me you said you'd love me forever
46:14mom's sobs came through they were suppressed mel how could you say that we thought you were just
46:21sensitive we never imagined you'd be so cruel elie has suffered so much over the years and we never
46:29knew suffered what did she suffer melanie sneered she lived in the old house but i was kidnapped by
46:39traffickers i've had it much harder than her you should make it up to me dad sighed his voice was
46:47hoarse
46:48we were wrong wrong to always favor you wrong not to trust eily we owe her an apology i didn't
46:56listen to the rest
47:00i turned and went back to my apartment i took out the severance agreement i had prepared long ago from
47:08the drawer
47:11i had spent a long time writing that agreement it clearly stated from now on i have no familial
47:19relationship with patrick brit lela valdez or melanie brit we will not interfere in each other's lives
47:27nor bear any obligation of support or care the brit family's assets have nothing to do with me
47:36the next day i had my lawyer deliver the agreement to dad's company when the lawyer returned he told me
47:45mr brit's hands were shaking as he read the agreement mrs brit cried and tore it up then she picked
47:52up the
47:52pieces and carefully glued them back together before signing maloney didn't sign and cursed you a few times
47:57i nodded without saying anything whether she signed or not didn't matter my parents signatures were
48:04enough kimberly brought me a cup of hot coffee she said it in front of me ely do you really
48:11not regret
48:12it after all they're your parents i looked out at the trees beyond the window their leaves were scattered
48:18all over the ground bleak and desolate no i picked up the coffee and took a sip it was bitter
48:27i'm no longer the little girl who longed for their love cutting ties is better for all of us
48:33all those years of grievance were like a cup of bitter coffee once swallowed you can never spit it
48:38out from now on i only want to live for myself three months after signing the severance agreement
48:45i packed my bags and left los angeles this city carried too many memories for me some good some bad
48:54and now it was time to let them go i went to a small town in the south i rented
49:03an apartment with a balcony
49:05outside the balcony stood an old locust tree it bloomed with many fragrant white flowers in summer
49:13every morning i took photos of the street
49:21in the evenings i sat on the balcony reading
49:26occasionally i accepted a few photography jobs from out of town
49:33life was very peaceful
49:39kimberly would regularly send me messages about los angeles
49:44melanie was kicked out by your parents because she secretly took the family's money to gamble
49:50she racked up a lot of debt
49:55later she went to find jeffrey and the two of them still got married
50:01but they argue every day
50:06jeffrey messed up his job too he got fired by the company
50:12now he spends every day drinking at home
50:15when he's drunk he yells at melanie and melanie cries
50:20their life is a complete mess i looked at the messages
50:25i felt nothing inside whether their days were good or bad it no longer had anything to do with me
50:33i only occasionally thought of my childhood
50:38dad teaching me to ride a bike
50:43mom braiding my hair
50:46those warm scenes flashed through my mind like old movies
50:50but quickly faded away
50:54two years later i held a solo photography exhibition in the small town
50:59most of the photos on display were street scenes
51:01elderly people sitting at their doorsteps basking in the sun
51:06they held palm fans children running through the alleys
51:10they clutched ice cream in their hands
51:13some featured couples holding hands and smiling sweetly under the old locust tree
51:19none of the brit family appeared in these photos
51:23nor was there any trace of los angeles
51:26only my life as it is now
51:29on the day the exhibition opened many people came
51:34i was signing my name in a corner of the gallery when someone gently tapped my arm
51:41i looked up i was stunned it was my parents
51:46mom's hair had turned much grayer it was neatly combed
51:51she was still wearing that dark red dress from years ago
51:55though it had faded from many washes
52:00dad leaned on a cane his back was hunched
52:04deep wrinkles were etched into his face
52:07he looked much older
52:09they stood in front of one of my photos
52:11it showed an old house
52:14it was very much like the one i used to live in
52:17dad's fingers gently brushed the photo
52:20his eyes were full of nostalgia
52:22i said nothing i continued signing my name
52:27my heart was beating a little fast
52:30but i felt very calm inside
52:33i no longer hated them nor did i love them
52:36they just felt a little unfamiliar
52:39dad slowly walked over he held a brown envelope
52:44he handed it to me his hand was cold
52:47it was covered in calluses the result of years of holding a pen
52:53elie this is an apology letter
52:57we know you won't forgive us
52:59but we still wanted to write it for you
53:02i took the envelope it was thick
53:06when my fingertips touched his hand he quickly pulled away
53:10like a child who had done something wrong
53:16we're leaving now
53:17mom looked at me her eyes were red but not crying
53:21her voice trembled a little
53:23take good care of yourself here
53:25when it gets cold remember to wear more clothes
53:30don't catch colds all the time like you did when you were little
53:33i nodded i said nothing
53:36they walked out slowly
53:37dad moved very slowly
53:40mom supported him step by step
53:43without looking back
53:45the gallery lights were warm
53:47i opened the envelope
53:49i found several sheets of yellowed letter paper
53:53the handwriting was crooked
53:55it was dad's writing
53:57he wrote a lot
53:59about the year melanie came back when i was seven
54:03and how panicked they were
54:05about when i was 12 and got kicked out
54:07how he secretly went to the old house at night
54:11how he saw me crying into my blanket
54:15and how much it hurt him
54:17about changing my college application when i was 18
54:21and how much he regretted it
54:24about how over the past 10 years they tried to find me
54:27and thought about me
54:29the last line read
54:31ely we're sorry
54:34you must live well better than us
54:41tears fell onto the letter they blurred the ink
54:44i read it again and again
54:49dad's handwriting was crooked
54:50unsteady the hand of an old man who had lost his fine motor skills
54:56he wrote about the night they told melanie i was adopted
55:00how mom had cried herself to sleep for a week afterward
55:03how dad had driven to the old house in the rain just to check if the light was still on
55:08in my window
55:08he wrote about the day he changed my college application
55:13i knew it was wrong the moment i signed it
55:16but melanie was crying she said she'd run away if i didn't
55:20i was a coward ailey i chose the easy path and you paid the price
55:23he wrote about the 10 years of silence
55:28how mom saved every photo of me she could find in a shoebox under her bed
55:34how dad drove past my old apartment building once a month hoping to catch a glimpse of me
55:40i pressed the letter against my chest the paper was warm from my tears
55:46all these years i thought they had forgotten me
55:49they hadn't
55:51they were just too weak too guilty to broken to come find me
55:56i folded the letter i put it in my bag
55:59i walked to the window
56:01i watched my parents figures slowly disappear around the corner
56:05dad leaned heavily on his cane
56:09mom's arm was linked through his
56:12they walked like to people carrying a weight they knew they could never put down
56:17the wind was gentle it brushed my face
56:20it carried the scent of the old locust tree
56:24i knew i would never forgive them but i would not hate them anymore either
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