Family secrets, painful betrayal, and a powerful comeback drive this emotional and addictive short drama.
#drama #romance #love #movie #lovestory #truelove #relationship #heartbreak #betrayal #couple
#drama #romance #love #movie #lovestory #truelove #relationship #heartbreak #betrayal #couple
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Short filmTranscript
00:00After I died, everyone realized the countdown above my sister's head was mine.
00:05Everyone in the pack could see the death mark above my sister's head.
00:09They all knew.
00:10She would die on her 20th birthday.
00:12We were twins, wearing the same face.
00:15And yet, only she had that countdown hanging over her.
00:18So Stella became the most precious person in our household.
00:22The good snacks were hers.
00:24The pretty dresses were hers.
00:25Even the bedtime stories mom and dad told belonged to her.
00:29I pitied her.
00:30And I resented her for having all of it.
00:33Then, her 20th birthday finally arrived.
00:36Afraid I would cause trouble, my parents locked me in the storage room.
00:40They had forgotten I'd been sick for a week.
00:43Mom, let me out! My head really hurts!
00:46That's enough. Your sister is dying today.
00:49Can't you manage for just one day?
00:52But I feel terrible.
00:55Outside, the entire pack had gathered around the house,
00:58keeping silent vigil.
01:00From somewhere deep in the woods came the sound of howling.
01:04The clan sending Stella off.
01:06In the storage room, my wolf was fading with me.
01:40My body went suddenly weightless.
01:43Through the old wooden door, I could see the warm glow of the living room lights.
01:47Mom and dad were pressed close to Stella on the couch.
01:50Mom, dad, is Ivy really okay?
01:54I heard her say her head hurt.
01:57Don't worry about her.
01:58Exactly. She's not really sick.
02:01She's just putting it on for sympathy.
02:03Stella pressed her lips together and said nothing more.
02:06But the crease in her brow only deepened.
02:08I knew.
02:09She'd always felt she owed me something.
02:12For as long as either of us could remember,
02:14every bit of warmth in that house had been piled onto her.
02:17We were born on the same day,
02:20but we might as well have grown up in two different worlds.
02:23I had to watch and wait even for a bowl of hot vegetable soup,
02:26let alone new clothes or new toys.
02:29I was an adult now, but as thin as a 15-year-old.
02:32But Stella would always sneak her snacks and new clothes to me.
02:36Whenever mom and dad came down on me,
02:38she was always the first one to step in.
02:41She always said,
02:42Ivy, I'm sorry.
02:44It's because of me that you get treated this way.
02:46But our parents saw it differently.
02:48Right now, in fact,
02:50Have you already forgotten what happened on your 18th birthday?
02:52Stella's 18th birthday.
02:54That was the day our family,
02:56against all habit,
02:57splurged on a cream cake.
02:59Mom had lit the candles with careful, trembling hands.
03:03Dad held up the old camera he'd had for years,
03:06trying to capture one of the few birthdays Stella would ever have.
03:09I watched from behind the door.
03:11The candlelight caught Stella's face.
03:13She closed her eyes to make a wish.
03:15My parents blinked hard against their tears.
03:18And then I ran out.
03:20Maybe I just couldn't bear losing the one person
03:22who'd always been gentle with me.
03:24I grabbed the cake and overturned it.
03:27Cream smeared across the floor.
03:28I don't want to see you throwing her a birthday party!
03:31I still remember the look on my parents' faces.
03:35Stop! Dad, stop hitting her!
03:37It's my fault!
03:39This is my fault!
03:42That night, Stella crept into my room
03:44and pressed a small piece of chocolate into my palm,
03:47one she'd been saving away.
03:49There was a red welt on her wrist
03:51from where a chair had caught her when she got between us.
03:55Ivy, I'm sorry.
03:58I was already dead,
04:00staring dumbly at my own transparent fingers.
04:02The storage room door was still shut
04:04and saw myself curled among the clutter inside.
04:07My death had come before Stella's countdown memory came flooding back.
04:12When I was very small,
04:13before I knew the countdown to Stella's death had already begun,
04:17I had truly hated her.
04:19There was only one piece of candy in the house.
04:21It was Stella's.
04:22The only apple got sliced in two.
04:24The bigger half for Stella,
04:26the smaller for me.
04:27New clothes always went to Stella first.
04:30By the time they reached me,
04:32they were worn thin and patched over patches.
04:34Bedtime stories too.
04:36Hers.
04:36I would crouch outside the door with my arms around my knees.
04:40Why couldn't they read one to me too?
04:42One summer when I was five,
04:44a neighbor brought over a chicken.
04:46At dinner,
04:47mom carefully lifted both drumsticks
04:49and placed them in Stella's bowl.
04:51Why does Stella get both drumsticks?
04:53I want some too!
04:55I want some too!
04:56Ivy!
04:57What is wrong with you?
04:58Don't you know Stella isn't well?
05:00Don't you...
05:02Don't you know...
05:04Stella...
05:04I didn't know.
05:05All I knew was that Stella's face was always pale.
05:09Why don't you just die?
05:11Give me back all my things!
05:15Let her learn.
05:17Let her understand what she can and cannot say.
05:20Fifteen more years.
05:22The next morning,
05:23I eavesdropped on my parents talking.
05:24I know.
05:26Mom's voice was wet with crying.
05:30That was the moment I understood.
05:33Stella was really going to die.
05:34That number above her head,
05:36visible to every wolf in the pack,
05:38was her death mark.
05:39Now, mom and dad guided Stella back to her room.
05:44Maybe...
05:44Maybe we should let Ivy out.
05:46Let her wait a little longer.
05:49After Stella goes,
05:50we'll make it up to her.
05:51We will.
05:54He walked to the kitchen,
05:56took a small piece of bread from the cupboard,
05:58and carried it toward where I was.
05:59We'll make it up.
06:01We will, for the living это,
06:08and then we're going to take care.
06:09And if you want to take care.
06:13We'll do it.
06:13Now, if I know the money we're to be able to take care.
06:14It is right,
06:14but order to take care.
06:15If we need it in the classroom,
06:16it will take care.
06:16Hey,
06:17when I am going to die.
06:18If we're not wrong,
06:18I want to get a lot more than optimulator today.
06:19if I know the làm thing,
06:20If I know yours.
06:20You know what?
06:49To be continued...
06:57It's all right, Dad. You don't need to make anything up to me.
07:02You never will get the chance.
07:04Then came a faint sound from the living room.
07:06I wanted to see Stella.
07:08Where's Ivy?
07:10Ivy is... she's sulking.
07:12I put her in the storage room to think things over.
07:15You did what?
07:17You locked Ivy in the storage room?
07:23Ivy is your daughter too!
07:25Yes, I know Stella's had a cruel fate since birth, that terrible death mark.
07:30I know you grieve for her.
07:32But what about Ivy?
07:34Is Ivy's life worth nothing?
07:36They were born on the same day.
07:38What has she ever been given?
07:41Mom, I never meant to...
07:44Night fell.
07:45Stella's door stayed closed.
07:47Never mind.
07:47She put her lips close to the gap.
07:50Never mind.
07:52Ivy?
07:53Grandma's right here with you, don't...
07:54Something's wrong.
07:55What?
07:56Mom didn't understand, and stepped forward to cross the threshold.
08:00He said it in a hush, like something fragile might break.
08:03Dad put a hand out and stopped her.
08:07Wait.
08:07He stood in the doorway without moving.
08:09Stella leaned around Mom.
08:12Ivy, can you hear me?
08:14Sister's okay.
08:16Sister's not gonna die.
08:20In the corner, my body didn't move.
08:23There was no rise and fall of breath.
08:25The smile on Mom's face went rigid.
08:28Ivy?
08:32No!
08:33No, that's not right.
08:34Be right, that can't be right.
08:56Dad dropped to his knees beside me.
08:58He reached toward my face, checking for breath.
09:01Linda.
09:02Come feel.
09:04Just come and feel.
09:05Mom sat on the floor and didn't move.
09:08One second, two, three.
09:10That's not possible.
09:12She was pounding on that door yesterday.
09:14I heard her.
09:15Stella stood in the doorway with one hand braced on the frame.
09:19She watched it all happen and went white, all the way to nothing.
09:23Her mouth opened.
09:25No sound.
09:26Grandma grabbed the door frame to steady herself.
09:29Dad finally raised his head.
09:31He looked at Mom and his voice came apart.
09:34Linda.
09:36Tell me she just fainted.
09:38Tell me she's going to wake up.
09:45She scrambled up and threw herself down beside me.
09:50Ivy, wake up.
09:51Mommy's here.
09:53Mommy's right here.
09:54Open your eyes.
10:19Dad pressed his fingers to my neck again.
10:21Held them there for a long time.
10:25She's gone.
10:27Ivy is gone.
10:30The hand Stella had on the door frame was shaking.
10:33Her whole body was.
10:36When Stella came to, it was already noon.
10:39Mom sat at the edge of the bed, eyes swollen nearly shut.
10:44You're okay, Stella.
10:44You're all right.
10:45Stella looked at the ceiling for a long time.
10:47Where's Ivy?
10:48Mom's tears came again.
10:50Ivy, she...
10:51Mom couldn't get the rest out.
10:53Stella sat up and threw back the covers.
10:56Stella, don't.
10:57You just fainted.
10:58You need to stay.
11:00Where is she?
11:02Where is Ivy?
11:05In the living room, your father is with her.
11:09Stella pulled free and ran.
11:11In the living room, dad was still on the floor with me in his arms.
11:15He'd stopped crying.
11:17He just sat there, his eyes not focusing on anything.
11:20Stella stopped in the middle of the room.
11:22She looked at dad.
11:23She looked at me.
11:24She said, very still.
11:36He was trying to cool her down.
11:53Dad.
11:55Dad!
11:56dad his eyes were empty ivy has a fever her head hurts i'm trying to cool her down
12:02his voice was calm in a way that was frightening his eyes were empty see it's come down the fever
12:09broke she's gonna be fine now his face did something strange when he smiled stella's tears
12:15finally came dad look at me i'm stella he looked at her for a long time ivy's fever broke she'll
12:24wake up soon dad she's dead ivy is dead can you hear me she's gone he pulled me tighter
12:34stop saying that get out get out let ivy sleep stella sat down on the floor and put her face
12:42in her hands and couldn't breathe
12:53grandma came out of the kitchen carrying a cup of water she knelt in front of dad and held it
12:58out
12:59drink something he didn't take it she set the cup on the floor let go frank let her lie down
13:06he was choking on it mom his hands shook but he held on she's not dead she's only she's dead
13:12frank your daughter is dead you kept her in that room all day she was sick she died she died
13:20no no i just wanted her to be quiet for a bit i didn't want her disturbing stella i didn't
13:26know
13:26she was sick i didn't know you knew grandma's voice was heavy with it she called out she said
13:32her head hurt you heard her linda heard her you just decided not to believe it mom came running
13:39from the hallway and collapsed at grandma's feet i'm so sorry hit me i'm the one who killed her
13:49grandma looked at the three of them linda on the floor frank shattered stella against the wall
13:55she raised her head she could see me but she looked away just as quickly she pressed her cheek
14:03to my forehead and closed her eyes one tear burning hot fell onto my face
14:12the sound of crying drew the neighbors karen pushed the door open and looked at grandma holding me
14:17then at my parents and stella on the floor all this weeping don't tell me it's actually get out
14:26get out of this house karen stepped back but her curiosity won it's stella well what a cruel
14:33thing fate is poor ivy will be left all alone now that isn't stella grandma's voice cut through the
14:40room mom was on her feet she went for karen's face say one more word and i'll tear your mouth
14:45off
14:47i'm just saying what's true it was always supposed to stella your whole family lived like it was
14:52stella best of everything for stella and now the one who dies isn't the one who was supposed to and
14:56the one who wasn't supposed to shut up stella's voice ripped across the room she was on her feet
15:01right in front of karen don't you say another word about my sister not one word
15:08karen went quiet she grabbed her bag and left
15:23you
15:49The room went silent again, just the sound of crying, muffled, broken off, and starting again.
15:56Grandma got slowly to her feet, still holding me.
15:59We need to make arrangements.
16:01No feeling in her voice at all. Mom's head came up.
16:04No! I won't!
16:06She shook her head and reached for me.
16:08Ive isn't gone. She isn't. Give her to me. I want to be with her. I need to watch over
16:14her.
16:14Linda, Ive is dead. You locked her in that room with your own hands.
16:21How long are you going to keep doing this to yourself?
16:25Mom sank to the floor, hands over her face, the kind of crying that takes everything.
16:30I'm so sorry, Ive.
16:33Dad was on his knees, driving his forehead into the floor over and over, a dull fudding sound.
16:39His forehead was bleeding.
16:41Dad, stop.
16:44It was me. It's all my fault.
16:48Grandma watched them. She closed her eyes.
16:52I'm going to buy burial clothes.
16:56Mom!
16:57She said, and walked toward the door.
16:59Don't take her, please. Don't take Ivy.
17:03Grandma looked down at him.
17:04Let go.
17:06Mom, please.
17:08Let go.
17:28My funeral was a simple thing.
17:31A small plain coffin.
17:32A burial dress Grandma brought back from town.
17:35I had never worn anything so fine.
17:37The fabric was soft, a pale blush pink, tiny flowers stitched at the collar.
17:43Grandma dressed me slowly, carefully.
17:45Mom tried to help.
17:47Grandma sent her out of the room.
17:48You don't get to touch her.
17:50Her voice was flat and cold.
17:52Mom stood in the doorway with her face in her hands.
17:55Dad knelt in front of the coffin.
17:57Stella sat in the corner with her arms around her knees, eyes swollen to slits.
18:02She hadn't spoken since that morning.
18:04She just looked at me in my pink dress.
18:06On the day of burial, it rained.
18:08Fine, dense needles of rain that pricked the skin.
18:11Mom threw herself at the coffin and tried to climb in.
18:15Don't go. Mommy will come with you.
18:18Several relatives pulled her back.
18:20She fought them.
18:21Her voice wrecked past recognition.
18:23Dad knelt before the grave and put his head to the earth.
18:26Again and again.
18:27After the funeral, Grandma took my ashes.
18:31Where are you taking her?
18:33Dad stepped into her path.
18:35Home.
18:37Holding the urn against her chest.
18:39Mom rushed over and grabbed for it.
18:41No!
18:42Ivy is my daughter.
18:44She stays with me.
18:45I want to be with her.
18:47I want to look after her.
18:48Every day.
18:49And do you deserve that?
18:51Grandma looked at her without flinching.
18:53Linda, what does any of this mean now?
18:56When Ivy was alive, did you give her a single good day?
19:00Mom went slack.
19:01She sat on the ground and wept.
19:02I want to make it up to her.
19:05Make it up to her?
19:06Grandma's laugh was short and bitter.
19:08She's dead, Linda.
19:09How exactly do you plan to do that?
19:12I am telling you right now, Ivy's ashes are not staying here.
19:16You don't deserve to have them.
19:18Mom!
19:19Dad was on his knees.
19:20Please, leave her with us.
19:23We understand what we did.
19:25We'll do better.
19:26Do better?
19:27Grandma's voice was shaking now.
19:29There is no more doing better.
19:30Ivy is gone.
19:32She died because of what you chose to do.
19:35Frank?
19:36Linda?
19:37You will carry that for the rest of your lives and there is no way to put it down.
19:41She turned and walked.
19:42Mom!
19:43Mom!
19:43They went after her, both of them, and she pushed them away.
19:47Get back!
19:47She was shouting now, her eyes red.
19:50Don't touch my granddaughter.
19:52You gave up that right.
19:54She walked through the gate and into the rain, carrying the urn.
19:57She didn't turn around.
19:59My parents collapsed in the courtyard.
20:01Stella stood under the eave and slowly folded herself down, arms wrapped around her knees.
20:18Grandma boarded the train back to the countryside.
20:21The urn held in her lap.
20:22I drifted alongside her and watched the world stream past the window.
20:26It was dark by the time we reached the old farmhouse.
20:29She set the urn on the table and straightened it.
20:31She stood before it for a long time.
20:34Then she turned and looked directly at where I was floating.
20:39Ivy.
20:40I went still.
20:41The word came out before I could think.
20:44And then I remembered.
20:45I was dead.
20:46I couldn't make sounds anymore.
20:48But she nodded.
20:50Grandma can see you.
20:51The tears hit me all at once.
20:53She could see me.
20:55After everything, someone could still see me.
20:57She reached out toward me.
20:59Her hand moved through the air and stopped where my face would be.
21:03You've had it so hard, child.
21:05I lunged toward her, trying to hold on and pass straight through.
21:09I hung in the air, looking at my transparent hands and at her old, tired face, and I finally
21:15let myself cry.
21:52I'm coming.
21:56I'm here.
21:56Come here, Ivy.
21:57Come to Grandma.
21:58Her voice was quiet and warm.
22:01I drifted into the space of her arms.
22:08Tears poured down her face
22:09We stayed like that for a long time
22:16One of us holding empty air
22:18The other resting in an embrace she couldn't feel
22:21And we cried
22:22Eventually, Grandma loosened her arms
22:25And wiped her face with her sleeve
22:27She was looking at me
22:30Eyes still swollen
22:32These last few days
22:34How have you been?
22:37I stopped
22:38How had I been?
22:39What was there to say to that from a dead girl?
22:42But I tried
22:43I touched my chest with one hand
22:45Then pointed up and let my fingers drift like something weightless
22:49Floating?
22:50She understood
22:51Nothing to hold on to, is that it?
22:54I nodded
22:55She sighed and lifted a hand toward my hair
22:58Then let it fall back
23:04I know, I know
23:05She got up and found an apple in the cabinet
23:09Eat
23:09This one's sweet
23:11Looking at that red apple
23:13Something in me ached
23:14I had never eaten a whole apple to myself
23:17Not once
23:18Not while I was alive
23:20Now I was dead
23:21And Grandma had given me one
23:23I drifted close and crouched beside it
23:26I couldn't eat it
23:29Is it good?
23:30But the scent was there
23:31That faint, clean sweetness off the skin
23:34I nodded as hard as I could
23:35Even knowing she couldn't see me do it
23:38She smiled
23:39And then, still smiling
23:41She began to cry
23:42Good
23:43She turned away and scrubbed her eyes with her sleeve
23:46That night, Grandma told me stories
23:48About when I was small
23:49And she used to come visit in the city
23:51And I would climb into her lap and stay there
23:53About the fever I had when I was three
23:56How she sat up with me night after night
23:58Cooling me down with a damp cloth
24:00Humming until I fell asleep
24:02About my first trip to the countryside when I was five
24:04Chasing the chickens
24:06Going down face first into the mud
24:08Her voice grew quiet
24:09Ivy
24:10Are you getting ready to go?
24:12I looked at her and nodded
24:13She was still for a moment
24:16That's alright
24:17Then she raised her face and smiled at me
24:20Wherever you're going, there's no more of this
24:23No more of any of it
24:25She stood and came toward me with her arms open
24:28Next time around
24:29Find yourself parents who know how to love you
24:32Be a happy little girl
24:34Can you do that for me?
24:35I nodded hard, crying freely
24:39Grandma
24:39Right here
24:41She answered, her voice thick
24:43Grandma will always remember you
24:45Always
24:46The light came
24:47The first thin ray of morning reached through the window
24:50And lay across my body
24:51Which was growing fainter
24:53I reached out one last time toward her face
24:56As always, I touched nothing
24:58In the growing light I dissolved
25:00Bit by bit, going transparent
25:02My wolf stirred beside me
25:04It lifted its head and looked at the world
25:06For the first time, and the last
25:09I turned toward the light and let it take me
25:11Up and up
25:12Further and further
25:14Grandma's voice faded behind me
25:16The old farmhouse disappeared below
25:18Everything became a soft and gentle white
25:21I closed my eyes
25:23I closed my eyes
25:23After my ears
25:23The night
25:23The slow
25:23The
25:23You
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