- 39 minutes ago
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Mom, please let me in! I'm so cold!
00:04It was a snowy night, minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
00:08I was locked outside, wearing only thin pajamas, slowly turning into a snowman.
00:14Inside, the fireplace was roaring.
00:16My mom sat on the couch, sipping hot, mulled wine,
00:19while my twin brother, Jacob, wrapped in a wool blanket, curled up in her lap, watching cartoons.
00:25Mom said Jacob had suffered from the freezing wind for 20 minutes during the parade, and he was traumatized.
00:32So, just for fairness, I had to stand in the cold for 20 minutes, too.
00:36Then, we were even.
00:38Jacob and I are twins, so Mom insists on fairness and everything.
00:43When he ate ice cream from the food stall and got diarrhea,
00:48my mom knew that I was lactose intolerant,
00:50so she forced me to drink milk and suffer just like him, just for fairness.
00:55As I curled up on the bathroom floor, pale and completely drained,
00:59Jacob stood at the door, sobbing.
01:01Mom, I'm sorry! I'll never eat street food again!
01:06Mom was satisfied, just smiled, and stroked his hair.
01:10Meanwhile, under Mom's disgusted glare,
01:12I had to choke down cold oatmeal and spent two days in bed just trying to recover.
01:17When Jacob failed to finish his homework and got detention,
01:22Mom dragged me to school and forced me to rip my own homework right in front of the teacher, just
01:26for fairness.
01:28Seeing me burst into tears, ripping my hard work page by page, Jacob started bawling.
01:33Mom, I promise I'll do my homework!
01:36Please don't do this to Helen!
01:38Even my teacher just stared at me with pure pity, unable to say a word.
01:43And today, during the Thanksgiving parade, Jacob got separated from the crowd and was lost for 20 minutes.
01:49When we got home, Mom's face was dark.
01:53Helen, your brother was lost for 20 minutes. He was terrified out there.
01:57To be fair, you need to feel exactly what he felt.
02:00She dragged me to the front door and slammed it shut.
02:04It was minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and I was wearing thin cotton pajamas, standing barefoot outside.
02:11It was freezing.
02:13I curled up in the corner of the porch steps.
02:16The wind sliced through the wooden cracks like needles, piercing my skin.
02:20I picked up a twig with numb fingers.
02:22I scraped it for a bit of warmth, just like Little Match Girl.
02:25But no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't light.
02:28I was so tired. I just wanted to sleep.
02:32I reached into my pocket and felt the drawing I did in art class.
02:36In the drawing, Mom was sitting by my bedside, holding a fairy tale book, smiling gently as she read me
02:42a bedtime story.
02:43I pressed the drawing tightly against my chest and closed my eyes.
02:47In a daze, I felt myself sinking back into that warm, soft bed.
02:52Mom was whispering gently, and I could smell the faint, lingering scent from her.
02:57Go to sleep, sweetie.
02:58Mommy will always be here with you.
03:01The snow kept falling, but suddenly, I felt warm.
03:05Mom, I'm falling asleep now.
03:07Maybe when I wake up, you'll open the door and get me back inside.
03:11You'll read me a gentle bedtime story, just like in my drawing.
03:15Snowflakes drifted down, landing on my hair, my eyelashes, and the drawing in my arms.
03:21And finally, I couldn't feel cold anymore.
03:24I was jolted awake by Mom's screeching voice.
03:28Opening my heavy eyes, I realized I was floating in midair, hovering beside the chandelier in the living room.
03:35I tried to scream, tried to rush down and grab them, but my fingertips passed right through Jacob's hair without
03:42stirring a whisper of wind.
03:47Mom, where's Sissy?
03:49Mom was busy packing.
03:51Two massive suitcases were stuffed with clothes, toys, and snacks.
03:55Hearing his question, she didn't even look up.
03:58Her?
03:59That ungrateful brat.
04:00I made her stay outside to reflect for fairness last night.
04:03This morning, she was gone.
04:04Probably ran off to Grandma's to complain about me.
04:07Complain?
04:08Mom, no, I didn't.
04:10I hovered in the air, opening my mouth to explain, but the air just slipped through my throat.
04:16Not a single sound.
04:20Complain?
04:21Yeah.
04:22She was acting out yesterday, thought it wasn't fair, and ran off at night.
04:29Well, she went to Grandma's to have fun.
04:31Then I'm taking you to the Fairyland theme park for three days, just to be fair.
04:36My dead body was just outside the door, huddled in the corner, buried under the heavy snow like an abandoned
04:42snowman.
04:43My soul drifted upon the ceiling, while Mom, just to be fair, was taking my brother out to a theme
04:49park.
04:50Mom, what about me?
04:51You haven't even found me yet.
04:54But Sissy has never been to Fairyland.
04:56Are we really not bringing her?
05:00Jacob, remember, she left us first.
05:03She only cared about herself and went Grandma's, leaving you here all frightened.
05:06Just to be fair, she will get punished, and you deserve to go have a good time.
05:11Outside that door, my body had already gone stiff.
05:15The last thing I remembered was the bone-chilling, cold, and endless despair.
05:19I had wanted to strike a twig, wanted to wait for Mom to come and get me, but until I
05:25froze to death, that door never opened.
05:34The snow is so heavy, the roads must be bad.
05:37Maybe we should call and check if Helen arrived okay?
05:40Call her?
05:41For what?
05:42If she's got the nerve to run away, then she can look after herself.
05:46If you call her now, you're giving in to her!
05:50You want her to behave like this all the time?
05:52If we want our children to grow up into leets, we must use fair discipline and give them cold treatment
05:59if necessary.
06:00Just wait for it.
06:02She will come back crying for forgiveness!
06:04In this house, Mom's fairness was the law.
06:08I stared at Dad's back.
06:10Strangely, I didn't feel any hate, but just sad for him.
06:14Turned out, in their eyes, my leaving was just a solo drama they needed to handle.
06:19They finished packing, laughing, and chatting as they walked out the door.
06:24Mom, look! There's a snowman! I think Helen made it!
06:27The mound trembled slightly, but it didn't collapse.
06:30My body was just inside, frozen stiff in a curled position.
06:36Don't touch that. It's dirty.
06:39Must be that little brat making a mess at the doorstep.
06:42Let's go. The fireworks are about to start.
06:45They got into the car.
06:47The exhaust fumes blasted against the mound,
06:50instantly melting a tiny patch of snow to reveal a corner of my gray pajamas.
06:55But no one noticed.
06:58It wasn't until the tires rolled over the edge of the mound that the car jolted.
07:03Dad glanced at the rearview mirror.
07:05That tiny flash of gray pajamas caught his attention.
07:08Sarah, I need to get out and look. I think I just saw...
07:11Come on, we're going to be late for Fairyland!
07:13It's just a rock in the snow!
07:16I'm sure it's from your baby girl.
07:18Just to be fair, when she comes back,
07:20I'm making her shovel every last spot of snow from the driveway.
07:23In fact, she's going to clear the roads for the entire neighborhood.
07:26She should be doing this while we are out, right?
07:29It's just not fair!
07:31With her perfect makeup, Mom smirked.
07:34I was already dead, yet she was still thinking about my punishment, her fairness.
07:39On the way to the park, Jacob remained silent,
07:42holding the toy bear I had gifted to him.
07:44It was a gift for his sixth birthday.
07:47I had saved up for over half a year for it.
07:50Back then, Mom had said,
07:52You got a gift for your brother, then you need to give one to me, too.
07:55Just to be fair, it needs to be the same price.
07:58I didn't have any money left,
08:00so Mom punished me by making me wash the dishes for a month.
08:05Cheer up, Jacob!
08:06We're going to Fairyland!
08:08You're going to see Superman, your favorite!
08:10Jacob forced a smile, burying his face into the bear's plush fur.
08:16Inside the theme park, it was packed.
08:18Cheerful music, colorful balloons.
08:21It really felt like a fairy tale paradise.
08:24Excitedly, Mom dragged Jacob into a souvenir shop.
08:28She picked out a blue princess gown and began holding it up against Jacob.
08:33Here, Jacob, put this on.
08:35That's for girls!
08:37I'm not wearing that!
08:38Helen likes it, not me!
08:40I remembered that dress.
08:43I had seen it on TV once,
08:45my eyes glowing with envy.
08:47At the time, Mom had told me,
08:50Want a dress?
08:50Fine.
08:51Just to be fair, your brother doesn't wear dresses,
08:54so neither do you.
08:57And now, she was forcing that exact dress onto my brother.
09:01Who says boys can't wear dresses?
09:05Your sister is definitely dressing up over at Grandma's right now.
09:09I bet she even got new clothes.
09:11Just to be fair, you gotta wear new clothes, too.
09:14And the exact one she wanted the most.
09:16That'll teach her a lesson!
09:18But I don't want to.
09:21Put it on!
09:22I am doing this for your own good,
09:24to make sure you get what's fair.
09:26Why can't you understand how much I sacrifice for you?
09:28Right there, with everyone watching,
09:31she stripped off Jacob's jacket
09:32and forced the princess gown over him.
09:35Jacob's face flushed from humiliation.
09:37Tears streamed down his cheeks.
09:39In the crowd, there were whispers and mockings.
09:42But Mom ignored them all.
09:45She took out her phone,
09:46snapping photo after photo of Jacob
09:48as he sobbed.
09:50Then, with a satisfied smile,
09:53she uploaded them to Instagram.
09:55Her caption read,
09:56My little princess,
09:58a million times sweeter than some little brat.
10:01Little brother fulfills his sister's dream.
10:04Fairness is everything.
10:05Mommy loves you both.
10:06I stared at the phone screen,
10:09a sharp ache piercing my heart.
10:11I watched the light in my Jacob's eyes
10:13slowly die down.
10:15Just like last night in the snow,
10:17the little twig I tried to strike it
10:18would never, ever light.
10:20At night, the theme park started fireworks
10:22above the castle.
10:24Jacob, look!
10:25So pretty!
10:27Jacob was in that loose princess gown,
10:29shivering in the wind.
10:31Mom, can Helen see the fireworks too?
10:35Why do you keep bringing her up?
10:37You're ruining the mood!
10:38She's probably stuffing herself in grandma's
10:41forgotten us already.
10:42Just to be fair, let's just have fun.
10:44You are not allowed to think about her!
10:47The fireworks were so beautiful,
10:49so warm, so full of life.
10:51But my body was lying hundreds of miles away,
10:55right outside our house.
10:56A new flurry of snow began to fall.
11:00The flakes drifted down,
11:02burying the mound that hid me even deeper.
11:05Occasionally, stray dogs would pass by,
11:08sniffing around it,
11:09then run away from the freezing wind.
11:12I couldn't feel the cold anymore,
11:13but I was terrified they would eat me.
11:16If they did, would Mom still be able to recognize me?
11:20Three days later, they returned.
11:27Still not melting yet.
11:29It's getting dark.
11:32Better melt soon.
11:33What a mess to look at.
11:35Jacob's eyes were glassy.
11:37He had been running a low-grade fever.
11:39Mom,
11:40Teddy says he's cold.
11:42He wants to play with the snowman.
11:45Play?
11:46It's filthy!
11:48Your sister's not even home,
11:50yet she leaves this here just to ruin the view.
11:52This driveway looks like a dump site.
11:55Just to be fair,
11:56she made a mess out here.
11:57None of her junk is allowed inside my house.
12:00No!
12:03Get inside!
12:04You leave it there!
12:05Let her and her garbage rot outside
12:07until she learns her lesson.
12:09No!
12:09No!
12:10No!
12:10No!
12:10No!
12:11No!
12:12No!
12:12No!
12:13No!
12:15No!
12:18A week has passed.
12:20The temperature began to climb
12:21and the sun became bright.
12:23The snow mound started shrinking.
12:26It turned filthy and gray.
12:29The little toy bear had slid off
12:31and was caked in mud.
12:32Mrs. Margaret,
12:33the neighbor from next door,
12:35was walking her dog
12:36when she passed the house.
12:37She covered her nose,
12:38frowning as she looked at the mound.
12:40Just then,
12:41Mom came outside
12:42to take out the trash
12:43and Mrs. Margaret called out to her.
12:45Hey, Sarah.
12:48What on earth is that by your steps?
12:50What is that weird smell?
12:52It was the smell of rot, thick, and foul.
12:54Though it was still cold,
12:56after a week,
12:57the smell came out.
12:58Oh, hi.
12:59That's just a snowman Helen made.
13:01Naughty girl.
13:02God knows what garbage she stuffed inside.
13:04Where is Helen anyway?
13:05Haven't seen her in days.
13:06Over at her grandmother's.
13:08She's a brat.
13:09We can't control her.
13:10Just to be fair,
13:12I'm letting her learn a lesson out there
13:13so she'll finally appreciate us.
13:16Sarah,
13:17I'm not being mouthy.
13:18My dog was sniffing around that mound last night
13:20and I couldn't even drag him away.
13:22You really gotta clear it out.
13:23It's quite creepy.
13:25What a jinx.
13:26Even when she's gone,
13:27she leaves a bloody disaster behind.
13:29Fine,
13:29I'll have David shove it away.
13:31Just to be fair,
13:32when she gets back,
13:33the cost of labor
13:33comes straight out of her pocket money.
13:36I drifted behind Mrs. Margaret,
13:38watching her walk away
13:39while shaking her head.
13:41She obviously felt something was wrong,
13:44even if she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
13:47A moment later,
13:48Dad came out carrying a snow shovel.
13:50He looked hollow,
13:52his eyes bloodshot.
13:53For the past few days,
13:55nightmares had hunted him night after night.
13:57He dreamt of me crying alone in the snow.
13:59As he approached the mound,
14:01the stench hit him.
14:04What the hell is that smell?
14:06Right before he raised the shovel,
14:08he stopped.
14:09The mound had melted more than halfway down
14:11and there,
14:12a patch of gray fabric appeared.
14:14It was my gray pajamas.
14:16He bought those pajamas for me.
14:19At the time,
14:19Mom had said,
14:21Jacob got new sneakers.
14:22Just to be fair,
14:23let's get Helen a pair of pajamas.
14:25Not like anyone's going to see her
14:27in them at home anyway.
14:28He seemed to realize something,
14:30yet he refused to believe it.
14:31Dropping the snow shovel,
14:33he slowly knelt.
14:35He extended a trembling finger,
14:37wanting to touch the fabric.
14:39David!
14:40Get in here!
14:41Jacob fainted!
14:42He glanced at the mound,
14:43where the gray fabric peeked out,
14:45his eyes wide,
14:46with terror and denial.
14:48In the end,
14:49he turned his back
14:50and rushed inside.
14:52Such is human nature
14:54when facing huge terror.
14:56Our instinct is always
14:57to flee from the truth.
14:58Inside,
14:59it was pure chaos.
15:01Jacob's face
15:02was flushed from the fever,
15:04his jaw locked tight
15:05as his whole body trembled.
15:07Jacob!
15:08Jacob!
15:08Don't scare Mommy like this!
15:10Hurry!
15:11Get him to the hospital now!
15:17At the hospital,
15:18the doctor diagnosed it
15:19as acute pneumonia
15:20compounded by a severe stress reaction.
15:24After a sedative,
15:25Jacob finally calmed down.
15:27But he was in a coma.
15:28He kept murmuring,
15:30Helen,
15:32cold,
15:33matches.
15:34It's all Helen's fault!
15:35She's not even here yet!
15:37She's still torturing Jacob!
15:38When she gets back,
15:39I am going to punish her!
15:40It's just not fair!
15:42Why should Jacob suffer
15:43while she's living it up
15:44at Grandma's?
15:48It was a call from Grandma.
15:50Mom glanced at the screen,
15:52let out a cold snort,
15:53and answered it
15:54on speakerphone.
15:55Mom,
15:55so you finally decided to call?
15:57Helen must be enjoying
15:58herself over there.
15:59Huh?
15:59Do you know that Jacob
16:00got sick because of her?
16:01Put her on the phone!
16:02Sarah,
16:03what on earth
16:03are you talking about?
16:05Helen never came here!
16:09What did you say?
16:10I said Helen never came here!
16:12That day you said
16:13you were going to teach her
16:14a lesson and hung up on me!
16:16I've been worried sick
16:17ever since,
16:18but you haven't been
16:18answering my calls for days!
16:20Where on earth is Helen?
16:21It's been a whole week!
16:25That's impossible!
16:26She said she was going
16:27to Grandma's.
16:27She must be hiding!
16:28She's lying to me!
16:30Dad stood to the side,
16:31his face as pale as a sheet.
16:33The stinky snowdrift
16:34by the driveway
16:35flashed across his mind.
16:36He remembered the patch
16:38of gray pajamas.
16:40He remembered the stiffness
16:42that had been
16:43within his finger's reach.
16:45And more suddenly ripped
16:47from Dad's throat.
16:48Clutching his head
16:49with both hands,
16:50he collapsed to the ground,
16:51tearing at his own hair.
16:52It's over!
16:53It's all over!
16:55We killed Helen!
16:59Losing his mind,
17:00Dad bolted out
17:01of the hospital room.
17:02Mom froze for a few seconds
17:04before stumbling out
17:05after him.
17:06They climbed into the car
17:08and tore down the streets,
17:09blowing through red lights,
17:11rushing back home.
17:12It had gone completely dark.
17:14By the driveway,
17:16the streetlight flickered
17:17on and off,
17:18casting a dim glow
17:19over the snowdrift.
17:20Dad threw himself forward,
17:22scrambling on his hands
17:23and knees.
17:24He no longer cared
17:25about the smell
17:26or the filth.
17:27With his bare hands,
17:28he dug frantically.
17:30Once,
17:31twice,
17:31twice,
17:32black slush splattered
17:34across his face
17:34and into his mouth,
17:35but he felt nothing.
17:38Helen!
17:39Mom stood a few meters away,
17:40her entire body shaking,
17:42her teeth chattering.
17:44No,
17:45it can't be.
17:46This is a prank.
17:47Just to be fair,
17:48she wouldn't dare
17:48scare me like this.
17:49The snowdrift was peeled away
17:51piece by piece.
17:52First,
17:53there was that muddy toy bear.
17:55Then,
17:55my gray pajamas.
17:57And,
17:58finally,
17:59my face bruised,
18:01bloated,
18:01and utterly deformed.
18:03I was huddled just like that,
18:05arms locked tightly
18:06against my chest,
18:07my fingers still clutching
18:08the drawing
18:09I had painted
18:10from my imagination.
18:11My eyes were shut,
18:12my eyelashes frosted with ice.
18:15She stared at
18:17my dead body,
18:18the daughter she had once
18:19seen as a burden,
18:20the one who had caused
18:21others to point fingers
18:22at her for not being
18:23fair enough.
18:24Helen!
18:25Dad is so sorry!
18:28I'm a coward!
18:29I'm a monster!
18:31He tried to warm my hands,
18:33trying to wake me up.
18:34Strangely,
18:35I didn't feel any joy
18:36in finally being found
18:38by my parents.
18:39Instead,
18:40a bittersweet ache
18:41welled up in my eyes.
18:42It turned out
18:43only after I died,
18:45they shed tears
18:45over losing me.
18:46Only when I became a corpse
18:48was I worthy
18:49of my father's hugs.
18:50Right at that moment,
18:51the wail of sirens
18:52approached.
18:55Oh my God!
18:56This is devastating!
18:58How could a mother
18:59treat her own child
19:00like this?
19:01She doesn't even
19:02deserve to be a parent.
19:03The police set up
19:04a cordon,
19:05and the medical examiner
19:07knelt beside me,
19:08switching on her flashlight
19:09to examine my body.
19:10She aimed the light
19:12at the object,
19:13clutched tightly
19:14in my hands,
19:15the drawing now
19:16tattered and soaked.
19:17Drawn in crooked
19:18crayon strokes,
19:19mom's hair cascaded
19:20down softly,
19:21the light giving her silhouette
19:22a warm, golden glow.
19:24Her head was bowed,
19:25a faint smile
19:26on her lips
19:27as she read me
19:28a bedtime story.
19:29I was lying in bed,
19:30tucked beneath
19:30a thick blanket,
19:31my eyes bright
19:32and listening intently.
19:34Now,
19:34this heartwarming drawing
19:36was held
19:36in a death grip
19:37by my fingers,
19:38my knuckles frozen.
19:40After the medical examiner
19:41carefully slid
19:42the drawing out
19:43from between my fingers
19:45with a pair of tweezers,
19:46everyone fell
19:47into a dead silence.
19:48Though the paper
19:49was blurred
19:50from the blood and snow,
19:51the words written on it
19:52remained crystal clear.
19:53Mom reads me
19:54a bedtime story
19:55every day.
19:56As two female officers
19:57hoisted up mom,
19:59she was still struggling.
20:01Let go of me!
20:02I was teaching
20:03my child a lesson!
20:05This is fairness!
20:07Her brother was terrified,
20:08so his older sister
20:10should reflect outside!
20:11This is all her prank!
20:12She loves doing this!
20:14She's been playing mind games
20:15since she was little!
20:17Look!
20:17She's still pretending
20:18to sleep!
20:19Helen, get up!
20:20Stop faking it!
20:21She screamed at my corpse,
20:23her gaze vacant and wild.
20:24It wasn't grief,
20:25it was denial.
20:26Let me in!
20:27Let me see her!
20:28She's perfectly fine!
20:30Why is she doing this to me?
20:32Help!
20:33Help!
20:33Shut up!
20:34That is a corpse!
20:36The corpse of your own daughter!
20:38She looked at me
20:39and was suddenly drained.
20:40She slid down to the ground.
20:42Dead.
20:45Dead.
20:48Inside the interrogation room,
20:50Mom sat on a cold metal chair,
20:52handcuffs binding her wrists.
20:54She was no longer hysterical.
20:56Instead, she had become strangely calm,
20:59even a bit self-righteous.
21:01Officer, you don't understand.
21:03My husband and I also come from twin families.
21:06Ever since I was a child,
21:08I've known that fairness
21:08is the most important thing.
21:10When the brother eats ice cream
21:12and gets diarrhea,
21:13how terrible would he feel
21:14if his older sister is perfectly fine?
21:17Just to be fair,
21:19the sister has to get diarrhea too.
21:21Only then can the two children
21:23love each other.
21:25So that's why you forced her
21:26to drink milk
21:27knowing she was lactose intolerant?
21:28Of course.
21:29That is discipline.
21:31Then what about this time?
21:33You locked her outside
21:34to freeze to death.
21:36Was that for fairness too?
21:37That day,
21:38Jacob almost got lost
21:39during the parade.
21:40He was so traumatized
21:42as the older sister,
21:43Helen,
21:44failed to look after her brother.
21:46Jacob had to suffer
21:47the freezing wind
21:47so Helen needed to feel it too.
21:49Jacob was terrified
21:50so Helen needed
21:51to clear her head outside.
21:53I was just trying
21:54to make things fair.
21:55Make things fair?
21:56This is how you do it?
21:57This is a human life?
21:58The daughter you carried
21:59in your womb
21:59for ten months?
22:02But I got the time right?
22:04In the past,
22:05her timeouts were always
22:06thirty minutes.
22:06This time,
22:07I only intended
22:08to lock her out
22:08for thirty minutes too.
22:09Then why didn't you
22:10open the door?
22:11Because Jacob started crying.
22:13I went to comfort him
22:14and then I forgot.
22:16After that,
22:16I thought she wasn't
22:18knocking anymore.
22:18She must have run off
22:19to grandma's.
22:20I thought she was acting out.
22:21Just to be fair,
22:22I couldn't back down first.
22:25The results are back.
22:26Helen's stomach
22:27was almost empty.
22:29We found only a bit
22:30of moldy grain fiber.
22:31The estimated time
22:32of her death
22:32was over thirty-six hours.
22:34In other words,
22:35she had gone
22:35without a proper meal
22:36for at least a day
22:37and a half
22:38before she died.
22:40Sarah,
22:40we checked your
22:41household's dining records
22:42including food delivery
22:44orders and credit card
22:45statements.
22:46During the week
22:46of the incident,
22:48Jacob's dinners
22:49were logged.
22:51What about Helen?
22:53We looked through
22:54the receipts
22:55from those seven days
22:56and we couldn't find
22:57a single transaction
22:58related to Helen.
22:59Tell me,
23:00how on earth
23:01did you manage
23:02to treat them fairly?
23:04She ate
23:05home-cooked meals.
23:07What was that?
23:08Oatmeal.
23:09She didn't like meat.
23:11Just to be fair,
23:11I had her eat more grains.
23:13Didn't like meat?
23:14Then why is it
23:15that on the same day
23:16Jacob was having steak,
23:17there wasn't a single
23:18purchase record
23:19for grain meals
23:19or ingredients
23:20in that kitchen?
23:24outside the interrogation room.
23:27Dad curled up
23:27in a corner of the hallway
23:28burying his face
23:30in his hands,
23:31weeping.
23:32He had confessed
23:33to everything.
23:34He confessed
23:35to his cowardice,
23:37his long-term enabling
23:38of mom's twisted parenting.
23:40I'm an accomplice.
23:42I'm a co-conspirator.
23:44Meanwhile,
23:45across the internet,
23:46the story exploded
23:47like wildfire.
23:48When Grandma Ruth
23:49arrived at the police station,
23:52her entire body
23:53was trembling.
23:54The officer handed her
23:56a evidence bag
23:57containing my drawing,
23:59the one soaked through
24:00with blood
24:00and melted snow.
24:02Its edges
24:02already turned black.
24:03She stared at the mom
24:05in the picture,
24:06who was smiling
24:07and reading the story.
24:09Grandma suddenly
24:10clutched her chest.
24:11Her eyes rolled back
24:12and she collapsed
24:13straight backward.
24:15Acute heart attack,
24:17she was brought in
24:17too late.
24:18Grandma passed away.
24:19She closed her eyes
24:20forever,
24:21carrying endless guilt
24:22toward me
24:23and hatred
24:23for her own daughter,
24:24Sarah.
24:25Overnight,
24:27Grandpa Henry
24:27seemed to age
24:2820 years.
24:30He stood
24:30in the hospital hallway.
24:32When my paternal
24:34grandparents
24:34arrived to beg
24:36for mercy,
24:36he didn't scream
24:37or strike them.
24:38He simply handed them
24:40a formal legal notice.
24:42I am suing Sarah
24:44for intentional murder
24:45and I am taking
24:46Jacob with me.
24:48Henry, please,
24:50we are all family here.
24:51Dragging this into a courtroom
24:53won't do anyone any good.
24:56Family?
24:57My granddaughter
24:58froze to death
24:59in a snow drip
25:00right outside
25:01your front door.
25:02For a whole week,
25:04you all went off
25:05to enjoy themselves
25:06at a theme park
25:07and because of all this,
25:08my wife didn't survive
25:09and you dare speak
25:10to me of family?
25:12Sarah is your daughter
25:14after all.
25:16She's sick.
25:17She's a patient.
25:18Patients deserve treatment
25:20but they must also
25:21face the law.
25:21Henry, don't do this!
25:22Jacob is our grandson.
25:24Sarah made a mistake
25:25but the child
25:26has nothing to do with this.
25:27Nothing to do with this?
25:29A child raised
25:30in that kind of environment
25:31is already half destroyed.
25:32Do you want him
25:33to be completely ruined?
25:35Helen is already gone.
25:36I will not allow Jacob
25:37to become the next
25:38lunatook Sarah
25:39or the next coward David.
25:40The headline
25:41North Dakota girl
25:42walked outside
25:43and frozen to death
25:43by her mother
25:44in the name of
25:45fair discipline
25:46soared to the top
25:47of X trending topics
25:48and read its front page
25:51circulated by
25:51major media outlets.
25:53Two hours after
25:54the news broke
25:55in the comment section
25:56someone dropped a link
25:58to a screenshot.
25:58It was the photo
26:00mom had posted
26:01on Instagram
26:02when she took
26:03my brother
26:04to the fairyland theme park.
26:05In the image
26:06a young boy
26:07stood in the middle
26:07of the theme park square
26:09wearing a blue princess gown
26:11with tears on his face.
26:12Behind him
26:13it was the brightly lit castle.
26:15The post originally
26:16had over 400 likes
26:17and the comments like
26:19so cute
26:20and what a cool mom.
26:22Now however
26:22the comment section
26:24was upended.
26:25Wait.
26:25That older sister
26:27who wanted to wear a dress
26:28is same little girl
26:28who just froze to death
26:29outside?
26:31While she was posting this
26:33her daughter
26:33was already dead
26:34in the snow.
26:36I can't believe
26:37she actually has
26:38a public parenting account.
26:39Her entire feed
26:39is filled with
26:40this absolute
26:40fairness garbage.
26:41Before long
26:42the internet found
26:43mom's full profile.
26:44Calling herself
26:45Fairness Mom
26:46she had nearly
26:4720,000 followers
26:48and regularly posted
26:50about her
26:50scientific
26:51and fair parenting method.
26:53Her posts featured
26:54well staged living room
26:55backdrops
26:56with comment sections
26:57full of mothers
26:58writing
26:58so helpful
26:59and I wish
27:00I could be a mom
27:00like you.
27:01And that photo
27:02of the princess gown
27:03was the most liked
27:04post in her
27:05Fair Education
27:06and Practice series.
27:07Users took
27:08screenshots of these posts
27:10compiling them
27:11into long form images
27:12marked with red lines.
27:14Within two hours
27:15of being uploaded
27:16the post racked up
27:17over 100,000 retweets.
27:19This isn't fairness
27:20this is murder.
27:21Where was the father?
27:22He's an accomplice!
27:23I treat my children fairly
27:24but her son gets steaks
27:26while her daughter
27:26gets nothing.
27:27That poor little girl
27:29she deserved
27:30a much better life.
27:31The Fairness Mom
27:32account was reported
27:33more than 80,000 times
27:35within 30 hours
27:36before being forcibly
27:38purged by the platform.
27:39However,
27:40that photo
27:41of the princess gown
27:42had already been
27:43permanently archived
27:44by hundreds of accounts.
27:46The screenshot
27:48showcasing Jacob's
27:49tear-stained face
27:50right next to the line
27:52Mom had written.
27:52Fairness is everything
27:54Mommy loves you both
27:56became one of the most
27:58viral images
27:59on the internet
28:00that year.
28:01No one was saying
28:02so sweet anymore.
28:04I stared at these comments
28:06my heart untroubled
28:07by any emotion.
28:09Lee Justice cannot
28:10bring back my life
28:11but I suppose
28:13this tragedy
28:14will warn those parents
28:16not to push
28:16extreme education
28:17on their children.
28:19This family collapsed
28:20piece by piece
28:21like a row
28:22of toppled dominoes.
28:24When Mom learned
28:25of Grandma's passing
28:26while in the detention center
28:27she broke down completely.
28:29She began screaming
28:31all night
28:31slamming her head
28:32against the wall
28:33crying out
28:34Mom, I'm sorry
28:36I'm so sorry
28:37I wasn't there
28:38I wasn't there
28:41Following a psychiatric
28:42evaluation
28:43Mom was diagnosed
28:44with severe paranoid
28:45personality disorder
28:46accompanied by
28:47psychotic symptoms.
28:49She was involuntarily
28:51committed to
28:52the state psychiatric hospital.
28:54Dad was sentenced
28:55to five years
28:55for manslaughter
28:56and child abandonment.
28:58On the day of the trial
28:59Dad didn't hire
29:01a lawyer to defend him.
29:03Standing in the
29:04defendant's dock
29:05he stared at
29:06the empty gallery.
29:07I am guilty.
29:10Please give me
29:11the death penalty.
29:14After the verdict
29:15was delivered
29:16Jacob was taken away
29:17by Grandpa.
29:18When he left the house
29:19he didn't take anything
29:21with him
29:21except for that
29:23muddy toy bear
29:24retrieved from the snow drift
29:25and the drawing
29:27I had held in my arms
29:28before I died.
29:29Grandpa's house
29:30was in the suburbs.
29:31It was quiet
29:32and the fireplace
29:33was always crackling
29:34with warm logs
29:35a world away
29:36from that snowy night.
29:38But Jacob
29:39stopped speaking
29:40entirely.
29:42He washed the toy bear
29:44over and over again
29:45sewing up
29:46its split belly.
29:47He dried my old drawings
29:49taking pictures
29:50of every single one
29:51to save them properly.
29:53He cradled the toy bear
29:54in his arms
29:55just as if he were
29:56holding me.
29:57No matter how
29:58Grandpa tried to
29:59comfort him
29:59baking his favorite
30:00chocolate cake
30:01or buying him
30:02brand new paintbrushes
30:03he would only curl up
30:05in the corner of the sofa
30:06clutching the bear
30:07his hollow eyes
30:08staring blankly
30:09at the flames
30:09in the fireplace.
30:10He had developed
30:12severe PTSD.
30:14This is a form
30:15of self-defense.
30:16He believes
30:17that if he makes a sound
30:19or shows any sign
30:20of happiness
30:20it would be a betrayal
30:21of his deceased sister.
30:24His sister froze
30:25to death in the snow
30:25while he lives
30:26in a warm house
30:27to him this is unfair
30:28so he punishes himself
30:29stripping away
30:30his own right to speak
30:31and to feel joy
30:32to maintain fairness
30:33in his mind
30:33through this self-torture.
30:35Jacob had locked
30:36his voice away
30:37in that snowy
30:38Thanksgiving night.
30:39Grandpa didn't force him.
30:41Instead
30:41every single night
30:43he would sit
30:43by his bedside
30:44reading my old diaries
30:46and telling stories
30:47of the fun things
30:48I did when I was little.
30:49Helen used to be
30:50terrified of thunder.
30:52Every time it stormed
30:53she would crawl
30:54straight under
30:55Jacob's blanket.
30:56When Helen won
30:57that award
30:58for her drawing
30:59she saved up
31:00her lunch money
31:00just to buy
31:01that toy bear
31:02for Jacob.
31:03Jacob listened
31:04his tears
31:05falling silently
31:06yet his lips
31:07remained tightly sealed.
31:08Finally
31:09one night
31:10Grandpa closed
31:10the diary
31:11looking out
31:12at the pitch black
31:13night through the window
31:15Jacob
31:17you're still
31:18blaming yourself
31:19aren't you?
31:20You feel like
31:21it's unfair
31:21that Helen is dead
31:23while you are alive
31:24don't you?
31:25Do you think
31:25that if you stay silent
31:27that if you make
31:28yourself miserable
31:29you are somehow
31:29suffering alongside her?
31:35child the fairness
31:36your mother talked
31:37about wasn't true
31:38it was just
31:38calculation
31:39but the love
31:40Helen gave you
31:41was never like that
31:42on that snowy day
31:43she would rather
31:44freeze to death
31:44than let go of that
31:45drawing against her chest
31:46because her heart
31:47was filled with
31:47love for you
31:48not hatred
31:49she couldn't
31:50save herself
31:50but she left
31:51the hope of
31:52living to you
31:53if you lock
31:53yourself away
31:54in the dark
31:55you are truly
31:55failing the fairness
31:56she paid for
31:57with her life
31:58true fairness
31:58isn't for you
31:59to die too
32:00it's for you
32:01to carry her
32:01share of life
32:02and look at
32:03this world for her
32:04Jacob began
32:05to shake all over
32:06he looked up
32:07and for the very
32:08first time
32:08a violent surge
32:10of emotion
32:10broke through
32:11his dead
32:12vacant eyes
32:13he opened his
32:14mouth
32:14a few whispers
32:15escaping his throat
32:16but in the end
32:17an overwhelming
32:18terror forced
32:19his mouth shut
32:20once again
32:20burying his face
32:22into the toy bear's
32:23belly
32:23he wept
32:24his heart
32:25breaking to pieces
32:26grandpa said
32:27no more
32:28he simply pulled
32:29him into a
32:30silent tight
32:30embrace
32:31until christmas
32:33one month
32:34later
32:35that day
32:36grandpa took
32:37jacob to the
32:38cemetery
32:38snowflakes
32:40drifted down
32:40thick and fast
32:42covering my name
32:43on the tombstone
32:46helen
32:46grammy come to
32:48you
32:48over on that
32:49side
32:49don't be afraid
32:51grammy will
32:52take good care
32:52of you
32:53she'll never
32:54will let you
32:55freeze again
32:55jacob stood
32:57before my
32:57tombstone
32:58gently brushing
32:59the accumulated
33:00snow away
33:01he pulled the
33:02toy bear out
33:03of his pocket
33:03and leaned it
33:04against the
33:04tombstone
33:05he knelt
33:06and pressed
33:06his ear
33:07against the
33:08cold stone
33:08as if
33:09listening for
33:09something
33:10grandpa's
33:11heart seized
33:11he was terrified
33:12that jacob
33:13had lost his
33:14mind
33:16jacob
33:20grandpa
33:24helen
33:24said
33:25she's not
33:26cold anymore
33:29let's
33:30go home
33:31together
33:31these were
33:33the very
33:33first words
33:34he had
33:35spoken
33:35since that
33:36day
33:37she said
33:38that the
33:38little match
33:38girl finally
33:39struck a
33:40big match
33:40there was
33:41a fireplace
33:42a roast
33:42goose
33:43and
33:43and a
33:44mummy
33:44who didn't
33:45scream at
33:45her
33:46sissy
33:47said
33:47she's not
33:48cold
33:49anymore
33:53she also
33:54said
33:54for me
33:55not to
33:56cry
33:57she wants
33:58me to
33:58see the
33:58fairyland's
33:59fireworks
34:00to see
34:01them for
34:02her
34:03he turned
34:04around
34:04and
34:05for the
34:06first time
34:06proactively
34:07took grandpa's
34:08hand
34:09that hand
34:09was cold
34:10yet it
34:11held firm
34:11strength
34:14all right
34:15jacob
34:17let's go
34:18home
34:19the wind
34:20kept blowing
34:21and the
34:22snow
34:22kept falling
34:23but that
34:24frozen winter
34:25at long
34:25last
34:26in this
34:26very moment
34:27had finally
34:28passed
34:30in the
34:31ward of the
34:32psychiatric
34:32hospital
34:33there lived
34:34a strange
34:34woman
34:35she was
34:36always cradling
34:38a pillow
34:39in her arms
34:39a standard
34:40issue
34:40white pillow
34:41from the
34:42hospital
34:42she had
34:44drawn eyes
34:45and a mouth
34:45onto the
34:46pillow
34:46and had even
34:47used an old
34:48bed sheet to
34:49make a little
34:50dress for it
34:52Helen
34:52sweetie
34:53it's time
34:54to eat
34:54holding a
34:55food tray
34:56mom would
34:57carefully
34:57feed that
34:58pillow
34:58if grains
34:59of rice
35:00fell onto
35:00the pillow
35:01she would
35:02gently wipe
35:02them away
35:03eat slowly
35:04don't choke
35:05just to be
35:06fair
35:07mommy takes
35:08a bite
35:08then you
35:09take a bite
35:11she would
35:12take a bite
35:12herself
35:13then bring
35:13the spoon
35:14to the side
35:15of the pillow
35:15wait for a few
35:16seconds
35:17and dump
35:17the food
35:18into the
35:18trash
35:18pretending
35:19it had
35:19swallowed it
35:20the nurses
35:21whispered that
35:22she was the
35:22most deeply
35:23disturbed
35:23patient
35:24until one
35:25day
35:26a new
35:26patient
35:27arrived in
35:27the ward
35:28an easily
35:28angered
35:29middle-aged
35:30woman
35:30she snatched
35:31the pillow
35:32straight out
35:33of Sarah's
35:33arms
35:34threw it
35:35onto the
35:35floor
35:35and stomped
35:36on it
35:36a few
35:37times
35:37what are
35:38you acting
35:39for
35:39hugging a
35:40stupid
35:40pillow
35:41mom let
35:42out a
35:42shriek
35:43she lunged
35:44forward
35:44throwing herself
35:45recklessly
35:45into a
35:46violent
35:47scuffle
35:47with the
35:47woman
35:48even as
35:49her face
35:49was scratched
35:50until it
35:50bled
35:51she protected
35:52that now
35:52filthy pillow
35:53with her
35:53life
35:53don't touch
35:54my helen
35:55nobody can
35:57hurt my
35:57helen
35:57the doctors
35:58rushed in
35:59and injected
36:00her with a
36:01sedative
36:01as she lay
36:02on the bed
36:03she still
36:04squeezed
36:04the pillow
36:05tightly
36:05her fingertips
36:06turning white
36:07from the
36:07strain
36:08tears streamed
36:09down from
36:10the corners
36:10of her eyes
36:11soaking the
36:12smiley face
36:12drawn on
36:13the pillow
36:15mommy will
36:16protect you
36:16mommy will
36:18never let
36:18you suffer
36:19again
36:19this time
36:20mommy only
36:22wants you
36:23i don't want
36:24your brother
36:24anymore
36:25is it fair
36:26now
36:26floating by
36:28the head
36:28of the bed
36:28i stared at
36:29her tear
36:30stained face
36:30covered in
36:31scratches
36:32the deep
36:33resentment
36:33in my heart
36:34seemed to
36:34slowly dissipate
36:36along with
36:36her madness
36:37she had
36:38finally learned
36:39how to love
36:39me
36:40only after
36:41i was dead
36:42i was dead
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