- 6 hours ago
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Roderick ripped my shirt open and froze.
00:03My back was covered in scars, old and new, all from whippings.
00:07What the hell happened here?
00:11I misbehaved. They punished me for it.
00:14My voice was flat, like I was talking about someone else's body.
00:19He stared at the scars he'd never seen.
00:21Then he said,
00:24You deserved it.
00:27He sent me to that place three years ago to cure me of loving him.
00:32I spent three years locked inside that place.
00:35Now, I stopped loving him, just as he wanted.
00:39Then he came running back and said,
00:41I regret it.
00:42For eight years, I was a fixture by Roderick Dunlap's side.
00:46Everyone said I was addicted to him.
00:48I was so obsessed with him that I'd run off any woman who got close to him, whatever it took.
00:53Once, I offered one of them money to leave Roderick.
00:58The woman laughed in my face.
01:01Being with Roderick meant an endless supply of cash.
01:04Why would anyone walk away for such a pathetic amount?
01:07Then that woman took a staged fall down a flight of stairs.
01:12Roderick thought I pushed her.
01:14And I ended up being sent to a rehab center by him.
01:22Others went there to quit smoking, drinking, or gaming.
01:25I was there to let go of Roderick.
01:28In the end, I succeeded only for him to tell me he regretted it.
01:33The moment I stepped out of the rehab center, I saw an Audi parked there.
01:37It looked totally out of place.
01:40I glanced at it and lowered my head, preparing to walk away.
01:44The person who got out of the car called out to me.
01:48It was Roderick.
01:49He had grown more mature in the last three years.
01:52I glanced at him once, then looked away.
01:55The staff at the center taught us that staring was rude.
01:58Especially at someone we liked.
02:00Yes, after three years, I had been completely reformed.
02:08Roderick told me to get in, and I did so, sitting quietly in the back seat.
02:12I kept my head down, staring at my lap and not moving a muscle.
02:16Roderick sat beside me.
02:18I could feel the weight of his intense gaze.
02:20The car was dead quiet.
02:22I held my breath, scared to make a peep.
02:25But a cough escaped me anyway.
02:27It was just my old cough.
02:29The car pulled up at the Dunlap's mansion.
02:32Roderick's grandmother, Maggie Dunlap, lived there.
02:35Today, as I remembered, marked her 80th birthday.
02:39Then it hit me why Roderick had come to get me.
02:42He started to walk in.
02:44I hesitated for a second, then blurted out,
02:48Um, Roderick?
02:50I didn't bring a gift.
02:52When he turned around, my heart was pounding out of my chest.
02:57I quickly looked down.
02:59I knew my quickened heartbeat was from fear, not from affection.
03:04Somehow, I'd turned into a total coward.
03:06If someone even glanced my way, I'd get a jolt of fear.
03:12I'd toss and turn all night in nightmares, haunted by those staring eyes.
03:19Follow me.
03:20Roderick brushed off my worry.
03:22He was as cold as always.
03:25Or maybe he only saved that coldness for me.
03:27I had to jog a little just to keep up with him.
03:32Mari!
03:33You're back!
03:34Come in, dear!
03:34Maggie was right there at the front door.
03:36Waiting for me, Dot Maggie had always had my back.
03:39Always encouraged my crush on Roderick and even snuck me info on his plans.
03:44I walked over to her.
03:47Hello, Maggie.
03:48Mari, honey.
03:49Why are you being so distant?
03:51You're not mad at me for what happened, are you?
03:54Maggie stroked my hair, her eyes full of affection.
03:57I shook my head.
03:58I could never be mad at her.
04:00Three years ago, if Maggie hadn't threatened to harm herself,
04:02I probably would have been sent to jail instead.
04:07On the outside, it looked like a regular school,
04:10but only the people who'd been locked up there knew what real torture was like.
04:15During the meal, I kept my head down,
04:18shoveling down spaghetti as fast as I could.
04:20I didn't make a sound, didn't reach for anything else,
04:24just ate fast like I hadn't had a meal in a month.
04:28Marianne!
04:29Yes, sir!
04:30Hearing my name, I set down my fork and stood up straight.
04:34We all froze me, Roderick and Maggie.
04:37I met their shocked stares for a split second.
04:40Then I looked down at the silverware I'd set neatly on the table.
04:44Even with how panicked I was, I just stood there, confused.
04:48It hit me then I'd forgotten I wasn't at the center anymore.
04:51I had no idea why Roderick had called me.
04:54You scared her, you big idiot!
04:56Maggie swatted Roderick's arm before turning to me.
04:59Sit down, Mary.
05:00You're home now, sweetie.
05:02Just relax.
05:05I did what Maggie said and sat back down.
05:07But I couldn't eat another bite.
05:09Something about the way they looked at me told me they'd noticed.
05:12The girl who walked in three years ago was gone.
05:15And the one sitting here now was someone they didn't recognize.
05:20Grandma was talking to you.
05:22Why weren't you listening?
05:26Roderick's tone was sharp.
05:27I couldn't tell if he was mad I'd ignored Maggie,
05:30or just ticked off about getting swatted.
05:32I'm sorry, Maggie.
05:34I was just very hungry.
05:35I didn't hear you.
05:37I gave her an apologetic look.
05:39The counselors at the center always drilled it into us.
05:43Apologies have to be sincere.
05:45Only I knew the truth.
05:46It wasn't hunger.
05:47It was fear.
05:49Fear of getting punished for not eating fast enough,
05:51or for leaving food on my plate.
05:53I vaguely recalled her telling me to try the other food.
05:57I'd heard her, but I just couldn't react fast enough.
06:00So Roderick called out to me.
06:02By the time dinner was over,
06:04my forehead was covered in a light sweat.
06:06I wasn't sure if it was from the heat in the room,
06:09or my own anxiety.
06:10Three years in that place had taught me one thing.
06:13Never let your guard down not even at a dinner table.
06:18After dinner, I returned to Grandpa's old house.
06:23Thank you for the ride.
06:24I gave Roderick a small bow.
06:26Maggie had wanted me to stay the night,
06:28but I'd turned her down.
06:30I didn't want any more contact with them than I had to,
06:33so I'd asked Roderick to drive me home.
06:36You really want to stay here?
06:39Roderick frowned.
06:39I glanced back at the house.
06:41It hadn't been touched in three years.
06:43Now it was completely overgrown with weeds.
06:46But I nodded.
06:48I had nowhere else to go anyway.
06:50I was flat broke,
06:51and the clothes I was wearing were from three years ago.
06:54The rehab center had given us uniforms,
06:56so these clothes had never even been worn out.
06:59I bent down to pull some weeds.
07:01The little critters living there scurried away.
07:03I saw cockroaches, mice,
07:05and a snake coiled in the corner,
07:07too lazy to move.
07:08Once upon a time,
07:10I would have jumped straight into Roderick's arms.
07:12Now, I just stared at them calmly
07:14and looked for a stick to shoo the snake away.
07:19Roderick pulled me back toward the car.
07:23What's wrong?
07:24I didn't even realize he was still there.
07:26Didn't you see that snake?
07:27Oh, right I'd forgotten Roderick hated reptiles.
07:35I saw it.
07:36It's fine.
07:38I'll just shoo it away with the stick.
07:39If it bothers you,
07:41you can just leave!
07:43I caught myself reassuring him.
07:46I reached for the door handle,
07:48ready to hop out.
07:49But Roderick locked the doors and drove off.
07:52I quickly buckled my seatbelt.
07:55W-w-where are you taking me?
07:58He didn't say a word.
07:59I didn't dare ask again.
08:01He took me to his private apartment.
08:03He closed the door behind us without a word.
08:06I couldn't leave it was a keypad lock.
08:09He went straight to the shower,
08:11probably trying to wash off the creeps
08:13from seeing all those critters.
08:15I sat straight on the living room couch.
08:18About an hour later,
08:19Roderick came downstairs in pajamas,
08:21his hair still wet.
08:22I knew better than to stare.
08:25Stay here until your place is cleaned up.
08:27You can sleep here tonight.
08:29I thought about it for a second,
08:30then nodded.
08:33That house was a mess.
08:35Tackling it all alone
08:36would have kept me going way past midnight.
08:38He walked over.
08:39I stood up and stepped aside without thinking.
08:42Roderick grabbed my chin,
08:43forcing me to look at him.
08:46So you're over me?
08:47His expression was questioning.
08:50Yes.
08:51I didn't hesitate for a second.
08:54Any delay would have felt like an insult
08:56to everything I'd been through.
08:58That night, the nightmare returned.
09:00In my dream,
09:01countless eyes stared back at me,
09:04filled with hatred,
09:05disgust, and contempt.
09:07Every single one of them belonged to Roderick.
09:11The next day,
09:12when Roderick left for work,
09:14I asked him to drop me off downtown.
09:17He didn't seem to mind,
09:18as long as I wasn't in his way.
09:21I hesitated in front of a florist's hiring sign.
09:24I didn't have a college degree.
09:26I never finished college
09:27because Roderick had me sent to that rehab center.
09:30Hunting for a job?
09:31The shop owner noticed me staring at the sign
09:34but not coming in,
09:35so he finally asked.
09:36I nodded.
09:38The owner looked to be in his mid-twenties,
09:40and he seemed pretty nice.
09:42The pay was $3,000 monthly,
09:44and no diploma was required.
09:46I just had to be on time
09:47to help out at the shop every day.
09:49I asked the owner for a $1,000 advance.
09:53Money makes the world go round
09:54I needed it for everything.
09:56My official start date was the next day
09:58and to my surprise,
09:59he trusted me.
10:00I spent $400 on a used electric scooter
10:03from a local shop.
10:05Once upon a time,
10:07$400 wouldn't have meant squat to me.
10:09Now, I had to haggle just to get it for that price.
10:12It's not like I was an orphan or anything.
10:14Three years ago,
10:15my parents disowned me
10:17to protect the company
10:18and the family's reputation.
10:20The only person who'd ever really loved me
10:22grandpa was gone a long time ago.
10:24If he were still here,
10:25I probably never would have ended up like this.
10:29I rode the scooter back to grandpa's old house.
10:32The weeds outside were already gone.
10:35Roderick must have sent someone to clear them.
10:37Inside, everything was covered
10:39in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs.
10:42It took me for hours
10:44just to make the place halfway livable.
10:47Most of the stuff inside
10:48was broken beyond fixing.
10:51I was trying to carry out the junk
10:53when I tripped.
10:56Everything went flying all over the floor.
10:59I was a mess my knee hurt
11:00and I was covered in dirt.
11:02I saw a pair of shiny leather shoes
11:04stop in front of me.
11:05I didn't even have to look up
11:07to know who they belonged to.
11:08I got up slowly,
11:10my knee throbbing with pain.
11:13Mr. Dunlop.
11:15Can I help you with something?
11:17I'd gone from calling him Rod
11:18to Roderick
11:19and now to Mr. Dunlop.
11:21It was better this way
11:23keeping my distance.
11:24I never wanted to go back
11:26to that hellhole ever again.
11:28Grandma sent me to check
11:29on how you're doing.
11:30Roderick's brow was furrowed.
11:32Please tell her I'm fine
11:33and she doesn't have to worry about me.
11:35I crouched back down
11:37to clean up the mess
11:38that fall had just made
11:39everything worse.
11:42Roderick grabbed me
11:43by the back of my collar
11:44with a tear,
11:45my shirt split right open.
11:47It was the same shirt
11:48I'd worn yesterday
11:49and the same one
11:50I'd had three years ago.
11:51The fabric was so thin
11:53it tore almost instantly.
11:55Mr. Dunlop,
11:56have some respect!
11:58My voice was sharp with anger
11:59as I clutched the torn fabric.
12:01Thank God it was only
12:02the back that tore,
12:03but it was my only shirt.
12:05I hadn't had time
12:06to buy new clothes
12:07and now how was I supposed
12:08to go shopping?
12:09But Roderick's eyes
12:11were fixed on the scars
12:12on my back.
12:14What the hell happened here?
12:16I misbehaved.
12:17They punished me for it.
12:19My voice was flat
12:21like I was talking
12:21about someone else's pain.
12:23You deserved it.
12:25He walked out.
12:26I glanced over my shoulder.
12:28My back was covered
12:29in scars old and new,
12:30all from whippings.
12:32The newest ones
12:33were probably
12:33from a few days ago.
12:35I couldn't even remember
12:36exactly which day.
12:38They hadn't even
12:38fully healed yet.
12:42I found a dusty shirt
12:43in the closet,
12:44shook it off,
12:45and slipped it on
12:46right away.
12:47Pretty soon,
12:47I felt an itch
12:48on my back,
12:49right over the wounds.
12:50They probably got infected.
12:52Of course,
12:53just as I was heading out
12:54to buy new clothes,
12:56Roderick came back.
12:57Was he back
12:58to laugh at me?
12:59He tossed a bag at me?
13:02Change into these.
13:04I refused.
13:05He had a girlfriend,
13:06and it felt wrong
13:07for him to be
13:08buying me clothes.
13:09But it had been
13:10three years.
13:11Maybe Chelsea
13:12was his wife now,
13:13not that I cared.
13:14Roderick pulled me
13:15roughly back
13:15inside the house.
13:17I sat down
13:18and did what he told me.
13:19He cleaned the wounds
13:20on my back
13:21with antiseptic
13:21and rubbing alcohol.
13:23It stung,
13:23but I didn't make a sound.
13:25It was nothing next
13:26to what I'd been through.
13:27His hands were rough
13:28but strangely careful.
13:29Like he was trying
13:30to undo something
13:31he couldn't name.
13:35Why is this one
13:36right here
13:36across your waist?
13:37Roderick pointed
13:38to a particularly
13:39ugly scar.
13:40It wasn't just
13:41a surface scrape
13:42whoever hit me
13:43had aimed right
13:43for my kidneys.
13:44I shook my head.
13:46Um,
13:47I don't know.
13:48He finished up
13:49cleaning the wounds
13:49and helped pull
13:50my shirt down.
13:52Why did they
13:53do this to you?
13:54I was already
13:55wearing a new shirt.
13:59Because I misbehaved.
14:00Then,
14:01as if worried
14:02he might not believe me,
14:03I added,
14:07But I'm good now.
14:08What did you do?
14:10Roderick pushed,
14:11clearly unsatisfied
14:12with my answer.
14:15One of the counselors
14:16caught me
14:17after I dropped
14:17some food on the table.
14:19Roderick frowned
14:20but said nothing.
14:22I glanced at him
14:23nervously
14:23after a long pause.
14:26Elsewhere.
14:27Where else
14:28did they hurt you?
14:29I shook my head.
14:31It's not like
14:31they chose to go
14:32for my back.
14:33I'd curl up
14:33into a ball
14:34so my back
14:35was just the only
14:36part left exposed.
14:38It's getting late.
14:39You should go now.
14:40I didn't want
14:41to be in the same
14:42room as him.
14:43It felt suffocating.
14:44Besides,
14:45it was already
14:45dark outside.
14:47Oh, it's fine.
14:48I'll crash here
14:49for the night.
14:51Silence hung
14:52between us.
14:53I didn't argue.
14:54But I stayed awake
14:56long after the lights
14:57went out.
14:59I hadn't eaten
15:00since breakfast
15:01at his apartment.
15:02Using the groceries
15:03I'd picked up earlier,
15:05I whipped up
15:06a simple meal
15:06on the old hot plate.
15:08Thank God Grandpa
15:09never used gas otherwise.
15:11I'd have had
15:12nothing to eat.
15:13You're not at the center
15:14anymore.
15:15You don't have
15:16to eat so fast.
15:17Roderick's voice
15:17reached me
15:18as I hurried
15:19through the meal.
15:20But I was already
15:21finished,
15:21and Roderick
15:22had barely
15:23touched his food.
15:24Old habits die hard.
15:25Roderick took
15:26my bedroom,
15:27so I slept
15:28in Grandpa's
15:28old room.
15:29Late that night,
15:30my knee and back
15:31started throbbing,
15:32my head felt heavy
15:33and dizzy.
15:34When I opened
15:35my eyes again,
15:36I was staring
15:37at a white ceiling.
15:38The sharp smell
15:39of disinfectant
15:40was everywhere.
15:41I didn't have time
15:42to wonder
15:42how I'd gotten here.
15:43All I cared about
15:44was that I was
15:45gonna be late
15:46for my first shift.
15:47I tiptoed over
15:48to put on my shoes,
15:49careful not to
15:50wake Roderick.
15:52Roderick's sleepy
15:52voice stopped me
15:53right as I was
15:54almost out the door.
15:56Where are you
15:57off to?
15:58I got a job.
15:59I'm gonna be
16:00late for work.
16:01Do you even know
16:02you're running a fever?
16:03He sounded annoyed.
16:04Was it because
16:05he'd had to pay
16:06for the medical bills?
16:08Don't worry,
16:09Mr. Dunluck.
16:11I'll pay you back
16:12as soon as I get
16:13my first paycheck.
16:13I gave him a quick,
16:15polite bow
16:15and slipped out the door.
16:18Thankfully,
16:19I made it to work
16:20just in time.
16:24It was Valentine's Day
16:25and the flower shop
16:26was absolutely packed.
16:28My job was simple,
16:29just working the register.
16:31I didn't know
16:32how to do anything else yet.
16:33The shop was small,
16:35but the owner was amazing
16:36and customers
16:37just kept coming in.
16:38But out of all the people
16:40who could have walked in,
16:41I never thought
16:42I'd see Chelsea Harvey.
16:45arm in arm
16:45with Roderick,
16:46laughing and talking
16:47up a storm.
16:49Chelsea,
16:49the same girlfriend Roderick,
16:50had brought home
16:51all those years ago.
16:53Chels,
16:54Rod.
16:56The shop owner
16:57walked over
16:57to greet them politely.
16:59My mind went
17:00completely blank
17:01and I froze in place.
17:03It turned out
17:04the owner
17:04was Chelsea's brother.
17:05My life was starting
17:06to feel like
17:07a bad soap opera
17:08all over again.
17:09I'd suffered
17:10for three years
17:11because of Chelsea.
17:12And now here I was,
17:14working for her brother.
17:15How pathetic was that?
17:23Chelsea spotted me.
17:26Flinched in fake fear
17:27and buried her face
17:28in Roderick's chest.
17:30Cliffy,
17:31what is she doing here?
17:32She's,
17:33she's the one who...
17:34Chelsea pointed
17:35a shaking finger
17:36right at me.
17:37Clifford Harvey
17:37stared at me in shock.
17:39Then his face
17:39twisted with disgust.
17:41He grabbed me
17:42by the arm
17:42and shoved me
17:43right out the door.
17:47It all happened
17:48so fast.
17:49I stumbled
17:50and crashed
17:50to the ground.
17:52Roderick just stood
17:53there and watched.
17:54Cold as ice.
17:57Humiliated,
17:57I got up
17:58and ran all the way
17:59back to the old house.
18:01I locked myself
18:02in grandpa's room.
18:03It was the only place
18:04I ever felt safe.
18:09Thanks to that,
18:10I had to find
18:11a new job
18:11and I had to pay back
18:13that $1,000 advance.
18:17I hated
18:18owing anyone anything.
18:22Job hunting
18:23sucked for days
18:24until I finally
18:25got hired
18:26as a dishwasher.
18:27It was tiring,
18:28but it kept me busy
18:29kept my mind
18:30off things.
18:32I thought maybe
18:33I could finally
18:34live a quiet life,
18:35but some people
18:36just couldn't stand
18:37to see me happy.
18:39Chelsea's shadow
18:39followed me
18:40wherever I went.
18:46The floor manager
18:47had told me
18:48to bring the clean dishes
18:49out to be sanitized.
18:57Well, look who it is.
18:59The Crawford group
19:00Harris.
19:04Oh, wait.
19:06I mean,
19:06a pathetic little shadow
19:08nobody wants around.
19:10As I walked
19:10through the dining area,
19:11a few girls
19:12blocked my way.
19:14Their voices thick
19:15with sarcasm.
19:16They were my
19:17old college classmates,
19:18also Chelsea's
19:19little minions.
19:21Chelsea was standing
19:22right behind them,
19:24watching it all go down
19:25no sign of her
19:26usual innocent act.
19:30I tried to ignore them
19:31and walk past.
19:32I didn't want
19:33any trouble.
19:33Did I say you could leave?
19:35Someone yanked
19:36my hair so hard
19:37it sent a sharp pain
19:38shooting through my scalp.
19:40The noise
19:40set off a commotion.
19:43All I could think about
19:44was the plates.
19:46I'd have to pay for them.
19:48Roderick's voice
19:49cut through the noise
19:50from behind me.
19:51What's going on here?
19:52My hands,
19:53busy picking up
19:54the broken pieces,
19:55froze for a second.
19:58I cut my finger
19:59on a shard.
20:00It didn't even hurt.
20:02I knew something
20:02way worse
20:03was about to happen.
20:06Sure enough,
20:07I heard Chelsea's
20:08fake sweet voice
20:09complaining to Roderick.
20:10We were just trying
20:11to make up with Mari.
20:15just catch up a little.
20:18But then she...
20:23Before Chelsea could finish,
20:25another girl cut in.
20:26But then
20:27she lost her temper
20:29and tried to hit
20:30shelves with a plate!
20:41I kept picking up
20:42the broken pieces calmly.
20:46I knew I was gonna
20:47lose this job too.
20:48The floor manager
20:49rushed over
20:50and chewed me out.
20:51I do know
20:51Caldavoins.
20:52I'm truthfully
20:53busting dunking.
20:54Munt
20:54nup
20:55nest!
21:00I handed over
21:01almost all the cash
21:02I had on me.
21:03All but ten bucks.
21:07I'm sorry.
21:09I'm sorry.
21:12I'm sorry.
21:16Grandpa.
21:17With my last ten bucks,
21:18I stopped at a pharmacy,
21:19then headed home.
21:23Back at the house,
21:24I went into Grandpa's room.
21:31Picked up his photo
21:32and held it tight.
21:37I'm sorry, Grandpa.
21:38I didn't turn out
21:39the way you hoped I would.
21:44You taught me
21:45that loving someone
21:46means having the courage
21:47to go for them.
21:48So you never regret it.
21:53But Grandpa,
21:54I'm so tired.
21:55I can't do this anymore.
21:57I'm giving up.
22:00What if I come
22:01to be with you instead?
22:06You're not saying no,
22:07so I'll take that as a yes.
22:12I downed all the sleeping pills
22:13I'd bought at the pharmacy.
22:16I downed all the sleeping pills
22:17I'd bought at the pharmacy.
22:23I was scared Roderick
22:24would use this as an excuse
22:25to send me back
22:26to that center.
22:28I couldn't live like that anymore.
22:31I couldn't find a single reason
22:32to keep going anymore.
22:34But sleeping pills
22:35were supposed to put you to sleep.
22:45Why did it hurt
22:46so much instead?
22:51A sharp cramp
22:52hit my stomach
22:52and I could feel my eyes
22:54starting to close.
22:57Right as my eyes
22:57closed for good,
22:58I thought I saw Roderick
23:00standing in the doorway.
23:08When is she going to wake up?
23:10She's been asleep for days.
23:12When I came to,
23:12it seemed I heard
23:13Roderick's voice.
23:23Why was he still
23:24clinging to me
23:25even after death?
23:32It wasn't until
23:33a team of doctors
23:34began examining me
23:35that I understood.
23:43Roderick had rushed me here
23:44to have my stomach pumped.
23:51I'd been given
23:52a second chance.
23:59That figure I saw
24:00hadn't been an illusion.
24:02It was him.
24:09Are you sending me back?
24:12I looked at his
24:13darkened expression.
24:23The doctor says
24:24you may be suffering
24:25from depression.
24:28Roderick avoided
24:29my question.
24:32I nodded dot
24:33but that wasn't the point.
24:43all I cared about
24:44was whether
24:44I had to be sent back.
24:51Why didn't you tell me?
24:56Would you have believed me
24:57if I had?
25:02Telling him
25:02would only have made him
25:03think I was making excuses
25:04to leave that place.
25:16I had reached out to him.
25:18Each resident
25:19was granted a scheduled call
25:20to family twice a year.
25:29During my first six months
25:31I called him once
25:32I called him once.
25:34I'm sick.
25:36I cough up blood sometimes
25:38and they hit us.
25:45Can I please come home?
25:52I promise
25:53I won't bother you anymore.
25:55What did he say
25:56back then?
25:59You come to
26:00find a better excuse
26:02next time.
26:05Then he hung up.
26:11After that call
26:12I was beaten again.
26:15I never called him
26:16after that.
26:22Why did I cough up blood?
26:24Why did I cough up blood?
26:30Their blows had landed
26:32on my back
26:32over and over.
26:34The internal damage
26:35eventually affected
26:36my stomach and lungs.
26:45seeing Roderick fall silent
26:47I knew he still
26:48didn't believe me.
26:50I lowered my head
26:51and didn't ask again
26:52whether he'd send me back.
26:54I moored me long
26:55the pair in the sari
26:56that was out
26:57in sparing
26:57and disavowing functy.
26:58Should I be sent back?
26:59I won't leave alive.
27:04In a place like that
27:06no one would notice
27:07whether a person
27:07was breathing.
27:09I thought once I got out
27:11I could start over.
27:13But I was wrong.
27:15My peace
27:16was always shattered
27:17whenever Roderick
27:18came into the picture.
27:24The doctor called
27:25Roderick out
27:25saying some test results
27:27were ready.
27:32The door swung open
27:33as Roderick strode
27:34back in.
27:43He yanked
27:44the blanket aside
27:45then my hospital gown.
27:54An ugly
27:55jaggy scar
27:55was exposed.
28:00Your kidney
28:01where is it?
28:07His eyes were bloodshot
28:08a vein throbbing
28:09on his forehead
28:09as he stared at me.
28:16He looked terrifying
28:18just like
28:19at the staff
28:19at the center.
28:21They had that same
28:22look in their eyes.
28:34That look
28:34always came
28:35right before a beating.
28:37I pulled the blanket up
28:39and hid underneath it.
28:48The bed shifted
28:49as Roderick
28:49sat down beside me.
28:53He gently tug
28:55He gently'd
28:57at the covers.
29:00Mary, come out.
29:02You'll suffocate.
29:06His voice softened
29:07as if he'd realized
29:09he'd scared me.
29:13Promise you won't hit me?
29:22My voice was muffled
29:23under the blanket.
29:25Only after he promised
29:26did I poke my head.
29:36He asked again
29:37patient this time.
29:40What happened
29:40to your kidney?
29:44I shook my head.
29:49I don't know.
29:54Roderick took out
29:54his phone and said
29:55he would investigate
29:56this thoroughly.
29:59Ever since learning
30:00about my depression
30:01Roderick had barely
30:02left my side.
30:04It was as if
30:05he was afraid
30:06I might try
30:06something again
30:07but I saw that
30:08the rehab center
30:09had been shut down
30:09on television.
30:11No doubt
30:11it was Roderick's doing.
30:13It had posed
30:14as an educational institution.
30:17Behind closed doors
30:18it ran vile operations.
30:20Did he do this
30:21to you too?
30:23Roderick pointed
30:24at the screen.
30:25Mari Kambai, VO
30:27The man being interviewed
30:28was the infamous director.
30:30He spoke excitedly
30:31to the reporter.
30:32I was helping.
30:33They should be thankful.
30:36Without my guidance.
30:39Do you think
30:40they'd be so compliant now?
30:42Go ask their parents.
30:43Their children
30:44are model
30:45citizens now
30:46aren't they?
30:47I took a kidney
30:48as my fair compensation.
30:50My method was simple.
30:51Add something
30:51to their bedtime milk
30:52then proceed
30:53with the removal.
30:54I'd watch them
30:55wake up
30:56in agony.
30:57The man grew
30:58more animated
30:59as he spoke.
31:00I felt a wave
31:00of dread
31:01seep into my bones.
31:04The bloody scene
31:05felt like
31:06it had happened
31:06yesterday.
31:07That night
31:08I went to bed
31:09as usual.
31:10Before lights out
31:11we all had to drink
31:12the milk
31:12the attenders brought.
31:13Refusal meant
31:14a beating.
31:16In my sleep
31:17I felt like
31:18I was being restrained.
31:20Then
31:21slowly
31:21a sharp pain
31:23pierced my side.
31:27My eyes
31:28flew open
31:28to see the director's
31:29horrifying face
31:30leaning over me.
31:31It wasn't a dream.
31:33He was staring
31:34intently at my waist.
31:35The pain
31:36made me black out.
31:38I didn't wake
31:39until the next day.
31:42He threatened me.
31:44If I ever
31:45spoke a word
31:45my other kidney
31:47would meet
31:47the same fate.
31:48No wonder
31:49so many people
31:49there moved stiffly
31:50and no one
31:51ever said a thing.
31:53Mari!
31:54I stared at him
31:56my gaze empty.
31:57Then
31:57a mouthful of blood
31:58surged up
31:59and spilled over.
32:01I collapsed.
32:06I had no idea
32:07how long I was out.
32:10When I woke up
32:11I was still connected
32:13to a ventilator.
32:15I shifted my fingers
32:16trying to wake
32:17Roderick.
32:19His weight
32:20was resting
32:20on my hand
32:21and it had gone numb.
32:27You're awake.
32:28How do you feel?
32:29You were in shock.
32:30Did you realize?
32:31But I was in shock.
32:33How would I know?
32:36But was this
32:37really Roderick?
32:39His jaw
32:40was shadowed
32:41with stubble.
32:42His eyes
32:42streaked
32:43with red.
32:45This wasn't
32:46the same
32:46cool collected
32:47man I remembered.
32:49I tried to speak
32:49but had no strength
32:51left.
32:51I just lay still.
32:54Let the doctors
32:55and Roderick
32:56do what they
32:56needed to do.
32:58I learned
32:59I'd been unconscious
32:59for four days.
33:03Roderick
33:03had stayed
33:04by my side
33:04the whole time.
33:08That afternoon
33:09a doctor removed
33:10the ventilator.
33:14I could talk
33:15again.
33:18What's the
33:19prognosis?
33:19Weeks?
33:20Months?
33:20I knew
33:21my time
33:22was running out.
33:23Roderick's hand
33:24which had been
33:25holding a spoon
33:25to feed me broth
33:26paused
33:27after a long
33:28moment.
33:31Six months
33:32maybe less.
33:36A faint smile
33:38of relief
33:38touched my lips.
33:40Good.
33:41I could get
33:41to see Grandpa
33:42soon.
33:43Lung cancer?
33:47I phrased it
33:48as a question
33:49but I was sure.
33:51Even after
33:52I'd learned
33:52to behave
33:53and the beatings
33:54mostly stopped.
34:01I kept coughing up
34:02blood.
34:03The depression
34:04only made
34:04things worse.
34:10Roderick nodded.
34:14Can I get
34:15back to work?
34:17Is there
34:17any way
34:18you could keep
34:18your wife
34:19from interfering?
34:19If they'd just
34:20leave me alone
34:21I could work
34:22in peace.
34:23I still owed
34:24Clifford
34:25$1,000
34:25after all.
34:28She's not
34:28my wife.
34:29Roderick frowned
34:30putting a clear
34:31distance between
34:32himself and Chelsea.
34:33I didn't care
34:34what Chelsea was.
34:37I just needed
34:38her to stay away.
34:41I started
34:42a small street
34:43stall
34:43on a decent
34:44block
34:44selling
34:45burritos.
34:48I had planned
34:49to find a regular
34:50job
34:50but Roderick
34:51forbade it.
34:56When he set
34:57his mind
34:57to something
34:57no one
34:58could change
34:58it.
35:05He offered
35:06me two
35:07options.
35:08Start my own
35:09small business
35:10or stay
35:11home.
35:14Doing
35:15something I
35:15chose
35:16with the
35:16time I
35:16had left
35:17was a good
35:18idea.
35:18I stood
35:19nervously
35:19behind my
35:20cart
35:20worried no
35:21customers
35:21would come.
35:22The location
35:23was close
35:23to campus.
35:25Steady
35:26foot traffic
35:26from students
35:27and professionals.
35:28It was a
35:29fully licensed
35:30area for
35:30street vendors
35:31to operate.
35:38best of all
35:38it was
35:39close to
35:39grandpa's
35:39house.
35:45Hey,
35:46how much
35:46for a
35:46burrito?
35:47self?
35:48I was
35:49lost in
35:49thought when
35:49a guy with
35:50a bright
35:50smile walked
35:51up to
35:51my
35:51stall.
35:55I looked
35:56up and
35:56met his
35:56clear eyes.
35:58He had
35:58faint dimples,
35:59wearing a
35:59basketball jersey,
36:01a ball in his
36:01hand, as if he'd
36:02just come from a
36:03game.
36:03I was caught
36:04off guard
36:04for a
36:05second.
36:07He spoke
36:08again before
36:08I came out
36:09of my
36:09trance.
36:10For some
36:11reason,
36:11looking into
36:12his eyes
36:12didn't make
36:13me uneasy
36:13at all.
36:15Usually,
36:16any eye
36:16contact filled
36:17me with
36:17dread.
36:18So many
36:19pairs of
36:19eyes haunted
36:20my nights.
36:27Would you
36:28like to try
36:28one?
36:29It's free.
36:30Why free?
36:31Is it because
36:32I'm so good
36:32looking?
36:33He grinned
36:33and rubbed
36:34his chin
36:34playfully.
36:36His playful
36:36tone made
36:37my face
36:37grow warm.
36:38No,
36:39it's my
36:40first day.
36:40If it turns
36:41out unpasteable,
36:42I couldn't
36:42possibly take
36:43your money.
36:47I'd
36:47practiced at
36:48home over
36:48and over,
36:49but doing
36:50it for real
36:50felt completely
36:51different.
36:53Oh,
36:54so I'm
36:55your
36:55gimme-pee
36:56pig.
36:57No!
36:59I thought
37:00I'd
37:00scared him
37:00off.
37:01Just kidding,
37:02go ahead.
37:02I'll eat it
37:03however it
37:03turns out.
37:04He laughed
37:04warmly.
37:05Most vendors
37:06could make
37:06one in
37:07three to
37:07five minutes.
37:08My clumsy
37:09attempt took
37:10nearly seven.
37:11The outside
37:11was crispy,
37:12though not
37:13burnt.
37:13Maybe I
37:14should make
37:14you another
37:14one?
37:17He took
37:18the wrapped
37:18burrito and
37:19bit into it.
37:19This is
37:20perfect.
37:23It's
37:24great.
37:25Seriously,
37:25this is how
37:26it should be.
37:26Nice and
37:27crispy.
37:28His compliment
37:29made me smile.
37:31So,
37:32how much?
37:32You're not
37:33going to charge
37:33me an arm
37:34and a leg,
37:34are you?
37:34No.
37:35He widened
37:36his eyes in
37:36alarm.
37:37This one's
37:37complimentary.
37:38A lucky start
37:39for my first
37:39day.
37:41I'm Leonard
37:41Williams,
37:42by the way.
37:42As he turned
37:43to leave,
37:43he glanced
37:44back and
37:44waved.
37:45I watched
37:46him walk
37:46away.
37:47It struck
37:48me then how
37:48distant my
37:49own college
37:49days felt.
37:51If I hadn't
37:51been so reckless
37:52back then,
37:53I would have
37:54graduated a year
37:54ago.
37:59As the
38:00day went
38:00on,
38:00more customers
38:01came.
38:06I was
38:07almost too
38:07busy to
38:07keep up.
38:10But I
38:11got quicker
38:11and more
38:11confident with
38:12each one.
38:15I didn't
38:15pack up until
38:16I'd run out
38:16of ingredients.
38:23I'll drive
38:24you home.
38:24Roderick pulled
38:25up beside me
38:25in his car.
38:26It's fine.
38:27I have my
38:27scooter.
38:28I nodded
38:29toward my
38:29scooter
38:30parked
38:30at nearby.
38:33It's getting
38:34chilly tonight.
38:34You'll catch
38:35a cold.
38:36I won't die
38:36from it.
38:43Marianne,
38:44how long
38:44are you
38:45going to
38:45keep fighting
38:45me on
38:46everything?
38:48Roderick caught
38:48my wrist as I
38:49started to walk
38:49away.
38:52Mr. Dunlop,
38:53do not forget.
38:59I was the
39:00one who
39:00pushed your
39:00girlfriend down
39:01the stairs.
39:05I'm the one
39:06to blame.
39:14In that
39:14moment,
39:15to cut any
39:16last tie
39:16between us,
39:17I claimed
39:18the guilt.
39:20Mary stopped
39:21lying.
39:22I know the
39:22truth now.
39:23She fell
39:23on her
39:24own.
39:26Suddenly,
39:27his arms
39:28came around
39:28me from
39:28behind.
39:32Hadn't he
39:32told me to
39:33protect Chelsea?
39:38So you
39:38were protecting
39:39her?
39:40While I
39:40bore all
39:41the blame?
39:41him?
39:44No.
39:47I was
39:47afraid once
39:48you knew
39:48the truth,
39:49you'd hate
39:49me for
39:50not believing
39:50you sooner.
39:52I was
39:53wrong.
39:54I'm
39:54sorry.
39:55I'm
39:56sorry.
40:00His arms
40:01tightened
40:01around me.
40:03I only
40:04found out
40:04two days
40:05ago.
40:07I went
40:07to Chelsea
40:08to stay
40:08away from
40:08you,
40:09and we
40:10argued.
40:13she let
40:13it slip.
40:15I could
40:16no longer
40:16hold back
40:17my tears.
40:20They fell
40:20onto the
40:21back of
40:21his hand.
40:22At least
40:23I would
40:23clear my
40:24name before
40:24I died.
40:25Don't
40:25cry,
40:25Mari.
40:27He
40:28released
40:28me,
40:29bending
40:29down to
40:29wipe my
40:30tears.
40:33I sobbed
40:34uncontrollably
40:34in his
40:34arms.
40:40For a
40:40moment,
40:40neither of
40:41us spoke.
40:43Three years
40:44of silence.
40:45Three years
40:46of pain I'd
40:47swallowed without
40:47a word.
40:48And now,
40:49finally,
40:50someone believed
40:51me.
40:56Rod.
40:57Here.
40:58I pointed
40:59to my
40:59chest.
41:01It doesn't
41:02beat for you
41:02anymore.
41:05Rod, if I
41:06could, I'd
41:06wish we had
41:07never met.
41:10I wiped
41:10my tears
41:11and gave
41:12a faint
41:12smile.
41:14This is the
41:14last time
41:15I'll call
41:15you that.
41:17From now
41:18on, let's
41:18each live
41:19our own
41:19lives.
41:21I'd
41:22treat this
41:22as a
41:22goodbye,
41:23a proper
41:24end to
41:24those eight
41:24years I
41:25spent loving
41:25him.
41:30I could
41:30never forget
41:31the three
41:31years in
41:32that place.
41:34And the
41:35person who'd
41:35sent me
41:35there was
41:36Roderick
41:36himself.
41:39Mary.
41:42He
41:43reached for
41:43me, but I
41:44stepped back.
41:45Mr. Dunlap,
41:46please don't
41:46disturb me
41:46again.
41:50I want my
41:51remaining
41:51time to
41:53be peaceful.
41:56With that,
41:57I left.
41:58I drove my
41:58scooter home.
42:01Roderick's
42:02car followed
42:02at a distance
42:03in the
42:03rearview
42:03mirror.
42:05I ignored
42:06him.
42:09I went
42:10to my
42:10stall as
42:10usual
42:11every day.
42:16Roderick
42:17watched from
42:17a distance.
42:20I just
42:21ignored him.
42:26Hey, I'm
42:26back.
42:27Brought my
42:27classmates to
42:28try your
42:28burritos.
42:29It was
42:30Leonard, my
42:31first
42:31customer.
42:34I glanced at
42:35the two
42:35boys behind
42:36him and
42:37gave a
42:37slight nod
42:37in greeting.
42:39What kind
42:39would you
42:39like?
42:40A real
42:41sense of
42:41ease washed
42:42over me,
42:42something I
42:43hadn't felt
42:44in a long
42:44time.
42:45Whatever
42:45you recommend.
42:54Maybe one
42:55of each?
42:56I'll take
42:56some back
42:56for my
42:57roommates,
42:57too.
42:59one of
42:59his
42:59buddies
42:59said,
43:00eyeing the
43:00ingredients.
43:03So, how
43:04much?
43:04You didn't let
43:05me pay last
43:05time.
43:06You've got to
43:06charge me today
43:07or I won't
43:07come back.
43:10I hadn't
43:10said I
43:11wouldn't charge
43:11him.
43:13I still
43:13needed to
43:14pay back
43:14my debt.
43:15Six dollars
43:16each.
43:17Cash only,
43:18though.
43:19If you don't
43:19have any,
43:19you can get
43:20change at the
43:20store down the
43:21block.
43:23I pointed
43:24to the sign
43:24on my cart
43:25and then
43:25toward the
43:25store down
43:26the block.
43:29Wait right
43:29here.
43:30I'll be
43:30back.
43:31I watched
43:31Leonard walk
43:32away inside.
43:33The young
43:34seemed so
43:34full of life.
43:36It was easy
43:37to forget I
43:37was only a
43:38year older
43:38than him.
43:39Yet my
43:40life felt
43:40worlds apart.
43:44Hey, isn't
43:45he good
43:46looking?
43:46And he's
43:47single.
43:48Maybe give
43:48him a shot?
43:49His
43:50classmates
43:50clearly thought
43:51my glance
43:51at Leonard
43:52meant more
43:52than it
43:52did.
43:53I shook
43:54my head
43:54and stayed
43:54silent.
43:56I was
43:57making around
43:57three to
43:57four hundred
43:58dollars a
43:58day.
44:03Soon, I
44:04had enough
44:04to repay
44:05my debt.
44:06Clifford
44:06seemed to
44:07have been
44:07waiting for
44:07me.
44:09He looked
44:09different.
44:10Guilty.
44:11Almost.
44:13I heard
44:13what really
44:14happened.
44:16Chelsea
44:17admitted the
44:17truth to
44:17Roderick.
44:19I'm sorry
44:20for what I
44:20did to you.
44:21I didn't
44:21reply.
44:23I placed
44:24the money
44:24on the
44:25counter
44:25and left.
44:31Finally,
44:32I was free
44:32of that
44:33burden.
44:34Why did
44:35Leonard keep
44:35coming to
44:36my stall?
44:37Did he
44:38really love
44:38burritos
44:39that much?
44:42Do you
44:42really like
44:43burritos
44:43that much?
44:44I finally
44:45asked.
44:46No.
44:46Why?
44:48Taking
44:49another
44:49bite.
44:51Why do
44:52you come
44:52every day?
44:54Were you
44:55short on
44:55money for
44:55meals?
44:58But he
44:58didn't look
44:59like he
44:59was struggling.
45:01Because you're
45:02here.
45:02Between
45:03bites,
45:03I didn't
45:04fully process
45:05his words,
45:06not until
45:07he swallowed,
45:08leaned closer,
45:09and looked
45:09at me
45:10seriously.
45:11Be my
45:12girlfriend?
45:15I froze
45:16for a second,
45:17then shook
45:17my head.
45:18I took his
45:19hand and
45:20placed it
45:20on my
45:20waist.
45:22I'm
45:22missing a
45:23kidney here.
45:25I have
45:26lung cancer
45:26here.
45:27He shrugged,
45:29unfazed.
45:30I know.
45:31I've
45:32always
45:32known.
45:33How could
45:34he know,
45:34reading my
45:35surprise?
45:37I'll tell
45:37you later.
45:38His hand
45:39lingered gently
45:40on my
45:40waist.
45:41Did it
45:41hurt?
45:43My eyes
45:44stung.
45:45No one
45:45had ever
45:46asked me
45:46that before.
45:48Not
45:48Roderick.
45:49Not my
45:50parents.
45:50Not a
45:51single person
45:52in three
45:52years.
45:57But this
45:57young man
45:58did.
46:00six months
46:01later,
46:01I held
46:02the medical
46:02record the
46:03doctor had
46:03just given
46:03me.
46:06He said
46:06the cancer
46:07cells were
46:07gradually
46:08receding.
46:11Leonard had
46:11made sure I
46:12ate three
46:12meals a
46:13day.
46:14He walked
46:14me to
46:14every
46:15checkup.
46:18For the
46:19first time
46:19in years,
46:20I wanted
46:21to live,
46:22and it
46:23showed.
46:25With a
46:26positive
46:26mindset,
46:27consistent
46:27medication,
46:28and no
46:29late
46:29night
46:29depressive
46:30episodes,
46:32full
46:32recovery
46:33was
46:33possible.
46:36There
46:37were cases
46:37of people
46:37beating
46:38cancer.
46:40It just
46:40wasn't
46:41easy.
46:47But I
46:47had managed
46:48it.
46:52Hey,
46:53where are
46:53you?
46:53You're not
46:54at your
46:54stall today.
46:55my phone
46:56buzzed with
46:57a message
46:57from
46:57Leonard.
46:58He'd
46:58bought me
46:58this phone
46:59himself.
47:01He'd
47:01claimed it
47:02was a
47:02buy one
47:02get one
47:03deal.
47:04That he
47:05had an
47:05extra,
47:06and if I
47:06didn't take
47:07it,
47:07he'd throw
47:07it away.
47:08Who
47:09believed
47:09that?
47:10I certainly
47:10didn't.
47:13At the
47:13hospital.
47:20half an
47:20hour later,
47:21Leonard came
47:22jobbing toward
47:23me in his
47:23basketball
47:24jersey.
47:28What did
47:29the doctor
47:29say?
47:31I put on a
47:32somber face,
47:33pretending to
47:33be downcast.
47:35I saw his
47:35expression dim,
47:36but he kept
47:37his voice
47:37steady.
47:40It's
47:41okay.
47:42I'll be
47:43with you
47:43every step
47:44of the way.
47:45I cut him
47:46off.
47:47Just kidding.
47:47The doctor
47:48says I'm
47:48doing really
47:48well.
47:51I couldn't
47:52bear to
47:52tease him
47:53for long.
47:57You've
47:57gotten
47:57mean.
47:59He
47:59pretended to
48:00be upset,
48:00but then he
48:01picked me up
48:02and spun me
48:02around twice.
48:11so does
48:12this mean
48:12you'll
48:12say yes?
48:14He looked
48:14at me
48:14eagerly.
48:15Say yes
48:16to what?
48:18Interest
48:19at him
48:19playfully.
48:20Be my
48:21girlfriend.
48:22But I'm
48:22not completely
48:23healed yet.
48:24What if
48:25it comes
48:25back?
48:26I don't
48:26care.
48:30My job
48:31is to
48:31love you
48:32and make
48:32you happy.
48:35If you're
48:35happy,
48:36you'll get
48:36better.
48:37He hugged
48:38me tightly,
48:39nuzzling
48:39against me.
48:42Alright,
48:42I suppose
48:43I'll say
48:44yes.
48:46I wrapped
48:47my arms
48:48around him
48:48in return.
48:50I sounded
48:51as if I
48:51was doing
48:52him a
48:52favor.
48:54The truth
48:54was,
48:55he had
48:55been the
48:56one settling
48:56for me
48:57all along.
49:01As
49:01Leonard and
49:02I walked
49:02away hand
49:02in hand.
49:03I saw
49:04Roderick.
49:09I hadn't
49:10seen him
49:10in two or
49:11three months.
49:13He stood
49:14watching us,
49:15his eyes
49:15red.
49:21He'd pick me
49:22up to attend
49:22the service
49:23and that was
49:23it.
49:24I'd also
49:24repaid him
49:25for all the
49:25medical bills.
49:27even the
49:27money for
49:28the food
49:28cart.
49:31I knew
49:31he'd been
49:32watching me
49:32from a
49:33distance.
49:36He'd
49:36tried to
49:36approach me
49:37a few
49:37times.
49:43But I'd
49:43threatened to
49:44harm myself
49:44each time
49:45and he'd
49:45finally stayed
49:46away.
49:51Mari,
49:52who is
49:52this?
49:53His eyes
49:53were still
49:53red.
49:55He already
49:56knew the
49:56answer.
50:00My
50:00girlfriend.
50:01Leonard
50:02answered first,
50:03raising our
50:03joined hands.
50:07Is he good
50:07to you?
50:09Yes.
50:14I know
50:15what it looks
50:15like when you
50:15love someone,
50:16Mari.
50:18and I can
50:19see it's
50:19not me
50:19anymore.
50:21Took me
50:22a while to
50:22face it.
50:25Be happy.
50:28I wish you
50:29the same.
50:30He turned
50:30and walked
50:31away.
50:34I didn't
50:35look back.
50:36Some people
50:36are meant to
50:37be part of
50:37your story,
50:38but not
50:38your ending.
50:41I heard
50:41later that
50:42Roderick left
50:42to teach
50:43in a remote
50:43mountain.
50:45As for
50:46me,
50:46I was
50:47curled on
50:47the sofa,
50:48looking at
50:48the man
50:49in front
50:49of me.
50:50You said
50:51before that
50:52you knew
50:52about my
50:53health?
50:54How?
50:57I
50:58sprained my
50:58ankle during
50:59a game and
50:59ended up in
51:00the hospital.
51:03I was in
51:03the room
51:04next to
51:04yours.
51:05I overheard
51:05something while
51:06walking by,
51:06got curious,
51:07and looked
51:07through the
51:07glass.
51:13one look
51:14and I
51:14just knew.
51:15He made
51:16it sound
51:16so casual.
51:17That's
51:17it?
51:18I didn't
51:19buy it.
51:20Your
51:20classmates
51:21mentioned
51:21something.
51:23My
51:23photo is
51:24your
51:24computer
51:24wallpaper,
51:25the one
51:26from when
51:26I was a
51:26sophomore.
51:27I meant
51:28the guys
51:28who had
51:28stopped by
51:29my stall
51:29for burritos.
51:31Sure
51:31enough,
51:32Leonard
51:32looked briefly
51:33embarrassed.
51:36He was
51:37probably cursing
51:38them in his
51:38head.
51:40Okay,
51:41fine.
51:44I was an
51:44exchange
51:45student at
51:45your
51:45university
51:46in my
51:46freshman
51:46year,
51:47doing a
51:48photography
51:48project.
51:50You were
51:51there that
51:51day,
51:52so full
51:52of life.
51:53I couldn't
51:54help but
51:54take a
51:54picture.
51:55Later,
51:55I heard
51:56you were
51:56with
51:56Roderick,
51:58so I
51:59kept my
51:59distance.
52:00I don't
52:01do home
52:01wrecking.
52:02He lifted
52:02his chin
52:03slightly.
52:04It wasn't
52:05until I
52:05saw you
52:05in the
52:05hospital
52:06that I
52:07realized
52:07how stupid
52:08I'd
52:08been all
52:08along.
52:09If I
52:09had stepped
52:10in back
52:10then,
52:11maybe none
52:11of this
52:12would have
52:12happened to
52:12you.
52:14After
52:14that,
52:15I kept
52:15an eye
52:15on you,
52:16waiting
52:16until the
52:16day I
52:17ran into
52:17you at
52:17your
52:17stall.
52:18He
52:18looked
52:18genuinely
52:19regortful.
52:20I reached
52:20out and
52:21hugged
52:21him.
52:24Don't
52:24blame
52:24yourself.
52:25Some
52:26things were
52:26meant to
52:27happen.
52:27It wasn't
52:28your fault.
52:28I'd almost
52:29missed the
52:29chance to
52:30be with
52:30someone so
52:30wonderful.
52:31But in
52:31the end,
52:32nothing was
52:33too late.
52:33Other
52:34people go
52:34to rehab
52:34for drugs,
52:35alcohol,
52:36or gambling.
52:37I went
52:38to quit
52:38loving a
52:39man.
52:40In the
52:40end,
52:41I didn't
52:42just quit
52:42him.
52:43I learned
52:44to love
52:44myself
52:45again.
52:45again.
Comments