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FULL MOVIES ENGLISH SUB (2026)
#drama #cdrama #romantic #love #movie #shortdrama #showhots #2026
FULL MOVIES ENGLISH SUB (2026)
#drama #cdrama #romantic #love #movie #shortdrama #showhots #2026
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I collapsed at Malcolm's engagement party. Glass shards everywhere. Blood mixing with cake and
00:05champagne. When I woke up, I was in a hospital room. Malcolm stood over me with desperate eyes.
00:12The blood bank is empty, Lily. You're the only match. Please, save her.
00:21He wasn't talking about me. He meant Alicia, his fiancée. The woman whose wedding I had just
00:26destroyed, so I let them take my blood. Then the doctor looked at me with a face you never want
00:31to see on a doctor. Mrs. Brooks, you have a brain tumor. It's getting worse. I didn't understand,
00:39so he made it simple. It means two months to live. When I was born, I was diagnosed with
00:47intellectual disability. When I was eight, mom and dad brought home an adorable little boy named
00:52Malcolm Harrington. He had a real mean streak. When I offered him candy, he sank his teeth into
00:58my finger and bit off half of it. When I tried to help him clean up, he shoved my head
01:06into the sink
01:06and held it there. One day, I went to my uncle's house to play games. I was hoping to win
01:14some fancy
01:14chocolate for Malcolm. Then, without warning, Malcolm charged in frantically and bit down hard
01:19on my uncle's leg, drawing blood. He told me his home was far away in Chicago. I didn't understand
01:27what that meant, but at night, he would turn away from me and cry until his pillow was soaked.
01:32I figured he missed his family, so I sneaked him out. I stuffed every piece of candy I'd saved into
01:39his pockets. I gave him a firm shove, urging him to run. When mom and dad caught me, they beat
01:45me with
01:45fists and sticks. As my blood mixed with the crushed candy, I just wanted to close my eyes and never
01:53wake up. But instead of leaving, Malcolm ran back and threw himself over me. His tears fell into my
02:03mouth, salty and bitter. He held a kitchen knife against his own throat. If you kill her, I die too!
02:12After that, he never mentioned going home again. Then, when we were 18, a line of shiny black cars
02:18pulled up in front of the house. Men wearing armbands took mom and dad away. A beautiful woman
02:24who smelled like perfume cried as she pulled Malcolm into one of the cars. I knew he was going home.
02:29I held out the chocolates I'd been saving for six months, but he knocked them out of my hands.
02:34He pulled me into a crushing hug, his voice shaking.
02:38Lily, come with me. I'm taking you to the city. You like birds, right? There are so many beautiful
02:45birds there.
02:47Chicago was beautiful. The buildings were taller than the mountains back home. I stared at
02:53everything with my mouth hanging open, trying to take it all in. Malcolm told me it all belonged to
02:58his family, but there were no birds. And the woman, Rachel Harrington, kept digging her long fingernails
03:04into my palm. Scared, I tugged at his sleeve.
03:08Malk, when can I go home?
03:10His expression darkened, though his voice stayed soft.
03:14My home is your home. We are never going back to that place.
03:19Rachel's voice rose to a shriek.
03:21Malk! Your father will never agree to adopt her!
03:25If it weren't for her human tracker parents, you wouldn't have suffered in that slum for ten years!
03:30Malcolm's face was cold.
03:32The couple was at fault. Not her.
03:35But she's retorted!
03:36Rachel waved a stack of papers in the air.
03:40Severe intellectual disability.
03:45She'll be a burden forever!
03:46Do you know how bad that looks for your father?
03:51I froze in fear, and then my pants felt warm and wet.
03:55A dark stain spread across the carpet.
03:58The servants covered their noses and stepped away, whispering to one another.
04:02I wanted to curl up and hide my shame.
04:05But then I noticed the white papers scattered on the floor.
04:08I dropped to my knees to pick them up.
04:11I carefully patted off the dust and handed them to Malcolm.
04:14He used to complain that his homework paper was too thin and tore easily.
04:17Now he finally had good paper.
04:20Malk!
04:21White paper!
04:22You can do your homework now.
04:24His eyes turned red.
04:26He took the stack of papers, gripped my hand, and led me into the guest room.
04:31A few maids came over to change my dress, clearly unhappy about it.
04:36I clutched my waistband tight, so they pinched my side hard.
04:40Ugh! Disgusting!
04:43Let go!
04:44Tears stung my eyes from the pain,
04:45but I remembered what Malcolm told me no one was allowed to touch my dress except him and me.
04:50The door was slightly ajar,
04:52and I heard Malcolm's icy voice coming from the hallway.
04:55Rachel,
04:57you know exactly how you got into my father's bed,
05:01and you know exactly why I went missing all those years ago.
05:05If you try to poison my father against Lily,
05:08I promise you and your precious son will be thrown out of the Harrington family.
05:14Rachel's face went pale, and she ran away crying.
05:18The hallway went quiet.
05:20When I came out in clean pants, Malcolm was slumped on the sofa.
05:24He looked at me and let out a long sigh.
05:27Malcolm was home now, so why wasn't he happy?
05:30Later, Malcolm's father came home.
05:33They stayed in the study for a long time.
05:35When Malcolm finally came out,
05:37he had a bright red handprint on his face.
05:40He locked himself in his room and refused to eat.
05:43I shook with fear.
05:45Back home, when Mom and Dad said I was bad and wouldn't feed me,
05:48Malcolm used to sneak his food to me.
05:51Once, he went hungry for a whole week until he passed out.
05:54I ran to tell Mom and Dad,
05:56but they beat me and accused me of starving him to death.
05:59When he woke up, he kept his mouth shut tight,
06:02no matter how much I begged him to eat.
06:04He waited until Mom and Dad finally brought me a plate of food, too.
06:08Only then did he open his mouth and let me feed him.
06:14I took a bread roll I'd hidden during dinner and sneaked into Malcolm's room.
06:18I tried desperately to push it into his mouth,
06:21but his eyes were red.
06:22He pulled me close,
06:24his hot tears dripping onto my neck.
06:26Lily, he might be my biological father,
06:30but he stopped caring about me a long time ago.
06:33No one here cares.
06:39I only have you.
06:41If they can't accept you, they won't accept me either.
06:44I didn't understand his complicated words,
06:46so I just used my sleeve to wipe his face.
06:50Let's leave.
06:50His voice was sudden and firm.
06:53Isn't this our home?
06:56Lily,
06:58anywhere I am with you is home.
07:00He took me and ran away.
07:02We lived under an overpass for three days,
07:05huddled together for warmth.
07:07Finally,
07:08Malcolm's father gave in and agreed to let me stay.
07:11But Rachel complained I was covered in germs.
07:14She wouldn't let me touch anything and made me stay in my room.
07:17Every night,
07:18Malcolm came to hold me while we slept,
07:20whispering that he was sorry.
07:22I didn't understand why.
07:24Even though there were no birds here,
07:26I had Malcolm,
07:27and that made me happy.
07:31But then Malcolm went to college and got very busy.
07:34He stopped coming home for dinner.
07:37He stopped reading me stories before bed.
07:39A pretty girl named Alicia Quinn started following him around.
07:43She had long hair and always smelled like flowers.
07:45The servants told me she was Malcolm's fiancée.
07:49I didn't know what a fiancée was.
07:51They laughed and told me.
07:53It means she's his bride.
07:55They'll sleep together and eat together every day.
07:58I tilted my head.
08:00Does that mean I'm Malcolm's fiancée too?
08:04Malcolm laughed and shook his head.
08:06That's different.
08:07When I asked him why,
08:09his face fell,
08:10and he looked at me with a strange expression.
08:12He didn't explain.
08:14After that,
08:15he stopped coming to hold me at night.
08:18I lay awake in the dark,
08:19staring at the ceiling,
08:21waiting for the door to open.
08:22It never did.
08:25I could only watch through the glass
08:27as Malcolm and Alicia sat on the garden swing.
08:30They were reading,
08:31feeding the fish by the pond,
08:33and walking that fluffy puppy of theirs.
08:36I wanted to be out there so bad it hurt.
08:38I missed Malcolm.
08:40But one time,
08:42Alicia had actually spotted me at the window.
08:44It startled her so bad she fell right to the ground,
08:47pointing at me and screaming that she'd seen a ghost.
08:50I panicked.
08:52I ran outside and almost got hit by a car.
08:55Malcolm was furious.
08:57He struck me hard with a clothes hanger.
09:00Why are you running around?
09:02Why won't you listen?
09:04After that,
09:05they covered the window with black cloth.
09:07I couldn't see anything anymore.
09:10The servants stopped bringing me food,
09:12and I started feeling dizzy from the hunger.
09:15They didn't let me out
09:16until the day of Malcolm's engagement party.
09:21Malcolm pulled me aside.
09:24When he saw how thin my face was,
09:26a flicker of guilt passed through his eyes,
09:28but his voice stayed harsh and cold.
09:30Today is my engagement party with Alicia.
09:34You just watch quietly, understand?
09:38No eating with your hands.
09:41If you need the bathroom, tell a servant.
09:44Malcolm had forgotten again.
09:46The first time I ate with Alicia,
09:48I didn't know how to use a knife and fork.
09:51I remembered him saying we needed to make a good impression on her.
09:54I was starving.
09:55While I drank my juice,
09:57I secretly grabbed handfuls of food
09:59and stuffed them into my pocket to eat back in my room.
10:01Then,
10:02a sudden urge to pee hit me.
10:04I hurriedly told them I needed the bathroom.
10:07Rachel,
10:08who always had sharp eyes,
10:10grabbed me.
10:10What's that bulging in your pocket?
10:12Then she screamed.
10:14We feed
10:15and clothe you
10:16and you still
10:17steal?
10:19She yanked at me
10:20and the food spilled all over the floor.
10:23That's when I felt a sudden warmth between my legs.
10:26Urine dripped down my calf.
10:30The room went dead silent.
10:34Guests covered their mouths in shock and backed away,
10:37their eyes full of disgust.
10:39The smell filled the air.
10:41Alicia went totally pale.
10:43She retched,
10:45covered her nose,
10:46and ran out,
10:47forgetting all about being polite.
10:50Malcolm rushed after her.
10:52He didn't come back for a long time.
10:55When he finally returned,
10:57he stared at the mess on the floor with empty eyes.
11:01I'm begging you.
11:03His voice sounded exhausted.
11:05Just be normal, okay?
11:07Since that first incident,
11:09I had practiced using a knife and fork
11:11until my hands were covered in blood.
11:13I had learned to use the toilet by myself.
11:16I nodded obediently.
11:18He didn't look at me again.
11:21He turned to take Alicia's arm
11:23and chat with the guests.
11:25Malcolm looked tired,
11:26but his smile was bright.
11:29I was truly happy for him.
11:31Then Vincent Harrington,
11:33Malcolm's half-brother,
11:34whispered behind me,
11:36Malc hasn't eaten all day.
11:38If you bring him a piece of cake,
11:40he'll be even happier.
11:43My eyes lit up.
11:45I remembered when we were kids back in the village.
11:48A big boy named Brad told me to kneel
11:50and bark like a dog for a bite of cake.
11:52I had knelt until my knees bled,
11:54barking for a long time,
11:55just to present that cake to Malcolm like a treasure.
11:58Malcolm had stared at the cake
12:00and insisted I eat first.
12:01I wiped my mouth,
12:03smiling,
12:03and lied that I had already eaten.
12:05Only then did he open his mouth.
12:08Cream stuck to the corner of his lips
12:10and he squinted at the sweetness.
12:12But the next day,
12:14he came home from school in a rage.
12:16He cried and shoved me,
12:18calling me shameless,
12:19saying I had no self-respect.
12:21He said he didn't have a sister like me.
12:23But a second later,
12:25he ran out to the riverbank
12:26and dug up wet herbs.
12:28With red eyes,
12:29he applied the medicine to my knees.
12:31He glared at me.
12:32I hate cake!
12:34If you ever bring it to me again,
12:36I'll kill you!
12:37Watching his trembling hands,
12:39I couldn't help but smile.
12:41Malcolm was lying again.
12:43Happily,
12:44I went to cut the cake.
12:46Suddenly,
12:47my vision went black.
12:49I collapsed right into the cake,
12:51knocking over the champagne tower.
12:53It crashed down on me,
12:55and the shards pierced my skin.
13:01Alicia screamed and jumped back.
13:03She looked terrified.
13:04Her gorgeous red dress
13:06splattered with cream.
13:07Her eyes red.
13:09She looked at Malcolm.
13:11Malcolm!
13:14You said she would behave!
13:18Why did you let her ruin
13:19my engagement party?
13:21She covered her face
13:22and ran out.
13:25Malcolm's expression
13:26was terrifyingly cold.
13:27All I could think was that
13:29if Malcolm ate the cake,
13:30he would be happy.
13:31Fighting the intense pain
13:33of the glass shards
13:34in my body,
13:35I scooped the clean parts
13:36of the cake onto a plate.
13:38I had just lifted it up
13:39when Malcolm kicked
13:40the plate away.
13:41His eyes were bloodshot.
13:45Are you that obsessed
13:46with food?
13:47You couldn't wait
13:48a single moment!
13:50Are you not satisfied
13:51until you've ruined me
13:52and I'm stuck with you forever?
13:54I shook my head frantically,
13:56trying to grab his hand.
13:58But he shoved me away hard
13:59and stormed out
14:00without looking back.
14:01I fell onto the debris.
14:03Glass shards pierced my skin
14:05and the pain made tears
14:07stream down my face.
14:08Moments later,
14:09someone rushed in,
14:11shouting,
14:12Mrs. Quinn has been
14:13in a car accident!
14:15The bodyguards hauled me
14:16into the hospital.
14:18Malcolm's voice
14:18was desperate.
14:20Lily,
14:20the blood bank is empty
14:22and you're the only match.
14:25Please.
14:28Save her.
14:32Okay?
14:33I couldn't answer
14:34because I hurt too much.
14:35There was still glass
14:36from the accident
14:37stuck in my skin.
14:39Malcolm snapped.
14:42Alicia isn't me.
14:44You hurt her,
14:45so you have to pay for it!
14:46He shoved me
14:47toward the donation room.
14:48The doctor rolled up my sleeve,
14:50but when he saw my arm
14:52was covered in fresh blood,
14:53he froze.
14:54He looked like
14:55he wanted to stop.
14:57I remembered something
14:58I'd seen on TV once.
14:59I ducked my head
15:00and begged.
15:02I'll do it!
15:04I was wrong!
15:07I'm not scared of the pain!
15:09After a round of tests,
15:10the doctor looked grim.
15:14Miss Miss,
15:15Brooks,
15:16you have a brain tumor
15:18and it's getting worse.
15:20I didn't get it.
15:22He sighed.
15:24It means you have
15:25two months to live.
15:28That part,
15:29I understood.
15:30Malcolm had told me once
15:32that dying meant
15:32going somewhere
15:33very far away
15:34farther than birds
15:35could fly.
15:36But he also said
15:37the birds come back
15:37in the spring.
15:38When they finished
15:39taking my blood,
15:40I wanted to tell him.
15:42I wanted to say
15:43I was going on a long trip
15:44and that he should remember
15:45to come get me
15:46in the spring.
15:47But then Alicia woke up.
15:49Before I could get
15:49the words out,
15:50he shoved past me
15:52and ran to her.
15:53The room spun
15:54and I hit the floor.
15:56Through the crack
15:57in the door,
15:57I heard Alicia sobbing.
16:00I said I didn't mind
16:01her living with us
16:02after we got married,
16:02but I never agreed
16:03to risk my life for it!
16:05We've given her
16:06a luxury life for years.
16:08Whatever debt
16:08we owed is paid.
16:11Because you keep
16:12protecting her,
16:13your dad is about
16:13to give your inheritance
16:14to Vincent instead.
16:16I've compromised
16:16on everything for you,
16:18but do you ever think
16:19about how I feel?
16:26Do you know
16:27how people make
16:27fun of me?
16:31She's retarded!
16:33How much more
16:34do we have
16:35to accommodate her?
16:38Malcolm's voice
16:39sounded hoarse.
16:40She wasn't always
16:41like this.
16:42She got this way
16:43by saving me.
16:44No matter what I do,
16:45I can't give her
16:46a normal life back.
16:48Alicia went quiet
16:49for a second.
16:50Without you,
16:51her life would be
16:52way worse than this.
16:54She would have been
16:55sold off or tortured
16:56to death.
16:58Sent her to a care facility.
17:00They have professionals
17:01there.
17:01She'll be treated well.
17:03Malcolm buried
17:03his face in his hands.
17:07Let me think about it.
17:10We only have
17:11two months,
17:12Malk.
17:14If Vincent becomes
17:15the heir,
17:17I won't be able
17:19to marry you.
17:22They held each other
17:23and cried,
17:24like some unlucky
17:25couple being tested
17:26by fate.
17:27My chest suddenly
17:28ached.
17:29It hurt worse than
17:30when mom and dad
17:31used to hit me.
17:32Turned out,
17:33Malcolm was suffering
17:34so much because of me.
17:35I decided I didn't want
17:37him to come get me
17:37after all.
17:40My headaches
17:41had been getting
17:41worse lately,
17:42and I usually
17:43ended up sleeping
17:44the entire day away.
17:45My nose wouldn't
17:46stop bleeding either,
17:47just these uncontrollable
17:48trickles of dark blood.
17:50It was a good thing
17:51Rachel hadn't let me
17:52leave my room.
17:53If Malcolm had seen
17:54me like that,
17:55he'd have just
17:56lost it again.
17:57Lying in bed,
17:59I reached under my pillow
18:00and dug out the little
18:01wooden bird he carved.
18:04suddenly the door
18:05swung open.
18:06I panicked and
18:07shoved it back
18:08out of sight.
18:09The last time
18:10Malcolm got mad
18:11at me for running
18:12around,
18:13he threw it
18:13into the fire.
18:14I was so desperate
18:16to save it that
18:16I reached right
18:17into the flames.
18:18The skin on my palm
18:20had peeled right off.
18:22That night,
18:23he held me and
18:23cried until morning,
18:25asking over and
18:26over,
18:28Why are you
18:28like this?
18:32Why?
18:34Terrified he was
18:35about to lose
18:36his temper again,
18:37I started to tremble.
18:39Instead,
18:40he crawled under
18:41the covers
18:42and pulled me close.
18:44His voice was raspy.
18:46Hiding snacks again.
18:47I didn't want him
18:48to think I was greedy,
18:49so I shook my head fast.
18:51It's not food!
18:52I pulled out
18:53the wooden bird
18:54to show him.
18:55He froze for a second,
18:56then gave a bitter smile.
18:58It's just that...
19:00He paused,
19:01his voice catching
19:02in his throat.
19:04The wings are burned off.
19:07It can't fly away now.
19:10He buried his face
19:11in my shoulder.
19:13It has to stay
19:14right by my side
19:15for the rest of its life,
19:16doesn't it?
19:16I wanted so badly
19:18to tell him he was wrong.
19:20I was going on
19:21a long trip soon.
19:23I had secretly
19:24asked Alicia
19:25where the birds went.
19:26She said they flew south
19:28to the village
19:29where mom and dad were.
19:30I wanted to go back there.
19:32I wanted to see
19:33if the bird
19:34had made it back
19:34to its nest.
19:36Alicia booked
19:37the ticket for me.
19:38She said I could
19:39finally go home.
19:42On Malcolm's birthday,
19:44I was allowed
19:44out of my room again.
19:46I filled a glass jar
19:48with all his favorite
19:49colorful candies
19:49and quietly left it
19:50in his bedroom.
19:53At the party,
19:54Alicia whispered to me,
19:56Do you want
19:56to make milk, Abby?
19:57I nodded eagerly.
19:59She handed me
20:00a glass of juice,
20:01a flicker of guilt
20:02in her eyes.
20:03Drink this
20:04and Malcolm
20:05will get exactly
20:06what he wants.
20:07I didn't even think
20:08about it.
20:08I drank it all
20:09in one go.
20:11Not long after,
20:12I felt dizzy
20:13and passed out.
20:15I was jolted
20:16out of my days
20:16by a hard slap.
20:18My face stung
20:19with burning pain.
20:20I opened my eyes.
20:22The room was full
20:23of people pointing at me.
20:25Disgusting!
20:26She couldn't get Malcolm,
20:28so she went
20:28after Vincent instead.
20:30I thought she was
20:31supposed to be retarded?
20:33She looks sharp
20:34enough to me.
20:36My head was swimming.
20:37I couldn't understand
20:38what they were saying.
20:40I only saw Malcolm,
20:42his eyes bloodshot,
20:43clutching a torn dress.
20:45His voice trembled.
20:46Is this the birthday present
20:48you prepared for me?
20:52No, that wasn't it.
20:54Malcolm had it wrong.
20:55The present was in his room.
20:57I tried to get up
20:58to pull him there,
20:59only to realize
21:00I wasn't wearing any clothes.
21:02Beside me,
21:04Vincent was naked too.
21:06His face was flushed crimson.
21:08He slapped me
21:09across the face,
21:10hard enough that I tasted
21:11copper in the back
21:12of my throat.
21:14Have you no shame?
21:17You dared to drug me?
21:19I swallowed the blood
21:20in my mouth
21:21and watched him struggle
21:22to reach his trousers.
21:23I remembered Rachel
21:24saying Malcolm's brother,
21:26Vincent,
21:26had poor health
21:27and that I should
21:28always be helpful to him.
21:30So, I reached out,
21:31grabbed his pants,
21:33and tried to help him
21:34put them on.
21:35Malcolm yanked
21:36my hair back violently,
21:37his eyes glaring red.
21:39How the hell
21:39did you get this cheek?
21:42Huh?
21:42The pain
21:43made tears stream
21:44down my face.
21:45Vincent spat on me.
21:47Slut!
21:48Malcolm roared
21:48and lunged at him,
21:50punching him over and over
21:51until Vincent's face
21:52was covered in blood.
21:53The whole room
21:54erupted into chaos.
21:56Eventually,
21:57Vincent was taken away
21:58in a large white van.
22:05I was dragged
22:06into a small, dark room.
22:08Outside the door,
22:10I heard a man's
22:11cold voice.
22:12Last chance.
22:14Get rid of that woman.
22:16She has the mind
22:17of an eight-year-old.
22:18How could she possibly
22:19drug Vincent?
22:20It had to be him.
22:24He raped her.
22:26A heavy slap
22:27landed on Malcolm's face.
22:29You've lost your mind
22:31You've lost your mind
22:31over her!
22:32Today,
22:33you broke
22:34your brother's nose.
22:36Tomorrow,
22:37are you gonna kill
22:38someone for her?
22:39If you don't send her away,
22:41I have my ways
22:42of making her disappear.
22:44Suddenly,
22:45it went quiet outside.
22:47The next day,
22:49Malcolm came for me,
22:50his eyes swollen.
22:53He stuffed me into a car
22:55and shoved a key
22:56and a bank card
22:56into my hand.
22:58His voice was
22:59incredibly hoarse.
23:00I bought you a house
23:00on the south side.
23:01Don't ever come back.
23:03Big tears started
23:04rolling down my face.
23:05He yanked his hand back
23:07as if I'd burned him.
23:08Enough!
23:10Alicia was right!
23:12I paid back
23:13everything I owed you
23:15long ago!
23:17I shook my head
23:18and tried to give
23:19the key and card back.
23:23Malcolm,
23:24I'm going home!
23:24He froze for a long time,
23:26then suddenly started
23:27screaming hysterically.
23:28Fine!
23:29Go home then!
23:31Don't you ever come back!
23:35He slammed the car door shut,
23:37sealing me off
23:38from him completely.
23:40From inside the car,
23:42I watched his figure
23:43grow smaller and smaller
23:44in the distance.
23:45The buildings of Chicago
23:47blurred past the window,
23:48but I didn't see any of them.
23:50All I saw was the spot
23:52where Malcolm had been standing,
23:53getting tinier and tinier
23:55until it was gone.
23:56My chest felt hollow,
23:58like someone had scooped
23:59everything out of it.
24:01I reached into my pocket
24:03and touched the ticket
24:04Alicia had secretly
24:04tucked in there.
24:06The edges were crisp
24:07than new.
24:08Home,
24:09I thought.
24:10I'm going home.
24:11I whispered to the driver
24:13in the front seat.
24:14Sir,
24:15please take me
24:16to the station.
24:17The driver met my eyes
24:19in the rearview mirror,
24:20shaking his head.
24:22His expression
24:23gave nothing away.
24:24No.
24:25His voice was flat.
24:27Mr. Harrington
24:27gave specific orders
24:28to drop you safely
24:29at the house.
24:32That's it.
24:33No matter how much
24:35I begged,
24:35he wouldn't listen.
24:37The yard was average-sized,
24:39and a middle-aged woman
24:40greeted me warmly
24:41at the door.
24:42At first,
24:43she treated me well
24:44and made me meals,
24:45though she wouldn't
24:46let me leave.
24:47But as time passed
24:48and no one came to visit,
24:50her attitude cooled.
24:52Eventually,
24:52she started just
24:53tossing bread
24:54into the room,
24:55glaring at me
24:56with disdain.
24:57You aren't some
24:58wealthy heiress,
24:59she sneered.
25:01If you want to eat,
25:03cook for yourself.
25:04The hunger
25:04became unbearable,
25:05so I gathered my courage
25:07and went into the kitchen.
25:08I didn't know
25:09what I knocked over,
25:10but flames suddenly
25:11flared up,
25:12instantly catching
25:13the curtains.
25:14Malcolm had told me
25:15that if there was
25:16ever a fire,
25:17I had to run.
25:20I grabbed the
25:21wooden bird carving
25:22from under my pillow
25:23and rushed toward the door.
25:25It was locked
25:26from the outside.
25:28I cried and pounded
25:29on the wood,
25:30but no one answered.
25:32The thick smoke
25:33forced me to the floor.
25:35The fire burned my heels,
25:37sizzling against my skin.
25:40Malcolm would be angry
25:41to see me like this.
25:44I slapped my face hard
25:46and forced myself
25:46to crawl toward the window.
25:48I smashed the glass
25:50with my head
25:50and blacked out.
25:55When I woke up,
25:57everything was white.
25:59Malcolm sat by the bed
26:00in a tuxedo.
26:01I couldn't help smiling
26:03when I saw him.
26:04I had finally found him again.
26:06A police officer stood nearby,
26:09reprimanding him sternly.
26:10You are Mrs. Rose's guardian,
26:13correct?
26:13How could you lock a person
26:15with an indetectual disability
26:17alone in a house?
26:18Do you realize
26:19she nearly died?
26:20I froze,
26:22then shook my head hard,
26:23trying to explain.
26:27Malcolm looked drained
26:28of all energy.
26:29His red-rimmed eyes
26:31fixed on me,
26:32his voice sounding exhausted.
26:34What do you want me to do
26:35before you leave me alone?
26:38Do I have to obey you completely?
26:40Lillian,
26:41you have always hated me,
26:43haven't you?
26:46You regret helping me.
26:48I regret it, too.
26:52I should have died back then.
26:56Malcolm always said things
26:58I didn't understand.
27:00If he died,
27:01who would pick him up
27:02in the spring?
27:03I wanted to correct him,
27:05but my throat hurt terribly.
27:07A doctor nearby explained.
27:09The patient inhaled
27:10too much smoke
27:11during the fire.
27:12Her vocal cords
27:14are moderately burned.
27:15Malcolm turned his head sharply.
27:18She can't speak?
27:21She might recover with rest,
27:23but her voice
27:23will likely remain
27:24permanently park.
27:26I looked at him,
27:28questioning him
27:28with my eyes.
27:29He glanced at me
27:31and understood immediately.
27:35You won't be able
27:36to speak or sing anymore.
27:41I stared blankly
27:42for a long time,
27:43then opened my mouth,
27:45trying to make a sound.
27:46He immediately
27:47covered my mouth,
27:49shouting in a panic.
27:50The doctor said
27:51you need total silence
27:52for the next two months!
27:54Do you want to be
27:56mute forever?
28:00Stop causing trouble for me.
28:03Warm tears dropped
28:04onto my face.
28:06I reached up
28:07with a trembling hand
28:08to wipe Malcolm's eyes.
28:10He caught my wrist
28:11and gave a sad,
28:12bitter smile.
28:13Since you cannot speak,
28:15my world is finally quiet.
28:18I don't have to answer
28:20meaningless questions
28:21or hear your bad singing.
28:23My chest ached.
28:25Malcolm used to love
28:26my singing.
28:27I remembered
28:28when he first came
28:29to our home.
28:30He broke things
28:31during the day
28:31and cried all night.
28:35I wiped his tears,
28:37but he swatted
28:37my hand away.
28:39I patted his back,
28:40and he told me
28:41to leave him alone.
28:42Then I sang the song
28:43Grandma taught me.
28:44My little bird sings,
28:46coming here every day.
28:48He stopped crying.
28:50The next night,
28:51he hid his face
28:52in my arms
28:52and whispered,
28:56Sing it again
28:57and I won't cry.
28:58Malcolm was only this sad
29:00because I couldn't sing anymore.
29:05The doctor looked
29:06at the report
29:06and frowned,
29:07about to speak,
29:08when Alicia rushed
29:10in wearing her wedding dress.
29:13She pointed at me crying.
29:15I never realized
29:16you were so manipulative!
29:19You did this
29:20on our wedding day
29:20to make him feel guilty
29:22so he would stay with you!
29:23Alicia had said that
29:24as long as I was in Chicago,
29:26Malcolm would never be happy.
29:28I didn't want Malcolm
29:29to be unhappy.
29:32I looked at her
29:33and Malcolm
29:33and I smiled.
29:35I forced the words out
29:36through the searing pain
29:37in my throat,
29:38repeating what she had taught me.
29:39Yes,
29:40he owes me.
29:42He will never
29:43have a good life.
29:46Malcolm gripped my wrist
29:48so hard the pain
29:48bowed me over,
29:49sharp and crushing.
29:51Still,
29:52I forced a smile,
29:53grinding the words out.
29:55You
29:57are only good enough
29:59to stay right here
30:01and do as you're told.
30:04That broke him.
30:05His voice cracked,
30:07raw and shouting.
30:09I've degraded myself!
30:12Malcolm.
30:13For you!
30:15For ten years!
30:16I don't owe you
30:17a damn thing
30:18anymore!
30:20Get out!
30:23I never want
30:24to see you again!
30:25He bunched a fistful
30:26of my hair
30:27and hauled me
30:27roughly toward the exit.
30:29The doctor chased
30:31after us, yelling.
30:32Ms. Brooks
30:33has severe burns,
30:34but she also has a...
30:35The heavy thud
30:35of the door
30:36severed the rest
30:36of his sentence.
30:37Alicia fell into
30:38step beside him,
30:39her voice soft
30:40and persuasive.
30:43Let's send her
30:44to my family's
30:45nursing home.
30:46I know you care
30:47about her,
30:49but please
30:49stop thinking
30:50about bringing
30:51her home with us.
30:53Okay?
30:54Malcolm's shoulders
30:55dropped,
30:55and he let out
30:56a heavy sigh
30:57of surrender.
30:59He shoved me
31:00into the car,
31:01refusing to look me.
31:06At the moment
31:07Malcolm turned
31:07to lead Alicia
31:08away,
31:08a swarm of
31:10reporters descended.
31:11Mr. Harrington,
31:12did you leave
31:13your own wedding
31:13for your adopted
31:14sister?
31:16Are the rumors
31:17of a romance
31:17true?
31:19Does Ms. Quinn
31:19know?
31:20Malcolm pressed
31:21his lips
31:21into a thin line,
31:22saying nothing.
31:24Alicia took his
31:25arm with
31:25practice poise,
31:26flashing a smile
31:27for the cameras.
31:28You must be
31:29joking.
31:29My husband
31:30is a man
31:31of integrity.
31:31He certainly
31:32wouldn't have
31:32an affair
31:32with a mentally
31:33disabled woman.
31:36He was simply
31:36repaying a past
31:37debt of gratitude.
31:39Bodyguards
31:39cleared a path
31:40back to the venue.
31:44Inside,
31:45the officiant's
31:46voice filled
31:46the grand hall.
31:48Mr. Harrington,
31:50do you take
31:51Mrs. Quinn
31:52to be your
31:52wedded wife?
31:53To love
31:54and cherish
31:55her,
31:55in sickness
31:56and in health,
31:57for richer or poorer,
31:58as long as you
31:58both shall live?
31:59Alicia looked
32:00up at him,
32:00but the tenderness
32:02in his eyes
32:02wasn't meant
32:03for her.
32:04Mr. Harrington?
32:06The officiant's
32:07voice rose,
32:08pressing him again.
32:10Her hand trembled
32:11as she dug her nails
32:12into his palm.
32:13The sharp pain
32:14snapped him
32:15back to the present.
32:16He finally spoke,
32:18the words dragging.
32:20I do.
32:22The hall erupted
32:23in cheers.
32:25The ceremony
32:26was flawless,
32:27burying the negative
32:28rumors already
32:29trending online.
32:33Malcolm's father
32:33nodded with satisfaction.
32:36It's about time.
32:37Follow the path
32:38I've laid out,
32:39build your family
32:39and career,
32:40and let the past
32:40stay dead.
32:43Don't disappoint me
32:44again.
32:45That night,
32:47Malcolm sat on
32:47the edge of the bed,
32:48his expression blank.
32:52Alicia tried her best
32:53to seduce him,
32:54but when he remained
32:55cold,
32:56she finally gave up.
32:59You won't admit it,
33:00but you love her,
33:01don't you?
33:02She sounded resigned.
33:04People like us
33:04don't get to live
33:05how we want.
33:06Just forget her.
33:08Live the life
33:09we're supposed to live,
33:10even if it's just
33:11a duty.
33:12It's the best outcome
33:13for you,
33:14for me,
33:14and for her.
33:15He didn't answer.
33:17He just retreated
33:18into the bathroom,
33:19chain-smoking.
33:21In the haze,
33:22his mind drifted back
33:23to when he was 15.
33:26He used to mimic
33:27the adult smoking
33:28raw tobacco
33:28at the village entrance.
33:31Whenever I smelled
33:32it on him,
33:33I'd wrinkle my nose,
33:34assuming he was dirty.
33:37I'd shove him
33:37toward a washbasin
33:38and scrub his back
33:39without hesitation,
33:40just like when
33:41they were kids.
33:43My clear gaze
33:44would wander over him,
33:45making his face burn.
33:48Don't you know?
33:49If you look at a man's body,
33:50no one will want
33:51to marry you.
33:52That wasn't actually true.
33:54I was beautiful.
33:56Even with my disability,
33:57plenty of men
33:58were willing to pay
33:59to make my their wife.
34:01But Malcolm had chased
34:02every suitor away
34:03with a stick.
34:05Then he lowered his head,
34:07his voice so quiet
34:08he wasn't sure
34:08who he was talking to.
34:10It doesn't matter
34:11if no one else wants you.
34:13I'll marry you myself.
34:18They put me in a white room
34:19with padded walls.
34:22The window was sealed shut,
34:23leaving just a few
34:24little holes drilled in
34:25for air.
34:26They let me out
34:27for a few hours a day,
34:28though.
34:29The place was packed
34:30with people wearing
34:31the same blue and white
34:32striped clothes I was.
34:33There was a middle-aged
34:35woman with two braids
34:36who'd stand on tables
34:37reciting poetry,
34:38and an old man
34:39who liked to smear his dinner
34:40on the walls
34:41like finger paint.
34:42But the one I saw
34:43the most was a little boy
34:44who didn't know
34:45how to use a fork.
34:47He always grabbed
34:48his spaghetti
34:48with his bare hands,
34:50smearing sauce
34:51all over his face.
34:53I crouched down
34:54next to him
34:54and took his small hand,
34:56prying his fingers
34:56open one by one
34:57to press the fork
34:58into his palm.
35:00You gotta hold it
35:01like this.
35:02I rasped,
35:03showing him.
35:05My brother told me that.
35:06But while I was
35:07trying to teach him,
35:09tears slipped out
35:09and fell right
35:10into his plate.
35:15Spooked,
35:16he flipped the plate over
35:16and scrambled
35:17under the table,
35:18screaming.
35:19I reached underneath
35:20and pulled him out,
35:22rubbing his back gently.
35:24He bit my wrist,
35:26sinking his teeth deep.
35:27I hissed,
35:28but I kept humming
35:29that old nursery rhyme
35:30with my scratchy voice.
35:33The little bird sings,
35:38coming here,
35:39every spring spring.
35:42His jaw slowly relaxed.
35:45He leaned back
35:46against my chest
35:47and picked up the fork
35:48as I asked.
35:50The nurses there
35:52were gentle.
35:52They'd slip fruit candies
35:54under my pillow.
35:55But my stomach felt hard
35:57and blocked up,
35:58and I threw up
35:59everything I ate.
36:00I saved the colorful
36:02wrappers anyway,
36:03hiding them under
36:04my mattress.
36:06The day the first snow fell,
36:08the little boy dragged me
36:09out to the courtyard,
36:10all excited.
36:13Snowflakes landed
36:14on his open palms.
36:16He tipped his head back
36:17and opened his mouth
36:18to catch them,
36:19eyes crinkling with joy.
36:21Lily!
36:22It's sweet!
36:24I did the same,
36:26tasting it myself.
36:27It was cold
36:28and tasted like nothing.
36:30Silly kid.
36:31I fished the last
36:32two candies
36:32out of my pocket,
36:34unwrapped one,
36:35and fed it to him.
36:37I wrapped the other
36:38one back up carefully.
36:40I had to save
36:41that one for Malcolm.
36:43He's loved sweets
36:44since he was little.
36:46Alicia came to visit
36:48while I was drifting
36:49in and out.
36:50She sat by my bed,
36:52faint dark circles
36:53shadowing her eyes.
36:56Lillian,
36:57her voice was soft.
36:59Just blame this on me.
37:00Leave Chicago
37:02and go back home.
37:04Okay?
37:05I didn't have the strength
37:07to speak,
37:07so I just nodded.
37:09I still wanted to go back
37:10and check if the little bird
37:11had returned to its nest
37:12in this cold.
37:14The car pulled away
37:15slowly in the snow.
37:18I leaned against the window,
37:20watching the flakes
37:20dance outside.
37:23My eyelids got heavier
37:24and heavier
37:25until I didn't want
37:26to open them anymore.
37:30I lost track of time
37:31before the car
37:32finally jerked to a stop.
37:33The driver,
37:34a middle-aged woman
37:35who'd clearly lost
37:36her patience,
37:37practically kicked me out
37:39onto the shoulder
37:39of the road.
37:40Clutching the heavy bags
37:42of bread the nurses
37:42had secretly shoved
37:43into my hands,
37:44I started the slow walk
37:46into the village.
37:48The dirt road
37:48hadn't changed.
37:50A few locals
37:51squatting in the sun
37:52craned their necks
37:53as I passed.
37:55Hey, isn't that Lillian?
37:56The Brooks slow girl?
37:59Didn't that city boy
38:00take her off
38:00to live the good life?
38:03Why is she back
38:04looking like such a wreck?
38:06The gossip made
38:07my ears ring.
38:09I covered them
38:10with my hands
38:10and ran the rest
38:11of the way,
38:12shouldering open
38:13the creaky wooden door
38:14of my house.
38:16My eyes went straight
38:17to the bird's nest
38:18tucked under the eaves.
38:20Panic set in.
38:23I dragged the ladder
38:24over and climbed,
38:25my legs shaking,
38:27to look inside.
38:29It was completely empty.
38:33I burst into tears,
38:35sobbing uncontrollably.
38:39Why hadn't the bird
38:40come back?
38:41Did it get lost?
38:46The ladder wobbled
38:47and I tipped backward.
38:49A heavy pain
38:50slammed into my chest
38:51when I hit the ground
38:52and I coughed up
38:53a mouthful of blood.
38:55Through the haze
38:56of confusion,
38:57I heard clear,
38:59bright laughter.
39:02Lily, you dummy!
39:03You have to wedge
39:04the ladder into the groove!
39:06A teenage Malcolm
39:06was sitting on the roof,
39:08swinging his legs.
39:09When the birds
39:10lay eggs next year,
39:11I'll get them for you.
39:14We can raise
39:15a whole nest of them,
39:16okay?
39:16Okay.
39:17I swallowed the metallic
39:19taste of blood,
39:20my voice hoarse.
39:21I struggled to sit up.
39:23The back of my head
39:25throbbed with a dull numbness.
39:27When I reached up
39:28to touch it,
39:29a clump of dry,
39:30yellowing hair
39:31came away in my hand.
39:32On the first day,
39:34I tried to clean the house,
39:35but my nose
39:36wouldn't stop bleeding.
39:37As the drops
39:38hit the dirt floor,
39:39I had to scratch away
39:41the dark red spots
39:42with my fingernails.
39:45On the second day,
39:47I found Malcolm's
39:48old textbook
39:48at the bottom
39:49of a trunk.
39:50He had spent
39:51a whole year
39:51teaching me
39:52one specific page
39:53that featured
39:54a drawing of a teacher
39:55with glasses.
39:58I remembered how he used
39:59to rub my hair
40:00and praise me.
40:02Lily,
40:03you're so smart.
40:05Brad couldn't recite
40:06this at school
40:06and his palms got
40:07swollen from the ruler.
40:09We used to laugh
40:10about that.
40:13But now,
40:14staring at the dense
40:15rows of text,
40:16I couldn't recognize
40:17a single word.
40:19On the third day,
40:20the pain in my head
40:21was unbearable.
40:22I tried to roll over
40:24but tumbled right
40:25off the bed.
40:26I crawled
40:27across the cold floor,
40:29grabbed a piece
40:29of stale bread
40:30from the table,
40:31and shoved it
40:32into my mouth.
40:33The door was kicked open.
40:35A tall figure
40:37stood silhouetted
40:37against the light.
40:39He looked down
40:40at me lying
40:40on the ground
40:41my face drained
40:41of color,
40:42my scalp showing
40:43through my thinning hair,
40:44and blood staining
40:46the bread I was eating.
40:47His legs gave out,
40:48and he dropped
40:49to his knees
40:49in the doorway,
40:51weeping loudly.
40:52Squinting through
40:53my failing eyes,
40:54I asked softly,
40:55is that
40:57that one?
40:58He rushed over
40:59and hugged me tight,
41:01his whole body
41:01trembling.
41:03Why didn't you tell me
41:05you had a brain tumor?
41:09Is that how you want
41:10me to live?
41:12Carrying that guilt
41:12until I die?
41:18How could you be so cruel?
41:23Come on,
41:23I'm taking you
41:24to a doctor
41:24in Chicago right now.
41:26He tried to pull me up
41:27but froze
41:28when he realized
41:28how light and frail
41:29I was.
41:33I shook my head.
41:36I don't want to go anywhere.
41:38I'm just tired.
41:40Malcolm ignored me
41:41and lifted me
41:41into his arms.
41:42His hot tears
41:44fell onto my face.
41:46As we passed
41:47under the eaves,
41:48I tugged
41:49at his shirt.
41:50Malcolm,
41:53please look for me.
41:55Did the bird
41:56come back
41:56to the nest?
41:58He froze.
42:00With red eyes,
42:01he gently set me
42:02down on the bench
42:03in the yard
42:03and climbed the ladder.
42:05He stayed there
42:06for a long time
42:07before looking back
42:08with a forced smile.
42:12They're back.
42:14The birds
42:15are all back.
42:16Relief finally
42:17washed over me
42:18and I slowly
42:19closed my eyes.
42:21Really?
42:21His voice shook
42:22as he tucked
42:23my cold feet
42:23against his chest
42:24to warm them.
42:30The birds
42:31really are back.
42:33Open your eyes
42:33and look.
42:35If you don't
42:35want to leave,
42:36I'll stay here
42:37with you.
42:42We can look
42:43for bird eggs
42:43together again
42:44next year,
42:45okay?
42:48I suddenly
42:48thought of that text
42:49from Malcolm's book
42:50and asked him
42:51to help me read it
42:51one last time.
42:53He stroked
42:54my head,
42:54his hand
42:55coming away
42:55with more loose hair.
42:57Choking back sobs,
42:59he began to read.
43:03Birds may fly away,
43:05yet they find
43:06their way back.
43:08Trees may droop,
43:10yet their branches
43:11reach for the sun.
43:13Flowers may vanish,
43:15yet they rise
43:16and bloom again.
43:17I followed along,
43:19my voice breaking.
43:21But,
43:23Mal,
43:23you're the smart one.
43:24Tell me,
43:25why do our days
43:26never return
43:28once they're gone?
43:30I smiled
43:31after I said it.
43:33Turned out
43:34I remembered
43:34the words after all.
43:37He continued
43:38reciting,
43:39laughing,
43:40and crying
43:41at the same time,
43:42but his voice
43:43sounded increasingly
43:44distant,
43:45like it was coming
43:45from far away.
43:49As he reached
43:50the final sentence,
43:51warm sunlight
43:52filled the courtyard,
43:53and a sudden
43:54fluttering sound
43:55came from the eaves.
43:58He looked up
43:59and saw two birds
44:00circling the old nest,
44:01busy building
44:02their home.
44:03He suddenly realized
44:04the body in his arms
44:05was cold,
44:06and her chest
44:07had stopped rising.
44:10He didn't speak.
44:12He just tightened
44:13his hold
44:13and stared blankly
44:14at the busy birds,
44:15remembering a song.
44:18The little bird sings
44:19coming here
44:20every spring.
44:24I asked the bird
44:25why it comes,
44:26and the bird says,
44:29because the spring here
44:30is the most beautiful.
44:38Someone
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