- 20 hours ago
The DNA Truth New
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00:01i hadn't spoken to my parents in 10 years not since the day they screamed at me to get lost
00:05and never come back so when my business partner told me the brick group my father's company had
00:10requested me personally as their wedding photographer i almost laughed then i saw
00:14the groom's name jeffrey beasley the boy who used to climb over my backyard fence with candy in his
00:20pocket the one who promised when we grow up i'll take you away from here we'll see the world
00:26he's marrying my sister at the reception my mother marched into my dressing room with tears in her
00:31eyes elan we raised you for 18 years how can you be so heartless i looked up at her calm
00:39as ice
00:39mrs brit please release me i have work to do her face went ghost white good let her feel a
00:45fraction
00:46of what i felt at 12 years old when they packed my bags and sent me to live alone in
00:49an old house
00:50while my sister took my bedroom my piano my parents love but what they don't know yet what none of
00:54them
00:55know is that i'm not adopted at all i'm their biological daughter and today i'm bringing the
00:59dna proof to destroy a wedding at a wedding shoot i ran into my parents i hadn't spoken to them
01:06for a
01:06decade they were mingling with other guests their smiles freezing the instant their eyes landed on me
01:12once the reception ended they marched straight into the backstage dressing room why haven't you come home
01:18for the past 10 years mom blurted out her accusation her eyes were rimmed red as she glared at me
01:23i
01:23didn't answer or look up i focused on cleaning my camera lens the next second she stepped forward
01:28and seized my wrist her voice rose to a raw pitch elan we're your parents we raised you for 18
01:34years
01:35how can you be so heartless i lifted my head with a frown i was confused by her outburst 10
01:40years ago
01:40they were the ones who told me to get lost and never come back i done exactly that so what
01:44were
01:44they upset about now dad stood behind mom his eyes darted between my face and my camera equipment
01:51he was clearly torn after a moment he spoke as if grasping for a neutral topic that's quite the
01:57camera eileen it must have cost a lot right it's a tough business for a young woman you must be
02:04struggling there was hesitation in his voice i remained silent i screwed the lens cap on firmly
02:10infuriated by my lack of response mom tightened her grip on my wrist her voice rose further eileen
02:16are you even listening 10 years not a single call or message what is wrong with you even a pet
02:25would
02:25show more gratitude i studied her contorted expression a sharp pain shot through my wrist
02:31a decade had passed yet their method of interrogation remained the same
02:36i lifted my gaze i spoke with deliberate calm mrs brit please release me i have work to do
02:42mrs brit she released my wrist as if burned she staggered back all color draining from her face
02:49i'm your mom how dare you that's enough dad stepped in he steadied her trembling shoulders
02:56he frowned at me exhaustion and reproach heavy in his tone eileen how can you speak to your mom like
03:03that
03:04we realize there may have been misunderstandings back then but she hasn't stopped missing you for the
03:12past 10 years she's there were no misunderstandings i cut him off my voice was soft as i placed the
03:19camera in its case i followed your instructions get lost and never come back i did exactly as you told
03:27me i fixed my eyes on them with cold indifference i stayed away for 10 years just as you demanded
03:36so what is this about they stood frozen their faces were ghastly pale mom's lips quivered but
03:43before she could speak dad tightened his hold on her arm
03:48dad drew a shaky breath he forced a strained conciliatory smile
03:52ely sorry we shouldn't have said that back then but we are family mel is getting married next month
04:00you'll be there right if you don't want to attend as her sister maybe you could photograph the wedding
04:06the last words were a hesitant hopeful whisper i stared at them i was struck by the sheer absurdity
04:13of it all my schedule is booked please give melanie my best wishes i won't be intruding with that
04:22i turned and pushed open the door the sound of mom's broken accusations and dad's frantic attempts to
04:28calm her faded behind me i walked straight to the elevator without looking back only when the doors
04:33closed did i breathe a sigh of relief i leaned against the cold metal wall a dull ache began to
04:38throb at the base of my skull it was a lingering after effect of a severe fever years ago it
04:43always
04:43flared up on rainy days back at my temporary apartment i finally unwound my phone vibrated it was
04:52kimberly cooley my business partner eily the final payment for today's wedding just came through
04:57oh about that couple who confronted you is everything okay they looked really upset it's
05:03fine i said keeping my voice level they're just my adoptive parents kimberly paused before replying
05:10all right listen we just got a very firm non-negotiable collaboration request from the
05:17brit group they're insisting you personally photograph a high profile wedding the brit group was owned by my
05:22dad my heart sank a crushing sense of helplessness washed over me kimberly sounded worried i'm afraid
05:29we can't turn it down i gripped the phone until my knuckles turned white ten years i had thought i'd
05:36gone far enough to escape their shadow yet with a single move they could still disrupt the life i had
05:41fought so hard to build understood send me the details i said my throat tight okay kimberly replied
05:48softly after a pause the wedding itinerary arrived a few minutes later when my eyes landed on the
05:53groom's name jeffrey beasley the tears i'd held back all day finally fell jeffrey was the boy who had
05:58been my only comfort during the darkest years of my youth kimberly's message flashed again eily are you
06:04okay do you want me to come over i took a deep breath i wiped my face i typed back
06:10i'm fine
06:12please compile the client's specific requests we'll discuss tomorrow morning she replied quickly
06:18okay eily whatever you decide i'm with you i put the phone down and walked to the window the night
06:25air was cool against my skin it helped to clear the chaos in my mind jeffrey and i were so
06:29close once
06:30he lived next door we grew up together whenever i got scolded by my parents or pushed aside by melanie
06:36brit i'd hide in the backyard and cry he'd always climb over the low fence he'd pull a piece of
06:42candy
06:42from his pocket like a magician don't cry eily have this when we grow up i'll take you away from
06:50here
06:51we'll see the world we'll both get into new york university we'll always be together jeffrey was the
06:58only person who showed me kindness and care he was the only one who when the whole world made me
07:03feel
07:03worthless would look me in the eye and say you're good enough eily
07:11you always have been but now he was marrying melanie memories long held back came rushing in
07:16until i was seven i was the happiest child when i was five i got into a fight at preschool
07:22over a
07:23swing i bit the other kid's arm terrified of getting in trouble i hid under the slide in our complex
07:29after school dad found me he wasn't angry he actually whispered tips on how to win a fight next
07:35time that evening when mom found out she made us both stand in the corner dad winked at me when
07:40she
07:40wasn't looking i thought that warmth would last forever then when i was seven melanie came home
07:48i went from being their only child to being the adopted one melanie was three years older she'd been
07:53kidnapped when she was three with her return my world was never the same my parents had kept my
07:59adoption a secret but afraid melanie would feel insecure they told her the truth one afternoon
08:04she stood before me her voice was young but cold alene did you know you're not their real daughter
08:12they adopted you because i was gone they were so sad without me so they got you to take my
08:17place
08:19they're my mom and dad not yours for a moment i was too shocked to move then i ran i
08:26had to find
08:26my parents and hear them say it wasn't true i prayed they would hug me and say don't listen to
08:31her
08:31nonsense sweetheart you're our baby girl but mom looked away dad was silent for a long time before
08:37he confirmed it his voice was hoarse eilie it's true we adopted you because we missed mel so much but
08:45we
08:45love you too i hated that word in that moment after that nothing was the same
08:52the carefree mischievous girl vanished i became quiet and cautious i stopped laughing loudly i stopped
09:00asking for things at meals i only took the food closest to me i studied relentlessly i brought home
09:07one award after another i believed good girls didn't get abandoned i learned to please them and melanie i gave
09:14her the new hair clip mom bought i handed over the cool toy dad brought back from a business trip
09:20but melanie's eyes held nothing but resentment no matter what i did she saw me as the one who had
09:26stolen her life and my parents attention and affection poured almost entirely into their returned
09:31biological daughter they worried she might feel insecure and neglected so i the adopted daughter
09:37naturally became the one who could be overlooked the atmosphere at home grew tense and heavy i never
09:44stood in the corner with dad again i was too afraid to make any mistake i lived like a frightened
09:49bird
09:50i was constantly terrified of being cast aside once more then when i was 12 my worst fear came true
10:02i got back from school that day to find melanie in my room she was holding my diary what are
10:07you doing
10:08i rushed to grab it back she easily sidestepped me a faint smirk played on her lips just seeing
10:15what my dear little sister writes about every day she began to read my diary i wish things were like
10:22before why don't mom and dad love me anymore it's so unfair my voice trembled give it back that diary
10:30held
10:31all my secrets and my fragile side she stood up she held it above her head maybe mom and dad
10:37should see
10:38what their adopted daughter complains about every day with that she darted out of the room the diary
10:45was in her hand mel i chased after her in the rush she stumbled her foot caught she tumbled down
10:53the stair
10:56her scream echoed through the house
11:01my parents burst from the study at the same time
11:03mom reached her first when she saw melanie's leg bent at an unnatural angle her own shook melanie
11:12wept dramatically she pointed a shaky finger straight at me i was still standing at the top of the stairs
11:18she pushed me she blames me for everything in her diary and now this that's not true i didn't i
11:29rushed
11:29to explain enough dad's roar was louder than i'd ever heard mom's gaze was icy it frightened me
11:37i tried to explain diary she read my diary without so you pushed her mom cut me off alien how
11:44could you
11:45be so cruel i didn't push her the tears finally spilled over mom's hand came up still lying she struck
11:55my face hard the sting on my cheek was nothing compared to the ache in my chest dad stood behind
12:01her his gaze was full of disappointment ely we always thought you were a sensible girl
12:09even though you're not our blood we never treated you poorly
12:15but you i said it wasn't me my voice rose to a shout why won't you ever believe me
12:26believe you mom's laugh was cold a liar the ambulance arrived
12:32as the paramedics carried melanie down on a stretcher she was still sobbing
12:38mom i'm scared does ely hate me
12:44don't be afraid sweetheart i'm here mom held her hand tightly she didn't once look back at me
12:51my parents returned from the hospital late that night i heard their footsteps stop outside my door
12:59pack your things mom pushed the door open her tone was frighteningly calm
13:04you're moving to the old house tomorrow i stared frozen then i dropped to my knees
13:09no please mom dad don't send me away i'm sorry i'll be good i promise
13:17mom looked down at me coldly mel needs peace to recover seeing you will upset her i won't bother her
13:25i cried i clutched at her legs i can stay in the storage room i can come home after you're
13:33all asleep
13:35please don't make me leave
13:43dad sighed
13:45ely this is for the best for you and for this family i won't go
13:51this is my home i was sobbing uncontrollably now
13:57mom pried my hands away the housekeeper will bring meals each week we'll transfer an allowance on time
14:05i don't want money
14:09i want you i turned to dad i grasped his sleeve
14:15dad you used to love me most you said you'd always protect me
14:20he turned his face away his voice was choked be reasonable eily
14:27once mel is feeling better she'll never better she's lying i screamed in despair
14:34why won't you believe me mom's voice cut through sharply elene if you make another scene you can leave
14:42right now i knelt on the floor i looked at their distant looks i finally understood what true hopelessness
14:49felt like no matter how much i begged they didn't want me anymore
14:57the first night i moved into the old residence i had a high fever
15:01my forehead was burning i shivered all over i grabbed my phone and called my mom
15:06mom i'm having a fever i was so weak that my voice was hardly audible the other end of the
15:12line was
15:12silent for a while then my mom replied there are fever reducers in the old house find them
15:18melanie has just undergone surgery she needs a good rest knock it off
15:24with that mom hung up listening to the hang-up beeps i felt a chill all over it started raining
15:31outside the rain splattered the window as if weeping for me for the next week i was invalid
15:37on the bed alone the fever went back and forth the housekeeper found something was wrong with me when
15:42she came to cook she took me to the hospital i lived all alone since i was 12 till i
15:47was 18.
15:52for parent-teacher conferences the seat with my name on it was always empty
15:56melanie went to the same school as i did yet my parents always showed up for her sometimes i ran
16:02into
16:02them in the hallway mom would look away with embarrassment dad would pretend he didn't see me
16:08in those six years jeffrey was the only light ray in my life he would secretly climb over the short
16:14wall
16:14of the old house and bring me snacks don't worry everything will be okay he had comforted me ely
16:22let's apply to new york university together in new york no one can separate us i had believed him
16:30i studied as hard as i could after this set i walked past a downtown hotel i saw a large
16:37striking
16:37banner congratulations on melanie britt's good grades nicely dressed my parents were receiving
16:43guests at the entrance they were beaming melanie stood between them like a real princess standing in
16:49a corner across the street i watched the celebration that had nothing to do with me i had thought i
16:54was
16:55inside but why did it still hurt so much it didn't matter though i'd be gone soon anyway
17:10the day i received the acceptance letter from the university i opened it swiftly with excitement
17:16but it was the badge of the usc that i saw my blood turned cold instantly i recalled my parents
17:22odd behavior from several days ago it dawned on me that they had altered my application form
17:27without hesitation i barged into the so-called home it was the home from which i had been away for
17:32a
17:32long time i slammed the letter on the coffee table why usc i demanded what's wrong with it
17:39mom replied nonchalantly it's close in a trembling voice i snapped why did you change my application
17:45why because we're your parents just then dad walked out of the study he explained melanie also applied
17:54to new york university with you around she'll feel insecure it's because of her again the years of
18:02pent-up anger in my chest erected her insecurity is the reason for everything you said she read my diary
18:09because she felt insecure she fell down the stairs because she felt insecure now i have to go to a
18:16different university because she feels insecure
18:23elan mind your tone mom sprang to her feet what about my tone what tone should i speak in tears
18:30streamed down my cheeks i tried to hold them back you kicked me out of the house when i was
18:3612
18:37you've neglected me for the past six years now you're trying to destroy my future what kind of
18:47parents are you we've raised you for 18 years dad said his face livid raise it was more like charity
18:56my voice became hoarse from anger in your eyes only melanie is your daughter i'm only an unwanted
19:05substitute i wish you'd never adopted me out of the blue dad slapped me hard across the face
19:13get out mom hissed with red eyes she pointed at the door since you hate us so much don't ever
19:20come
19:20back again i ran out i sobbed in the rain until i was soaking wet why didn't they love me
19:28why was i adopted where were my biological parents i cried and cried at midnight i snuck back for my
19:37id
19:38i happened to overhear my parents conversation outside their bedroom
19:47we shouldn't have told mel that eily was adopted mom cried but what's the point of being regretful now
19:54i was too sad after mel got lost i didn't find out i was pregnant with ely dad sighed mel
20:01was so sensitive
20:02when she returned we could only lie i that ellie was adopted at least eily was loved and happy
20:11before she was seven but mel couldn't be she owes mel
20:18stunned i had to press my hands against the wall for support my back slid down along the wall it
20:24turned
20:24out i was their biological daughter it turned out i had never stolen anybody's happy childhood it was mine
20:30then why did i have to suffer these years that day i left home and never came back
20:36after i reached usc i changed my phone number i put my parents contact information on the block list
20:43jeffrey and i went to different universities due to the distance our relationship was nipped in the bud
20:49afterward i heard that he had a girlfriend now it seemed he was dating melanie back then
20:55i opened my eyes i wiped my tearful face the sight of the message stung i wondered if melanie knew
21:02the truth but it didn't matter i went to the drawer i took the dna test report done many years
21:09ago
21:10since they'd invited me i'd go to the wedding they destroyed my life for melanie's happiness
21:16i'd see how happy she was
21:22the light from the glaring chandelier on the ceiling of the hotel hall spilled on the lens of my camera
21:28it reflected my tense side face my employee fiona blevins was crouching to open the device case
21:35the clear clicking of the plastic clip couldn't ease my fidget
21:38this was melanie's wedding of course the whole team should be here i should have known better elan
21:47came a female voice as sharp as a needle my hands paused while holding the camera
21:53when melanie turned around the skirt of her wedding dress swept across my feet
21:58the pearls on the decoration hurt lifting her skirt with pale hands she stared at me in disbelief
22:05as if i were something filthy that had barged into her life
22:10jeffrey stood behind her one of the buttons on the cuff of his sleeve was loose
22:17upon seeing me he swiftly shifted his gaze to the dessert table far away
22:23who asked you to come melanie raised her voice and took a step forward
22:29the guests all turned their heads to watch
22:32you don't even have a decent job you think you're good enough to be the photographer of my wedding
22:43frowning fiona attempted to step forward and make a retort
22:49i pulled at her blouse gently the coolness calmed me down a bit my fingertip touched the camera belt
22:58the host invited me the host melanie scoffed you mean my parents why would they invite an ingrate
23:05who refused to come home in the past 10 years her remarks hammered my heart they caused a dull pain
23:11the past flashed across my mind one day when i was 12 i had begged her on my knees not
23:17to tell on me
23:19she had also smirked like that and said you're unwelcome in this family anyway familiar footsteps
23:28came from the door my parents walked over mom was in a crimson dress she was oblivious to the fact
23:35that her pearl necklace was askew dad wore his tie loosely at the sight of me mom stopped in her
23:43tracks
23:44she had a complicated look in her eyes your dad and i invited ellie she's a good photographer and her
23:52price is fair she said to melanie melanie turned around abruptly and glared at mom mom are you out of
24:02your minds she's your younger sister dad interrupted melanie his tone was lukewarm he didn't spare a look
24:14at me it was as if i were just an insignificant stranger the wedding is about to begin knock it
24:24off
24:25with a livid face melanie stared at me malevolently she's a good photographer she barely gets by with
24:33a camera mom and dad raised you for 18 years and you were away for 10 years now that you
24:41have a little
24:41money you think you're better than us who bought dresses for you when you were a child who took you
24:47to kindergarten did you forget the guests talked with each other as she spoke louder and louder
24:53i tightened my grip on the camera the blood drained from my knuckles how i wish mom and dad could
25:00interfere even if it was as simple as stop it to my dismay mom just turned her head to look
25:09at the
25:09mccarrens on the dessert table dad took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket then he tucked it back
25:16and restlessly mel the wedding first he urged there was no explanation neither of them defended me
25:25nor did they display a tinge of guilt i looked down at my reflection in the mirror i realized how
25:32pathetic
25:32i was ten years had passed and i was still expecting them to be fair fiona handed a cloth to
25:39me
25:40i took it and wiped the lens slowly with it i tried to repress the surging sadness
25:48i'd come to work not to settle accounts with them i told myself
25:57after shooting the first section of the wedding i drank water in a corner of the lounge
26:03the warm water in the plastic bottle was bland like the meager concern my parents showed at this
26:10time mom walked over with a glass of orange juice beads of juice clung to the body of the glass
26:19she handed it to me the beads fell onto my pants they left wet marks on them
26:28ily don't take what mel said to heart she was nervous about the wedding
26:36instead of taking the glass of orange juice i took out my phone to transfer money
26:41i'd calculated the amount countless times
26:45eighty thousand dollars including tuition from primary school to high school
26:53monthly allowances occasional meals the housekeeper made for me in the six years
27:01money couldn't buy back my youth it couldn't make my altered application for university right
27:09but at least the accounts between us were even now the notification for the successful transfer
27:16sounded particularly loud in the quiet lounge mom's face colored as she read the notification
27:24her hand shook the juice stained her dress but she paid no heed to it staring at me she asked
27:32aline what do you mean we raised you for 18 years you think we're even now
27:43what else i put my phone back into my pocket in a calm yet cold voice i continued
27:52you raised me for 18 years and i repaid you with eighty thousand dollars the extra is the interest
28:01the account settled now we're square square mom said in a choking voice her eyes read she attempted to
28:14touch my arm i took a step back to move away her hand froze in midter tears ran down her
28:21face they
28:22dropped on the floor do you hate us so much
28:30is there no familial finishing for us at all in your heart you had a fever when you were five
28:37your dad carried you on his or electus three can take you to the hospital
28:45the first time you won a prize eyes i took you out to buy you a new dress
28:51did you forget all about this
28:54scenes from the past flashed across my mind like an old movie carrying me on his back dad ran in
29:01the
29:01rain but his back felt extremely warm there were floral patterns on the rim of the pink dress mom
29:08bought me sadly these warm memories had waned after melanie returned yes looking her in the eye i declared
29:19slowly i hate you for driving me into the old house when i was 12
29:26i hate you for altering my application when i was 18
29:30i hate you for asking me to knock it off when i had a fever of 39 degrees
29:42mom stopped crying her face was as pasty as death
29:48dad took her arm to support her he looked at me his eyes dripped with disappointment
29:55ily we were wrong but what you're doing is ruthless suddenly melanie marched over
30:03she pointed at me and yelped dad and mom raised you for 18 years first you left without saying goodbye
30:14now you want to cut ties with them as an adopted daughter you should be grateful that they didn't let
30:20you starve how dare you talk about fairness with them what in great an adopted daughter
30:32i turned to my parents my heart was racing finally the right time had come
30:40is that what i am in your eyes mom's lips moved but no words came out dad nodded with a
30:47sigh
30:47ily we were wrong but you're indeed adopted don't fixate on it laughing snidely i took a step forward
30:57i looked them in the eye in which children's home did you find me where are the adoption formalities
31:06can i have a look a deathly silence ensued the blood drained from mom's face
31:14dad clenched his fists tightly his knuckles went pale
31:20dumbfounded melanie shook mom's arm
31:25mom tell her where you adopted her show her the formalities neither mom nor dad spoke
31:32they just stared at me panic was plain in their eyes
31:37the last tad of hope in my heart was shattered as i met their gaze
31:42they couldn't even come up with a good lie
31:45but they'd fooled me for 10 years
31:54my fingers trembled as i fumbled the laminated dna test report in my purse
32:00i'd kept it for five years i cried in bed every time i read the result
32:08the possibility of paternity is in excess of 99.999 percent
32:17i wasn't a substitute for melanie
32:20i was their biological daughter that was the truth however they wouldn't admit it
32:27you can't say it i will
32:31i handed the report to my parents under the light the plastic cover glared
32:37they couldn't open their eyes mom was breathing rapidly
32:42dad wanted to take the report
32:46but he withdrew his hand on second thought
32:53you claim i'm i'm adopted i continued in a flat voice it expressed my 10 years of sadness
33:01then why is the possibility of paternity 99.999 percent
33:06why does the dna test report say you're my biological parents
33:11melanie dashed over and snatched the report away
33:15her fingers trembled violently as she read it
33:20no
33:24this can't be true
33:26this can't be true this report must be a forgery you're using it to take everything away from me
33:32a forgery
33:34i looked at my parents
33:39ask your parents
33:44tears streamed down mom's cheeks they stained the report
33:49dad's face was as pale as paper his lips were trembling
33:54he was too emotionally overwhelmed to speak
33:58afraid to hurt melanie's feelings you told her i was adopted
34:02i believed you
34:05i thought you'd love me all the same as long as i was obedient and humored her
34:12however you turned my bedroom into a sunroom for her
34:16you moved my piano into the storage room
34:21you changed my application in university to us behind my back
34:26when i was furious you couldn't be bothered to check on me
34:30you asked me to find the medicine on my own
34:33more and more guests gathered around us
34:37they whispered to each other
34:39some of them took photos of this scene
34:42others pointed at my parents
34:44they're playing favorites
34:47how could they treat their own daughter so horribly
34:50poor girl for 10 years she didn't know her adoptive parents were her biological parents
34:57suddenly mom dropped to her knees
34:59she clutched the leg of my pants
35:04elie i was wrong
35:06we all were
35:08your dad and i were confused
35:13we felt sorry for mel and neglected you
35:19will you forgive us
35:23we'll give you the house the company anything you want
35:31i brushed mom's hands away i took a step back
35:35her hands were cold and calloused
35:39however the touch failed to invoke the familial affection inside me
35:43my heart could never be warm again
35:47i don't want your house or company
35:50i announced in a hoarse voice
35:53i want the truth
35:55why did you lie to me
35:57i'm also your daughter
36:00why do you only love her
36:05dad also knelt tearfully
36:09elie i'm sorry i let you down
36:12when mel just came back she cried every day
36:16she was afraid that we wouldn't like her
36:21out of options we told her you were adopted
36:27we thinking things would turn around when she grew up
36:31sadly that didn't happen
36:36we never meant to put you through all this
36:39you never meant to
36:41i laughed
36:43but tears streamed down my face
36:46at 12 i had to live alone in the old house
36:50and i was too terrified to sleep
36:54i could have been admitted to nyu but i had to go to ucla
37:01you know why i was away for a decade
37:04because you told me to never come back
37:08not because i didn't want to return home
37:14you think you can undo all this by your simple apology
37:19nice try
37:27suddenly melanie tore the dna test report
37:31she tore it once then again
37:35shreds of paper scattered across the floor like snow
37:40she shrieked
37:43i don't believe it i'm your daughter she's not the wedding is off
37:50her face was twisted with rage and terror
37:53for 18 years she had been the real daughter
37:57the cherished one the one they sacrificed everything for
38:02and now in one moment she had become the lie
38:06she pulled off the veil she tossed it onto the floor
38:11she ran off after a dazed moment jeffrey went after her
38:16the director of the wedding ran to my dad in a fluster
38:21mr brit the wedding
38:25it's cancelled
38:26holding the camera i said to fiona
38:29put away the devices we're done here
38:33when i walked out of the lounge mom's sobs came from behind me
38:38the guests were whispering but i didn't look back
38:43the years of agony were finally off my chest today
38:47it might have happened too late
38:50but at least i was no longer the adopted daughter
38:57at the entrance to the hotel the cold autumn wind blew in my face
39:02it brought a sense of desolation
39:06fiona carried the devices for me she walked briskly afraid to bother me
39:13as soon as i reached the roadside urgent footsteps came from behind me
39:17elene wait someone called i turned around it was jeffrey
39:24he had his suit jacket hanging from his arm his hair was a mess his forehead was sweaty he ran
39:32to
39:32me he was huffing and puffing his chest was heaving violently his eyes were full of guilt
39:39i'm sorry he apologized in a husky voice
39:44i'm sorry i didn't go to find you back then
39:48i'm sorry i got together with melanie
39:51i gazed at him
39:54under the sunshine the fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were obvious
40:00when we were little he was always saying i had big doe eyes
40:06now the glitter in his eyes was gone one day in my senior year in high school
40:11he climbed over the tall wall with a candy in his hand he said to me
40:17elie after we're both admitted to new york university i'll take you to the sea
40:22the sweetness of the candy was vivid in my mind for many years
40:33why were you with her my low voice faded in the wind when i was in college she found me
40:39one day
40:40she told me you'd forgotten me she said you'd gone to los angeles and would never come back
40:45jeffrey clutched his jacket his knuckles were pale
40:52she said you hated me for not putting in a good word for you i i panicked
40:59i i looked for you but you changed your phone number and the old house was empty
41:05i i thought i thought you didn't want to see me anymore
41:11an unbearable pang ran through my heart
41:16the day i enrolled at usc i came to new york university i assumed he'd be waiting for me at
41:23the entrance to my disappointment i waited there all day he never showed up afterward i learned that
41:32he was already with melanie back then
41:39i wanted to be with you jeffrey's eyes reddened they brimmed with tears after the sst i went to the
41:50old
41:50house to find you your parents told me you'd left and would never come back i waited at the gate
41:57to
41:57the old house all night the candy in my hand melted melted like our terminated long gone relationship
42:13melanie and i have broken up the wedding is off he took a step forward to hold my hand
42:19i retreated and moved away elie can we start over i was wrong i'll cherish you all the more
42:34i looked at jeffrey calmly my youth adoration for him and expectations of our future had elapsed with
42:42time they had worn out in lies jeffrey were not meant to be he stiffened to hear my words his
42:54face
42:54gradually went pale all the color drained away like a photograph left too long in the sun
43:01his lips parted slightly but no words came out of his mouth he just stood there he looked at me
43:09despair
43:10was plain in his eyes the boy who used to climb over my fence with candy in his pocket
43:18the teenager who waited all night at the gate of the old house with a melting sweet in his hand
43:25the man who was about to marry my sister they were all the same person
43:32and none of them were the person i needed anymore
43:36i didn't eat the candy i turned around i said to fiona let's go i left resolutely without looking back
43:49ely i regret it he said softly in the wind i knew that but what difference did it make some
43:55things were
43:56lost forever like new york university like the teenager himself
44:04over the next few days my phone kept ringing non-stop
44:09all calls were from my parents i set my phone to silent
44:15i put it in the drawer i didn't want to hear their apologies it was too late i didn't need
44:22them anymore
44:23kimberly would tell me about their situation every day
44:27this morning your mom was crying downstairs at the studio she was holding a photo of you as a child
44:36your dad came too he was leaning on a cane he looked much older i just nodded i asked her
44:44to keep them
44:45outside i didn't let them in to disturb my work on friday night after working overtime i left the studio
44:52as soon as i turned into the alley i heard familiar sounds of arguing
44:57it was melanie and my parents why do you get to apologize to her why do you give her the
45:03house
45:04i'm your daughter melanie's voice was choked with tears it was sharp as nails scraping glass
45:10she was the one who pushed me down the stairs she wrote in her diary to insult me have you
45:16forgotten
45:17how can you take her side
45:20she didn't push you dad's voice was louder than ever it was filled with exhaustion and anger you fell on
45:27your own you admitted it just yesterday you even lied to us saying she changed your homework
45:34saying she stole your necklace how many things have you kept from us i hid around the corner of
45:40the alley i felt nothing in particular just a sense of irony after all these years they finally learned
45:48the truth but i stopped caring long ago so what if i admit it melanie screamed she took my place
45:57for
45:58seven years if not for her all your love would have been mine i wanted her to suffer changing her
46:03college choices driving her away it was all me who made you do it why blame me now you spoiled
46:09me
46:09you said you'd love me forever mom's sobs came through they were suppressed mel how could you say that
46:20we thought you were just sensitive we never imagined you'd be so cruel
46:25elie has suffered so much over the years and we never knew suffered what did she suffer
46:34melanie sneered she lived in the old house but i was kidnapped by traffickers
46:40i've had it much harder than her you should make it up to me dad's side his voice was hoarse
46:48we were wrong wrong to always favor you wrong not to trust eily we owe her an apology i didn't
46:56listen to the rest
47:01i turned and went back to my apartment i took out the severance agreement i had prepared long ago from
47:08the drawer
47:11i had spent a long time writing that agreement it clearly stated from now on i have no familial
47:19relationship with patrick brit lela valdez or melanie brit we will not interfere in each other's lives
47:26nor bear any obligation of support or care the brit family's assets have nothing to do with me
47:36the next day i had my lawyer deliver the agreement to dad's company
47:41when the lawyer returned he told me
47:45mr brit's hands were shaking as he read the agreement mrs brit cried and tore it up
47:51then she picked up the pieces and carefully glued them back together before signing
47:55melanie didn't sign and cursed you a few times i nodded without saying anything
47:59whether she signed or not didn't matter my parents signatures were enough
48:05kimberly brought me a cup of hot coffee she said it in front of me ely do you really not
48:12regret it
48:12after all they're your parents i looked out at the trees beyond the window their leaves were scattered
48:18all over the ground bleak and desolate no i picked up the coffee and took a sip it was bitter
48:26i'm no longer
48:28the little girl who longed for their love cutting ties is better for all of us all those years of
48:34grievance were like a cup of bitter coffee once swallowed you can never spit it out from now on
48:40i only want to live for myself three months after signing the severance agreement i packed my bags and
48:46left los angeles this city carried too many memories for me some good some bad and now it was time
48:56to let
48:56them go i went to a small town in the south i rented an apartment with a
49:04balcony outside the balcony stood an old locust tree it bloomed with many fragrant white flowers in
49:12summer every morning i took photos of the street
49:20in the evenings i sat on the balcony reading
49:26occasionally i accepted a few photography jobs from out of town
49:32life was very peaceful
49:39kimberly would regularly send me messages about los angeles
49:44melanie was kicked out by your parents because she secretly took the family's money to gamble
49:50she racked up a lot of debt
49:55later she went to find jeffrey and the two of them still got married
50:01but they argue every day
50:06jeffrey messed up his job too
50:08he got fired by the company
50:12now he spends every day drinking at home
50:15when he's drunk he yells at melanie and melanie cries
50:20their life is a complete mess i looked at the messages
50:25i felt nothing inside whether their days were good or bad it no longer had anything to do with me
50:33i only occasionally thought of my childhood
50:38dad teaching me to ride a bike
50:43mom braiding my hair
50:45those warm scenes flashed through my mind like old movies
50:50but quickly faded away
50:54two years later i held a solo photography exhibition in the small town
50:59most of the photos on display were street scenes
51:02elderly people sitting at their doorsteps basking in the sun
51:06they held palm fans
51:08children running through the alleys
51:10they clutched ice cream in their hands
51:13some featured couples holding hands and smiling sweetly under the old locust tree
51:19none of the brit family appeared in these photos
51:23nor was there any trace of los angeles
51:26only my life as it is now
51:29on the day the exhibition opened many people came
51:34i was signing my name in a corner of the gallery when someone gently tapped my arm
51:41i looked up i was stunned it was my parents
51:46mom's hair had turned much grayer it was neatly combed
51:51she was still wearing that dark red dress from years ago
51:55though it had faded from many washes
52:00dad leaned on a cane his back was hunched
52:04deep wrinkles were etched into his face
52:07he looked much older they stood in front of one of my photos
52:12it showed an old house
52:14it was very much like the one i used to live in
52:16dad's fingers gently brushed the photo
52:20his eyes were full of nostalgia
52:23i said nothing i continued signing my name
52:27my heart was beating a little fast but i felt very calm inside
52:32i no longer hated them nor did i love them
52:36they just felt a little unfamiliar
52:39dad slowly walked over he held a brown envelope
52:44he handed it to me his hand was cold
52:47it was covered in calluses the result of years of holding a pen
52:53elie this is an apology letter we know you won't forgive us
52:59but we still wanted to write it for you
53:03i took the envelope it was thick
53:06when my fingertips touched his hand he quickly pulled away
53:10like a child who had done something wrong
53:16we're leaving now
53:17mom looked at me her eyes were red but not crying
53:21her voice trembled a little
53:23take good care of yourself here
53:25when it gets cold remember to wear more clothes
53:30don't catch colds all the time like you did when you were little
53:33i nodded i said nothing
53:36they walked out slowly
53:38dad moved very slowly
53:40mom supported him step by step
53:43without looking back
53:45the gallery lights were warm
53:47i opened the envelope
53:48i found several sheets of yellowed letter paper
53:53the handwriting was crooked
53:55it was dad's writing
53:57he wrote a lot
53:59about the year melanie came back when i was seven
54:03and how panicked they were
54:05about when i was 12 and got kicked out
54:08how he secretly went to the old house at night
54:11how he saw me crying into my blanket
54:15and how much it hurt him
54:16about changing my college application when i was 18
54:21and how much he regretted it
54:24about how over the past 10 years they tried to find me
54:28and thought about me
54:30the last line read
54:32elie we're sorry
54:34you must live well better than us
54:40tears fell onto the letter
54:43they blurred the ink
54:45i read it again and again
54:49dad's handwriting was crooked unsteady the hand of an old man who had lost his fine motor skills
54:56he wrote about the night they told melanie i was adopted
55:00how mom had cried herself to sleep for a week afterward
55:03how dad had driven to the old house in the rain just to check if the light was still on
55:08in my window
55:09he wrote about the day he changed my college application
55:13i knew it was wrong the moment i signed it
55:16but melanie was crying she said she'd run away if i didn't
55:20i was a coward elie i chose the easy path and you paid the price
55:24he wrote about the 10 years of silence
55:28how mom saved every photo of me she could find in a shoebox under her bed
55:34how dad drove past my old apartment building once a month hoping to catch a glimpse of me
55:40i pressed the letter against my chest the paper was warm from my tears
55:46all these years i thought they had forgotten me
55:49they hadn't
55:52they were just too weak too guilty to broken to come find me
55:56i folded the letter i put it in my bag i walked to the window
56:01i watched my parents figures slowly disappear around the corner
56:06dad leaned heavily on his cane
56:10mom's arm was linked through his
56:12they walked like to people carrying a weight they knew they could never put down
56:17the wind was gentle it brushed my face it carried the scent of the old locust tree
56:24i knew i would never forgive them but i would not hate them anymore either
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