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00:08What the hell happened here?
00:13I misbehaved. They punished me for it.
00:16My voice was flat, like I was talking about someone else's body.
00:20He stared at the scars he'd never seen.
00:23Then he said,
00:26You deserved it.
00:29He sent me to that place three years ago to cure me of loving him.
00:34I spent three years locked inside that place.
00:37Now, I stopped loving him, just as he wanted.
00:40Then he came running back and said,
00:43I regret it.
00:44For eight years, I was a fixture by Roderick Dunlap's side.
00:48Everyone said I was addicted to him.
00:50I was so obsessed with him that I'd run off any woman who got close to him, whatever it took.
00:55Once, I offered one of them money to leave Roderick.
01:00The woman laughed in my face.
01:02Being with Roderick meant an endless supply of cash.
01:06Why would anyone walk away for such a pathetic amount?
01:09Then that woman took a staged fall down a flight of stairs.
01:13Roderick thought I pushed her.
01:16And I ended up being sent to a rehab center by him.
01:24Others went there to quit smoking, drinking, or gaming.
01:27I was there to let go of Roderick.
01:30In the end, I succeeded only for him to tell me he regretted it.
01:34The moment I stepped out of the rehab center, I saw an Audi parked there.
01:39It looked totally out of place.
01:42I glanced at it and lowered my head, preparing to walk away.
01:45The person who got out of the car called out to me.
01:49It was Roderick.
01:51He had grown more mature in the last three years.
01:54I glanced at him once, then looked away.
01:57The staff at the center taught us that staring was rude.
02:00Especially at someone we liked.
02:02Yes, after three years, I had been completely reformed.
02:10Roderick told me to get in, and I did so, sitting quietly in the back seat.
02:14I kept my head down, staring at my lap and not moving a muscle.
02:18Roderick sat beside me.
02:20I could feel the weight of his intense gaze.
02:22The car was dead quiet.
02:24I held my breath, scared to make a peep.
02:27But a cough escaped me anyway.
02:29It was just my old cough.
02:31The car pulled up at the Dunlap's mansion.
02:34Roderick's grandmother, Maggie Dunlap, lived there.
02:37Today, as I remembered, marked her 80th birthday.
02:41Then it hit me why Roderick had come to get me.
02:44He started to walk in.
02:46I hesitated for a second, then blurted out,
02:50Um, Roderick?
02:52I didn't bring a gift.
02:54When he turned around, my heart was pounding out of my chest.
02:59I quickly looked down.
03:01I knew my quickened heartbeat was from fear, not from affection.
03:06Somehow, I'd turned into a total coward.
03:08If someone even glanced my way, I'd get a jolt of fear.
03:14I'd toss and turn all night in nightmares, haunted by those staring eyes.
03:21Follow me.
03:22Roderick brushed off my worry.
03:24He was as cold as always.
03:26Or maybe he only saved that coldness for me.
03:29I had to jog a little just to keep up with him.
03:33Mari!
03:34You're back!
03:35Come in, dear!
03:36Maggie was right there at the front door.
03:38Waiting for me, Dot Maggie had always had my back.
03:41Always encouraged my crush on Roderick and even snuck me info on his plans.
03:46I walked over to her.
03:49Hello, Maggie.
03:49Mari, honey.
03:51Why are you being so distant?
03:53You're not mad at me for what happened, are you?
03:56Maggie stroked my hair, her eyes full of affection.
03:58I shook my head.
04:00I could never be mad at her.
04:01Three years ago, if Maggie hadn't threatened to harm herself,
04:04I probably would have been sent to jail instead.
04:09On the outside, it looked like a regular school,
04:12but only the people who'd been locked up there knew what real torture was like.
04:17During the meal, I kept my head down,
04:20shoveling down spaghetti as fast as I could.
04:22I didn't make a sound, didn't reach for anything else,
04:26just ate fast like I hadn't had a meal in a month.
04:30Marianne!
04:31Yes, sir!
04:32Hearing my name, I set down my fork and stood up straight.
04:36We all froze me, Roderick and Maggie.
04:38I met their shocked stares for a split second.
04:42Then I looked down at the silverware I'd set neatly on the table.
04:45Even with how panicked I was,
04:47I just stood there, confused.
04:50It hit me then I'd forgotten I wasn't at the center anymore.
04:53I had no idea why Roderick had called me.
04:56You scared her, you big idiot!
04:58Maggie swatted Roderick's arm before turning to me.
05:01Sit down, Mary.
05:02You're home now, sweetie.
05:04Just relax.
05:06I did what Maggie said and sat back down,
05:09but I couldn't eat another bite.
05:11Something about the way they looked at me told me they'd noticed.
05:14The girl who walked in three years ago was gone,
05:16and the one sitting here now was someone they didn't recognize.
05:22Grandma was talking to you.
05:24Why weren't you listening?
05:28Roderick's tone was sharp.
05:29I couldn't tell if he was mad I'd ignored Maggie,
05:32or just ticked off about getting swatted.
05:34I'm sorry, Maggie.
05:36I was just very hungry.
05:37I didn't hear you.
05:39I gave her an apologetic look.
05:41The counselors at the center always drilled it into us.
05:45Apologies have to be sincere.
05:47Only I knew the truth.
05:48It wasn't hunger.
05:49It was fear.
05:50Fear of getting punished for not eating fast enough
05:53or for leaving food on my plate.
05:55I vaguely recalled her telling me to try the other food.
05:59I'd heard her, but I just couldn't react fast enough.
06:02So Roderick called out to me.
06:04By the time dinner was over,
06:06my forehead was covered in a light sweat.
06:08I wasn't sure if it was from the heat in the room
06:10or my own anxiety.
06:12Three years in that place had taught me one thing.
06:15Never let your guard down, not even at a dinner table.
06:19After dinner, I returned to Grandpa's old house.
06:24Thank you for the ride.
06:26I gave Roderick a small bow.
06:28Maggie had wanted me to stay the night,
06:30but I'd turned her down.
06:32I didn't want any more contact with them than I had to,
06:34so I'd asked Roderick to drive me home.
06:38You really want to stay here?
06:40Roderick frowned.
06:42I glanced back at the house.
06:43It hadn't been touched in three years.
06:45Now it was completely overgrown with weeds.
06:48But I nodded.
06:49I had nowhere else to go anyway.
06:52I was flat broke,
06:53and the clothes I was wearing were from three years ago.
06:55The rehab center had given us uniforms,
06:57so these clothes had never even been worn out.
07:01I bent down to pull some weeds,
07:03the little critters living there scurried away.
07:05I saw cockroaches, mice,
07:07and a snake coiled in the corner,
07:09too lazy to move.
07:10Once upon a time,
07:11I would have jumped straight into Roderick's arms.
07:14Now, I just stared at them calmly
07:16and looked for a stick to shoo the snake away.
07:21Roderick pulled me back toward the car.
07:24What's wrong?
07:25I didn't even realize he was still there.
07:28Didn't you see that snake?
07:29Oh, right, I'd forgotten Roderick hated reptiles.
07:36I saw it.
07:38It's fine.
07:39I'll just shoo it away with a stick.
07:41If it bothers you,
07:43you can just leave!
07:45I caught myself reassuring him.
07:47I reached for the door handle,
07:49ready to hop out.
07:51But Roderick locked the doors and drove off.
07:54I quickly buckled my seatbelt.
07:56W-w-where are you taking me?
07:59He didn't say a word.
08:01I didn't dare ask again.
08:03He took me to his private apartment.
08:05He closed the door behind us without a word.
08:08I couldn't leave it was a keypad lock.
08:11He went straight to the shower.
08:13Probably trying to wash off the creeps
08:15from seeing all those critters,
08:16I sat straight on the living room couch.
08:19About an hour later,
08:21Roderick came downstairs in pajamas,
08:23his hair still wet.
08:24I knew better than to stare.
08:26Stay here until your place is cleaned up.
08:29You can sleep here tonight.
08:31I thought about it for a second,
08:32then nodded.
08:35That house was a mess.
08:37Tackling it all alone
08:38would have kept me going way past midnight.
08:40He walked over.
08:41I stood up and stepped aside without thinking.
08:44Roderick grabbed my chin,
08:45forcing me to look at him.
08:48So you're over me?
08:49His expression was questioning.
08:52Yes.
08:53I didn't hesitate for a second.
08:55Any delay would have felt like an insult
08:57to everything I'd been through.
09:00That night, the nightmare returned.
09:02In my dream,
09:03countless eyes stared back at me.
09:05Filled with hatred,
09:07disgust,
09:07and contempt.
09:09Every single one of them
09:10belonged to Roderick.
09:13The next day,
09:14when Roderick left for work,
09:16I asked him to drop me off downtown.
09:18He didn't seem to mind,
09:20as long as I wasn't in his way.
09:22I hesitated in front of a florist's hiring sign.
09:26I didn't have a college degree.
09:28I never finished college
09:29because Roderick had me sent to that rehab center.
09:32Hunting for a job?
09:33The shop owner noticed me staring at the sign
09:35but not coming in,
09:36so he finally asked.
09:38I nodded.
09:40The owner looked to be in his mid-twenties,
09:42and he seemed pretty nice.
09:43The pay was $3,000 monthly,
09:45and no diploma was required.
09:48I just had to be on time
09:49to help out at the shop every day.
09:51I asked the owner for a $1,000 advance.
09:54Money makes the world go round.
09:56I needed it for everything.
09:58My official start date was the next day,
10:00and to my surprise,
10:01he trusted me.
10:02I spent $400 on a used electric scooter
10:05from a local shop.
10:07Once upon a time,
10:08$400 wouldn't have meant squat to me.
10:11Now, I had to haggle
10:12just to get it for that price.
10:14It's not like I was an orphan or anything.
10:16Three years ago,
10:17my parents disowned me.
10:19To protect the company
10:20and the family's reputation,
10:22the only person who'd ever really loved me grandpa
10:24was gone a long time ago.
10:26If he were still here,
10:27I probably never would have ended up like this.
10:31I rode the scooter back to grandpa's old house.
10:34The weeds outside were already gone.
10:36Roderick must have sent someone to clear them.
10:39Inside, everything was covered
10:41in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs.
10:44It took me for hours
10:46just to make the place halfway livable.
10:49Most of the stuff inside
10:50was broken beyond fixing.
10:53I was trying to carry out the junk
10:54when I tripped.
10:58Everything went flying all over the floor.
11:00I was a mess my knee hurt
11:02and I was covered in dirt.
11:04I saw a pair of shiny leather shoes
11:06stop in front of me.
11:07I didn't even have to look up
11:08to know who they belonged to.
11:10I got up slowly,
11:12my knee throbbing with pain.
11:14Mr. Dunlop.
11:17Can I help you with something?
11:19I'd gone from calling him Rod
11:20to Roderick
11:21and now to Mr. Dunlop.
11:23It was better this way
11:25keeping my distance.
11:26I never wanted to go back
11:27to that hellhole ever again.
11:29Grandma sent me to check
11:30on how you're doing.
11:32Roderick's brow was furrowed.
11:34Please tell her I'm fine
11:35and she doesn't have to worry about me.
11:37I crouched back down
11:38to clean up the mess
11:40that fall had just made
11:41everything worse.
11:44Roderick grabbed me
11:45by the back of my collar
11:46with a tear,
11:47my shirt split right open.
11:49It was the same shirt
11:50I'd worn yesterday
11:51and the same one
11:52I'd had three years ago.
11:53The fabric was so thin
11:55it tore almost instantly.
11:57Mr. Dunlop,
11:58have some respect!
11:59My voice was sharp with anger
12:01as I clutched the torn fabric.
12:03Thank God it was only
12:04the back that tore,
12:05but it was my only shirt.
12:07I hadn't had time
12:08to buy new clothes
12:09and now how was I supposed
12:10to go shopping?
12:11But Roderick's eyes
12:12were fixed on the scars
12:14on my back.
12:15What the hell happened here?
12:18I misbehaved.
12:19They punished me for it.
12:21My voice was flat
12:22like I was talking
12:23about someone else's pain.
12:25You deserved it.
12:27He walked out.
12:28I glanced over my shoulder.
12:29My back was covered
12:31in scars old and new,
12:32all from whippings.
12:33The newest ones
12:35were probably
12:35from a few days ago.
12:37I couldn't even remember
12:38exactly which day.
12:39They hadn't even
12:40fully healed yet.
12:44I found a dusty shirt
12:45in the closet,
12:46shook it off,
12:47and slipped it on
12:47right away.
12:48Pretty soon,
12:49I felt an itch on my back,
12:51right over the wounds.
12:52They probably got infected.
12:54Of course,
12:55just as I was heading out
12:56to buy new clothes,
12:57Roderick came back.
12:59Was he back
12:59to laugh at me?
13:00He tossed a bag at me?
13:03Change into these.
13:05I refused.
13:07He had a girlfriend,
13:08and it felt wrong
13:09for him to be
13:10buying me clothes.
13:11But it had been
13:12three years?
13:13Maybe Chelsea
13:13was his wife now,
13:14not that I cared?
13:16Roderick pulled me
13:17roughly back
13:17inside the house.
13:18I sat down
13:19and did what he told me.
13:21He cleaned the wounds
13:22on my back
13:22with antiseptic
13:23and rubbing alcohol.
13:24It stung.
13:25But I didn't make a sound,
13:27it was nothing next
13:27to what I'd been through.
13:28His hands were rough
13:30but strangely careful,
13:31like he was trying
13:32to undo something
13:33he couldn't name.
13:37Why is this one
13:38right here
13:38across your waist?
13:39Roderick pointed
13:40to a particularly
13:41ugly scar.
13:42It wasn't just
13:43a surface scrape
13:44whoever hit me
13:45had aimed right
13:45for my kidneys.
13:46I shook my head.
13:47Um,
13:49I don't know.
13:50He finished up
13:50cleaning the wounds
13:51and helped pull
13:52my shirt down.
13:54Why did they
13:55do this to you?
13:56I was already
13:57wearing a new shirt.
14:00Because I misbehaved.
14:02Then,
14:03as if worried
14:04he might not believe me,
14:05I added,
14:09But I'm good now.
14:10What did you do?
14:12Roderick pushed,
14:13clearly unsatisfied
14:14with my answer.
14:17One of the counselors
14:18caught me
14:19after I dropped
14:19some food on the table.
14:21Roderick frowned
14:22but said nothing.
14:23I glanced at him
14:25nervously
14:25after a long pause.
14:28Elsewhere.
14:29Where else
14:30did they hurt you?
14:31I shook my head.
14:32It's not like
14:33they chose
14:33to go for my back.
14:34I'd curl up
14:35into a ball
14:36so my back
14:37was just the only
14:38part left exposed.
14:40It's getting late.
14:41You should go now.
14:42I didn't want
14:43to be in the same
14:43room as him.
14:44It felt suffocating.
14:46Besides,
14:47it was already
14:47dark outside.
14:49Oh, it's fine.
14:50I'll crash here
14:51for the night.
14:53Silence hung
14:54between us.
14:54I didn't argue.
14:56But I stayed awake
14:57long after the lights
14:58went out.
15:01I hadn't eaten
15:02since breakfast
15:03at his apartment.
15:04Using the groceries
15:05I'd picked up earlier,
15:07I whipped up a simple
15:08meal on the old
15:09hot plate.
15:10Thank God Grandpa
15:11never used gas
15:12otherwise.
15:13I'd have had
15:13nothing to eat.
15:15You're not at the
15:16center anymore.
15:17You don't have
15:18to eat so fast.
15:19Roderick's voice
15:19reached me as I
15:20hurried through the meal.
15:22But I was already
15:23finished,
15:23and Roderick
15:24had barely touched
15:25his food.
15:26Old habits die hard.
15:27Roderick took my
15:28bedroom,
15:29so I slept in
15:30Grandpa's old room.
15:31Late that night,
15:32my knee and back
15:33started throbbing,
15:34my head felt heavy
15:34and dizzy.
15:36When I opened
15:37my eyes again,
15:38I was staring
15:38at a white ceiling.
15:40The sharp smell
15:41of disinfectant
15:42was everywhere.
15:42I didn't have time
15:43to wonder how
15:44I'd gotten here.
15:45All I cared about
15:46was that I was
15:47gonna be late
15:48for my first shift.
15:49I tiptoed over
15:50to put on my shoes.
15:51Careful not
15:52to wake Roderick.
15:54Roderick's sleepy
15:54voice stopped me
15:55right as I was
15:56almost out the door.
15:58Where are you
15:59off to?
16:00I got a job.
16:01I'm gonna be late
16:02for work.
16:02Do you even know
16:03you're running a fever?
16:04He sounded annoyed.
16:06Was it because
16:07he'd had to pay
16:08for the medical bills?
16:10Don't worry,
16:11Mr. Dunlop.
16:13I'll pay you back
16:14as soon as I get
16:14my first paycheck.
16:15I gave him a quick,
16:17polite bow
16:17and slipped out
16:18the door.
16:20Thankfully,
16:21I made it to work
16:22just in time.
16:26It was Valentine's Day
16:27and the flower shop
16:28was absolutely packed.
16:30My job was simple,
16:31just working the register.
16:33I didn't know
16:33how to do anything else yet.
16:35The shop was small,
16:37but the owner
16:37was amazing
16:38and customers
16:39just kept coming in.
16:40But out of all the people
16:42who could have walked in,
16:43I never thought
16:44I'd see Chelsea Harvey.
16:46Arm in arm
16:47with Roderick,
16:48laughing and talking
16:49up a storm.
16:50Chelsea,
16:51the same girlfriend Roderick,
16:52had brought home
16:53all those years ago.
16:55Chels,
16:56Rod.
16:58The shop owner
16:59walked over
16:59to greet them politely.
17:01My mind went
17:02completely blank
17:03and I froze in place.
17:05It turned out
17:05the owner
17:06was Chelsea's brother.
17:07My life was starting
17:08to feel like
17:09a bad soap opera
17:10all over again.
17:11I'd suffered
17:12for three years
17:13because of Chelsea.
17:14And now here I was,
17:15working for her brother.
17:17How pathetic was that?
17:25Chelsea spotted me.
17:28Flinched in fake fear
17:29and buried her face
17:30in Roderick's chest.
17:32Cliffy,
17:33what is she doing here?
17:34She's,
17:34she's the one who...
17:36Chelsea pointed
17:37a shaking finger
17:38right at me.
17:38Clifford Harvey
17:39stared at me in shock,
17:40then his face twisted
17:41with disgust.
17:43He grabbed me
17:44by the arm
17:44and shoved me
17:45right out the door.
17:49It all happened so fast.
17:51I stumbled
17:51and crashed to the ground.
17:54Roderick just stood there
17:55and watched.
17:56Cold as ice.
17:58Humiliated,
17:59I got up
18:00and ran all the way
18:00back to the old house.
18:03I locked myself
18:04in Grandpa's room.
18:05It was the only place
18:06I ever felt safe.
18:10Thanks to that,
18:12I had to find a new job
18:13and I had to pay back
18:14that $1,000 advance.
18:19I hated owing anyone anything.
18:24Job hunting sucked for days
18:26until I finally got hired
18:27as a dishwasher.
18:29It was tiring,
18:30but it kept me busy,
18:31kept my mind off things.
18:34I thought maybe
18:35I could finally live
18:36a quiet life,
18:37but some people
18:38just couldn't stand
18:39to see me happy.
18:40Chelsea's shadow
18:41followed me
18:42wherever I went.
18:48The floor manager
18:49had told me
18:50to bring the clean dishes
18:51out to be sanitized.
18:59Well, look who it is.
19:01The Crawford Group Harris.
19:05Ah!
19:06Oh, wait.
19:07I mean,
19:08a pathetic little shadow
19:10nobody wants around.
19:11As I walked
19:12through the dining area,
19:13a few girls
19:14blocked my way.
19:16Their voices thick
19:17with sarcasm.
19:18They were my old
19:19college classmates,
19:20also Chelsea's
19:21little minions.
19:22Chelsea was standing
19:23right behind them,
19:25watching it all go down
19:27no sign of her
19:27usual innocent act.
19:32I tried to ignore them
19:33and walk past.
19:34I didn't want any trouble.
19:35Did I say you could leave?
19:37Someone yanked my hair
19:38so hard
19:38it sent a sharp pain
19:39shooting through my scalp.
19:42The noise
19:42set off a commotion.
19:45All I could think about
19:46was the plates.
19:48I'd have to pay for them.
19:50Roderick's voice
19:51cut through the noise
19:51from behind me.
19:52What's going on here?
19:54My hands,
19:55busy picking up
19:56the broken pieces,
19:57froles for a second.
19:59I cut my finger
20:01on a shard.
20:02It didn't even hurt.
20:03I knew something
20:04way worse
20:05was about to happen.
20:08Sure enough,
20:09I heard Chelsea's
20:10fake sweet voice
20:11complaining to Roderick.
20:12We were just trying
20:12to make up with Mari.
20:17Just catch up a little.
20:20But then she...
20:25Before Chelsea could finish,
20:26another girl cut in.
20:28But then she lost her temper
20:30and tried to hit Chelsea
20:32with a plate!
20:43I kept picking up
20:44the broken pieces calmly.
20:48I knew I was going to
20:49lose this job too.
20:50The floor manager
20:51rushed over
20:52and chewed me out.
20:53I do no count of oins.
20:54I'm chewed at me
20:54busting dumping!
20:56Munt!
20:56Nup!
20:57Test!
21:02I handed over
21:03almost all the cash
21:04I had on me.
21:05All but ten bucks.
21:09I'm sorry.
21:11I'm sorry.
21:18With my last ten bucks,
21:20I stopped at a pharmacy,
21:21then headed home.
21:24Back at the house,
21:25I went into Grandpa's room.
21:33Picked up his photo
21:34and held it tight.
21:38I'm sorry, Grandpa.
21:40I didn't turn out
21:41the way you hoped I would.
21:46You taught me
21:47that loving someone
21:48means having the courage
21:49to go for them.
21:50So you never regret it.
21:55But Grandpa,
21:56I'm so tired.
21:57I can't do this anymore.
21:58I'm giving up.
22:02What if I come
22:03to be with you instead?
22:08You're not saying no,
22:09so I'll take that
22:09as a yes.
22:14I downed all the sleeping pills
22:15I'd bought
22:15at the pharmacy.
22:17I downed all the sleeping pills
22:19I'd bought
22:19at the pharmacy.
22:25I was scared
22:26Roderick would use this
22:26as an excuse
22:27to send me back
22:27to that center.
22:30I couldn't live
22:31like that anymore.
22:33I couldn't find
22:33a single reason
22:34to keep going anymore.
22:36but sleeping pills
22:37were supposed
22:37to put you
22:38to sleep.
22:47Why did hurt
22:48so much instead?
22:52a sharp cramp
22:53hit my stomach
22:54and I could feel
22:55my eyes starting
22:56to close.
22:58Right as my eyes
22:59closed for good,
23:00I thought I saw
23:01Roderick standing
23:02in the doorway.
23:10When is she going
23:11to wake up?
23:11She's been asleep
23:12for days.
23:13When I came to,
23:14it seemed I heard
23:15Roderick's voice.
23:25Why was he still
23:26clinging to me
23:27even after death?
23:34It wasn't until
23:35a team of doctors
23:36began examining me
23:37that I understood.
23:45Roderick had rushed
23:46me here to have
23:47my stomach pumped.
23:53I'd been given
23:54a second chance.
24:01That figure I saw
24:02hadn't been an illusion.
24:03It was him.
24:11Are you sending me back?
24:14I looked at his
24:15darkened expression.
24:25The doctor says
24:26you may be suffering
24:27from depression.
24:30Roderick avoided
24:31my question.
24:34I nodded
24:35Dot,
24:35but that wasn't
24:36the point.
24:44All I cared about
24:45was whether
24:46I had to be
24:46sent back.
24:53Why didn't
24:53you tell me?
24:58Would you have
24:58believed me
24:59if I had?
25:03Telling him
25:04would only have
25:04made him think
25:05I was making
25:05excuses to leave
25:06that place.
25:17I had reached
25:18out to him.
25:20Each resident
25:21was granted
25:21a scheduled call
25:22to family
25:22twice a year.
25:31during my first
25:32six months
25:33I called him
25:33once.
25:36I'm sick.
25:38I cough up
25:39blood sometimes
25:40and they hit us.
25:46Can I please
25:47please come home?
25:54I promise
25:55I won't bother
25:56you anymore.
25:57What did he say
25:58back then?
26:00You come to...
26:02Find a better
26:03excuse next time.
26:07Then he hung up.
26:13after that call
26:14I was beaten
26:14again.
26:17I never called
26:18him after that.
26:24Why did I cough up
26:25blood?
26:27I cough up
26:32I cough up.
26:32Their blows
26:33had landed
26:33on my back
26:34over and
26:35over.
26:36The internal
26:36damage
26:37eventually
26:37affected my
26:38stomach and
26:38lungs.
26:47Seeing Roderick
26:48fall silent
26:49I knew
26:49he still
26:50didn't believe
26:50me.
26:51I lowered
26:52my head
26:53and didn't
26:53ask again
26:53whether he'd
26:54send me back.
26:56I moored
26:57me long
26:57the pair
26:58and the
26:58sorry
26:58that was
26:58out
26:58and
26:59sparing
26:59and
26:59disavowing
26:59functy.
27:00Should I
27:00be sent
27:01back
27:01I won't
27:02leave
27:02alive.
27:06In a
27:07place like
27:07that
27:08no one
27:08would notice
27:09whether a
27:09person was
27:09breathing.
27:11I thought
27:12once I got
27:12out
27:13I could
27:13start
27:13over
27:15but I
27:15was
27:16wrong.
27:17My
27:17peace
27:18was always
27:18shattered
27:19whenever
27:19Roderick
27:20came
27:20into
27:20the
27:20picture.
27:25The
27:26doctor
27:26called
27:27Roderick
27:27out
27:27saying
27:28some
27:28test
27:29results
27:29were
27:29ready.
27:34The
27:34door
27:34swung
27:35open
27:35as
27:35Roderick
27:35strode
27:36back
27:36in.
27:45He
27:45yanked
27:46the
27:46blanket
27:46aside
27:46then
27:47my
27:47hospital
27:48gown.
27:55An
27:56ugly
27:57jaggy
27:57scar
27:57was
27:57exposed.
28:01Your
28:02kidney
28:02where
28:04is
28:04it?
28:08His
28:09eyes
28:09were
28:09bloodshot
28:10a vein
28:10throbbing
28:11throbbing on
28:11his
28:11forehead
28:11as he
28:12stared
28:12at
28:12me.
28:18He
28:19looked
28:19terrifying
28:20just like
28:21at the
28:21staff
28:21at the
28:21center.
28:23They
28:23had
28:24that
28:24same
28:24look
28:24in
28:24their
28:24eyes.
28:35That
28:36look
28:36always
28:37came
28:37right
28:37before
28:38a
28:38beating.
28:39I
28:40pulled
28:40the
28:40blanket
28:40up
28:41and
28:41hid
28:41underneath
28:42it.
28:49The
28:50bed
28:50shifted
28:51as
28:51Roderick
28:51sat
28:52down
28:52beside
28:52me.
28:55He
28:55gently
28:56tug.
28:57He
28:58gently
28:58at
28:58the
28:59covers.
29:02Mary,
29:02come
29:03out.
29:03You'll
29:04suffocate.
29:08His
29:08voice
29:09softened
29:09as if
29:10he'd
29:10realized
29:10he'd
29:11scared
29:11me.
29:16Promise
29:16you
29:16won't
29:16hit
29:17me?
29:24My
29:25voice
29:25was
29:25muffled
29:25under
29:26the
29:26blanket.
29:27Only
29:27after he
29:28promised
29:28did I
29:28poke
29:28my
29:28head.
29:38He
29:38asked
29:39again,
29:39patient
29:39this
29:40time.
29:41What
29:42happened
29:42to your
29:42kidney?
29:46I
29:46shook
29:46my
29:46head.
29:51I
29:51don't
29:52know.
29:56Roderick
29:56took
29:56out
29:56his
29:56phone
29:57and
29:57said
29:57he
29:57would
29:57investigate
29:58this
29:58thoroughly.
30:01Ever
30:01since
30:01learning
30:02about
30:02my
30:02depression,
30:03Roderick
30:04had
30:04barely
30:04left
30:04my
30:04side.
30:06It
30:06was
30:07as
30:07if
30:07he
30:07was
30:07afraid
30:07I
30:08might
30:08try
30:08something
30:08again,
30:09but
30:09I
30:09saw
30:10that
30:10the
30:10rehab
30:10center
30:11had
30:11been
30:11shut
30:11down
30:11on
30:11television.
30:13No
30:13doubt
30:13it
30:13was
30:14Roderick's
30:14doing.
30:15It
30:16had
30:16posed
30:16as
30:16an
30:16educational
30:17institution.
30:19Behind
30:19closed
30:19doors,
30:20it
30:20ran
30:21vile
30:21operations.
30:22Did
30:23he
30:23do
30:23this
30:23to
30:23you
30:23too?
30:25Roderick
30:25pointed
30:26at
30:26the
30:26screen.
30:27Mari
30:27Kambai
30:28VO.
30:29The
30:29man
30:29being
30:29interviewed
30:30was
30:30the
30:30infamous
30:31director.
30:31He
30:32spoke
30:32excitedly
30:33to
30:33the
30:33reporter.
30:33I
30:34was
30:35helping.
30:35They
30:35should
30:36be
30:36thankful
30:38without
30:39my
30:39guidance.
30:41Do
30:41you
30:41think
30:42they'd
30:42be
30:42so
30:42compliant
30:43now?
30:43Go
30:44ask
30:44their
30:44parents.
30:45Their
30:45children
30:46are
30:46model
30:46citizens
30:47now,
30:48aren't
30:48they?
30:49I
30:49took
30:50a
30:50kidney
30:50as
30:50my
30:50fair
30:51compensation.
30:52My
30:52method
30:52was
30:53simple.
30:53Add
30:53something
30:53to
30:53their
30:54bedtime
30:54milk,
30:54then
30:55proceed
30:55with
30:55the
30:55removal.
30:56I'd
30:57watch
30:57them
30:57wake
30:57up
30:58in
30:58agony.
30:59The
31:00man
31:00grew
31:00more
31:00animated
31:01as
31:01he
31:01spoke.
31:02I
31:02felt
31:02a
31:02wave
31:02of
31:02dread
31:02seep
31:03into
31:03my
31:03bones.
31:06The
31:07bloody
31:07scene
31:07felt like
31:08it
31:08had
31:08happened
31:08yesterday.
31:09That
31:09night,
31:10I
31:10went
31:10to
31:11bed
31:11as
31:11usual.
31:12Before
31:12lights
31:13out,
31:13we
31:13all
31:13had
31:13to
31:13drink
31:13the
31:14milk
31:14the
31:14attenders
31:14brought.
31:15Refusal
31:15meant
31:16a
31:16beating.
31:18In
31:19my
31:19sleep,
31:19I
31:20felt
31:20like
31:20I
31:20was
31:20being
31:20restrained.
31:22Then,
31:23slowly,
31:24a
31:24sharp
31:24pain
31:24pierced
31:25my
31:25side.
31:29My
31:29eyes
31:30flew
31:30open to
31:30see
31:31the
31:31director's
31:31horrifying
31:32face
31:32leaning
31:32over
31:33me.
31:33It
31:34wasn't
31:34a
31:34dream.
31:35He
31:35was
31:35staring
31:36intently
31:36at
31:36my
31:36waist.
31:37The
31:37pain
31:37made
31:38me
31:38black
31:38out.
31:40I
31:40didn't
31:40wake
31:40until
31:41the
31:41next
31:41day.
31:44He
31:45threatened
31:45me.
31:46If I
31:46ever
31:47spoke
31:47a
31:47word,
31:48my
31:48other
31:48kidney
31:48would
31:49meet
31:49the
31:49same
31:49fate.
31:50No
31:50wonder
31:51so
31:51many
31:51people
31:51there
31:51moved
31:52stiffly,
31:52and
31:53no
31:53one
31:53ever
31:53said
31:53a
31:53thing.
31:55Mari!
31:56I
31:57stared
31:57at
31:57him,
31:58my
31:58gaze
31:58empty.
31:59Then,
31:59a
31:59mouthful
32:00of
32:00blood
32:00surged
32:00up and
32:01spilled
32:01over.
32:03I
32:03collapsed.
32:08I
32:08had no
32:08idea
32:09how
32:09long
32:09I
32:09was
32:09out.
32:12When I
32:13woke
32:13up,
32:13I
32:14was
32:14still
32:14connected
32:14to
32:15a
32:15ventilator.
32:17I
32:18shifted
32:18my
32:18fingers,
32:19trying
32:19to
32:19wake
32:19Roderick.
32:21His
32:21weight
32:22was
32:22resting
32:22on my
32:22hand,
32:23and
32:23it
32:23had
32:23gone
32:24numb.
32:29You're
32:30awake.
32:30How do you
32:31feel?
32:31You were
32:31in shock,
32:32did you
32:32realize?
32:33But I
32:34was in
32:34shock.
32:35How
32:35would I
32:35know?
32:38But was
32:38this really
32:39Roderick?
32:41his jaw
32:42was
32:42shadowed
32:43with
32:43stubble,
32:44his
32:44eyes
32:44streaked
32:45with
32:45red.
32:47This
32:47wasn't
32:48the same
32:48cool
32:48collected
32:49man I
32:49remembered.
32:50I
32:50tried
32:51to
32:51speak,
32:51but had
32:52no
32:52strength
32:53left.
32:53I
32:53just
32:54lay
32:54still.
32:56Let
32:56the
32:56doctors
32:57and
32:57Roderick
32:57do
32:58what
32:58they
32:58needed
32:58to
32:58do.
33:00I
33:00learned
33:00I'd
33:01been
33:01unconscious
33:01for
33:01four
33:02days.
33:05Roderick
33:05had
33:05stayed
33:06by my
33:06side
33:06the
33:06whole
33:07time.
33:10That
33:11afternoon
33:11a
33:12doctor
33:12removed
33:12the
33:12ventilator.
33:15I
33:16could
33:16talk
33:17again.
33:20What's
33:21the
33:21prognosis
33:21weeks,
33:21months?
33:22I knew
33:23my time
33:23was running
33:24out.
33:25Roderick's
33:26hand,
33:26which had
33:26been holding
33:27a spoon
33:27to feed
33:27me
33:28broth
33:28paused
33:29after a
33:30long
33:30moment.
33:33Six
33:33months,
33:34maybe
33:35less.
33:38A
33:39faint
33:39smile
33:39of
33:40relief
33:40touched
33:40my
33:41lips.
33:42Good,
33:43I could
33:43get to
33:43see
33:43grandpa
33:44soon.
33:45Lung
33:46cancer?
33:49I
33:50phrased
33:50it as
33:50a
33:50question,
33:51but I
33:51was
33:51sure.
33:52Even
33:53after I
33:54learned
33:54to
33:54behave
33:54and
33:55the
33:56beatings
33:56mostly
33:56stopped.
34:03I
34:03kept
34:03coughing
34:04up
34:04blood.
34:05The
34:05depression
34:05only
34:06made
34:06things
34:06worse.
34:12Roderick
34:12nodded.
34:16Can I
34:16get back
34:16to work?
34:18Is
34:19there
34:19any
34:19way
34:19you
34:20could
34:20keep
34:20your
34:20wife
34:20from
34:21interfering?
34:21If
34:22they
34:22just
34:22leave
34:22me
34:22alone,
34:23I
34:24could
34:24work
34:24in
34:24peace.
34:25I
34:25still
34:26owed
34:26Clifford
34:26$1,000
34:27after
34:28all.
34:29She's
34:30not
34:30my
34:30wife.
34:31Roderick
34:32frowned,
34:32putting a
34:33clear distance
34:34between
34:34himself
34:34and
34:35Chelsea.
34:35I
34:36didn't
34:36care
34:36what
34:36Chelsea
34:37was.
34:38I
34:39just
34:39needed
34:39her
34:40to
34:40stay
34:40away.
34:43I
34:43started
34:44a
34:44small
34:44street
34:44stall
34:45on a
34:45decent
34:46block,
34:46selling
34:47burritos.
34:50I
34:51had
34:51planned to
34:51find a
34:51regular
34:52job,
34:52but
34:52Roderick
34:53forbade
34:53it.
34:58When
34:58he
34:58set
34:58his
34:59mind
34:59to
34:59something,
35:00no
35:00one
35:00could
35:00change
35:00it.
35:07He
35:08offered
35:08me
35:08two
35:08options.
35:10Start
35:10my
35:11own
35:11small
35:11business,
35:12or
35:13stay
35:13home.
35:16Doing
35:17something
35:17I chose
35:18with the
35:18time I
35:18had
35:18left
35:19was a
35:19good
35:19idea.
35:20I
35:21stood
35:21nervously
35:21behind
35:22my
35:22cart,
35:22worried
35:23no
35:23customers
35:23would
35:23come.
35:24The
35:24location
35:24was
35:25close
35:25to
35:25campus.
35:27Steady
35:27foot
35:28traffic
35:28from
35:28students
35:29and
35:29professionals.
35:30It
35:31was a
35:31fully
35:31licensed
35:32area
35:32for
35:32street
35:32vendors
35:33to
35:33operate.
35:39Best
35:40of
35:40all,
35:40it
35:40was
35:40close
35:41to
35:41grandpa's
35:41house.
35:47Hey,
35:48how much
35:48for a
35:48burrito?
35:50I
35:50was
35:51lost
35:51in
35:51thought
35:51when
35:51a
35:51guy
35:51with
35:52a
35:52bright
35:52smile
35:52walked
35:52up
35:53to
35:53my
35:53stall.
35:57I
35:57looked
35:58up
35:58and
35:58met
35:58his
35:58clear
35:59eyes.
35:59He
36:00had
36:00faint
36:00dimples,
36:01wearing
36:01a
36:01basketball
36:02jersey,
36:02a ball
36:03in his
36:03hand,
36:04as if
36:04he'd
36:04just
36:04come
36:04from
36:05a
36:05game.
36:05I
36:05was
36:06caught
36:06off
36:06guard
36:06for
36:06a
36:06second.
36:09He
36:09spoke
36:10again
36:10before
36:10I
36:10came
36:10out
36:11of
36:11my
36:11trance.
36:12For
36:12some
36:12reason,
36:13looking
36:13into
36:14his
36:14eyes
36:14didn't
36:14make
36:15me
36:15uneasy
36:15at
36:15all.
36:17Usually,
36:17any eye
36:18contact
36:18filled
36:19me
36:19with
36:19dread.
36:20So
36:21many
36:21pairs
36:21of
36:21eyes
36:21haunted
36:22my
36:22nights.
36:29Would
36:30you like
36:30to try
36:30one?
36:30It's
36:31free.
36:32Why
36:32free?
36:33Is
36:33it
36:33because
36:34I'm
36:34so
36:34good
36:34looking?
36:35He
36:35grinned
36:35and rubbed
36:36his
36:36chin
36:36playfully.
36:37His
36:38playful
36:38tone
36:39made
36:39my
36:39face
36:39grow
36:39warm.
36:40No,
36:41it's
36:41my
36:41first
36:42day.
36:42If
36:43it
36:43turns
36:43out
36:43unpasteable
36:44I
36:44couldn't
36:44possibly
36:44take
36:45your
36:45money.
36:49I'd
36:49practiced
36:49at
36:50home
36:50over
36:50and
36:50over
36:51but
36:51doing
36:52it
36:52for
36:52real
36:52felt
36:52completely
36:53different.
36:55Oh,
36:56so
36:56I'm
36:57your
36:57gimme
36:57pee
36:58pig.
36:59No!
37:01I
37:02thought
37:02I'd
37:02scared
37:02him
37:02off.
37:03Just
37:03kidding.
37:04Go
37:04ahead.
37:04I'll
37:04eat
37:04it
37:05however
37:05it
37:05turns
37:05out.
37:05He
37:06laughed
37:06warmly.
37:07Most
37:07vendors
37:08could
37:08make
37:08one
37:08in
37:09three
37:09to
37:09five
37:09minutes.
37:10My
37:10clumsy
37:11attempt
37:11took
37:11nearly
37:12seven.
37:12The
37:13outside
37:13was
37:13crispy
37:14though
37:14not
37:15burnt.
37:15Maybe
37:16I
37:16should
37:16make
37:16you
37:16another
37:16one?
37:19He
37:19took
37:19the
37:20wrapped
37:20burrito
37:20and bit
37:21into
37:21it.
37:21This
37:22is
37:22perfect.
37:25It's
37:26great.
37:26Seriously,
37:27this is how
37:27it should
37:28be.
37:28Nice
37:28and
37:28crispy.
37:30His
37:30compliment
37:31made
37:31me
37:31smile.
37:33So,
37:33how
37:34much?
37:34You're
37:35not
37:35going to
37:35charge
37:35me an
37:35arm
37:35and
37:35a
37:36leg,
37:36are
37:36you?
37:36No.
37:37He
37:37widened
37:38his
37:38eyes
37:38in
37:38alarm.
37:39This
37:39one's
37:39complimentary.
37:40A
37:40lucky
37:40start
37:41for
37:43Leonard
37:43Williams
37:43by
37:44the
37:44way.
37:44As
37:44he
37:44turned
37:45to
37:45leave,
37:45he
37:46glanced
37:46back
37:46and
37:46waved.
37:47I
37:47watched
37:48him
37:48walk
37:48away.
37:49It
37:49struck
37:50me
37:50then
37:50how
37:50distant
37:50my
37:51own
37:51college
37:51days
37:51felt.
37:52If I
37:53hadn't
37:53been so
37:54reckless
37:54back
37:54then,
37:55I
37:55would
37:55have
37:55graduated
37:56a
37:56year
37:56ago.
38:00As
38:00the
38:00day
38:00went
38:01on,
38:01more
38:02customers
38:02came.
38:07I
38:07was
38:07almost
38:08too
38:08busy
38:08to
38:08keep
38:08up.
38:11But
38:11I
38:11got
38:12quicker
38:12and
38:12more
38:12confident
38:13with
38:13each
38:13one.
38:16I
38:16didn't
38:16pack
38:16up
38:17until
38:17I
38:17ran
38:17out
38:17of
38:17ingredients.
38:24I'll
38:24drive you
38:25home.
38:25Roderick
38:25pulled up
38:26beside me
38:26in his
38:26car.
38:27It's
38:27fine.
38:28I
38:28have
38:28my
38:28scooter.
38:29I
38:29nodded
38:30toward
38:30my
38:30scooter
38:30parked
38:31out
38:31nearby.
38:34It's
38:34getting
38:34chilly
38:35tonight.
38:35You'll
38:35catch
38:35a
38:36cold.
38:36I
38:37won't
38:37die
38:37from
38:37it.
38:48Roderick
38:49caught
38:49my
38:49wrist
38:49as
38:50I
38:50started
38:50to
38:50walk
38:50away.
38:53Mr.
38:53Dunlop,
38:54do not
38:54forget.
39:00I
39:00was
39:00the
39:00one
39:01who
39:01pushed
39:01your
39:01girlfriend
39:01down
39:02the
39:02stairs.
39:06I'm
39:06the
39:07one
39:07to
39:07blame.
39:15in
39:15that
39:15moment
39:15to
39:16cut
39:16any
39:17last
39:17tie
39:17between
39:17us
39:18I
39:18claimed
39:19the
39:19guilt.
39:21Mary
39:22stopped
39:22lying.
39:23I
39:23know
39:23the
39:23truth
39:23now.
39:24She
39:24fell
39:24on
39:24her
39:24own.
39:27Suddenly
39:28his
39:28arms
39:29came
39:29around
39:29me
39:29from
39:29behind.
39:32Hadn't
39:33he
39:33told me
39:33to
39:33protect
39:34Chelsea?
39:38so
39:39you
39:39were
39:39protecting
39:39her
39:40while
39:41I
39:41bore
39:41all
39:42the
39:42blame?
39:45No.
39:48I
39:48was
39:48afraid
39:48once
39:49you
39:49knew
39:49the
39:49truth
39:49you'd
39:50hate
39:50me
39:50for
39:51not
39:51believing
39:51you
39:51sooner.
39:53I
39:53was
39:54wrong.
39:54I'm
39:55sorry.
39:56I'm
39:57sorry.
40:01His
40:02arms
40:02tightened
40:02around
40:02me.
40:04I
40:05only
40:05found
40:05out
40:05two
40:05days
40:06ago.
40:08I
40:08went
40:08to
40:08Chelsea
40:09to
40:09stay
40:09away
40:09from
40:09you
40:10and
40:10we
40:11argued.
40:13She
40:14let
40:14it
40:14slip.
40:16I
40:17could
40:17no
40:17longer
40:17hold
40:17back
40:18my
40:18tears.
40:21They
40:21fell
40:21onto
40:22the
40:22back
40:22of
40:22his
40:22hand.
40:23At
40:24least
40:24I
40:24would
40:24clear
40:24my
40:24name
40:25before
40:25I
40:25died.
40:26Don't
40:26cry,
40:26Mari.
40:28He
40:29released
40:29me,
40:29bending
40:30down
40:30to
40:30wipe
40:30my
40:31tears.
40:34I
40:34sobbed
40:34uncontrollably
40:35in
40:35his
40:35arms.
40:40for a
40:41moment
40:41neither
40:41of
40:42us
40:42spoke.
40:44Three
40:44years
40:45of
40:45silence.
40:46Three
40:47years
40:47of
40:47pain
40:47I'd
40:47swallowed
40:48without
40:48a
40:48word.
40:49And now,
40:50finally,
40:51someone
40:51believed
40:51me.
40:56Rod,
40:58here.
40:59I pointed
41:00to my
41:00chest.
41:02It
41:02doesn't beat
41:02for you
41:03anymore.
41:06Rod,
41:06if I
41:07could,
41:07I'd
41:07wish we
41:08had never
41:08met.
41:11I
41:11wiped
41:11my
41:11tears
41:12and gave
41:12a
41:13faint
41:13smile.
41:15This
41:15is the
41:15last
41:15time
41:16I'll
41:16call
41:16you
41:16that.
41:18From
41:19now on,
41:19let's
41:19each
41:19live
41:19our
41:20own
41:20lives.
41:22I'd
41:23treat
41:23this
41:23as
41:23a
41:23goodbye,
41:24a
41:24proper
41:24end
41:25to
41:25those
41:25eight
41:25years
41:25I
41:26spent
41:26loving
41:26him.
41:30I
41:31could
41:31never
41:31forget
41:32the
41:32three
41:32years
41:32in
41:32that
41:32place.
41:35And
41:35the
41:35person
41:36who'd
41:36sent
41:36me
41:36there
41:36was
41:37Roderick
41:37himself.
41:40Mary.
41:43He
41:43reached
41:44for me,
41:44but I
41:45stepped
41:45back.
41:46Mr.
41:46Dunlap,
41:46please
41:47don't
41:47disturb
41:47me
41:47again.
41:51I
41:51want
41:52my
41:52remaining
41:52time
41:54to be
41:54peaceful.
41:57With
41:57that,
41:58I
41:58left.
41:58I
41:59drove
41:59my
41:59scooter
42:00home.
42:02Roderick's
42:02car
42:03followed
42:03at a
42:03distance
42:04in
42:04the
42:04rearview
42:04mirror.
42:06I
42:07ignored
42:07him.
42:10I
42:10went
42:11to my
42:11stall
42:11as
42:11usual
42:12every
42:12day.
42:17Roderick
42:18watched
42:18from a
42:18distance.
42:21I
42:21just
42:21ignored
42:22him.
42:26Hey,
42:27I'm
42:27back.
42:28Brought
42:28my
42:28classmates
42:29to try
42:29your
42:29burritos.
42:31It
42:31was
42:31Leonard,
42:32my
42:32first
42:32customer.
42:35I
42:36glanced
42:36at the
42:36two
42:36boys
42:37behind
42:37him
42:37and
42:37gave
42:38a
42:38slight
42:38nod
42:38in
42:38greeting.
42:39What
42:40kind
42:40would
42:40you
42:40like?
42:41A
42:41real
42:41sense
42:42of
42:42ease
42:42washed
42:42over
42:43me.
42:43Something
42:44I
42:44hadn't
42:44felt
42:44in a
42:45long
42:45time.
42:46Whatever
42:46you
42:46recommend.
42:55Maybe
42:56one
42:56of
42:56each?
42:57I'll
42:57take
42:57some
42:57back
42:57for
42:57my
42:58roommates
42:58too.
42:59One
43:00of his
43:00buddies
43:00said,
43:01eyeing
43:01the
43:01ingredients.
43:04So,
43:04how
43:05much?
43:05You
43:05didn't
43:06let
43:06me
43:06pay
43:06last
43:06time.
43:07You've
43:07got
43:07to
43:07charge
43:07me
43:07today
43:08or
43:08I
43:08won't
43:08come
43:08back.
43:11I
43:11hadn't
43:11said
43:11I
43:12wouldn't
43:12charge
43:12him.
43:13I
43:14still
43:14needed
43:14to
43:14pay
43:15back
43:15my
43:15debt.
43:16$6
43:17each.
43:18Cash
43:19only
43:19though.
43:19If
43:20you
43:20don't
43:20have
43:20any
43:20you
43:20can
43:21get
43:21change
43:21at
43:21the
43:21store
43:21down
43:21the
43:21block.
43:24I
43:24pointed
43:24to
43:25the
43:25sign
43:25on
43:25my
43:25cart
43:25and
43:26then
43:26toward
43:26the
43:26store
43:26down
43:26the
43:27block.
43:29Wait
43:30right
43:30here.
43:30I'll
43:31be
43:31back.
43:31I
43:32watched
43:32Leonard
43:32walk
43:33away
43:33inside.
43:34The
43:35young
43:35seemed
43:35so
43:35full
43:36of
43:36life.
43:37It
43:37was
43:37easy
43:37to
43:38forget
43:38I
43:38was
43:38only
43:38a
43:38year
43:39older
43:39than
43:39him.
43:40Yet
43:40my
43:45Hey
43:45isn't
43:46he
43:46good
43:47looking?
43:47And
43:48he's
43:48single.
43:49Maybe
43:49give
43:49him
43:49a
43:49shot?
43:50His
43:51classmates
43:51clearly
43:51thought
43:52my
43:52glance
43:52at
43:52Leonard
43:53meant
43:53more
43:53than
43:53it
43:53did.
43:54I
43:54shook
43:55my
43:55head
43:55and
43:55stayed
43:55silent.
43:57I
43:57was
43:57making
43:58around
43:58three
43:58to
43:58four
43:58hundred
43:58dollars
43:59a
43:59day.
44:04Soon
44:04I
44:05had enough
44:05to repay
44:06my
44:06debt.
44:07Clifford
44:07seemed
44:07to have
44:08been
44:08waiting
44:08for
44:08me.
44:10He
44:10looked
44:10different.
44:11Guilty
44:12almost.
44:14I
44:14heard
44:14what
44:14really
44:14happened.
44:17Chelsea
44:17admitted
44:18the
44:18truth
44:18to
44:18Roderick.
44:20I'm
44:20sorry
44:20for
44:21what
44:21I
44:21did
44:21to
44:21you.
44:22I
44:22didn't
44:22reply.
44:24I
44:25placed
44:25the
44:25money
44:25on
44:25the
44:25counter
44:26and
44:26left.
44:32Finally
44:32I
44:33was
44:33free
44:33of
44:33that
44:34burden.
44:35Why
44:35did
44:36Leonard
44:36keep
44:36coming
44:36to
44:36my
44:37stall?
44:38Did
44:38he
44:39really
44:39love
44:39burritos
44:40that
44:40much?
44:42Do
44:43you
44:43really
44:43like
44:43burritos
44:44that
44:44much?
44:44I
44:46finally
44:46asked
44:46no
44:47why?
44:49Taking
44:50another
44:50bite.
44:52Why
44:52do
44:53you
44:53come
44:53every
44:53day?
44:55Were
44:55you
44:55short
44:56on
44:56money
44:56for
44:56meals?
44:58But
44:59he
44:59didn't
44:59look like
45:00he
45:00was
45:00struggling.
45:02Because
45:03you're
45:03here.
45:03Between
45:03bites
45:04I
45:05didn't
45:05fully
45:05process
45:06his
45:06words
45:06not
45:07until
45:08he
45:08swallowed
45:08leaned
45:09closer
45:09and
45:10looked
45:10at
45:10me
45:10seriously.
45:12be
45:13my
45:13girlfriend?
45:16I
45:16froze
45:17for a
45:17second
45:17then
45:18shook
45:18my
45:18head.
45:19I
45:20took
45:20his
45:20hand
45:20and
45:20placed
45:21it
45:21on
45:21my
45:21waist.
45:23I'm
45:23missing
45:23a
45:23kidney
45:24here.
45:26I
45:26have
45:27lung
45:27cancer
45:27here.
45:28He
45:29shrugged
45:29unfazed.
45:30I
45:31know.
45:32I've
45:33always
45:33known.
45:34How
45:34could
45:34he
45:35know
45:35reading
45:35my
45:36surprise?
45:37I'll
45:38tell
45:38you
45:38later.
45:39His
45:40hand
45:40lingered
45:40gently
45:40on
45:41my
45:41waist.
45:42Did
45:42it
45:42hurt?
45:44My
45:45eyes
45:45stung.
45:46No
45:46one
45:46had
45:46ever
45:46asked
45:47me
45:47that
45:47before.
45:49Not
45:49Roderick.
45:50Not
45:50my
45:51parents.
45:51Not
45:52a
45:52single
45:52person
45:52in
45:53three
45:53years.
45:58But
45:58this
45:58young
45:58man
45:59did.
46:01Six
46:01months
46:02later,
46:02I
46:02held
46:03the
46:03medical
46:03record
46:03the
46:03doctor
46:04had
46:04just
46:04given
46:04me.
46:06He
46:07said
46:07the
46:07cancer
46:08cells
46:08were
46:08gradually
46:09receding.
46:12Leonard
46:12had
46:12made
46:12sure
46:13I
46:13ate
46:13three
46:13meals
46:14a
46:14day.
46:14He
46:15walked
46:15me
46:15to
46:15every
46:16checkup.
46:19For
46:20the
46:20first
46:20time
46:20in
46:20years,
46:21I
46:22wanted
46:22to
46:22live,
46:23and
46:23it
46:23showed.
46:26With
46:26a
46:27positive
46:27mindset,
46:28consistent
46:28medication,
46:29and no
46:30late-night
46:30depressive
46:30episodes,
46:32full
46:33recovery
46:33was
46:34possible.
46:37there
46:37were
46:37cases
46:38of
46:38people
46:38beating
46:39cancer.
46:40It
46:41just
46:41wasn't
46:41easy.
46:48But I
46:48had
46:48managed
46:49it.
46:53Hey,
46:54where are
46:54you?
46:54You're
46:55not at
46:55your
46:55stall
46:55today.
46:56My
46:57phone
46:57buzzed
46:57with a
46:57message
46:58from
46:58Leonard.
46:59He'd
46:59bought
46:59me
46:59this
47:00phone
47:00himself.
47:02He'd
47:02claimed
47:02it was
47:03a
47:03buy-one-get-one
47:04deal.
47:05that he
47:06had an
47:06extra,
47:06and if
47:07I
47:07didn't
47:07take
47:08it,
47:08he'd
47:08throw
47:08it
47:08away.
47:09Who
47:10believed
47:10that?
47:10I
47:11certainly
47:11didn't.
47:14At
47:14the
47:14hospital.
47:20Half
47:21an
47:21hour
47:21later,
47:22Leonard
47:22came
47:23jobbing
47:23toward
47:23me in
47:24his
47:24basketball
47:24jersey.
47:29What
47:29did
47:29the
47:29doctor
47:30say?
47:32I
47:32put on
47:32a
47:33somber
47:33face,
47:33pretending
47:34to be
47:34downcast.
47:35I
47:35saw his
47:36expression
47:36dim,
47:37but he
47:37kept
47:37his
47:38voice
47:38steady.
47:41It's
47:41okay.
47:43I'll
47:43be with
47:44you
47:44every
47:45step
47:45of the
47:45way.
47:46I
47:47cut
47:47him
47:47off.
47:47Just
47:48kidding.
47:48The
47:48doctor
47:48says I'm
47:49doing
47:49really
47:49well.
47:52I
47:53couldn't
47:53bear to
47:53tease
47:53him
47:54for
47:54long.
47:57You've
47:58gotten
47:58mean.
48:00He
48:00pretended
48:00to be
48:01upset,
48:01but then
48:02he
48:02picked
48:02me
48:02up
48:02and
48:03spun
48:03me
48:03around
48:03twice.
48:11So,
48:12does
48:13this
48:13mean
48:13you'll
48:13say
48:13yes?
48:14He
48:15looked
48:15at me
48:15eagerly.
48:16Say
48:17yes
48:17to
48:17what?
48:19Interest
48:20at him
48:20playfully.
48:21Be
48:22my
48:22girlfriend.
48:23But I'm
48:23not
48:23completely
48:24healed
48:24yet.
48:25What
48:25if
48:25it
48:25comes
48:26back?
48:27I
48:27don't
48:27care.
48:31my
48:32job
48:32is to
48:32love
48:32you
48:32and
48:33make
48:33you
48:33happy.
48:35If
48:36you're
48:36happy,
48:37you'll
48:37get
48:37better.
48:38He
48:38hugged
48:39me
48:39tightly,
48:40nuzzling
48:40against
48:40me.
48:42All
48:43right,
48:43I suppose
48:44I'll
48:44say yes.
48:47I
48:48wrapped
48:48my arms
48:48around him
48:49in return.
48:51I
48:51sounded
48:52as if
48:52I
48:52was
48:52doing
48:53him
48:53a
48:53favor.
48:54The
48:55truth
48:55was,
48:56he
48:56had
48:56been
48:56the
48:57one
48:57settling
48:57for
48:57me
48:58all
48:58along.
49:01As
49:02Leonard
49:02and I
49:02walked
49:03away
49:03hand
49:03in
49:03hand,
49:04I
49:04saw
49:04Roderick.
49:10I
49:11hadn't
49:11seen him
49:11in two
49:12or three
49:12months.
49:14He
49:14stood
49:15watching
49:15us,
49:15his
49:16eyes
49:16red.
49:22He
49:22picked
49:22me
49:22up
49:23to
49:23attend
49:23the
49:23service
49:23and
49:24that
49:24was
49:24it.
49:24I
49:25also
49:25repaid
49:25him
49:25for
49:26all
49:26the
49:26medical
49:26bills,
49:27even
49:28the
49:28money
49:28for
49:28the
49:29food
49:29cart.
49:32I
49:32knew
49:32he'd
49:32been
49:33watching
49:33me
49:33from
49:33a
49:33distance.
49:36He
49:37tried
49:37to
49:37approach
49:37me
49:38a
49:38few
49:38times,
49:43but
49:44I'd
49:44threatened
49:44to
49:44harm
49:45myself
49:45each
49:45time
49:46and
49:46he'd
49:46finally
49:47stayed
49:47away.
49:52Mari,
49:53who
49:53is
49:53this?
49:53His
49:54eyes
49:54were
49:54still
49:54red.
49:56He
49:56already
49:57knew
49:57the
49:57answer.
50:01My
50:01girlfriend.
50:02Leonard
50:02answered
50:03first,
50:03raising
50:04our
50:04joined
50:04hands.
50:07Is
50:08he
50:08good
50:08to
50:08you?
50:10Yes.
50:15I
50:15know
50:16what
50:16it
50:16looks
50:16like
50:16when
50:16you
50:16love
50:16someone
50:17Mary.
50:19And I
50:20can
50:20see
50:20it's
50:20not
50:20me
50:20anymore.
50:22Took
50:22me
50:23a
50:23while
50:23to
50:23face
50:23it.
50:26Be
50:27happy.
50:29I
50:29wish
50:29you
50:29the
50:29same.
50:30He
50:31turned
50:31and
50:31walked
50:31away.
50:35I
50:35didn't
50:36look
50:36back.
50:36Some
50:37people
50:37are
50:37meant
50:37to be
50:38part
50:38of
50:38your
50:38story,
50:38but
50:39not
50:39your
50:39ending.
50:42I
50:42heard
50:42later
50:43that
50:43Roderick
50:43left
50:43to
50:43teach
50:44in
50:44a
50:44remote
50:44mountain.
50:46As
50:47for
50:47me,
50:47I
50:48was
50:48curled
50:48on
50:48the
50:48sofa,
50:49looking
50:49at
50:49the
50:49man
50:50in
50:50front
50:50of
50:50me.
50:51You
50:52said
50:52before
50:52that
50:52you
50:53knew
50:53about
50:53my
50:53health?
50:55How?
50:58I
50:58sprained
50:59my
50:59ankle
50:59during
50:59a
50:59game
51:00and
51:00ended
51:00up
51:00in
51:00the
51:01hospital.
51:04I
51:04was
51:04in
51:04the
51:04room
51:04next
51:05to
51:05yours.
51:06I
51:06overheard
51:06something
51:06while
51:07walking
51:07by,
51:07got
51:07curious,
51:08and
51:08looked
51:08through
51:08the
51:08glass.
51:14One
51:15look
51:15and I
51:15just
51:15knew.
51:16He
51:17made
51:17it
51:17sound
51:17so
51:17casual.
51:18That's
51:18it?
51:19I
51:20didn't
51:20buy
51:20it.
51:21Your
51:21classmates
51:22mentioned
51:22something.
51:24My
51:24photo is
51:25your
51:25computer
51:25wallpaper,
51:26the one
51:26from when
51:27I was
51:27a
51:27sophomore.
51:28I
51:28meant
51:29the
51:29guys
51:29who
51:29had
51:29stopped
51:29by my
51:30stall
51:30for
51:30burritos.
51:31Sure
51:32enough,
51:33Leonard
51:33looked
51:33briefly
51:33embarrassed.
51:37He
51:38was probably
51:38cursing them
51:39in his
51:39head.
51:41Okay,
51:42fine.
51:45I
51:45was an
51:45exchange
51:46student at
51:46your
51:46university
51:47in my
51:47freshman
51:47year,
51:48doing a
51:49photography
51:49project.
51:51You
51:52were there
51:52that day,
51:52so full
51:53of life.
51:54I
51:54couldn't
51:55help but
51:55take a
51:55picture.
51:56Later,
51:56I heard
51:57you were
51:57with
51:57Roderick,
51:59so I
52:00kept my
52:00distance.
52:01I don't
52:02do home
52:02wrecking.
52:03He
52:03lifted his
52:03chin
52:04slightly.
52:05It
52:05wasn't
52:05until I
52:06saw you
52:06in the
52:06hospital
52:07that I
52:08realized
52:08how stupid
52:09I'd
52:09been
52:09all
52:09along.
52:10If I
52:10had
52:10stepped
52:11in
52:11back
52:11then,
52:12maybe
52:12none
52:12of
52:12this
52:12would
52:13have
52:13happened
52:13to
52:13you.
52:15After
52:15that,
52:16I
52:16kept
52:16an
52:16eye
52:16on
52:16you,
52:17waiting
52:17until
52:17the
52:17day
52:17I
52:17ran
52:18into
52:18you
52:18at
52:18your
52:18stall.
52:19He
52:19looked
52:19genuinely
52:19regretful.
52:21I
52:21reached
52:21out
52:22and
52:22hugged
52:22him.
52:25Don't
52:25blame
52:25yourself.
52:26Some
52:26things
52:27were
52:27meant
52:27to
52:27happen.
52:28It
52:28wasn't
52:29your
52:29fault.
52:29I'd
52:30almost
52:30missed
52:30the
52:30chance
52:30to
52:31be
52:31with
52:31someone
52:31so
52:31wonderful.
52:32But
52:32in
52:32the
52:32end,
52:33nothing
52:33was
52:33too
52:34late.
52:34Other
52:34people
52:35go
52:35to
52:35rehab
52:35for
52:36drugs,
52:36alcohol,
52:37or
52:37gambling.
52:38I
52:38went
52:39to
52:39quit
52:39loving
52:40a
52:40man.
52:41In
52:41the
52:41end,
52:42I
52:42didn't
52:43just
52:43quit
52:43him.
52:44I
52:45learned
52:45to
52:45love
52:45myself
52:46again.
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