Thirty Seconds Underwater is a touching short drama that blends romance, healing, self-discovery, and emotional storytelling. A chance encounter beneath the water becomes the beginning of an unforgettable journey where love, courage, and second chances surface when they are needed most. As hidden emotions, personal struggles, and unexpected connections bring two hearts together, they discover that sometimes a few seconds can change a lifetime. Watch the Full Episode to experience heartfelt romance, emotional twists, and an inspiring story of hope.
#ThirtySecondsUnderwater #ShortDrama #FullEpisode #ENGSUB #RomanticDrama #HealingRomance #FirstLove #ComingOfAge #ModernRomance #LoveStory #EmotionalDrama #DramaSeries #ShortFilm #ShortMovie #RelationshipDrama
#ThirtySecondsUnderwater #ShortDrama #FullEpisode #ENGSUB #RomanticDrama #HealingRomance #FirstLove #ComingOfAge #ModernRomance #LoveStory #EmotionalDrama #DramaSeries #ShortFilm #ShortMovie #RelationshipDrama
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Today was supposed to be our deep dive mission with my boyfriend, Ethan.
00:06But at the last minute, he galled from Chloe and rushed off.
00:13He didn't notice I'd been caught in the undercurrent.
00:19In those 30 seconds, pinned against the reef with my breathing tube tangled in the rocks,
00:26the only running through my mind was,
00:29I wish he were here.
00:34The first thing I did after climbing ashore was reach up and touch my left ear.
00:40It was still bleeding.
00:41My eardrum had ruptured.
00:44Instinctively, I reached for my phone to text Ethan.
00:50A social media postist popped up on the screen.
00:53In the photo, Chloe Winters was in a swimsuit.
00:59Ethan the was but not alone behind hind her, his hands steady on her waist.
01:04The caption read,
01:06Thirteenth lesson.
01:09The little guy has mastered his second swimming stroke.
01:12It turned out that when I was on the verge of death,
01:18he was teaching another woman how to swimming.
01:22Droplets of water slid from the ends of my hair onto the screen,
01:25blurring the image.
01:29My phone rang.
01:31It was Ethan calling.
01:34Chloe swallowed some water during practice.
01:37You're such a good diver.
01:39You could have made the dive without me.
01:41But Chloe is so fragile.
01:43I had to teach her to swim first.
01:46You must understand, right?
01:50The ringing in my left ear kept going, steady and relentless.
01:57No need.
01:58I can't dive anymore, and I don't need a dive partner now, either.
02:06After getting my ear treated at the hospital,
02:09I made it back to the apartment.
02:11It was already 7.30 in the evening.
02:16Ethan had gotten home before me,
02:19fresh out of the shower,
02:21his hair still half damp.
02:26You're back.
02:28He didn't bother lifting his head,
02:31his fingers still tapping away at his phone.
02:36I'd sent him messages, too.
02:39A hundred and thirty-seven of them.
02:41All unread.
02:45The water temperature at the pool was way too low today.
02:49Chloe was in the water for two hours.
02:58Her legs were shaking by the time she got out.
03:01At a depth of a hundred and thirty feet,
03:04when the turbulence kicked up silt and sand,
03:07the water temperature was barely above freezing.
03:14My legs were shaking, too.
03:17So I grabbed that bottle of body lotion from your cabinet
03:20and gave it to Chloe.
03:24Her skin was so dry, it was driving her crazy.
03:27It's not like you were using it anyway.
03:31That was a limited edition.
03:33I'd had a friend overseas stand in line for two weeks to get.
03:38My voice came out hoarse.
03:41I see.
03:44Have some water.
03:46Good for your throat.
03:48Ice cold Chloe's cup.
03:50Pink cherry blossoms printed on the ceramic.
03:53A fuzzy little rabbit charm dangling from the handle.
03:58Don't overthink it.
03:59I broke your mug, so just make do with this one for now.
04:06Not thirsty?
04:07I didn't take it.
04:08My hands stayed buried in my pockets.
04:10My fingertips were numb with cold.
04:13On the shoe rack by the door,
04:15a pair of tiny white canvas sneakers had appeared.
04:18A pink cashmere cardigan was draped over the arm of the couch.
04:22This apartment, our home,
04:24was slowly being filled by someone else.
04:31Ethan's gaze finally drifted over to me.
04:36What happened to your ear?
04:38The blood-spotted gauze covering my left ear got hurt.
04:44How'd you manage to be so careless?
04:46Ear injuries are the number one thing divers are supposed to avoid.
04:53Well, be more careful next time.
04:55But with your skills, I'm sure you handled it fine.
05:02Not like Chloe, that little disaster.
05:06You've never needed anyone to worry about you.
05:09It won't clear up.
05:21After my shower,
05:23I went back to my room and opened my laptop.
05:26I clicked into the transfer application portal.
05:31I uploaded the medical certificate
05:34confirming the eardrum rupture
05:35and my permanent disqualification from diving.
05:39Then I submitted my request for reassignment,
05:43coastal data recording, New Zealand.
05:47The next morning,
05:49I was jolted awake by a searing pain in my left ear.
05:55The complications from the perforation were starting to set in.
05:59The pain radiated through half my skull.
06:04I dry-swallowed to painkillers before it eased enough to function.
06:12Today I had to go to the East District Diving Base.
06:18The physical copy of my transfer request needed to be signed in person.
06:27I pushed open the bedroom door.
06:29Ethan was already at the dining table.
06:34Come have breakfast.
06:36Chloe went out of her way yesterday,
06:38stood in line at that trendy bakery.
06:42The sandwiches were packed thick with bacon and melted cheddar.
06:48I'm allergic to cheese.
06:50One bite and I break out in hives.
06:53He never remembered things like that.
07:00I didn't touch the food on the table and asked him.
07:07I need to go to the base medical office today.
07:10The doctor wants a follow-up.
07:12I can't drive with my ear like this.
07:16Can you give me a ride?
07:20He looked at my pale face and nodded.
07:27Fine.
07:28I'm heading that way anyway.
07:30Your stuff comes first.
07:31Dive partners.
07:32That's what we're for, right?
07:34At nine, we headed out.
07:37His Maybach.
07:38The passenger seat was pushed all the way forward.
07:43A pink cartoon headrest was strapped to the backrest.
07:50Chloe was short.
07:51She liked the seat pulled up close to the dash.
07:56I didn't touch the adjustment button.
07:59I opened the rear door and climbed into the back seat.
08:03Halfway there, his phone rang.
08:10Ethan, where are you?
08:12My leg hurt so bad.
08:13Where I had that cramp last night, it's all swollen now.
08:17Ethan's face changed in an instant.
08:20Ethan's face changed in an instant.
08:21Don't cry.
08:22Don't move around.
08:25He wrenched the steering wheel.
08:27The tires screeched against the wet pavement.
08:32I'm coming right now.
08:34A sharp pain inevitably shot through my ears.
08:41Before I could even speak, he hung up and glanced at me through the rearview mirror.
08:50Lana, lie.
08:52Chloe's leg cramp got worse.
08:54I need to go check on her first.
08:59Your prescription isn't exactly an emergency anyway.
09:01Anyway, I'll drop you off at the next intersection.
09:05Just grab a cab from there.
09:09My voice was filled with agony.
09:14We're on the overpass.
09:16You can't get a cab here.
09:18And my ear really hurts.
09:23He said impatiently.
09:28Lana, can you please not pick right now to be dramatic?
09:33You swam back from a hundred feet underwater all by yourself.
09:38What's a little walking?
09:40Chloe's timid.
09:42She's hurt.
09:44The car screeched to a stop at a desolate intersection.
09:50Get out.
09:51I'll call you once I'm done with Chloe.
09:54I got out of the car.
09:56Raindrops hit the open wound on my ear.
09:59The pain drove into my skull like needles.
10:03I walked the rest of the way along the highway in the rain.
10:07All the way to the base.
10:12Supervisor Grant took one look at my bedraggled state and his brow furrowed deep.
10:22Ethan didn't drive you?
10:25No.
10:26He had something else.
10:29Where's the transfer form?
10:32Supervisor Grant sighed and pulled a document out of his desk drawer.
10:42I've already signed it.
10:43Headquarters approved it too.
10:48I booked the flight for next Monday.
10:51Three more days.
10:53He looked at me, hesitating.
10:58Lana, does Ethan know you're leaving?
11:02I picked up the pen from his desk.
11:04On the final confirmation line, I pressed down hard and signed my name.
11:10No.
11:11He doesn't need to know.
11:15When I pushed open the apartment door, the living room TV was blaring some variety show.
11:24Ethan was half-kneeling beside the couch, holding an ice pack against Chloe's shin.
11:32You're back?
11:34Chloe's leg is really swollen.
11:39I don't feel right leaving her alone, so she's staying with us for a few days.
11:43I stood in the enterway, watching him keep his head down, fussing over a patch of redness no bigger than
11:49a coin.
11:55Lana, why is there a piece of wet tissue stuck to your ear?
12:00Before I could pull away, Chloe's fingernail had already hooked into the medical gauze, soaked through from the rain.
12:11I saw the smirk in her eyes, and the next second, she yanked hard.
12:15The freshly clotted scab tore open along with it.
12:19I let out a cry of pain.
12:26Chloe shrieked and recoiled.
12:28Her eyes instantly went red.
12:31Tears welled up.
12:34I'm so sorry.
12:35I thought it was just a scrape of tissue.
12:39Ethan immediately moved to soothe her.
12:43It's okay.
12:44It's okay.
12:46Don't be scared.
12:48You didn't do it on purpose.
12:51He grabbed the paper napkins and shoved them into my hand.
12:59You alright?
13:01Go put some isine on that.
13:03He didn't even stand up.
13:05His other hand was still holding the ice pack against Chloe's leg.
13:10I took those to dry, useless paper napkins and pressed them against the bleeding wound.
13:19When I came back from the bathroom, Chloe was eyeing the plastic bag I'd set on the table.
13:28Lana, were you at the deep sea diving base just now?
13:35Yeah.
13:37Ethan says the water temperature in the deep sea is freezing.
13:42And it's so dark and cold down there.
13:46That's why he only ever took me to the shallow end 13 times in a row.
13:52She tilted her face up toward Ethan.
13:56Then doesn't Lana get scared all alone down there in the deep sea?
14:00She's got great technique and nerves of steel.
14:04She made it back safe of 100 feet underwater without a scratch.
14:10You think everyone's like you, choking on water in the shallow end?
14:15Lana's a professional surveyor.
14:17She doesn't need anyone holding her hand.
14:21First rule of diving.
14:22Never leave your dive partner 130 feet beneath the surface.
14:28The 30 seconds my breathing tube was caught on the reef.
14:36And my dive partner was in a temperature-controlled shallow pool,
14:40teaching another girl her second swimming stroke.
14:47Ethan, that little silver whistle around your neck is so cute.
14:52Chloe suddenly pointed at Ethan's chest.
14:55That was my rescue whistle.
14:58Then, for my first deep water dive tomorrow, can I borrow it?
15:07She tugged at the hem of Ethan's shirt.
15:12I'm scared.
15:14If I can't find you down there,
15:17I'll just blow this whistle, okay?
15:20Lana?
15:22This whistle.
15:23Chloe wants to borrow it for tomorrow.
15:25That's fine, right?
15:27Ethan turned toward me.
15:29That was the day we officially became dive partners.
15:33I was the one who hung it around his neck,
15:35with my own hands.
15:40I'm putting my life in your hands.
15:44When you hear's whistle, I will come for you.
15:50Those were his exact words to me that day.
15:58It's just a whistle.
15:59It's not like you don't have a spare.
16:01Chloe's going into deep water for the first time tomorrow.
16:04She needs, needs a little security.
16:07Don't be so stingy.
16:09Chloe's small voice drifted from the couch.
16:12Lana doesn't want to.
16:13It's okay.
16:19Of course she doesn't mind.
16:21Right.
16:25Ethan unhooked the metal clasp from around his neck.
16:28He bent down and slipped the rescue whistle over Chloe's head.
16:38There.
16:38If you get scared tomorrow, just blow.
16:41I promise I'll be right there the moment I hear it.
16:47I stood there.
16:48Rooted to the spot.
16:50The ringing in my left ear grew louder and louder.
16:57Take it.
17:00Things that are given away don't need to be returned.
17:04Less than 24 hours until my flight to New Zealand.
17:10The transfer order was already signed.
17:13Minimum three-year assignment.
17:16Maybe I'd never come back.
17:21In the morning, I stood at the stove,
17:24stirring a pot of seafood chowder, his favorite.
17:29The master bedroom door opened.
17:32Ethan emerged, twirling his car keys.
17:38The chowder just finished.
17:40Have a bowl before you go.
17:43No time.
17:44Chloe's waiting for me.
17:45It's her first time in the deep center today.
17:47She was so nervous she barely slept.
17:54My voice was tinged with sorrow.
17:58Ethan.
17:59Ethan, do you remember how many times you've abandoned me?
18:04His tone was so casual that he didn't pick up on my sadness at all.
18:11Work stuff doesn't count as abandoning.
18:14I looked at him and said very seriously,
18:17Thirteen times.
18:19You abandoned me thirteen times.
18:22Why are you counting like that?
18:24You made it back safe every time, didn't you?
18:31And what if I almost didn't?
18:34Don't say things like that.
18:36You're standing right here, perfectly fine.
18:38Aren't you?
18:43The ringing in my left ear kept going, steady and unbroken.
18:51Do you have to go?
18:54I asked him one last time.
18:59He was already at the door.
19:03If I'm one minute late, she'll be up on the shore crying her eyes out all day.
19:07The door opened.
19:09Then it slammed shut.
19:11I turned slowly and walked back to the dining table.
19:17I poured the bowl of seafood chowder down the kitchen sink.
19:27Back in the bedroom, I packed, there wasn't much that belonged to me, a few wetsuits, some everyday clothes.
19:37A single 20-inch suitcase was enough to hold it all.
19:45Before I left, I looked back at this apartment one last time.
19:52His shirt from last night was draped over the back of the couch.
20:00The ice pack he'd used on Chloe's foot was still on the bathroom counter.
20:06Her cup sat on the coffee table, right next to his.
20:11Mine was broken.
20:12I never bought a new one.
20:14I sent Ethan one final message.
20:17We're done.
20:20Ethan had just climbed out of the water after Chloe's deep end session.
20:27When he picked up his phone, my message was waiting on the screen.
20:32We're done.
20:39His grip on the phone tightened.
20:44April Fool's was weeks ago.
20:46Stop joking around.
20:48But he knew.
20:50Ten years of knowing each other.
20:52Seven years as dive partners.
20:54I had never, not once, played these kinds of games.
20:59Ethan!
21:01I almost sank again back there.
21:03Good thing you pulled me up so fast.
21:09Let's go get sushi for lunch.
21:11Ethan pulled the door open and walked out.
21:15Chloe had already changed.
21:17She was fiddling with the rescue whistle he'd given her.
21:21Sushi?
21:22Yeah.
21:23That new place?
21:24They have my favorite spicy tuna roll.
21:31He nodded on autopilot.
21:33Only then did it register.
21:35The one who loved sushi was Chloe.
21:38The restaurant was quiet.
21:41Chloe sat across from him.
21:43Chattering non-stop about her experience in the water.
21:47He didn't touch his food.
21:50The chat window still held only that one lonely breakup message.
21:58No follow-ups.
22:01No.
22:02Where are you?
22:04No.
22:05Come home soon.
22:08He typed.
22:10Got sushi with Chloe.
22:11Won't be doing dinner with you tonight.
22:13Let me know what you want.
22:18Half an hour.
22:19Still no reply.
22:21Ethan.
22:22Let's go watch the fireworks by the river after this.
22:25Okay.
22:26No.
22:27I'm going home.
22:31The apartment door swung open.
22:34No lights had been left on.
22:36The row of black wetsuits.
22:37Empty.
22:40The photo of their first dive.
22:43Flipped face down.
22:44He pulled out his phone and dialed the number he knew by heart.
22:48No answer.
22:49There was still one place he could look.
22:52The East District deep diving base.
22:56Ethan didn't bother knocking.
22:59He shoved the door open.
23:01Grant.
23:03Where's Lana?
23:04Supervisor Grant was in his office.
23:07You didn't know she left for New Zealand?
23:12Our deep dive mission is supposed to start next month.
23:16Our dears, Worshalai Branor.
23:18What's she doing in New Zealand?
23:20She applied for a coastal data recording position.
23:23Her flight's this afternoon.
23:25Grant slapped a photocopy down on his desk.
23:28As for next month's mission, I've assigned you a new dive partner.
23:34I don't need a new partner.
23:36The only partner I recognize is Lana.
23:41Supervisor Grant's brow furrowed.
23:43He pulled out a medical report.
23:46You didn't know her eardrum was ruptured?
23:52That she's permanently disqualified from diving?
23:56How is she supposed to be your dive partner now?
24:00Ethan stood frozen, his pupils contracting sharply.
24:05What?
24:06Grant said in a cold voice.
24:09That was a hundred and thirty foot strong current zone.
24:15What's the first rule of deep diving?
24:19Your dive partner never leaves your line of sight.
24:22When the turbulence swept her into the reef, where were you?
24:27Ethan's throat was dry as sand.
24:30I thought that deep dive mission was a hundred feet.
24:37She's done solo dives at a hundred feet before.
24:39She can handle it alone.
24:44So, I went to the shallow end to teach Chloe how to swim.
24:49Supervisor Grant was so furious, he actually laughed.
24:52You didn't even read the mission brief?
24:55You left your dive partner alone in the deep sea
25:00to go play instructor for some woman who can't even swim.
25:04Due to gross negligence,
25:06the base has decided to revoke
25:07all your deep diving certifications for this year.
25:12Ethan didn't argue.
25:14He turned and walked out of the base.
25:19He sat in his car.
25:21He didn't even turn the headlights on.
25:27Lana,
25:29I didn't know you were hurt that badly.
25:34His hands trembling,
25:36he opened my chat window.
25:42Lana,
25:43I didn't know it was a hundred and thirty feet.
25:45I didn't read the mission brief carefully.
25:52I thought you could handle a hundred feet.
25:55Why didn't you tell me?
25:58Please,
25:59just send me one reply.
26:01Anything.
26:09This time,
26:10he got a response.
26:12He sat up straight.
26:13A single message appeared.
26:17If you had known it was a hundred and thirty feet,
26:20would you have chosen not to go to Chloe?
26:24Ethan stared at those words.
26:27He typed.
26:29I have stayed with you.
26:32But after typing it,
26:34he stopped.
26:35One by one,
26:36he deleted every letter.
26:38He couldn't lie to himself.
26:40Deep down,
26:41he had always been absolutely certain
26:43that my skills were good enough,
26:45that I wouldn't die.
26:47So he would always,
26:48every time,
26:50choose to answer Chloe's tears.
26:54In the end,
26:55the phone slipped from his palm
26:57and fell onto the floor mat.
27:09I sat in front of the data recorder,
27:12logging today's current readings
27:14into the system.
27:17No more diving,
27:18no more suffocation.
27:20No more waiting for someone
27:21to come save me.
27:25The ringing in my left ear
27:27still flared up sometimes,
27:28but I'd learned to coexist with it.
27:33A sharp metallic clink against the desk.
27:36A silver rescue whistle
27:38sat beside my keyboard.
27:40Around the mouthpiece,
27:42a faint ring of tiny teeth marks
27:44was still visible.
27:49Ollie pulled up the chair next to me.
27:54Lana,
27:55there's a guy downstairs
27:56looking for you.
27:57He's been standing out there
27:58for four hours.
28:01Says he's your dive partner.
28:06My fingers paused over the keyboard.
28:08Dive partner.
28:10What a distant,
28:11ironic word.
28:15Don't know him.
28:17Not interested.
28:18Tell security to get rid of him.
28:21He stood up and pointed
28:23at the rescue whistle.
28:28What about this?
28:31The whistle I had hung around his neck
28:33with my own hands.
28:34The one that meant
28:36I was putting my life in his.
28:38The one Ethan had put around
28:40another woman's neck.
28:43Throw it in the trash.
28:45The next day,
28:47Ollie came to my desk again.
28:50This time,
28:51he set down a clear plastic zip bag.
28:53Inside was a ceramic mug,
28:55painstakingly glued back together.
29:01Lana,
29:03he's still downstairs.
29:04He made me bring this up.
29:06Said he fixed it.
29:07I stared at the mug.
29:11He'd glued it back together.
29:13But a shattered cup,
29:14no matter how carefully you piece it,
29:16will always leak.
29:19I carried the bag to the trash.
29:22Just throw it away.
29:23Day three,
29:24a bottle of limited edition
29:26body lotion.
29:29Day four,
29:30a thick diving logbook,
29:32chronicling every single dive
29:34from our seven years as partners.
29:36Day five,
29:37a pair of custom diving rings.
29:42A strange atmosphere
29:44settled over the office.
29:47What day is this now?
29:49Thirteen.
29:50I heard he and Lana
29:52used to be partners.
29:54Coming all this way after her.
29:57Kind of heartbreaking.
29:59Heartbreaking?
30:01You all know what it means
30:02in coastal survey work,
30:03the weight of putting your back
30:05in someone else's hands.
30:09He's the one who did her wrong first.
30:12But he's burning up with a fever,
30:15can barely stand.
30:16He's still staring up at this building.
30:22I tapped the final data entry
30:24into the keyboard.
30:26I'm going downstairs.
30:29The automatic doors slid open.
30:31Cold wind mixed with rain blew in.
30:34Ethan was leaning against the wall,
30:37his body trembling slightly.
30:39He'd lost a lot of weight.
30:40His eyes were sunken deep.
30:42The moment he saw me,
30:44a light sparked in his gaze.
30:49Lana.
30:50What do you want?
30:51He hesitated for a moment and asked.
30:54Your ear.
30:55Is it any better?
30:57It won't get better.
30:59Come back with me.
31:01Please.
31:04I've found the best ear specialist.
31:06We can get it treated.
31:09There is no treatment.
31:14I'm sorry.
31:16If I had just checked the mission depth that day...
31:19Ethan,
31:20a hundred feet or a hundred and thirty,
31:22it doesn't matter.
31:23The point isn't the depth.
31:25I spoke coldly.
31:28The point is
31:30that you weren't there,
31:32his breath caught.
31:38Being your dive partner is exhausting.
31:42I put my life in your hands
31:44and you used it to make someone else feel special.
31:48I thought you could...
31:50He was cut off by me
31:52before he could finish speaking.
31:57You thought my skills were good enough.
31:59You thought I was independent.
32:08You thought nothing would ever happen to me.
32:18So every single time
32:19there was a choice,
32:21I was the one who got left behind.
32:23Ethan's voice spiked suddenly.
32:26So desperate,
32:27his breathing came undone.
32:28I never meant to abandon you!
32:31I already gave you thirteen.
32:34His lips parted
32:35as though he wanted to speak.
32:37Just then,
32:38the sharp clatter of high heels
32:40echoed across the floor.
32:43Ethan!
32:45Chloe Winters came running over
32:46and seized Ethan by the arm,
32:48tears streaming down her face.
32:50I finally found you!
32:55Why didn't you answer my calls?
32:57Why did you disappear to New Zealand
32:59without saying a single word?
33:06Do you have any idea
33:07how worried I've been?
33:10Ethan's face went hard in an instant.
33:12He wrenched his arm free.
33:14Who told you to come here?
33:17Because I care about you!
33:21Chloe screamed through her tears.
33:27She won't even talk to you anymore.
33:30She got your diving surface
33:32ernications revoked.
33:34Why are you still chasing after her?
33:38She spun around and glared at me.
33:41Lana Brooks,
33:43do you even have a heart?
33:45Ethan came all the way here for you!
33:49Stood in the rain for hours and hours!
33:53How can you treat him like this?
33:56Shut your mouth!
33:57Ethan stepped between me and Chloe.
34:00My business is none of yours.
34:02How can you say there's nothing between us?
34:06Ethan, I love you!
34:10She lifted her chin.
34:12You love me too.
34:16Don't you?
34:18Ethan's face changed completely.
34:20What the hell are you saying?
34:21I don't love you!
34:23I have never loved you!
34:25Chloe let out a bitter, broken laugh.
34:29You don't love me?
34:32Then why, when my leg cramped up,
34:36did you abandon her under the overpass
34:38and drove through the rain to get to me?
34:41You don't love me?
34:43Then why did you take her rescue whistle
34:45off your own neck and put it around mine?
34:49You don't love me?
34:52Then why did you leave her alone
34:54in the deep sea 13 times
34:57to come to the shallow end with me?
35:01With every word,
35:03Ethan's face went one shade paler.
35:05And my left ear,
35:07it felt like a steel needle
35:09had been driven in deep.
35:14I only helped you
35:15because you were so helpless.
35:18I pitied you.
35:21You gave me
35:22every bit of the devotion
35:23that belonged to your girlfriend.
35:26And now you're telling me
35:27it was just pity?
35:28Ethan stopped trying to reason with her.
35:32He turned to me, frantic.
35:34Lana, it wasn't like that.
35:36She's the one who got the wrong idea.
35:39You were the one
35:40who gave her room
35:41to get the wrong idea.
35:45And you crossed the line yourself.
35:47He had severed the oxygen line
35:50with his own hands.
35:51And now he was asking me
35:52if I needed help breathing.
35:56I don't care what you were thinking
35:58and I don't care where your heart is.
36:01I won't interfere in your life.
36:03I looked him straight in the eyes.
36:06So please,
36:08stop interfering in mine.
36:10I turned around
36:11and walked back upstairs.
36:13I didn't look back.
36:16After that day,
36:18Chloe went back home.
36:19But Ethan didn't leave.
36:22He rented a ground floor apartment
36:24in the building across from mine.
36:29If he pushed open his window,
36:31he could see the light in my kitchen.
36:37He stopped standing outside
36:38the office building every day.
36:41Instead,
36:43every morning,
36:44a paper bag appeared
36:45hanging from the handle
36:46of my workstation door.
36:49A cup of hot americano
36:51to slices of whole wheat toast.
36:54No cheese.
36:57When I got off work,
36:59the sky was usually already dark.
37:03The survey station
37:04is at a remote port.
37:06The two-mile coastal road
37:07from the station
37:08to the bus stop
37:09has no streetlights.
37:12Walking home after dark,
37:14I always heard it,
37:15a faint footstep,
37:16trailing 10 or 15 yards behind me.
37:19When I stopped,
37:20the sound stopped.
37:21When I turned a corner,
37:23the sound followed.
37:24One night,
37:25a stray dog bolted out of nowhere
37:27and knocked on the trash can.
37:30The footsteps behind me
37:32scrambled out of rhythm.
37:33He ran forward a few steps,
37:35then stopped,
37:36five yards away.
37:38The dim glow of a street lamp
37:40fell across him.
37:41He was wearing a thin trench coat,
37:44clutching a long black umbrella.
37:46I looked at him.
37:47He took a step backward.
37:54I won't come close.
37:56His voice was shredded by the wind.
38:00The road's too dark.
38:02You can't see where you're stepping.
38:06I turned away and kept walking.
38:09December 24th, Christmas Eve.
38:12It doesn't really snow in New Zealand,
38:14but this year the temperature
38:15had dropped below freezing.
38:18I finished up at work,
38:20cleared my desk,
38:21and walked out of the station.
38:26I wrapped my scarf tighter
38:28and started down
38:28that pitch black coastal road.
38:30The footsteps followed,
38:32as they always did.
38:37I reached my apartment building
38:40and pressed the buzzer.
38:45The footsteps behind me
38:47stopped at the edge
38:48of the street lamp's glow.
38:51He stood there,
38:53his shoulders soaked through
38:54from the rain.
38:58Ethan Pierce.
39:02Here.
39:04How long are you going to follow me?
39:06His voice was hoarse.
39:08I'm not trying to bother you.
39:11I just...
39:12I just want to make sure
39:13you get home safe.
39:17It's cold out.
39:20I looked at his lips,
39:22tinged blue from the freezing air.
39:25Come inside.
39:28The living room lights were off.
39:30Only a single floor lamp was on.
39:34I walked into the kitchen,
39:36turned on the stove.
39:38I filled a pot with water
39:39and added some more cocoa powder.
39:41He sat on the edge of the couch,
39:43body-rigid,
39:45hands clasped together.
39:46He didn't even dare lean back.
39:50Do you remember
39:51one Christmas Eve?
39:54Years ago?
39:55His voice came from behind me.
39:59That year we were in Iceland.
40:01We'd just surfaced from a dive,
40:03freezing.
40:04You said you wanted some hot cocoa.
40:07I went to three different stores
40:09and finally found cocoa.
40:13That night,
40:15we used to be this warm and sweet too.
40:18That day,
40:19he really did go to three different stores.
40:21But after he came back,
40:23he got a call from Chloe.
40:25She said she'd broken her leg
40:27at a ski resort.
40:28There was no one
40:29to take her to the hospital.
40:31He sat in the living room
40:33for a full hour
40:34on that long-distance call,
40:36arranging hospitals,
40:38contacting friends,
40:40finding doctors.
40:42I watched the hot cocoa
40:44by my hand grow cold
40:46until a layer of white froth
40:48finally floated on top,
40:49utterly disgusting.
40:55In the end,
40:56I threw away that cup of hot cocoa.
41:03He only remembered
41:04going to three shops for it,
41:06but never knew
41:07I hadn't taken a single sip.
41:11I turned off the heat
41:12and poured the hot cocoa
41:13into a cup.
41:16He stared at the cup of hot cocoa.
41:19The veins on the back
41:20of his hands stood out.
41:24And then,
41:25without warning,
41:26tears began falling
41:28from his eyes.
41:41He didn't speak.
41:43He finally understood.
41:45This wasn't a dinner of forgiveness.
41:47This was the final send-off.
41:50He picked up the cup,
41:52his hands trembling violently.
41:54Hot cocoa spilled all over him,
41:57yet he didn't even seem to notice.
42:00Tears fell one after another
42:02into the hot cocoa,
42:04onto the back of his hand.
42:09Everything you make,
42:10it's always been delicious.
42:13He coughing from the heat,
42:15tears and mucus running together.
42:18He was a complete,
42:20dignity-stripped wreck
42:21when he was done.
42:23He stood up.
42:26He pulled the door open,
42:28cold wind gusted
42:30into the living room.
42:33I'm sorry.
42:35Those were his final three words.
42:38He pulled the door shut.
42:40Heavy footsteps echoed
42:42down the hallway,
42:43fading,
42:43growing distant,
42:44until they disappeared completely.
42:47Outside the window,
42:49the cold New Zealand rain
42:50kept falling.
42:51I picked up the empty cup
42:53and walked into the kitchen.
42:55The stream of water
42:57washed over the ceramic surface,
42:59erasing every trace.
43:03Deep inside my left ear,
43:05the buzzing slowly,
43:07quietly began to fade.
43:09It stopped.
43:12What was the benutze jest?
43:15It was decided by
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