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00:01i hadn't spoken to my parents in 10 years not since the day they screamed at me to get lost
00:05and never come back so when my business partner told me the brit group my father's company had
00:10requested me personally as their wedding photographer i almost laughed then i saw
00:14the groom's name jeffrey beasley the boy who used to climb over my backyard fence with candy in his
00:20pocket the one who promised when we grow up i'll take you away from here we'll see the world
00:26he's marrying my sister at the reception my mother marched into my dressing room with tears in her
00:31eyes elon we raised you for 18 years how can you be so heartless i looked up at her calm
00:39as ice
00:39mrs brit please release me i have work to do her face went ghost white good let her feel a
00:45fraction
00:46of what i felt at 12 years old when they packed my bags and sent me to live alone in
00:49an old house
00:50while my sister took my bedroom my piano my parents love but what they don't know yet what none of
00:54them
00:55know is that i'm not adopted at all i'm their biological daughter and today i'm bringing the
00:59dna proof to destroy a wedding at a wedding shoot i ran into my parents i hadn't spoken to them
01:06for a
01:06decade they were mingling with other guests their smiles freezing the instant their eyes landed on me
01:12once the reception ended they marched straight into the backstage dressing room why haven't you come
01:18home for the past 10 years mom blurted out her accusation her eyes were rimmed red as she glared at
01:23me
01:23i didn't answer or look up i focused on cleaning my camera lens the next second she stepped forward
01:28and seized my wrist her voice rose to a raw pitch elon we're your parents we raised you for 18
01:35years
01:35how can you be so heartless i lifted my head with a frown i was confused by her outburst 10
01:40years ago
01:41they were the ones who told me to get lost and never come back i'd done exactly that so what
01:44were
01:44they upset about now dad stood behind mom his eyes darted between my face and my camera equipment
01:51he was clearly torn after a moment he spoke as if grasping for a neutral topic
01:56that's quite the camera eileen it must have cost a lot right it's a tough business for a young woman
02:03you must be struggling there was hesitation in his voice i remained silent i screwed the lens cap on
02:10firmly infuriated by my lack of response mom tightened her grip on my wrist her voice rose further
02:14eileen are you even listening 10 years not a single call or message what is wrong with you
02:24even a pet would show more gratitude i studied her contorted expression a sharp pain shot through my
02:29wrist a decade had passed yet their method of interrogation remained the same i lifted my gaze
02:37i spoke with deliberate calm mrs brit please release me i have work to do mrs brit she released
02:44my wrist as if burned she staggered back all color draining from her face i'm your mom how dare you
02:52that's enough dad stepped in he steadied her trembling shoulders he frowned at me exhaustion and reproach
02:59heavy in his tone eileen how can you speak to your mom like that we realize there may have been
03:07misunderstandings back then but she hasn't stopped missing you for the past 10 years she's there were
03:14no misunderstandings i cut him off my voice was soft as i placed the camera in its case i followed
03:21your instructions get lost and never come back i did exactly as you told me i fixed my eyes on
03:29them
03:29with cold indifference i stayed away for 10 years just as you demanded so what is this about they stood
03:39frozen their faces were ghastly pale mom's lips quivered but before she could speak dad tightened his hold
03:45on her arm dad drew a shaky breath he forced a strained conciliatory smile ely sorry we shouldn't
03:55have said that back then but we are family mel is getting married next month you'll be there right
04:03if you don't want to attend as her sister maybe you could photograph the wedding the last words were
04:08a hesitant hopeful whisper i stared at them i was struck by the sheer absurdity of it all
04:14my schedule is booked please give melanie my best wishes i won't be intruding with that i turned and
04:23pushed open the door the sound of mom's broken accusations and dad's frantic attempts to calm
04:28her faded behind me i walked straight to the elevator without looking back only when the doors closed did
04:33i breathe a sigh of relief i leaned against the cold metal wall a dull ache began to throb at
04:38the base of
04:39my skull it was a lingering after effect of a severe fever years ago it always flared up on rainy
04:44days
04:46back at my temporary apartment i finally unwound my phone vibrated it was kimberly cooley my business
04:53partner eily the final payment for today's wedding just came through oh about that couple who confronted
05:00you is everything okay they looked really upset it's fine i said keeping my voice level they're
05:07just my adoptive parents kimberly paused before replying all right listen we just got a very firm
05:14non-negotiable collaboration request from the brit group they're insisting you personally photograph
05:20a high-profile wedding the brit group was owned by my dad my heart sank a crushing sense of helplessness
05:26washed over me kimberly sounded worried i'm afraid we can't turn it down i gripped the phone until my
05:33knuckles turned white 10 years i had thought i'd gone far enough to escape their shadow yet with a
05:39single move they could still disrupt the life i had fought so hard to build understood send me the
05:44details i said my throat tight okay kimberly replied softly after a pause the wedding itinerary arrived a few
05:51minutes later when my eyes landed on the groom's name jeffrey beasley the tears i'd held back all
05:56day finally fell jeffrey was the boy who had been my only comfort during the darkest years of my youth
06:01kimberly's message flashed again eily are you okay do you want me to come over i took a deep breath
06:08i wiped my face i typed back i'm fine please compile the client's specific requests we'll discuss tomorrow
06:16morning she replied quickly okay eily whatever you decide i'm with you i put the phone down and
06:23walked to the window the night air was cool against my skin it helped to clear the chaos in my
06:28mind
06:29jeffrey and i were so close once he lived next door we grew up together whenever i got scolded by
06:35my
06:35parents or pushed aside by melanie brit i'd hide in the backyard and cry he'd always climb over the low
06:40fence he'd pull a piece of candy from his pocket like a magician don't cry eily have this
06:48when we grow up i'll take you away from here we'll see the world we'll both get into new york
06:55university
06:56we'll always be together jeffrey was the only person who showed me kindness and care
07:00he was the only one who when the whole world made me feel worthless would look me in the eye
07:05and say
07:07you're good enough eily you always have been but now he was marrying melanie
07:14memories long held back came rushing in until i was seven i was the happiest child when i was five
07:21i got into a fight at preschool over a swing i bit the other kid's arm terrified of getting in
07:27trouble
07:27i hid under the slide in our complex after school dad found me he wasn't angry he actually whispered tips
07:34on how to win a fight next time that evening when mom found out she made us both stand in
07:38the corner
07:39dad winked at me when she wasn't looking i thought that warmth would last forever
07:44then when i was seven melanie came home
07:48i went from being their only child to being the adopted one melanie was three years older
07:53she'd been kidnapped when she was three with her return my world was never the same
07:58my parents had kept my adoption a secret but afraid melanie would feel insecure
08:02they told her the truth one afternoon she stood before me her voice was young but cold
08:09alene did you know you're not their real daughter they adopted you because i was gone
08:14they were so sad without me so they got you to take my place they're my mom and dad not
08:21yours
08:22for a moment i was too shocked to move then i ran i had to find my parents and hear
08:27them say it
08:27wasn't true i prayed they would hug me and say don't listen to her nonsense sweetheart you're our
08:33baby girl but mom looked away dad was silent for a long time before he confirmed it his voice was
08:39hoarse eily it's true we adopted you because we missed mel so much but we love you too i hated
08:47that
08:47word in that moment after that nothing was the same the carefree mischievous girl vanished i became
08:56quiet and cautious i stopped laughing loudly i stopped asking for things at meals i only took
09:03the food closest to me i studied relentlessly i brought home one award after another i believed
09:09good girls didn't get abandoned i learned to please them and melanie i gave her the new hair clip mom
09:16bought i handed over the cool toy dad brought back from a business trip but melanie's eyes held
09:21nothing but resentment no matter what i did she saw me as the one who had stolen her life and
09:28my
09:28parents attention and affection poured almost entirely into their returned biological daughter
09:32they worried she might feel insecure and neglected so i the adopted daughter naturally became the one who
09:39could be overlooked the atmosphere at home grew tense and heavy i never stood in the corner with dad again
09:45i was too afraid to make any mistake i lived like a frightened bird i was constantly terrified of
09:52being cast aside once more then when i was 12 my worst fear came true
10:02i got back from school that day to find melanie in my room she was holding my diary what are
10:07you doing
10:08i rushed to grab it back she easily sidestepped me a faint smirk played on her lips just seeing what
10:15my
10:15dear little sister writes about every day she began to read my diary i wish things were like before why
10:23why don't mom and dad love me anymore it's so unfair my voice trembled give it back that diary held
10:31all my
10:31secrets and my fragile side she stood up she held it above her head maybe mom and dad should see
10:39what
10:39their adopted daughter complains about every day with that she darted out of the room the diary was in
10:45her hand mel i chased after her in the rush she stumbled her foot caught she tumbled down the stair
10:56her scream echoed through the house
11:01my parents burst from the study at the same time
11:03mom reached her first when she saw melanie's leg bent at an unnatural angle
11:10her own shook melanie wept dramatically she pointed a shaky finger straight at me i was still standing
11:17at the top of the stairs she pushed me she blames me for everything in her diary and now this
11:27that's not true i didn't i rushed to explain enough dad's roar was louder than i'd ever heard
11:34mom's gaze was icy it frightened me i tried to explain
11:38diary she read my diary without so you pushed her mom cut me off alien how could you be so
11:45cruel
11:46i didn't push her the tears finally spilled over she fell mom's hand came up still lying
11:54she struck my face hard the sting on my cheek was nothing compared to the ache in my chest
12:00dad stood behind her his gaze was full of disappointment
12:03elie we always thought you were a sensible girl
12:09even though you're not our blood we never treated you poorly
12:14but you
12:19i said it wasn't me my voice rose to a shout
12:23why won't you ever believe me believe you mom's laugh was cold a liar the ambulance arrived
12:33as the paramedics carried melanie down on a stretcher she was still sobbing
12:38mom i'm scared does elie hate me
12:44don't be afraid sweetheart i'm here mom held her hand tightly she didn't once look back at me
12:51my parents returned from the hospital late that night i heard their footsteps stop outside my door
12:59pack your things mom pushed the door open her tone was frighteningly calm you're moving to the old
13:05house tomorrow i stared frozen then i dropped to my knees no please mom dad don't send me away
13:14i'm sorry i'm sorry i'll be good i promise mom looked down at me coldly mel needs peace to recover
13:22seeing you will upset her i won't bother her i cried i clutched at her legs
13:28i can stay in the storage room i can come home after you're all asleep
13:34i'm sorry please don't make me leave
13:43dad sighed
13:45elie this is for the best for you and for this family i won't go
13:51this is my home i was sobbing uncontrollably now
13:57mom pried my hands away the housekeeper will bring meals each week we'll transfer an allowance on time
14:05i don't want money
14:09i want you i turned to dad i grasped his sleeve
14:15dad you used to love me most you said you'd always protect me
14:20he turned his face away his voice was choked be reasonable eily
14:28once mel is feeling better she'll never better she's lying i screamed in despair why won't you
14:35believe me mom's voice cut through sharply elene if you make another scene you can leave right now
14:42i knelt on the floor i looked at their distant looks i finally understood what true hopelessness
14:50felt like no matter how much i begged they didn't want me anymore
14:57the first night i moved into the old residence i had a high fever my forehead was burning i shivered
15:03all over i grabbed my phone and called my mom mom i'm having a fever i was so weak that
15:09my voice
15:09was hardly audible the other end of the line was silent for a while then my mom replied there are
15:16fever reducers in the old house find them melanie has just undergone surgery she needs a good rest
15:23knock it off with that mom hung up listening to the hang-up beeps i felt a chill all over
15:29it started raining outside the rain splattered the window as if weeping for me for the next week
15:36i was invalid on the bed alone the fever went back and forth the housekeeper found something
15:41was wrong with me when she came to cook she took me to the hospital i lived all alone since
15:46i was 12
15:47till i was 18. for parent teacher conferences the seat with my name on it was always empty melanie
15:57went to the same school as i did yet my parents always showed up for her sometimes i ran into
16:02them
16:03in the hallway mom would look away with embarrassment dad would pretend he didn't see me in those six
16:09years jeffrey was the only light ray in my life he would secretly climb over the short wall of the
16:14old
16:14house and bring me snacks don't worry everything will be okay he had comforted me ely let's apply to
16:23new york university together in new york no one can separate us i had believed him i studied as hard
16:31as i
16:31could after the set i walked past a downtown hotel i saw a large striking banner congratulations on
16:39melanie britt's good grades nicely dressed my parents were receiving guests at the entrance
16:44they were beaming melanie stood between them like a real princess standing in a corner across the street
16:50i watched the celebration that had nothing to do with me i had thought i was dead inside but why
16:56did
16:56it still hurt so much it didn't matter though i'd be gone soon anyway the day i received the acceptance
17:12letter from the university i opened it swiftly with excitement but it was the badge of the usc that i
17:18saw my blood turned cold instantly i recalled my parents odd behavior from several days ago it dawned
17:24me that they had altered my application form without hesitation i barged into the so-called home
17:30it was the home from which i had been away for a long time i slammed the letter on the
17:35coffee table
17:36why usc i demanded what's wrong with it mom replied nonchalantly it's close in a trembling voice i snapped
17:44why did you change my application why because we're your parents just then dad walked out of the study he
17:52explained melanie also applied to new york university with you around she'll feel insecure
17:58it's because of her again the years of pent-up anger in my chest erupted her insecurity is the reason
18:06for
18:06everything you said she read my diary because she felt insecure she fell down the stairs because she felt
18:13insecure now i have to go to a different university because she feels insecure
18:23elan mind your tone mom sprang to her feet what about my tone what tone should i speak in tears
18:30streamed
18:30down my cheeks i tried to hold them back you kicked me out of the house when i was 12.
18:38you've neglected me
18:39for the past six years now you're trying to destroy my future what kind of parents are you we've raised
18:49you for 18 years dad said his face livid raised it was more like charity my voice became hoarse from
18:58anger in your eyes only melanie is your daughter i'm only an unwanted substitute i wish you never adopted me
19:08out of the blue dad slapped me hard across the face get out mom hissed with red eyes she pointed
19:17at
19:17the door since you hate us so much don't ever come back again i ran out i sobbed in the
19:23rain until i was
19:24soaking wet why didn't they love me why was i adopted where were my biological parents i cried and cried
19:34at midnight i snuck back for my id i happened to overhear my parents conversation outside their bedroom
19:48we shouldn't have told mel that eily was adopted mom cried but what's the point of being regretful now
19:53i was too sad after mel got lost i didn't find out i was pregnant with eily dad sighed
20:00mel was so sensitive when she returned we could only lie i that ellie was adopted at least eily was
20:09loved and happy before she was seven but mel couldn't be she owes mel stunned i had to press my
20:20hands
20:20against the wall for support my back slid down along the wall it turned out i was their biological daughter
20:26it turned out i had never stolen anybody's happy childhood it was mine then why did i have to
20:33suffer these years that day i left home and never came back after i reached usc i changed my phone
20:39number i put my parents contact information on the block list jeffrey and i went to different
20:44universities due to the distance our relationship was nipped in the bud afterward i heard that he had a
20:51girlfriend now it seemed he was dating melanie back then i opened my eyes i wiped my tearful face
20:59the side of the message stung i wondered if melanie knew the truth but it didn't matter
21:05i went to the drawer i took the dna test report done many years ago since they'd invited me i'd
21:11go to
21:11the wedding they destroyed my life for melanie's happiness i'd see how happy she was
21:22the light from the glaring chandelier on the ceiling of the hotel hall spilled on the lens of my camera
21:28it reflected my tense side face my employee fiona blevens was crouching to open the device case
21:35the clear clicking of the plastic clip couldn't ease my fidget this was melanie's wedding of course
21:41the whole team should be here i should have known better elen came a female voice as sharp as a
21:49needle my hands paused while holding the camera when melanie turned around the skirt of her wedding
21:56dress swept across my feet the pearls on the decoration hurt lifting her skirt with pale hands she stared at
22:03me in disbelief as if i were something filthy that had barged into her life jeffrey stood behind her
22:13one of the buttons on the cuff of his sleeve was loose upon seeing me he swiftly shifted his
22:19gaze to the dessert table far away who asked you to come melanie raised her voice and took a step
22:27forward
22:29the guests all turned their heads to watch you don't even have a decent job you think you're good enough
22:36to be the photographer of my wedding
22:43frowning fiona attempted to step forward and make a retort
22:49i pulled at her blouse gently the coolness calmed me down a bit my fingertip touched the camera belt
22:58the host invited me the host melanie scoffed you mean my parents why would they invite an ingrate
23:05who refused to come home in the past 10 years her remarks hammered my heart they caused a dull pain
23:12the past flashed across my mind one day when i was 12 i had begged her on my knees not
23:17to tell on me
23:19she had also smirked like that and said
23:23you're unwelcome in this family anyway familiar footsteps came from the door
23:30my parents walked over mom was in a crimson dress she was oblivious to the fact that her pearl necklace
23:36was
23:37askew dad wore his tie loosely at the sight of me mom stopped in her tracks she had a complicated
23:46look
23:46in her eyes your dad and i invited ellie she's a good photographer and her price is fair she said
23:54to
23:54melanie melanie melanie turned around abruptly and glared at mom mom are you out of your minds she's
24:08she's your younger sister dad interrupted melanie his tone was lukewarm he didn't spare a look at me
24:16it was as if i were just an insignificant stranger
24:21the wedding is about to begin knock it off with a livid face melanie stared at me malevolently
24:30she's a good photographer she barely gets by with a camera mom and dad raised you for 18 years
24:38and you were away for 10 years now that you have a little money you think you're better than us
24:43who bought dresses for you when you were a child who took you to kindergarten did you forget the guests
24:50talked with each other as she spoke louder and louder i tightened my grip on the camera
24:56the blood drained from my knuckles how i wish mom and dad could interfere even if it was as simple
25:04as stop
25:04it to my dismay mom just turned her head to look at the mccarrens on the dessert table
25:12dad took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket then he tucked it back in restlessly mel
25:19the wedding first he urged there was no explanation neither of them defended me
25:25nor did they display a tinge of guilt i looked down at my reflection in the mirror
25:31i realized how pathetic i was 10 years had passed and i was still expecting them to be fair
25:38fiona handed a cloth to me i took it and wiped the lens slowly with it i tried to repress
25:44the surging
25:45sadness i'd come to work not to settle accounts with them i told myself
25:57after shooting the first section of the wedding i drank water in a corner of the lounge the warm
26:04water in the plastic bottle was bland like the meager concern my parents showed at this time mom walked
26:11over with a glass of orange juice beads of juice clung to the body of the glass
26:19she handed it to me the beads fell onto my pants they left wet marks on them
26:28eilie don't take what mel said to heart she was nervous about the wedding
26:36instead of taking the glass of orange juice i took out my phone to transfer money
26:42i'd calculated the amount countless times
26:45eighty thousand dollars
26:49including tuition from primary school to high school
26:53monthly allowances
26:56occasional meals the housekeeper made for me in the six years
27:01money couldn't buy back my youth it couldn't make my altered application for university right
27:09but at least the accounts between us were even now
27:13the notification for the successful transfer sounded particularly loud in the quiet lounge
27:20mom's face colored as she read the notification her hands shook the juice stained her dress
27:27but she paid no heed to it staring at me she asked aline what do you mean
27:35we raised you for 18 years you think we're even now
27:43what else i put my phone back into my pocket in a calm yet cold voice i continued
27:52you raised me for 18 years and i repaid you with 80 000 the extra is the interest
28:01with the account settled now we're square
28:08square mom said in a choking voice
28:12her eyes red she attempted to touch my arm
28:15i took a step back to move away her hand froze in midter tears ran down her face they dropped
28:23on the floor
28:25do you hate us so much
28:30is there no familial finishing for us at all in your heart you had a fever when you were five
28:38your dad carried you on his or electors three can take you to the hospital
28:45the first time you won a prize eyes i took you out to buy you a new dress
28:51did you forget all about this
28:54scenes from the past flashed across my mind like an old movie
28:58carrying me on his back dad ran in the rain
29:02but his back felt extremely warm there were floral patterns on the rim of the pink dress mom bought me
29:10sadly these warm memories had waned after melanie returned
29:16yes looking her in the eye i declared slowly i hate you for driving me into the old house when
29:23i was 12
29:26i hate you for altering my application when i was 18
29:30i hate you for asking me to knock it off when i had a fever of 39 degrees
29:42mom stopped crying her face was as pasty as death
29:48dad took her arm to support her he looked at me his eyes dripped with disappointment
29:55elie we were wrong but what you're doing is ruthless suddenly melanie marched over
30:04she pointed at me and yelped dad and mom raised you for 18 years
30:09first you left without saying goodbye now you want to cut ties with them as an adopted daughter
30:18you should be grateful that they didn't let you starve how dare you talk about fairness with them
30:27what in great an adopted daughter i turned to my parents
30:35my heart was racing finally the right time had come is that what i am in your eyes mom's lips
30:43moved
30:43but no words came out dad nodded with a sigh
30:48elie we were wrong but you're indeed adopted don't fixate on it laughing snidely i took a step forward
30:57i looked them in the eye in which children's home did you find me
31:02where are the adoption formalities can i have a look a deathly silence ensued the blood drained
31:11from mom's face dad clenched his fists tightly his knuckles went pale
31:20dumbfounded melanie shook mom's arm
31:25mom tell her where you adopted her show her the formalities
31:30neither mom nor dad spoke they just stared at me panic was plain in their eyes
31:37the last tad of hope in my heart was shattered as i met their gaze
31:42they couldn't even come up with a good lie
31:45but they'd fooled me for 10 years
31:54my fingers trembled as i fumbled the laminated dna test report in my purse
32:00i'd kept it for five years i cried in bed every time i read the result
32:08the possibility of paternity is in excess of 99.999 percent
32:17i wasn't a substitute for melanie i was their biological daughter that was the truth
32:24however they wouldn't admit it you can't say it i will
32:31i handed the report to my parents under the light the plastic cover glared
32:37they couldn't open their eyes mom was breathing rapidly
32:42dad wanted to take the report
32:46but he withdrew his hand on second thought
32:53you claim i'm i'm adopted i continued in a flat voice it expressed my 10 years of sadness
33:01the truth
33:02and why is the possibility of paternity 99.999 percent
33:06why does the dna test report say you're my biological parents
33:11melanie dashed over and snatched the report away
33:16her fingers trembled violently as she read it
33:20i said
33:24this can't be true
33:25this can't be true
33:27this report must be a forgery
33:29you're using it to take everything away from me
33:33a forgery
33:34i looked at my parents
33:40ask your parents
33:44tears streamed down mom's cheeks they stained the report
33:49dad's face was as pale as paper his lips were trembling
33:54he was too emotionally overwhelmed to speak
33:58afraid to hurt melanie's feelings you told her i was adopted
34:02i believed you
34:05i thought you'd love me all the same as long as i was obedient and humored her
34:12however you turned my bedroom into a sunroom for her
34:16you moved my piano into the storage room
34:21you changed my application in university to us behind my back
34:26when i was furious you couldn't be bothered to check on me
34:30you asked me to find the medicine on my own
34:34more and more guests gathered around us
34:37they whispered to each other
34:39some of them took photos of this scene
34:42others pointed at my parents
34:44they're playing favorites
34:47how could they treat their own daughter so horribly
34:51poor girl for 10 years she didn't know her adoptive parents were her biological parents
34:57suddenly mom dropped to her knees
35:00she clutched the leg of my pants
35:04elie i was wrong
35:06we all were
35:08your dad and i were confused
35:13we felt sorry for mel and neglected you
35:19will you forgive us
35:23we'll give you the house the company anything you want
35:30i brushed mom's hands away i took a step back
35:35her hands were cold and calloused
35:39however the touch failed to invoke the familial affection inside me
35:44my heart could never be warm again
35:47i don't want your house or company
35:50i announced in a hoarse voice
35:53i want the truth
35:55why did you lie to me
35:57i'm also your daughter
36:00why do you only love her
36:05dad also knelt tearfully
36:09elie i'm sorry i let you down
36:12when mel just came back she cried every day
36:16she was afraid that we wouldn't like her
36:21out of options we told her you were adopted
36:27we thinking things would turn around when she grew up
36:31sadly that didn't happen
36:36we never meant to put you through all this
36:39you never meant to
36:41i laughed
36:43but tears streamed down my face
36:46at 12 i had to live alone in the old house
36:50and i was too terrified to sleep
36:54i could have been admitted to nyu but i had to go to ucla
37:01you know why i was away for a decade
37:04because you told me to never come back
37:08not because i didn't want to return home
37:14you think you can undo all this by your simple apology
37:19nice try
37:27suddenly melanie tore the dna test report
37:32she tore it once then again
37:35shreds of paper scattered across the floor like snow
37:40she shrieked
37:41i don't believe it i'm your daughter
37:46she's not the wedding is off
37:50her face was twisted with rage and terror
37:53for 18 years she had been the real daughter
37:57the cherished one the one they sacrificed everything for
38:02and now in one moment she had become the lie
38:07she pulled off the veil she tossed it onto the floor
38:11she ran off after a dazed moment jeffrey went after her
38:16the director of the wedding ran to my dad in a fluster
38:21mr brit the wedding it's cancelled holding the camera i said to fiona
38:29put away the devices we're done here
38:33when i walked out of the lounge mom's sobs came from behind me
38:38the guests were whispering but i didn't look back
38:43the years of agony were finally off my chest today
38:47it might have happened too late
38:50but at least i was no longer the adopted daughter
38:57at the entrance to the hotel the cold autumn wind blew in my face
39:02it brought a sense of desolation
39:06fiona carried the devices for me she walked briskly afraid to bother me
39:13as soon as i reached the roadside urgent footsteps came from behind me
39:17elene wait someone called i turned around it was jeffrey
39:24he had his suit jacket hanging from his arm his hair was a mess
39:29his forehead was sweaty he ran to me he was huffing and puffing his chest
39:35was heaving violently his eyes were full of guilt
39:39i'm sorry he apologized in a husky voice
39:44i'm sorry i didn't go to find you back then
39:48i'm sorry i got together with melanie i gazed at him
39:54under the sunshine the fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were obvious
40:01when we were little he was always saying i had big doe eyes
40:06now the glitter in his eyes was gone
40:09one day in my senior year in high school he climbed over the tall wall with a candy in his
40:14hand
40:15he said to me
40:17elie after we're both admitted to new york university i'll take you to the sea
40:22the sweetness of the candy was vivid in my mind for many years
40:33why were you with her my low voice faded in the wind
40:37when i was in college she found me one day she told me you'd forgotten me
40:43she said you'd gone to los angeles and would never come back
40:46jeffrey clutched his jacket his knuckles were pale
40:52she said you hated me for not putting in a good word for you i i panicked
40:59i i looked for you but you changed your phone number and the old house was empty
41:05i i thought i thought you didn't want to see me anymore
41:11an unbearable pang ran through my heart
41:16the day i enrolled at usc i came to new york university
41:21i assumed he'd be waiting for me at the entrance to my disappointment i waited there all day
41:28he never showed up afterward i learned that he was already with melanie back then
41:39i wanted to be with you jeffrey's eyes reddened they brimmed with tears
41:46after the sst i went to the old house to find you your parents told me you'd left and would
41:54never
41:54come back i waited at the gate to the old house all night
42:00the candy in my hand melted
42:08melted like our terminated long-gone relationship
42:13melanie and i have broken up the wedding is off he took a step forward to hold my hand
42:19i retreated and moved away
42:21neely can we start over i was wrong
42:27i'll cherish you all the more
42:34i looked at jeffrey calmly
42:38my youth adoration for him and expectations of our future had elapsed with time
42:44they had worn out in lies
42:49jeffrey were not meant to be he stiffened to hear my words his face gradually went pale
42:56all the color drained away like a photograph left too long in the sun
43:01his lips parted slightly but no words came out of his mouth he just stood there he looked at me
43:09despair was plain in his eyes the boy who used to climb over my fence with candy in his pocket
43:18the teenager who waited all night at the gate of the old house with a melting sweet in his hand
43:25the man who was about to marry my sister they were all the same person
43:32and none of them were the person i needed anymore
43:36i didn't eat the candy
43:39i turned around i said to fiona let's go
43:43i left resolutely without looking back
43:49ely i regret it he said softly in the wind i knew that but what difference did it make some
43:56things were lost forever like new york university like the teenager himself
44:04over the next few days my phone kept ringing non-stop
44:10all calls were from my parents i set my phone to silent
44:15i put it in the drawer i didn't want to hear their apologies it was too late
44:21i didn't need them anymore kimberly would tell me about their situation every day
44:27this morning your mom was crying downstairs at the studio she was holding a photo of you as a child
44:36your dad came too he was leaning on a cane he looked much older i just nodded i asked her
44:44to
44:45keep them outside i didn't let them in to disturb my work on friday night after working overtime i left
44:51the studio as soon as i turned into the alley i heard familiar sounds of arguing it was melanie and
44:59my parents why do you get to apologize to her why do you give her the house i'm your daughter
45:05melanie's
45:06voice was choked with tears it was sharp as nails scraping glass she was the one who pushed me down
45:12the
45:12stairs she wrote in her diary to insult me have you forgotten how can you take her side
45:20she didn't push you dad's voice was louder than ever it was filled with exhaustion and anger
45:27you fell on your own you admitted it just yesterday you even lied to us saying she changed your
45:34homework saying she stole your necklace how many things have you kept from us i hid around the corner
45:40of the alley i felt nothing in particular just a sense of irony after all these years they finally
45:48learned the truth but i stopped caring long ago so what if i admit it melanie screamed
45:56she took my place for seven years if not for her all your love would have been mine
46:01i wanted her to suffer changing her college choices driving her away it was all me who made you do
46:07it
46:07why blame me now you spoiled me you said you'd love me forever
46:14mom's sobs came through they were suppressed mel how could you say that
46:20we thought you were just sensitive we never imagined you'd be so cruel
46:25elie has suffered so much over the years and we never knew suffered what did she suffer
46:34melanie sneered she lived in the old house but i was kidnapped by traffickers
46:40i've had it much harder than her you should make it up to me dad sighed his voice was hoarse
46:48we were wrong wrong to always favor you wrong not to trust eily
46:54we owe her an apology i didn't listen to the rest
47:01i turned and went back to my apartment i took out the severance agreement i had prepared long ago from
47:08the drawer i had spent a long time writing that agreement it clearly stated from now on i have
47:18no familial relationship with patrick brit lela valdez or melanie brit we will not interfere in each
47:25other's lives nor bear any obligation of support or care the brit family's assets have nothing to do with me
47:36the next day i had my lawyer deliver the agreement to dad's company when the lawyer returned he told me
47:46mr brit's hands were shaking as he read the agreement mrs brit cried and tore it up
47:51then she picked up the pieces and carefully glued them back together before signing maloney didn't
47:56sign and cursed you a few times i nodded without saying anything whether she signed or not didn't
48:01matter my parents signatures were enough kimberly brought me a cup of hot coffee she said it in
48:09front of me ely do you really not regret it after all they're your parents i looked out at the
48:15trees
48:16beyond the window their leaves were scattered all over the ground bleak and desolate no i picked up
48:24the coffee and took a sip it was bitter i'm no longer the little girl who longed for their love
48:30cutting ties is better for all of us all those years of grievance were like a cup of bitter coffee
48:37once swallowed you can never spit it out from now on i only want to live for myself
48:42three months after signing the severance agreement i packed my bags and left los angeles
48:49this city carried too many memories for me some good some bad and now it was time to let them
48:56go
48:58i went to a small town in the south i rented an apartment with a balcony outside the balcony
49:07stood an old locust tree it bloomed with many fragrant white flowers in summer every morning i took photos
49:16of the street in the evenings i sat on the balcony reading
49:26occasionally i accepted a few photography jobs from out of town
49:33life was very peaceful
49:39kimberly would regularly send me messages about los angeles
49:44melanie was kicked out by your parents because she secretly took the family's money to gamble
49:50she racked up a lot of debt
49:55later she went to find jeffrey and the two of them still got married
50:01but they argue every day
50:06jeffrey messed up his job too he got fired by the company
50:12now he spends every day drinking at home
50:16when he's drunk he yells at melanie and melanie cries
50:21their life is a complete mess i looked at the messages
50:25i felt nothing inside whether their days were good or bad it no longer had anything to do with me
50:33i only occasionally thought of my childhood
50:38dad teaching me to ride a bike
50:43mom braiding my hair
50:46those warm scenes flashed through my mind like old movies
50:50but quickly faded away
50:54two years later i held a solo photography exhibition in the small town
50:59most of the photos on display were street scenes
51:02elderly people sitting at their doorsteps basking in the sun
51:06they held palm fans
51:08children running through the alleys
51:10they clutched ice cream in their hands
51:13some featured couples holding hands and smiling sweetly under the old locust tree
51:19none of the brit family appeared in these photos
51:23nor was there any trace of los angeles
51:26only my life as it is now
51:29on the day the exhibition opened many people came
51:34i was signing my name in a corner of the gallery when someone gently tapped my arm
51:41i looked up i was stunned it was my parents
51:46mom's hair had turned much grayer it was neatly combed
51:51she was still wearing that dark red dress from years ago
51:55though it had faded from many washes
52:00dad leaned on a cane his back was hunched
52:04deep wrinkles were etched into his face
52:07he looked much older they stood in front of one of my photos
52:12it showed an old house it was very much like the one i used to live in
52:17dad's fingers gently brushed the photo
52:20his eyes were full of nostalgia i said nothing i continued signing my name
52:27my heart was beating a little fast but i felt very calm inside
52:33i no longer hated them nor did i love them they just felt a little unfamiliar
52:39dad slowly walked over he held a brown envelope he handed it to me
52:45his hand was cold it was covered in calluses the result of years of holding a pen
52:53eli this is an apology letter we know you won't forgive us but we still wanted to write it for
53:01you
53:03i took the envelope it was thick when my fingertips touched his hand he quickly pulled away
53:10like a child who had done something wrong
53:16we're leaving now mom looked at me her eyes were red but not crying her voice trembled a little
53:24take good care of yourself here when it gets cold remember to wear more clothes don't catch
53:31colds all the time like you did when you were little i nodded i said nothing they walked out slowly
53:38dad moved very slowly mom supported him step by step without looking back the gallery lights were warm
53:47i opened the envelope i found several sheets of yellowed letter paper
53:53the handwriting was crooked it was dad's writing he wrote a lot about the year melanie came back when i
54:02was
54:02seven and how panicked they were about when i was 12 and got kicked out how he secretly went to
54:09the old
54:10house at night how he saw me crying into my blanket and how much it hurt him about changing my
54:19college
54:19application when i was 18 and how much he regretted it about how over the past 10 years they tried
54:27to find me
54:28and thought about me the last line read elie we're sorry you must live well better than us
54:40tears fell onto the letter they blurred the ink i read it again and again
54:49dad's handwriting was crooked unsteady the hand of an old man who had lost his fine motor skills
54:56he wrote about the night they told melanie i was adopted how mom had cried herself to sleep for a
55:02week afterward how dad had driven to the old house in the rain just to check if the light was
55:07still on in my window he wrote about the day he changed my college application i knew it was wrong
55:14the moment i signed it but melanie was crying she said she'd run away if i didn't i was a
55:21coward ailey
55:21i chose the easy path and you paid the price he wrote about the 10 years of silence
55:28how mom saved every photo of me she could find in a shoebox under her bed
55:34how dad drove past my old apartment building once a month hoping to catch a glimpse of me
55:40i pressed the letter against my chest the paper was warm from my tears all these years i thought they
55:48had forgotten me they hadn't they were just too weak too guilty to broken to come find me i folded
55:57the
55:57letter i put it in my bag i walked to the window i watched my parents figures slowly disappear around
56:04the
56:05corner dad leaned heavily on his cane mom's arm was linked through his they walked like to people
56:14carrying a weight they knew they could never put down the wind was gentle it brushed my face it carried
56:21the scent of the old locust tree i knew i would never forgive them but i would not hate them
56:28anymore
56:28either
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