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Short filmTranscript
00:00My mom called me a liar from the day I was born, not because I actually lied, but because of
00:04this thing on my wrist, the Verity band.
00:07Mom was obsessed with science-based parenting, so when my twin sister Emma and I were born, she strapped these
00:12bands on us.
00:13Green light means truth, red light means you're manipulating reality, Emma's band? Always green.
00:18She could literally cut up mom's designer dress and blame the cat, and that little device would glow like a
00:23Christmas tree.
00:24Not me.
00:25She'd say, green light, believe me?
00:27Mom, I'm hungry.
00:28Flash.
00:28Red light.
00:29Instant punishment.
00:31And mom's punishment wasn't gentle.
00:32No food.
00:33Locked in my room.
00:34Digital blackout.
00:35No phone.
00:36No Wi-Fi.
00:37Nothing.
00:37The machine doesn't lie, Stella.
00:40Starve now, learn later.
00:42I'm doing this for your own good.
00:44After 10 years of this, I started believing it too.
00:47Maybe I really was born wrong.
00:49New Year's Eve, everything changed.
00:51Mom was getting ready to take Emma to see the ball drop in Times Square.
00:54And that's when the pain hit, like a knife twisting in my gut.
00:57I collapsed on the floor, my skeletal frame curling into itself.
01:01Mom.
01:03Please.
01:04It hurts.
01:06Nice try, Stella.
01:07Faking sick to crash our night?
01:10Pathological.
01:10She grabbed Emma's hand and headed for the door.
01:13I wanted to scream.
01:14But part of me thought, maybe she's right.
01:16The band is red.
01:17So I must be lying.
01:18I must not actually be in pain.
01:20Sorry, mom.
01:21I won't lie anymore.
01:22But the pain got worse.
01:24Way worse.
01:24The door handle turned.
01:26For one second.
01:26I thought, she's coming back.
01:28She's a doctor.
01:29She'll know something's wrong.
01:31Hurry up.
01:31The fireworks are starting.
01:33Emma's waiting.
01:34Mom's voice was ice cold.
01:36Mom.
01:38Please.
01:40Something's really wrong.
01:42I feel like I'm dying.
01:43She glanced at my wrist.
01:45Red light.
01:45Flashing like crazy.
01:47She crouched down.
01:48Grabbed my chin.
01:49Forced me to look at her.
01:50Stella, how long are you going to keep this up?
01:53Can't you just be honest?
01:55Stay here and think about what you've done.
01:58Dad appeared in the doorway.
01:59Honey, should we at least leave her some food?
02:01Mom stood up, brushing off her hands like I was dirt.
02:04Food?
02:04She has a stash of snacks she bought with stolen money.
02:07She won't starve.
02:09Lock the door.
02:10When that band turns green, we'll talk.
02:12Dad hesitated.
02:13But.
02:13But what?
02:14Soft parenting is why she's like this.
02:17Look at Emma.
02:18Her band is always green.
02:20Stella's just a compulsive liar.
02:22She needs discipline.
02:23But my closet was empty.
02:24Emma stole that money.
02:26Emma ate those snacks.
02:27Emma just stood there with her glowing green band saying.
02:29Not me.
02:30And mom believed her.
02:31I didn't take it either.
02:33Red light.
02:33Three days locked up with nothing but bread and water.
02:36Mom turned to leave.
02:37Mom turned to leave.
02:38Emma peeked through the door.
02:39Made a face at me.
02:42Bye sis.
02:42We're gonna see the pretty fireworks.
02:44Her band glowed soft green.
02:46So pretty.
02:46The door locked.
02:47The house went silent.
02:49Just me alone.
02:49The pain was unbearable.
02:51But I kept thinking.
02:52Mom's right.
02:52The machine doesn't lie.
02:54The band is red.
02:55So I must be lying.
02:56I'm not in pain.
02:57I'm not.
02:58I'm not in pain.
03:00I kept repeating it like a prayer.
03:01Eventually.
03:02I almost believed it.
03:03The pain.
03:04Dulled.
03:04Or maybe I was just going numb.
03:06I crawled to my desk.
03:07I had to write.
03:08That was the rule.
03:09If the band glowed red.
03:10I had to pen a thousand word apology essay.
03:12Or mom would never let me out.
03:14I am a liar.
03:15Write it down.
03:16And maybe mom would forgive me.
03:17Maybe she'd even take me to the hospital.
03:19I opened my journal.
03:20Pages and pages of apologies I'd written over the years.
03:23Sorry I lied.
03:24I won't do it again.
03:25But this time.
03:26I wanted to write the truth.
03:27My vision blurred.
03:28I could barely see.
03:29My hand shook as I wrote.
03:31Mom.
03:31I really love you.
03:33It really hurts.
03:34Why won't you believe me?
03:36Please believe me.
03:37Just once.
03:38The moment I finished the last word.
03:41The pain vanished.
03:42Just.
03:42Gone.
03:42I felt light.
03:43Weightless.
03:44I looked down.
03:45I was floating.
03:46And there.
03:46Slumped over the desk.
03:48Was my body.
03:49Motionless.
03:49The Verity band still flashing red on a dead girl's wrist.
03:52Oh.
03:53I'm dead.
03:53But I never learned how to be honest.
03:55Sorry.
03:56Mom.
03:56I heard laughter.
03:57I heard laughter.
03:58Mom.
03:58Dad.
03:58Emma.
03:59Coming through the front door.
04:00Mom's voice was so warm.
04:02Tonight's fireworks were amazing.
04:05Especially that smiley face one.
04:07Just like our Emma.
04:08I'd never heard her sound like that when she talked about me.
04:11I floated toward them.
04:12My ghost self moving on instinct.
04:14I wanted to help them take off their coats.
04:16That's what I always did.
04:17Mom.
04:17I reached out to hug her.
04:19My arms passed right through her body.
04:21Like wind.
04:21She shivered.
04:22Why is it so cold in here?
04:24Is the heat off?
04:25I stood there.
04:26Staring at my transparent hands.
04:27Right.
04:28Dead people can't hug the living.
04:29Dad said casually.
04:30Should we check on Stella?
04:32She hasn't eaten.
04:32Still the good cop.
04:33I looked at mom hopefully.
04:35If she finds me dead.
04:36Will she be sad?
04:37Will she regret it?
04:38Starve for all I care.
04:39This whole fake sick for attention thing is out of control.
04:43She pushed open my door.
04:44Didn't even turn on the light.
04:45In the dim glow from the hallway.
04:47She saw me slumped over my desk.
04:49I looked like a skeleton.
04:50Hadn't moved.
04:51Mom's voice dripped with sarcasm.
04:53Still putting on an act?
04:54Think I'll carry you to bed?
04:55Stella you're 10 years old not 5.
04:58Emma squeezed past her.
04:59Held up her wrist with that smug little grin.
05:01Look.
05:02My band's green.
05:03Stella's is still red.
05:04She's lying even in her dreams.
05:06Mom patted Emma's head.
05:07That's my good girl.
05:09Ignore the liar.
05:11Let her stay there.
05:12Maybe she'll learn how to be honest.
05:14Should we at least put her in bed?
05:16It's freezing.
05:17Put her in bed?
05:18The parenting expert says cold treatment is the answer.
05:22Look at that red light.
05:24She's still in full defiance mode.
05:26No reflection at all.
05:27Come on.
05:28We have to visit grandma tomorrow.
05:29The door locked again.
05:31I floated next to my corpse.
05:32Staring at that single point of red light in the darkness.
05:35Mom.
05:35If you just stepped closer.
05:37If you just touched my hand.
05:38You'd know I was ice cold.
05:39But you didn't.
05:40You believed the machine.
05:42Not the daughter you carried for 9 months.
05:44That night.
05:45A rat crawled out of my empty closet.
05:47I used to scream whenever I saw rats.
05:49But now I just floated by the ceiling.
05:51Watching it scurry across my dead body.
05:53It bit into my toe.
05:54But no blood came out at all.
05:55I didn't feel anything.
05:57Finally.
05:57No more pain.
05:58It's okay.
05:59You can't feel it anymore.
06:01It'll be over soon.
06:03The next morning.
06:04Sunlight streamed through the window.
06:05No warmth reached my body.
06:07In the kitchen.
06:07I could hear mom making breakfast.
06:09The smell of bacon and eggs crept under my door.
06:12My favorite.
06:12But mom always said liars don't deserve meat.
06:15So I only ever got steamed broccoli.
06:17She was clanging the pans extra loud on purpose.
06:19Trying to tempt me out.
06:21Trying to make me give in and apologize for things I never did.
06:24In the old days.
06:25I might have caved.
06:26I might have confessed to anything for one bite of scrambled eggs.
06:29But I don't need food anymore.
06:30Dad asked.
06:31Reading his paper.
06:32Stella still hasn't come out?
06:33She is so stubborn.
06:35She can eat or not.
06:36I don't care.
06:37Emma walked to my door and made a big show of sniffing the air.
06:40Then she screamed dramatically.
06:42Mom!
06:42Stella's room smells gross.
06:45Did she poop in there?
06:46I floated by the door.
06:47Watching my sister with bitter amusement.
06:49The heat was on full blast.
06:51After just one night.
06:52My body had started to rot.
06:54Now mom would hate me even more.
06:55Mom stormed over.
06:57Stella!
06:58Are you an animal?
06:59The bathroom is right there.
07:01Did you seriously go on the floor just to spite me?
07:04I remembered being six.
07:05I had food poisoning.
07:06Couldn't make it to the bathroom in time.
07:08Soiled my pants.
07:09Mom didn't help me clean up.
07:10She made me stand in the yard.
07:12Pointed at me and told the neighbors.
07:14Look at this.
07:15She's such a mess.
07:17She can't even use the toilet by herself.
07:19Now she thought I was dirty again.
07:20Leave her.
07:22Let her sit in her own stink.
07:24But dad stood up, frowning.
07:28That smells really bad.
07:29I should check.
07:31Could be a dead mouse or something.
07:33My heart, if I still had one, leapt.
07:35Dad, please open the door.
07:37I'm right here.
07:39Just turn the handle and you'll see I'm not moving.
07:42You'll see my face is black.
07:45I waved my transparent arms frantically.
07:47Dad's hand touched the doorknob.
07:48His phone was ringing.
07:49Dad's face went pale.
07:50What?
07:51The server crashed?
07:53Okay, okay.
07:53I'm on my way.
07:54He grabbed his coat.
07:55Honey, there's an emergency at work.
07:57I'll be gone for a few days.
07:59Wait, what about Stella?
08:00He was already out the door.
08:02I froze.
08:03So close.
08:03One second away.
08:04If that call had come one second later, I would have been found.
08:07Maybe then I wouldn't have brought it alone.
08:09That afternoon, mom took Emma shopping.
08:11The house was empty except for my corpse.
08:13When they came back that night, loaded down with fancy lobster and gif, the smell had gotten worse.
08:18Mom gagged the second she walked in.
08:20Stella, are you trying to turn this place into a dump?
08:23She didn't even open my door.
08:25Just grabbed duct tape and sealed the gap at the bottom.
08:28You want to be disgusting?
08:29Fine.
08:30Stew in it.
08:30Don't stink up my house.
08:32She patted her hands together, satisfied.
08:34Then went to steam the lobster.
08:36I stared at that sealed door.
08:37My last shred of hope suffocated under that tape.
08:40So that's it.
08:40I'm worth less than a lobster dinner.
08:42By day three, even the duct tape couldn't contain the smell.
08:45Mom was arranging fresh flowers, trying to cover it up.
08:48But the stench of death is unmistakable.
08:50Sweet, rotten, oily.
08:51She cut a rose stem too hard.
08:53A thorn pierced her hand.
08:54She snapped.
08:55She grabbed a rolling pin from the kitchen.
08:57Stella, I'm done with you.
09:00You disgusting little brat.
09:03Time you learned what real pain feels like.
09:06I floated in front of her, waving my arms desperately.
09:09Don't come in, mom, please.
09:11I'm decomposed.
09:12You'll be scared.
09:14Even though she never loved me, I didn't want her to see me like that.
09:18But she walked right through me.
09:19Ripped the tape off.
09:20Jammed the spare key in the lock.
09:22Bang.
09:22The door flew open.
09:23The smell hit her like a wall.
09:28She stumbled back, dry heaving.
09:31Stella, what are you doing?
09:32She saw me, still slumped over the desk.
09:34Back turned, not moving.
09:36To her, this was the ultimate rebellion.
09:38I'm talking to you.
09:39She marched over, raised the rolling pin, but stopped.
09:42She wanted to see my face first.
09:44Wanted to see my defiant expression.
09:46She grabbed the back of my shirt.
09:47Grabbed my skin.
09:48The moment she touched me, she froze.
09:51Through the thin fabric.
09:52Her hand didn't feel warm flesh.
09:54She felt cold, hard, dead meat.
09:55What?
09:56But momentum carried her forward.
09:58She yanked.
09:58Crash.
09:59My body, stiff as a board.
10:01Toggle backward, taking the chair with it.
10:03And there was my face.
10:04Blue black.
10:05Eyes bulging.
10:05Features twisted in agony.
10:07On my blackened wrist, the Verity band hung lifeless.
10:10No red light.
10:11No green light.
10:11Just silence.
10:12Thud.
10:13My journal slid off the desk.
10:14Fell open at mom's feet.
10:16The last page stared up at her.
10:17Mom, my stomach really hurts.
10:19The band is broken.
10:21I'm not lying.
10:22Please don't punish me.
10:23Mom screamed.
10:24Not a human sound.
10:25A raw, guttural shriek that tore through her throat.
10:28She stumbled backward, slammed into the bookshelf.
10:31A vase shattered, but she didn't seem to feel the pain.
10:33She just stared at me, eyes wide, unblinking.
10:36No.
10:37No, no, no.
10:37This is makeup.
10:38Special effects.
10:39Stella, get up.
10:40I'm not, I'm not mad anymore.
10:42Stop scaring me.
10:43The second her skin made contact with my corpse, she recoiled like she'd been burned.
10:47That cold was too real.
10:49Mrs. Lisa from next door called 911.
10:51She'd heard the screaming.
10:52When she saw what was in my room, she collapsed in the hallway.
10:55Within minutes, sirens.
10:57Police.
10:57A medical examiner.
10:59They pulled up the crime scene tape.
11:00Cameras flashed over my body.
11:02Mom sat on the couch.
11:03A female officer's hand on her shoulder.
11:05She was faking.
11:07She always lies.
11:08The band was red.
11:11Machines don't lie.
11:13I was just teaching her.
11:14I was doing it for her own good.
11:16No one responded.
11:17They all looked at her like she was a monster.
11:19The medical examiner crouched next to my body.
11:21He muttered under his breath.
11:23Severe malnutrition.
11:25Organ failure.
11:27This kid was starved for at least a month.
11:29He carefully tried to remove the Verity band.
11:31But it had.
11:32Fused.
11:33Damn it.
11:34He cursed.
11:34He had to use tools to pry it off.
11:36Rip.
11:36Even dead.
11:37My soul flinched.
11:38A cop picked up my journal.
11:40Put on gloves.
11:41Started reading.
11:42His face went from neutral to horrified.
11:44Mom's eyes locked onto that book.
11:45Suddenly she lunged for it.
11:46That's her confession.
11:48She admits she lied.
11:50Look.
11:50She wrote it herself.
11:53Back off.
11:54We'll determine what's true.
11:55That's when dad got home.
11:56He saw the black body bag being wheeled out on a stretcher.
11:59Saw the long zipper that sealed away my entire life.
12:01His legs gave out.
12:03He collapsed.
12:03Wet himself.
12:04Emma stood nearby.
12:05Sobbing in confusion.
12:07She pointed at the bloodstained Verity band on the evidence table.
12:10Why is Stella's band black?
12:12Mine's still green.
12:14See?
12:14She held up her wrist.
12:15The green light blinked cheerfully.
12:17It was grotesque.
12:18The cop started questioning mom in the living room.
12:21She grabbed the Verity band off the table like it was a life raft.
12:24That band proves she was lying.
12:27Red light means lie.
12:29I never abused her.
12:31The machine told me.
12:32I was just educating her.
12:35The officer looked at her like she'd lost her mind.
12:37Ma'am calm down.
12:38The victim shows signs of extreme malnutrition.
12:41Mom was shrieking now.
12:42That's discipline.
12:43That's teaching her to be honest.
12:46Then she did something insane.
12:48You don't believe me?
12:49Fine.
12:49I'll wear it.
12:50I'm not lying.
12:51Watch.
12:51It'll be green.
12:52She snatched the band.
12:54Still stained with my blood and bits of skin.
12:56And jammed it onto her own wrist.
12:58Click.
12:58Locked.
12:58The rubber pressed against her skin.
13:00Sticky.
13:01Cold.
13:01She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.
13:03She needed to prove she was innocent.
13:05Needed to prove her parenting was right.
13:07She held up her wrist.
13:08Watch.
13:09I'm Rachel.
13:10I'm Stella's mother.
13:11That's a fact.
13:13Absolute truth.
13:14The red light exploded.
13:15Bright.
13:16Violent.
13:16Like a fresh wound tearing open.
13:18Mom's confident expression shattered.
13:20She slapped the band like it was a broken TV.
13:22What?
13:23No!
13:24I said the truth!
13:26I am Rachel!
13:27It's broken!
13:28The examiner broke it!
13:30Let me try again!
13:31She started talking faster.
13:32Panic rising in her voice.
13:34I never abused her!
13:36I did it for her own good!
13:39I love her!
13:41The red light flashed faster.
13:43And suddenly, she remembered me.
13:4410 years old.
13:45Getting the maximum punishment.
13:47Curled on the floor.
13:48Biting my lip so I wouldn't scream.
13:50Is this what it felt like?
13:51Mom lost it completely.
13:52She started screaming at the band.
13:54Spit flying.
13:55Why is it red?
13:56I'm telling the truth!
13:57Turn green, you piece of junk!
14:00You're framing me!
14:01But the red light kept flashing.
14:02Like it was mocking her.
14:03You're a liar.
14:04You're a liar.
14:05You're a liar.
14:06Enough!
14:07A tech officer stepped forward.
14:09He'd had enough of this circus.
14:10Stop.
14:11That device isn't a lie detector.
14:12He picked up the user manual they'd found during the search.
14:15Slammed it on the coffee table.
14:16He walked toward mom.
14:18And his voice turned cold.
14:19This is a basic biometric monitor.
14:21It measures skin conductivity and heart rate.
14:24When you're nervous, scared, in pain, your heart rate spikes.
14:29The light turns red.
14:31That's it.
14:31Think about your daughter.
14:33Ruptured andix.
14:34Organ failure.
14:36The pain must have been unbearable.
14:38Her heart was racing.
14:39She was terrified.
14:40And what did you see?
14:41A red light.
14:43So you punished her more.
14:45Which made her more scared.
14:46Which made her heart beat faster.
14:48Which made the light redder.
14:50You turned her cries for help into a torture device.
14:54You starved your daughter to death.
14:56Boom.
14:57Mom's world collapsed.
14:58She sat there, staring at the flashing red band on her wrist.
15:01And finally understood.
15:03For ten years, every red light wasn't because I was lying.
15:06It was because I was scared.
15:07Scared of her anger.
15:08Scared of being misunderstood.
15:10Scared of eating food I was allergic to.
15:12I was in pain.
15:13Pain that made my heart race and sweat pour down my face.
15:16I was desperate.
15:17Desperate for a hug.
15:18For her to hold me the way she held Emma.
15:20Every single signal from my frightened heart.
15:21She interpreted as proof of my lies.
15:24Mom suddenly screamed.
15:25She clawed at the band.
15:26Get it off.
15:26Get it off.
15:27It's red.
15:28I'm not a liar.
15:30I'm not.
15:31Still I can't take it back.
15:32I'm sorry.
15:34It's all my fault.
15:35This little bit of pain.
15:36And she was breaking.
15:37Mom, I suffered for ten years.
15:39The cops needed evidence for charges.
15:41So they opened my journal in front of my parents.
15:44The female officer's voice was soft.
15:46But each word cut like a knife.
15:48February 14th.
15:49Sonny.
15:49Mom put celery on my plate.
15:51I'm allergic.
15:52I said I can't eat it.
15:53Mom.
15:54I can't eat celery.
15:56Otherwise my throat will swell up.
15:57But because I was scared of making her angry.
15:59My heart raced.
16:00Red light.
16:01Mom said I was picky.
16:02Lying.
16:03Made me eat the whole plate.
16:04That night I threw up blood.
16:05My throat felt like it was on fire.
16:07Mom saw it and said I'd snuck tomato juice.
16:09That I was faking.
16:10She punished me for ten more minutes.
16:12Mom's hand flew to her mouth.
16:14She was shaking violently.
16:15She remembered that night.
16:17She really did think it was tomato juice.
16:19She didn't even look closely.
16:20Just turned away to read Emma a bedtime story.
16:22That was blood.
16:23From a swollen, torn throat.
16:25Dad couldn't take it anymore.
16:27This man who'd been invisible for ten years.
16:29Who always stayed out of it.
16:30He snapped.
16:31He lunged at mom and slapped her across the face.
16:34You monster!
16:35What did you do?
16:36That was your daughter!
16:38You treated her like an animal!
16:40Mom fell to the floor.
16:41Blood at the corner of her mouth.
16:42But she didn't fight back.
16:43Didn't cry.
16:44She just stared into space.
16:46Muttering.
16:46Then her eyes landed on Emma.
16:48Cowering in the corner.
16:49It's her.
16:50It's Emma.
16:51Emma's band was always green.
16:53Emma was the good one.
16:55If it wasn't for that green light making me trust her.
16:58I wouldn't have believed the red light so much.
17:00This is Emma's fault!
17:02All eyes turned to Emma.
17:04That little princess we'd all protected.
17:05The cop walked over.
17:07Gently removed the green Verity band from her wrist.
17:09Took out a screwdriver.
17:10Pried it open right there.
17:12Cracked.
17:12The plastic shell split.
17:13Inside, no sensors.
17:15No chips.
17:16No heart rate monitor.
17:17Just two cheap LED lights and a watch battery.
17:19The circuit was hardwired.
17:21Power on.
17:21Green light.
17:22That's it.
17:23This is a $2 toy.
17:25The circuit is hardwired.
17:27Power on.
17:28Green light.
17:28No matter what she said, did, or lied about.
17:30It would glow green forever.
17:32Your so-called science-based parenting was a joke.
17:36A sick, biased joke.
17:38Mom stared at the broken plastic.
17:40That was her truth for 10 years.
17:41That was the evidence she used to convict me.
17:43A toy.
17:44One that put me in hell while Emma lived in heaven.
17:47So I wasn't a liar.
17:48I wasn't a bad kid.
17:49Then what was all that suffering for?
17:51I laughed.
17:51Laughed until I cried.
17:52Turns out ghosts can cry too.
17:54The officer turned to the last page of the journal.
17:56Her voice broke.
17:58Mom, if I die, will the band stop glowing red?
18:01Or if it turns green, will you hug me then?
18:04I'm not lying.
18:05My stomach hurts so much.
18:07Like knives.
18:08Next life, please don't make me wear the band.
18:10Please.
18:12I just want to be a normal kid.
18:14I want to eat your steak burgers.
18:16Mom stared at the shattered pieces of plastic on the table.
18:19That green light she trusted without question?
18:21A cheap piece of junk.
18:22Because of that toy, she spoiled Emma for 10 years.
18:25Because of that cursed red light, she tortured me for 10 years.
18:29Mom started laughing, her voice cracking with every sound.
18:33I killed my honest daughter.
18:36And I worshipped a liar.
18:38She'd lost her mind.
18:40For real this time.
18:42My death became front page news.
18:44Mrs. Lisa, the neighborhood gossip, posted everything online.
18:48Starved to death by fake science band.
18:51This is where that monster lived.
18:53The internet exploded.
18:54Monster.
18:55Murderer.
18:55She doesn't deserve to be a mother.
18:57Comments poured in like an avalanche.
18:59Someone doxxed mom.
19:00Our address got leaked.
19:01People threw red paint on our door.
19:03Wrote death in huge letters.
19:04Dad got arrested too.
19:05Neglect.
19:06Failure to protect.
19:07He wasn't there when I died.
19:08So he got off light.
19:09But his company fired him immediately to avoid the PR nightmare.
19:12Our family went bankrupt.
19:14Sold the house.
19:15The car.
19:15Everything.
19:16To pay legal fees.
19:17Dad couldn't stand living with that psycho anymore.
19:19He took what little money was left and Emma.
19:22And disappeared.
19:23Emma was a bad seed.
19:24Sure.
19:24But she was still his blood.
19:26Before they left.
19:27Emma tried to take her green band.
19:28Dad stomped on it.
19:30Why the hell would you want that piece of trash?
19:33Mom got out on bail.
19:34The psyche val said she had severe PTSD and psychosis.
19:37They left her alone in that rental apartment.
19:39The one that still smelled like death.
19:41Her mental state deteriorated fast.
19:43She started talking to me like I was still there.
19:45And she refused to take off the red light band.
19:47To punish herself, she'd added a shock device to it.
19:50One that delivered a jolt the second the light flashed red.
19:53She said the small shocks were the only thing that eased her guilt.
19:56It was her self-imposed punishment.
19:58I floated around the apartment.
19:59Watching her unravel day after day.
20:01She'd cook a whole table of food.
20:03Then talk to the empty air.
20:04Stella, dinner's ready?
20:06No celery today?
20:08It's all steak burgers.
20:09Your favorite.
20:10She'd pick up a piece of meat.
20:11Her hands shut.
20:12The band flashed red.
20:13She was anxious.
20:14She smiled, but her eyes were empty.
20:17Mom's heart is racing.
20:19Mom's lying.
20:20Liars don't deserve food.
20:22She put down her fork.
20:23Picked up a remote.
20:24One she'd rewired to trigger the shock on her wristband.
20:27And shocked herself.
20:28Her body convulsed.
20:29It hurts.
20:31Is this what Stella felt?
20:34I'm sorry.
20:35Mom started reenacting my diary entries.
20:38I couldn't eat celery because of my allergy.
20:40So she forced herself to eat spoiled food until she vomited blood.
20:43Then swallowed it back down.
20:44I was locked in isolation.
20:46So she locked herself in my old room.
20:48Lights off.
20:49And bowed to my photo until her forehead bled.
20:51Over and over.
20:52Blood on the floor.
20:53Late at night.
20:54She'd see the red glow of the band reflected on the wall.
20:56To her.
20:57It looked like my bloody eyes watching.
20:59She scribbled a red pen on the back of my journal.
21:01I'm sorry.
21:02I was wrong.
21:03Red light means pain.
21:04Red light means love.
21:05Please come back and say it hurts one more time.
21:08I'll save you.
21:08I promise.
21:09Too bad I'm dead.
21:10Dead people can't cry for help.
21:12Eventually.
21:13The state intervened.
21:14Mom's self-harm got so extreme.
21:16She nearly killed herself.
21:17That they committed her.
21:18She ended up in a psychiatric facility.
21:20She was the strangest patient there.
21:22She'd found a red plastic ring somewhere and wore it around her neck like a collar.
21:26Her homemade band.
21:27If anyone tried to remove it.
21:28She'd bite them like a rabid dog.
21:31Don't touch my light.
21:33Stella's watching.
21:34She'll be mad if you take it.
21:36She developed a Pavlovian response.
21:39Rachel, time to eat.
21:40Mom would touch her neck, then start convulsing, screaming.
21:44Red light.
21:44Red light.
21:45Don't punish me.
21:46I'll eat.
21:47I'll eat.
21:48Even if the food was scalding hot, she'd gulp it down.
21:51Burning her esophagus.
21:52Wouldn't spit it out.
21:53She was reenacting my final moments.
21:55Living my hell on repeat.
21:57Years later, Emma grew up.
21:58Without proper guidance and with a trail of infamy behind her, she ended up at the bottom
22:02of society.
22:03When she ran out of money, she remembered, Mom's still in that facility.
22:07She showed up one day.
22:08Hey, crazy lady.
22:10Dad's dead.
22:11Give me your hidden stash.
22:12Emma stood there in heavy makeup, face full of contempt.
22:15She looked at Mom's hollow, broken form and spat on the floor.
22:18Disgusting.
22:19Just like your dead daughter.
22:21If you don't give me money, I'll pull your tubes and send you to join her.
22:25For a moment, Mom's cloudy eyes cleared.
22:27She looked at Emma and suddenly remembered.
22:29That band.
22:30That always green toy.
22:31That decade of deception.
22:32It was you.
22:33You lied.
22:34You're the fake green light.
22:36You killed Stella.
22:38Give her back.
22:38Give her back.
22:39Give her back.
22:40Die.
22:40You should have died.
22:42Not her.
22:43You.
22:44Give her back.
22:45Emma thrashed, but couldn't break free from a madwoman's grip.
22:48Borderlies rushed in.
22:49Sedated Mom.
22:50Pulled her off.
22:51Emma stumbled out of the room, terrified.
22:53They're all insane.
22:54She bolted for the exit.
22:56Wham.
22:56A truck plowed into her.
22:57She screamed.
22:58Barely.
22:59Both legs shattered beyond repair.
23:01Wheelchair for life.
23:02A total wreck.
23:03Meanwhile, Mom was strapped to a bed, staring at the ceiling.
23:06Tears streaming.
23:07In her dreams, she finally saw me.
23:09I was 10 again.
23:10No band.
23:10White dress.
23:11Smiling.
23:12She reached for me, crying with joy.
23:14Stella.
23:15But her hand sparked with electricity.
23:17The second she touched me, I burst into flames.
23:20Turned to ash.
23:21She woke up screaming.
23:22Heart rate through the roof.
23:23If she'd been wearing that band, it would've been blood red.
23:26Eternal torment.
23:27I stood in the void, watching it all.
23:29Mom in the facility.
23:30Emma in a wheelchair, baking on the streets.
23:33Dad, drunk and dead in some gutter.
23:34I felt, nothing.
23:36No satisfaction.
23:37Just a flat, dead calm.
23:38Next to me was an old dog.
23:40Buddy, my childhood pet.
23:41Mom threw him out years ago.
23:43He'd been waiting for me at the boundary.
23:44Buddy nuzzled my leg.
23:46Barked twice.
23:46As if to say, let's go.
23:48Don't look back.
23:49Yeah, time to leave.
23:50This life was too bitter.
23:51Nothing worth holding onto.
23:53I floated to mom's hospital room one final time.
23:55She looked ancient.
23:57Hair completely white.
23:58Frail as paper.
23:59She sensed something.
24:00Her cloudy eyes focused on a point in the air, right where I stood.
24:03Stella, is that you?
24:05Her trembling hand reached into the emptiness.
24:07Mom destroyed the band.
24:09I don't believe in it anymore.
24:11Come back, please.
24:13I'll cook for you.
24:15No celery.
24:16I'll buy you new dresses.
24:17Not Emma.
24:19Only you.
24:20Tears rolled down her face.
24:21I looked at the red marks on her neck from the homemade band.
24:24I sighed, reached out.
24:26My cold, ghostly finger touched her forehead.
24:28This was my final mercy.
24:29Sleep, mom.
24:31In sleep there's no pain.
24:33Her eyes fluttered shut.
24:34She slumped into a deep, dreamless rest.
24:36A breeze blew through the room.
24:38The old journal on her nightstand flipped open.
24:40The last page, my dying words, stared up at the ceiling.
24:43But below it, in shaky handwriting, were new lines.
24:46Next life.
24:47Let me wear the band.
24:49Let me be the liar.
24:51Punish me however you want.
24:53Just don't leave me.
24:54I stared at those words.
24:55It's too late.
24:56Repentance means nothing to the dead.
24:58Mom, I don't hate you anymore.
25:00But I don't love you either.
25:02Let's not meet again.
25:03I turned away.
25:04Buddy wagged his tail.
25:05In the distance, a door of light appeared.
25:07The gateway to the next cycle.
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