- 1 day ago
Mom, Please Love Me Again - FULL MOVIE
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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
00:05this
00:05thing on my wrist, the Verity band. Mom was obsessed with science-based parenting. So when
00:09my twin sister Emma and I were born, she strapped these bands on us. Green light means truth. Red
00:14light means you're manipulating reality. Emma's band? Always green. She could literally cut up
00:19mom's designer dress and blame the cat. And that little device would glow like a Christmas tree.
00:24Not me. She'd say. Green light. Believe me? Mom, I'm hungry. Flash. Red light.
00:29Instant punishment. And mom's punishment wasn't gentle. No food. Locked in my room. Digital
00:35blackout. No phone. No wifi. Nothing. The machine doesn't lie, Stella. Starve now. Learn later.
00:42I'm doing this for your own good. After 10 years of this, I started believing it too. Maybe I really
00:48was born wrong. New Year's Eve, everything changed. Mom was getting ready to take Emma to see the ball
00:53drop in Times Square. And that's when the pain hit, like a knife twisting in my gut. I collapsed on
00:58the
00:58floor, my skeletal frame curling into itself. Mom. Please. It hurts. Nice try, Stella. Faking sick to
01:08crash our night? Pathological. She grabbed Emma's hand and headed for the door. I wanted to scream.
01:14But part of me thought, maybe she's right. The band is red. So I must be lying. I must not
01:19actually be
01:19in pain. Sorry mom. I won't lie anymore. But the pain got worse. Way worse. The door handle turned.
01:26For one second. I thought, she's coming back. She's a doctor. She'll know something's wrong.
01:31Hurry up. The fireworks are starting. Emma's waiting. Mom's voice was ice cold.
01:37Mom. Please. Something's really wrong. I feel like I'm dying.
01:44She glanced at my wrist. Red light. Flashing like crazy. She crouched down. Grabbed my chin. Forced me
01:49to look at her. Stella, how long are you going to keep this up? Can't you just be honest? Stay
01:55here
01:56and think about what you've done. Dad appeared in the doorway. Honey, should we at least leave her
02:00some food? Mom stood up, brushing off her hands like I was dirt. Food? She has a stash of snacks
02:06she bought with stolen money. She won't starve. Lock the door. When that band turns green, we'll talk.
02:12Dad hesitated. But. But what? Soft parenting is why she's like this. Look at Emma. Her band is
02:19always green. Stella's just a compulsive liar. She needs discipline. But my closet was empty.
02:25Emma stole that money. Emma ate those snacks. Emma just stood there with her glowing green band saying
02:29Not me. And mom believed her. I didn't take it either. Red light. Three days locked up with
02:35nothing but bread and water. Mom turned to leave. Mom turned to leave. Emma peeked through the door,
02:40made a face at me. Bye sis. We're gonna see the pretty fireworks. Her band glowed soft green.
02:46So pretty. The door locked. The house went silent. Just me alone. The pain was unbearable. But I kept
02:51thinking. Mom's right. The machine doesn't lie. The band is red. So I must be lying.
02:56I'm not. I'm not in pain. I kept repeating it like a prayer. Eventually. I almost believed it.
03:03The pain. Dulled. Or maybe I was just going numb. I crawled to my desk. I had to write. That
03:08was the
03:08rule. If the band glowed red. I had to pen a thousand word apology essay. Or mom would never let
03:14me out. I am a liar. Write it down. And maybe mom would forgive me. Maybe she'd even take me
03:18to the
03:19hospital. I opened my journal. Pages and pages of apologies I'd written over the years. Sorry I
03:24lied. I won't do it again. But this time. I wanted to write the truth. My vision blurred. I could
03:29barely see. My hand shook as I wrote. Mom. I really love you. It really hurts. Why won't you believe
03:35me?
03:36Please believe me. Just once. The moment I finished the last word. The pain vanished. Just. Gone. I felt light.
03:44Weightless. I looked down. I was floating. And there. Slumped over the desk. Was my body.
03:49Motionless. The Verity band still flashing red on a dead girl's wrist. Oh. I'm dead. But I never
03:54learned how to be honest. Sorry. Mom. I heard laughter. I heard laughter. Mom. Dad. Emma. Coming
03:59through the front door. Mom's voice was so warm. Tonight's fireworks were amazing. Especially that
04:05smiley face one. Just like our Emma. I'd never heard her sound like that when she talked about me. I
04:11floated
04:12toward them. My ghost self moving on instinct. I wanted to help them take off their coats. That's
04:16what I always did. Mom. I reached out to hug her. My arms passed right through her body. Like wind.
04:21She shivered. Why is it so cold in here? Is the heat off? I stood there. Staring at my transparent
04:27hands. Right. Dead people can't hug the living. Dad said casually. Should we check on Stella? She
04:32hasn't eaten. Still the good cop. I looked at mom hopefully. If she finds me dead. Will she be sad?
04:37Will she regret it? Starve for all I care. This whole fake sick for attention thing is
04:42out of control. She pushed open my door. Didn't even turn on the light. In the dim glow from
04:46the hallway. She saw me slumped over my desk. I looked like a skeleton. Hadn't moved. Mom's
04:51voice dripped with sarcasm. Still putting on an act? Think I'll carry you to bed? Stella
04:56you're 10 years old not 5. Emma squeezed past her. Held up her wrist with that smug little
05:01grin. Look. My band's green. Stella's is still red. She's lying even in her dreams. Mom patted
05:07Emma's head. That's my good girl. Ignore the liar. Let her stay there. Maybe she'll learn
05:13how to be honest. Should we at least put her in bed? It's freezing. Put her in bed? The
05:18parenting expert says cold treatment is the answer. Look at that red light. She's still
05:25in full defiance mode. No reflection at all. Come on. We have to visit grandma tomorrow.
05:29The door locked again. I floated next to my corpse. Staring at that single point of red light
05:34in the darkness. Mom, if you just stepped closer. If you just touched my hand. You'd
05:39know I was ice cold. But you didn't. You believed the machine. Not the daughter you carried for
05:439 months. That night, a rat crawled out of my empty closet. I used to scream whenever
05:48I saw rats. But now I just floated by the ceiling, watching it scurry across my dead body. It
05:53bit into my toe. But no blood came out at all. I didn't feel anything. Finally, no more pain.
05:58It's okay. You can't feel it anymore. It'll be over soon. The next morning, sunlight streamed
06:05through the window. No warmth reached my body. In the kitchen, I could hear mom making breakfast.
06:10The smell of bacon and eggs crept under my door. My favorite. But mom always said liars
06:14don't deserve meat. So I only ever got steamed broccoli. She was clanging the pans extra loud
06:19on purpose. Trying to tempt me out. Trying to make me give in and apologize for things I never did.
06:24In the old days, I might have caved. I might have confessed to anything for one bite of scrambled
06:28eggs. But I don't need food anymore. Dad asked, reading his paper.
06:32Stella still hasn't come out?
06:33She is so stubborn. She can eat or not. I don't care.
06:37Emma walked to my door and made a big show of sniffing the air. Then she screamed dramatically.
06:42Mom! Stella's room smells gross! Did she poop in there?
06:46I floated by the door, watching my sister with bitter amusement. The heat was on full blast.
06:51After just one night, my body had started to rot. Now mom would hate me even more.
06:55Mom stormed over.
06:57Stella! Are you an animal? The bathroom is right there!
07:01Did you seriously go on the floor just to spite me?
07:04I remembered being six. I had food poisoning. Couldn't make it to the bathroom in time.
07:08Soiled my pants. Mom didn't help me clean up. She made me stand in the yard.
07:12Pointed at me and told the neighbors.
07:14Look at this. She's such a mess. She can't even use the toilet by herself.
07:19Now she thought I was dirty again. Leave her. Let her sit in her own stink.
07:24But dad stood out, frowning.
07:28That smells really bad. I should check. Could be a dead mouse or something.
07:33My heart, if I still had one, leapt.
07:35Dad, please open the door. I'm right here.
07:39Just turn the handle and you'll see I'm not moving. You'll see my face is black.
07:44I waved my transparent arms frantically. Dad's hand touched the doorknob. His phone was ringing.
07:49Dad's face went pale.
07:51What? The server crashed? Okay, okay. I'm on my way.
07:54He grabbed his coat.
07:55Honey, there's an emergency at work. I'll be gone for a few days.
07:59Wait, what about Stella?
08:01He was already out the door.
08:02I froze. So close.
08:04One second away.
08:05If that call had come one second later, I would have been found.
08:08Maybe 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 geth, 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? Fine. Stew in it. Don'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. I'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.
08:52She 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 lot.
09:22Bang!
09:22The door flew open.
09:23The smell hit her like a wall.
09:28She stumbled back, dry heaving.
09:30Stella! What are you doing?
09:32She saw me, still slumped over the desk, back turned, not moving.
09:36To her, this was the ultimate rebellion.
09:38I'm talking to you!
09:40She 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, toppled 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.
10:12Just 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.
10:20The 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.
10:32But she didn't seem to feel the pain.
10:33She just stared at me.
10:34Eyes wide.
10:35Unblinking.
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, a 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.
11:12Don'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.
11:29He carefully tried to remove the Verity band.
11:32But 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 horrifying.
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 shaking 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.
12:57Click.
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.
13:30She 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.
13:42And 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!
13:58You 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.
14:26Scared.
14:27In pain.
14:27Your heart rate spikes.
14:29The light turns red.
14:31That's it.
14:31Think about your daughter.
14:33Ruptured antics.
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.
14:44Which 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.
14:59Staring at the flashing red band on her wrist.
15:01And finally understood.
15:03For 10 years.
15:03Every 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.
15:09Scared of eating food I was allergic to.
15:12I was in pain.
15:13Pain that made my heart race.
15:14And sweat poured down my face.
15:15I was desperate.
15:16Desperate for a hug.
15:18For her to hold me the way she held Emma.
15:19Every single signal from my frightened heart.
15:21She interpreted as proof of my lies.
15:23Mom 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.
15:31Stella can't take it back.
15:32I'm sorry.
15:33It's all my fault.
15:35This little bit of pain.
15:36And she was breaking.
15:37Mom.
15:38I suffered for 10 years.
15:39The cops needed evidence for charges.
15:41So they opened my journal in front of my parents.
15:43The female officer's voice was soft.
15:46But each word cut like a knife.
15:47February 14th.
15:49Sunny.
15:49Mom put celery on my plate.
15:51I'm allergic.
15:51I said I can't eat it.
15:53Mom.
15:53I 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 10 more minutes.
16:12Mom's hand flew to her mouth.
16:14She was shaking violently.
16:15She remembered that night.
16:16She really did think it was tomato juice.
16:18She 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 10 years.
16:29Who always stayed out of it.
16:30He snapped.
16:31He lunged at mom and slapped her across the face.
16:39Mom 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.
17:11Cracked.
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.
17:27Green 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.
17:39That 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.
17:46So I wasn't a liar.
17:48I wasn't a bad kid.
17:49Then what was all that suffering for?
17:50I 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.
17:57Mom, if I die, will the band stop glowing red?
18:01Or if it turns green, will you hug me then?
18:03I'm not lying.
18:05My stomach hurts so much.
18:06Like 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.
18:32I 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.
18:50This 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.
19:02Wrote 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, the car, everything.
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, and disappeared.
19:22Emma was a bad seed, sure.
19:24But she was still his blood.
19:26Before they left, Emma tried to take her green band.
19:28Dad stomped on it.
19:30Why the hell would you want that piece of trash?
19:32Mom got out on bail.
19:33The psyche valve 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.
19:48She'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 talked to the empty air.
20:04Stella, dinner's ready?
20:06No celery today?
20:07It'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.
20:15But 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?
20:33I'm sorry.
20:35Mom started reenacting my diary entries.
20:37I couldn't eat celery because of my allergy.
20:39So 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.
20:53She'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.
21:07I'll save you.
21:08I promise.
21:09Too bad I'm dead.
21:10Dead people can't cry for help.
21:12Eventually.
21:12The state intervened.
21:14Mom's self-harm got so extreme.
21:15She 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.
21:25Her homemade band.
21:26If 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.
21:38Rachel, time to eat.
21:40Mom would touch her neck.
21:41Then start convulsing.
21:42Screaming.
21:43Red 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.
21:50She'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.
21:56Years later.
21:57Emma grew up.
21:58Without proper guidance and with a trail of infamy behind her.
22:01She ended up at the bottom of society.
22:03When she ran out of money.
22:04She remembered.
22:05Mom's still in that facility.
22:06She showed up one day.
22:08Hey, crazy lady.
22:09Dad's dead.
22:10Give me your hidden stash.
22:12Emma stood there in heavy makeup.
22:14Face full of contempt.
22:15She looked at mom's hollow.
22:16Broken form and spat on the floor.
22:18Disgusting.
22:19Just like your dead daughter.
22:21If you don't give me money.
22:22I'll pull your tubes and send you to join her.
22:24For a moment.
22:25Mom's cloudy eyes cleared.
22:27She looked at Emma.
22:28And suddenly remembered.
22:29That band.
22:29That always green toy.
22:30That decade of deception.
22:32It was you.
22:33You lied.
22:34You're the fake green light.
22:36You killed Stella.
22:37Give her back.
22:38Give her back.
22:39Give her back.
22:40Die.
22:40You should have died.
22:42Not her.
22:43You.
22:43Give her back.
22:45Emma thrashed.
22:46But couldn't break free from a mad woman's grip.
22:48Borderlies rushed in.
22:49Sedated mom.
22:50Pulled her off.
22:51Emma stumbled out of the room.
22:52Terrified.
22:53They're all insane.
22:54She bolted for the exit.
22:55Wham.
22:56A truck plowed into her.
22:57She screamed.
22:58Barely.
22:59Both legs shattered beyond repair.
23:00Wheelchair for life.
23:02A total wreck.
23:03Meanwhile.
23:03Mom was strapped to a bed.
23:04Staring at the ceiling.
23:06Tears streaming.
23:06In her dreams.
23:07She finally saw me.
23:08I was 10 again.
23:09No band.
23:10White dress.
23:11Smiling.
23:12She reached for me.
23:13Crying with joy.
23:14Stella.
23:15But her hand sparked with electricity.
23:17The second she touched me.
23:18I burst into flames.
23:19Turned to ash.
23:21She woke up screaming.
23:22Heart rate through the roof.
23:23If she'd been wearing that band.
23:25It would have been blood red.
23:26Eternal torment.
23:27I stood in the void.
23:28Watching it all.
23:29Mom in the facility.
23:30Emma in a wheelchair.
23:31Baking on the streets.
23:32Dad.
23:33Drunk and dead in some gutter.
23:34I felt.
23:35Nothing.
23:35No satisfaction.
23:37Just a flat.
23:37Dead calm.
23:38Next to me was an old dog.
23:40Buddy.
23:40My childhood pet.
23:41Mom threw him out years ago.
23:42He'd been waiting for me at the boundary.
23:44Buddy nuzzled my leg.
23:45Barked twice.
23:46As if to say.
23:47Let's go.
23:48Don't look back.
23:49Yeah.
23:49Time to leave.
23:50This life was too bitter.
23:51Nothing worth holding on to.
23:52I floated to mom's hospital room one final time.
23:55She looked ancient.
23:56Hair completely white.
23:57Frail as paper.
23:58She sensed something.
24:00Her cloudy eyes focused on a point in the air.
24:02Right where I stood.
24:03Stella.
24:04Is 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.
24:14No celery.
24:15I'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.
24:25Reached out.
24:25My cold, ghostly finger touched her forehead.
24:28This was my final mercy.
24:29Sleep mom.
24:31In sleep there's no pain.
24:32Her 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.
24:48Let me be the liar.
24:50Punish me however you want.
24:52Just 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, but 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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