- 9 hours ago
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Mom and dad spend every day revolving around my sister Grace.
00:04They have no idea I have another home inside the mirror.
00:07The three of them went on a three-day vacation
00:10before they even remembered I was still in the house.
00:13When they finally rushed back, they found me clean,
00:16well-fed, and looking healthier than ever.
00:20Did you take care of yourself this whole time?
00:24I've been living inside the mirror.
00:26There's another mom and dad taking care of me.
00:30You know, Grace stopped speaking to anyone but her doll
00:33because you were born, and now you copy her?
00:36You invent some story about a mirror
00:38just to compete with her for our love?
00:40I was locked in my room.
00:42Mom warned fiercely through the door.
00:44Grace already drains every ounce of strength we have.
00:47This family cannot raise two broken children.
00:49Pull a stunt like this again, and you're out of this house.
00:53I curled up against the wall, sobbing until I couldn't breathe.
00:57A withered hand slid out of the mirror
00:59and gently stroked my hair.
01:01One more time they throw you away, sweetheart,
01:04and mommy will take you home.
01:07The door swung open.
01:08The mirror mom crawled backwards,
01:10slipping back into the glass.
01:12Mom stood in the doorway, watching me coldly.
01:15We have guests coming.
01:17Get out here and help.
01:18I trailed close behind her,
01:20taking the paper plates from her hands.
01:21My eyes drifted to the big cake in the center of the table.
01:25Don't just stand there.
01:26Start cutting.
01:27Halfway through slicing, it hit me.
01:29Today was my birthday.
01:31So they remembered after all.
01:33My nose stung.
01:34I wiped the corners of my eyes.
01:36I suddenly remembered.
01:37Before Grace got sick,
01:39mom and dad used to be good to me.
01:41When they took Grace to the mall,
01:43they always brought me back something new,
01:45instead of making me wear her old clothes that didn't fit.
01:48If I left with a mirror, parents, wouldn't they be sad?
01:51The next second, mom clasped her hands together.
01:54Her joyful voice shattered my fantasy.
01:57Grace finally called me mommy today.
02:00This is a day worth celebrating.
02:02Once the family gets here,
02:04maybe Grace will even greet a few more of them by name.
02:07I froze in place.
02:09The corners of my mouth slowly fell.
02:11The doorbell rang.
02:13Relatives poured in all at once and surrounded Grace.
02:18Gracie, sweetie, I heard you can talk now.
02:21Come on, say hi.
02:21It's Uncle Steve.
02:23And it's Auntie Brendan.
02:24Say hi to Auntie Brendan,
02:26and I'll give you a big present.
02:28Under everyone's eager stares,
02:30Grace pressed her lips together,
02:31clutched at her skirt,
02:32and refused to make a sound.
02:34Dad quickly gave me a wink.
02:36I squeezed into the middle of the relatives.
02:38Uncle Steve, Uncle Mike, Aunt Brendan,
02:41Lily's going to bring you all some cake.
02:42Lily's is so sweet.
02:44How can you not love this kid?
02:47If I had a daughter this well-spoken,
02:49I'd wake up smiling in my sleep.
02:52Well-spoken, please.
02:54She's just fishing for attention.
02:56At her age,
02:57my son was already reading chapter books on his own.
02:59Saying hello to people?
03:01Big deal.
03:02Of course she looks bright.
03:04Standing next to a sister who can't even talk.
03:07Lily!
03:08You always have to be the loudest.
03:10Grace finally speaks,
03:11and you have to steal the spotlight?
03:13Drop the act!
03:14Stop begging for attention like this!
03:18Lily, tell Uncle Steam,
03:19who taught you to fight your own sister for love?
03:22I instinctively looked at Mom and Dad.
03:24Their eyes flickered,
03:25as if they just remembered what they demanded of me.
03:28Ever since Grace's autism had gotten worse,
03:31Mom and Dad pushed me every day
03:33to talk more around her.
03:35Every time,
03:36I talked until my throat went raw.
03:38Grace never reacted.
03:40Talk more to Grace!
03:42Say something!
03:43Say it!
03:43Right now!
03:45What did God give you a mouth for?
03:47To use it, isn't it?
03:48You don't even think about how good Grace is to you.
03:51All you do is upset her.
03:53But Grace's good
03:54meant she knew I couldn't have sugar,
03:56and still sneaked me candy anyway.
03:58I was three years old back then.
04:01Every tooth in my mouth rotted.
04:03I couldn't sleep through the night from the pain.
04:05In the end,
04:06I lost every baby tooth,
04:08and got yelled at by Mom and Dad on top of it.
04:12Lily, the therapist said someone in this family
04:14has to guide Grace into speaking.
04:16Give her positive response.
04:18As her sister,
04:19it's your duty,
04:20your obligation,
04:20to help her,
04:21to set a good example.
04:23But I'd been trying so hard to set that example,
04:26to coax Grace into talking.
04:29So why were Mom and Dad still not satisfied?
04:33I stood there facing the relative's questions,
04:35unsure what to say.
04:36Dad pushed a small bowl of strawberries into my hands.
04:39Go eat your strawberries in the corner.
04:41Stop talking.
04:42The moment I took the bowl,
04:43Grace snatched it out of my hands
04:45and flung it to the floor.
04:46This was one of her episodes.
04:49Mom jabbed her finger at my forehead.
04:51Lily Carter, why are you always so greedy?
04:54Grace hadn't even had any yet.
04:55How dare you eat first?
04:58You know Grace feels insecure.
05:01Everything in this house goes to her first.
05:03I looked down at the smashed strawberries on the floor.
05:06Something bitter rose in my throat.
05:07I crouched down,
05:09picked up the strawberries one by one,
05:11and set them back in the bowl.
05:12I know I was wrong.
05:14I don't want them anymore.
05:16I'll give them all to Grace.
05:19Why has Lily gotten so quiet?
05:21I remember when you were three.
05:23You were so protective of your food.
05:26No one could get anything away from you.
05:28Because the mom in the mirror already gave me strawberries.
05:31I slapped my hand over my mouth and shook my head,
05:34trying to take it back.
05:35But Aunt Brenda didn't believe I had become obedient.
05:38What a little actress.
05:41Playing pitiful to score sympathy and now making up a mom in the mirror?
05:45Why don't you just say you live in there?
05:48I froze.
05:49How did Aunt Brenda know the mom in the mirror wanted to take me away?
05:53Lily Carter, didn't mommy teach you that good girls don't lie?
05:56What are you doing making up stories in front of family?
05:59Tell everyone right now that the mom in the mirror was a lie.
06:02You made it up.
06:03I instinctively glanced at the mirror in my room.
06:05The mirror mom poked her head out.
06:07Her hollow eyes fixed on me.
06:10Her mouth curling into an unnatural smile.
06:12I lifted my head timidly.
06:14Mommy, I didn't lie.
06:16I'm not making it up.
06:17There really was another mom inside the mirror.
06:20But under mom's furious glare,
06:22I swallowed the rest of the sentence.
06:24Uncle Mike,
06:26the one who'd spent years researching paranormal phenomena and fringe science,
06:31actually took my words seriously.
06:33I don't think Lily's lying.
06:35Something might genuinely be off with that mirror.
06:38Want me to take a look around the house?
06:40Uncle Mike pulled a strange instrument and a few protective charms out of his bag.
06:44He had just opened his mouth to ask me about the mirror.
06:48Grace's screen cut him off.
06:50Grace picked up a shard of broken glass.
06:53Mom threw her arms around Grace and wrestled the shard away.
06:57Dad looked at me.
06:58You lied about that mirror on purpose, didn't you?
07:00So Grace would feel so guilty she'd hurt herself.
07:03We give you everything.
07:05And this is the kind of poison you have in your heart?
07:08Daddy, I didn't lie.
07:10But Dad refused to listen.
07:13After a quick goodbye to the relatives,
07:15he scooped Grace into the car and drove her to the hospital.
07:21Once the guests left, I stood alone in a daze.
07:25I had tried so hard to be good.
07:28Why didn't Mom and Dad believe me?
07:31Grace's wrist hadn't been cut deep.
07:33She was fine.
07:34But Mom and Dad still took turns sitting at her bedside, terrified she'd try again.
07:39The only time I saw them was when they came home to cook for her.
07:43And every time I stepped near them, they instinctively pushed me away, keeping me at arm's length.
07:49Lily, stop hovering.
07:50You already pushed Grace into hurting herself.
07:53Do you have to wait until she's dead before you're satisfied?
07:55Mommy, I don't know why she did it, but I swear, I never wanted her to die.
08:01Even when Grace lost it and poured hot water from her cup on me,
08:05even when she took scissors to my bangs, I never hated her.
08:09After all, she was sick because of me.
08:13If I'd never been born, Grace would never have gotten sick.
08:17Mom and Dad wouldn't be miserable every single day.
08:21Still, hearing Mom say those words, my chest ached.
08:25Two days later, Grace came home from the hospital.
08:28She was livelier than before.
08:30She called Mom and Dad by name now, even strung together a few simple sentences.
08:35Mom said Grace had finally spoken up because she couldn't bear to see her crying.
08:39But I had been coaxing Grace to speak for years.
08:43Nothing had ever worked.
08:44Why did Mom cry once and suddenly Grace could speak?
08:48I held the doll, the mirror Mom had given me, and quietly pushed open Grace's door.
08:53Mom and Dad were sitting on the edge of her bed.
08:55Grace, just focus on getting better.
08:58No matter how much Lily tries to compete for our love, from now on, Mommy will only love you.
09:04Daddy too.
09:04That's why I've been giving Lily the cold shoulder these past few days.
09:08Teach her a lesson she won't forget.
09:10Don't blame her.
09:12She's still little.
09:13Well, if I'd never been born.
09:16Hearing this, Mom and Dad were both furious and heartbroken.
09:20Dad wrapped an arm around Grace's shoulders.
09:22Don't talk like that, sweetheart.
09:23You'll always be Daddy's little girl.
09:25Lily's got a lot going on in her head.
09:26We're sending her to stay with Aunt Bredman for a while.
09:28Let her straighten out.
09:29Once you're better, we'll bring her home.
09:31The doll slipped from my hand and hit the floor.
09:33A flash of panic crossed Mom and Dad's faces.
09:37Since you heard us, no point hiding it now.
09:40Aunt Brenda called yesterday.
09:42She thinks it's time you had some real discipline.
09:44We agreed to send you over for a while.
09:47Mommy, Daddy, just because Grace is sick, you're going to pretend you don't love me?
09:51Throw me away completely?
09:53Aren't you so sure there's a Mom and Dad in the mirror who love you more than we do?
09:57Fine.
09:58Take your mirror with you to Aunt Brenda's.
10:01Mom shoved me out of Grace's room and slammed the door behind her.
10:04I stood there, listening to the laughter inside.
10:08A dull pain spread through my chest.
10:10Maybe they were the happy family of three.
10:13I was the extra outsider.
10:15I drifted back to my own room.
10:17The mirror Mom already had a fragrant lunch waiting for me.
10:20Sweetheart, come eat.
10:22After lunch, you'll come home with Mommy.
10:25Daddy's already waiting for you inside the mirror.
10:27I nodded and obediently ate the food she'd made, eyes empty.
10:31Halfway through, the tears finally broke loose.
10:34I sniffled and whispered to the mirror Mom.
10:37Before I go, can I say goodbye to Mommy and Daddy?
10:42Make it quick, sweetheart.
10:44Mommy's almost ready to take you home.
10:46I wiped my eyes, picked up a pen from the desk, and wrote them a letter.
10:50Then I ran out and threw my arms around them.
10:54Mommy, Daddy, goodbye.
10:56Mom glanced at the letter and tossed it into the trash.
10:59Dad's face stayed tight.
11:01Don't think you can guilty trip us into changing our minds.
11:03We're still sending you.
11:05Aunt Brenda will be here in five minutes.
11:07Go pack your things.
11:08I nodded, my heart heavy.
11:10Even though I'd made my peace with leaving, somewhere deep down, it still ached.
11:14I went back to my room.
11:15Didn't pack a single thing.
11:17Just sat on the bed and looked around.
11:18This house I'd lived in for five years.
11:21It suddenly felt like a stranger's house.
11:23At least in the mirror, I'd have parents who loved me and no sister who hated me.
11:28Wouldn't life there be happier than this?
11:29The next second, Aunt Brenda was at my door, yelling.
11:33The door won't budge.
11:35The little brat must have locked it.
11:37Lily Carter, you really have grown some nerve, haven't you?
11:40Locking your own door now?
11:41Aunt Brenda's here to pick you up.
11:42Open this door right now.
11:43We'll tie you up and drag you out of here if we have to.
11:45It's about time someone fixed that nasty attitude of yours.
11:48Dad kicked the door open.
11:49I was already standing perfectly still in front of the mirror, waving at them for one last goodbye.
11:55They started forward to grab me, and the withered hand reached out of the mirror behind me.
12:00Lily!
12:01Come here!
12:02Now!
12:03But I turned around and threw myself, without hesitation, into that embrace.
12:09One minute later, the mirror was just a mirror again.
12:13Dad glared at it, his face stiff.
12:15Lily Carter, get out of there right now!
12:18Don't think we can't see through you just because Uncle Steve taught you a couple of magic tricks.
12:22But no one in the mirror answered, furious.
12:25He ran around behind the mirror to find me.
12:27But behind the mirror was only the wall.
12:30No five-year-old could possibly hide there.
12:33You're not coming out?
12:33Fine.
12:34I'll call Uncle Steve.
12:35He'll find you for sure.
12:36Come out now, and Mommy and Daddy will forgive you this one time.
12:40Lily, do you really want to wait until your uncle drags you out and we beat you for this?
12:46Still nothing.
12:47Dad gave up and called Uncle Steve.
12:49When Steve heard I'd vanished into a mirror, he didn't believe a word of it.
12:53But the moment Dad said it was a magic trick, his curiosity flared.
12:57He rushed over and started examining the mirror.
13:00Aunt Brenda stood off to the side, still muttering.
13:03Steve, hurry up and figure out where she's hiding.
13:06All we wanted was to take her home for a little tough luff.
13:09Was that worth running away over?
13:11An hour later, Uncle Steve sighed and turned to Mom and Dad, doubtful.
13:15Are you sure you actually saw Lily go into the mirror?
13:18Dad nodded grimly.
13:20Mom blurted out,
13:21Steve, is there any way to get her out?
13:24Uncle Steve shook his head.
13:25I've gone over this thing a dozen times.
13:27It's just a regular mirror.
13:28There's no mechanism, no trick rigging.
13:29It's basically impossible that she pulled some stunt to get inside.
13:32Steve, please, just think a little harder.
13:35What other way could she have disappeared right in front of us?
13:37I've done everything I can.
13:39Mom stared at the mirror.
13:41Her eyes filled.
13:42She moved to inspect it herself.
13:45Grace came running in and stopped her.
13:49Mommy, hungry.
13:51Sweetheart, Lily threw a tantrum and ran off and hid.
13:55Let me get you some crackers to tind you over.
13:58Once we find her, I'll cook you something nice, okay?
14:00Mommy, don't want her.
14:02Want food.
14:04Grace, stop it.
14:06Your sister is missing.
14:08How can you even think about food right now?
14:10Looking at her disappointed mother,
14:12Grace hung her head.
14:14She ran into her own room and started throwing things.
14:17Mom moved to stop her, but Dad caught her arm.
14:19Lily is gone.
14:21Grace will live.
14:22Let her get it out of her system.
14:26Didn't Mike say something was off about our house?
14:30Maybe we should have him come take a look at this mirror.
14:32Mom nodded reluctantly and called Uncle Mike.
14:35Unfortunately, Uncle Mike was away on a job
14:37and wouldn't return for another half day.
14:39After hanging up, Dad got furious and moved to smash the mirror.
14:44Mom stopped him.
14:45What if you break it and she can never come back?
14:48Then let her never come back.
14:50But his hand stopped.
14:51They waited half an hour for Uncle Mike.
14:53Dad suddenly said,
14:54This room doesn't have any windows.
14:55She has to be hiding in here.
14:58Let's tear this place apart.
14:59We'll find something.
15:00Everyone nodded and started tearing through my room.
15:02Aunt Brenda glanced around and let out a little snicker.
15:05The place is so bare, there's nothing to even search.
15:08Let me see where this little brat is hiding.
15:13She yanked the sheets and pillows off my bed and threw them on the floor.
15:17She checked under the bed, found nothing.
15:19She started to sit down and felt something had jabbed her.
15:22She lifted the comforter and let out a disgusted click of her tongue.
15:26Come look at this.
15:27This child is filthy.
15:29She's got all kinds of nasty stuff hidden in her bed.
15:33Smells rotten.
15:34It's making me sick.
15:35That got Mom and Dad's attention.
15:36They covered their noses and looked at what was on the bed.
15:40Same as the rags worn by the hand that came out of the mirror.
15:43Lily was alone in the house for three days.
15:45She obviously stuffed her dirty laundry in there.
15:47I told you a kid couldn't take care of herself for three days.
15:49And she lied to us, claimed mirror parents were taking care of her.
15:53These scraps don't look like a child's clothing.
15:56Stop it.
15:57Finding her comes first.
15:59Forget the details that don't matter right now.
16:01Dad and Uncle Steve nodded and went back to searching.
16:04But there was no trace of me anywhere in the house.
16:08Finally, they had no choice but to call the police.
16:11Officers arrived quickly and started asking questions.
16:14After Mom and Dad walked them through the story three times,
16:18the officers still looked skeptical.
16:20Mr. Carter, this isn't a joke.
16:22A missing child is a serious matter.
16:24A child can't just disappear into a mirror.
16:26We saw it with our own eyes.
16:27Our daughter was taken right into that mirror.
16:29Please, please help us find her.
16:30The officers half-suspected Mom and Dad had lost their minds.
16:34But when Uncle Steve and Aunt Brenda backed up the story,
16:37they had no choice but to keep searching.
16:40Did your daughter do anything unusual before she disappeared?
16:43Before she vanished, she was sneaking around outside her sister's room.
16:47Does that count?
16:48Why was she doing that?
16:49Because she was competing for our attention with her sister with autism.
16:52We never imagined she'd actually disappear right in front of us.
16:55The investigation hit a dead end until a female officer pulled out the letter I'd left behind from the trash.
17:02The officer skimmed the letter.
17:03Her expression shifted instantly.
17:06She handed it to Mom and Dad.
17:08Mom and Dad didn't understand the look she was giving them, but they opened the letter.
17:13Dear Mommy and Daddy, I'm leaving.
17:15I know you only love Grace.
17:17That you only worry about Grace because she has autism.
17:20And that's why you punished me.
17:22Left me alone for three days while you went on vacation.
17:25Actually, on the very first day, my stomach was already growling.
17:30I really hoped you'd come back and check on me.
17:32But you didn't.
17:33The Mom and Dad in the mirror came instead.
17:36They look a little ugly, and their clothes are torn.
17:39But they love me so much.
17:41And I love that kind of Mommy and Daddy.
17:44After I'm gone, you and Grace can be a happy family of three.
17:48When Grace gets better, Daddy won't have to drink every night looking sad.
17:53And Mommy won't have to cry so hard in the middle of the night.
17:56Mom couldn't hold back.
17:58Silly girl.
18:00Why does she write like we didn't want her?
18:02But Brendan told me you were planning to send Lily over to her place to be disciplined.
18:07Brendan's never raised a child properly in her life.
18:09Her own son didn't even finish high school.
18:11He drifts around doing nothing all day.
18:14Sending Lily over there would be sending her into hell.
18:16Why would you do that to her?
18:18So when you said a little discipline, you meant my daughter would be a babysitter for your son?
18:22That's right.
18:23You don't even like your kid.
18:25Might as well hand her over to me.
18:27She can watch my son.
18:28Girls grow up to wait on other people anyway.
18:30Might as well get a head start waiting on my son.
18:33Once she's old enough, I'll marry her off.
18:35No more headache for you.
18:37Win-win.
18:38Brenda Carter, you shut your damn mouth!
18:40Lily is my flesh and blood.
18:42No one else gets to use her like that.
18:44And who said I don't love Lily?
18:46I love both my daughters.
18:48Oh, really?
18:49Look to me like all you ever saw was your sick older daughter.
18:53Every time I saw Lily, her clothes were hanging off her.
18:57Grace's old hand-me-downs, right?
18:59You treat them that differently and you still want to pretend you love her?
19:04Mom opened her mouth to fight back but couldn't.
19:07What she said was true.
19:10Dad couldn't take it anymore.
19:12Stop it.
19:14Anyone who doesn't want to help find my daughter, get out.
19:18Aunt Brenda pursed her lips and walked out, still muttering curses.
19:22The police searched and searched.
19:24Still no leads.
19:24The officers got ready to leave and Dad blocked the door.
19:28Officer, please.
19:29Our daughter is missing.
19:30Just one more sweep.
19:33We'll keep looking.
19:35But that means searching the entire house.
19:37We need full cooperation.
19:38Dad nodded immediately.
19:40The officers opened Grace's bedroom door and began going through it inch by inch.
19:45Grace grabbed a pillow and started swinging it at everyone.
19:47How dare you search my room?
19:49Everything in here is private.
19:51Grace.
19:53Since when can you talk this clearly?
19:55Grace's voice came out shaky.
19:57I don't know.
19:58The officers must have scared me.
20:00Why are you so against them searching?
20:02Is there something in here about your sister?
20:04Something you're hiding?
20:05Grace took a few steps back, shook her head, and blocked her bookshelf.
20:08There's... there's nothing.
20:10Before she could finish, Mom shoved her aside and yanked open the cabinet.
20:15Mom dug through it from top to bottom and pulled out Grace's diary.
20:19Grace's face went sheet white.
20:21Dad snatched the diary out of Mom's hand.
20:23It's just a diary.
20:24Let's see what secrets you've been keeping in here.
20:28My baby sister was born today.
20:30She's so cute.
20:32Lily is two.
20:33All she does is cry.
20:35And she stole Mommy and Daddy's love away from me.
20:38Lily is three.
20:39I hate her.
20:40So I'm going to pretend I can't talk anymore.
20:43Now Mommy and Daddy don't pay attention to her anymore.
20:46Lily has such pretty white teeth.
20:48The little idiot.
20:49If I keep feeding her sugar, they'll all rot.
20:52They did.
20:53And Mommy and Daddy yelled at her for it.
20:56I hate seeing Lily in my old clothes.
20:58Even if I don't want them anymore, they're still mine.
21:01Why should she get them?
21:03If I didn't have to keep faking, I'd scream at her in front of Mommy and Daddy.
21:07Mommy and Daddy said they don't want Lily anymore.
21:10That stupid sister is finally leaving.
21:12I'm so happy.
21:14The diary ended there.
21:16Mom and Dad's faces had gone cold.
21:19Grace.
21:21You were jealous of your sister so you started faking autism?
21:25The act was over.
21:26Grace dropped it.
21:27Yes.
21:27So what?
21:28She's gone now.
21:30You and Daddy belong to me again.
21:32Aren't you happy?
21:33Ah!
21:34You little monster.
21:36How could you do this?
21:38Do you know what your mother and I have been through these last few years?
21:41Do you know how much money we spent on your illness?
21:44And you faked it over such a little thing?
21:46How can you face your missing sister?
21:48If you hadn't started treating me differently the moment she was born,
21:52do you think I would have done any of this?
21:54All I wanted was all your love.
21:56What's so wrong with that?
21:58Your mom and I treated you both exactly the same.
22:01Always.
22:02Sure.
22:03From the day Lee was born, all you saw was her.
22:06You even gave her the biggest bedroom.
22:09If I hadn't started faking, you never would have switched our rooms back.
22:14Is that what you mean by treating us the same?
22:17Mom and Dad had no answer.
22:19They had never realized.
22:21Their favoritism had hurt both Grace and me.
22:24The police searched for hours with no new evidence.
22:28Eventually, Mom and Dad had no choice but to walk them to the door.
22:32Half an hour later, the doorbell rang.
22:34Mom thought it was the officers with news.
22:37She rushed to open it and found Uncle Mike standing there.
22:45Uncle Mike's words landed like a thunderclap.
22:48Only Dad kept his face still.
22:50The police came and searched.
22:52They didn't find anything.
22:54What could you possibly find?
22:56Uncle Mike walked over to the mirror.
22:58Uncle Steve didn't believe Uncle Mike had any real skill.
23:02This is not an ordinary mirror.
23:05I've checked this thing over and over.
23:07It's just a regular mirror.
23:09What exactly do you think you're going to-
23:10Before Uncle Steve could finish,
23:11Uncle Mike pulled out a sigil-marked card and pressed it onto the mirror.
23:16My image began to form on the glass.
23:19Everyone's eyes went wide.
23:20The instant Mom saw me, she broke.
23:22She pounded on the glass, screaming,
23:25Lily, come out of there right now!
23:27Mommy and Daddy were wrong.
23:29We shouldn't have ignored you over your sister's fake sickness.
23:31Lily, please stop this.
23:33Come home.
23:33We won't send you to Aunt Brendan's.
23:35Ever.
23:36If you come out now, anything you want, Mommy and Daddy will give it to you.
23:39When I still didn't react, Dad lost it.
23:42He slammed his fist into the mirror, trying to drag me out.
23:46Uncle Mike lunged to stop him.
23:48But too late.
23:50The mirror shattered.
23:52The image vanished.
23:53Mom turned to Uncle Mike ghost-white.
23:56The image is gone.
23:57Can we still get her back?
23:58I might have been able to bring her back from the future,
24:01but this mirror was a doorway to the future.
24:03The mirror's broken.
24:04The doorway is gone.
24:05There's nothing more I can do.
24:06You'll have to figure something out yourselves.
24:13I was just trying to break it.
24:15To get her out.
24:17So the people who took Lily, they weren't ghosts?
24:19They were a future version of us?
24:21But the figure in the mirror looked nothing like me or her father.
24:26Mike, is all this true?
24:28I checked with my research contacts.
24:29That mirror was a prototype jointly developed by a future research team and a fringe science institute.
24:34It can reach into the past, but there's a flaw in the design.
24:37It's dangerous.
24:38And I can't confirm the identity of the people inside.
24:41And on top of that, now the mirror is broken.
24:43Then, is my daughter even still alive?
24:46I don't know.
24:48For now, let's collect every piece of the mirror.
24:51We'll send them to my contacts at the institute and see what they can do.
24:54Mom and Dad followed his instructions.
24:57But after the mirror was sent off, weeks passed without a word.
25:02Mom and Dad sighed all day.
25:04They couldn't eat.
25:06Grace, once spoiled and indulged, changed too.
25:09Grace used to be able to speak normally.
25:12But after Mom and Dad started yelling at her every day, she stopped talking altogether.
25:17They took her to the hospital.
25:18The doctors diagnosed her with autism.
25:21Mom and Dad didn't believe she was really sick, letting her condition spiral.
25:25Later, Uncle Mike returned the shattered mirror to Mom and Dad.
25:28The institute confirmed it.
25:30The mirror's broken.
25:31Anyone inside it is gone.
25:34I'm sorry.
25:36Try not to tear yourselves apart over Lily.
25:38Take care of your health.
25:39Mom heard the words and collapsed where she stood.
25:43When she woke up, she'd just held the broken mirror in her arms, depressed.
25:50Watching her like that, Dad built me a grave.
25:54Ten years later, Mom and Dad's hair had gone gray.
25:58They still knelt at my grave and begged for forgiveness.
26:02Lily, Mommy, I'm sorry.
26:05Mommy shouldn't have let you encourage Grace to talk more.
26:09I know I was wrong.
26:10Be at peace wherever you are.
26:12When Mommy's time comes, I'll be with you.
26:15Dad laid a bouquet of white chrysanthemums at the headstone.
26:18We punished Grace.
26:19She knows what she did.
26:21She refuses to speak at all now.
26:24We cut Brenda out of our lives.
26:26No one is going to hurt you again.
26:28But the girl who had vanished into the mirror had never died.
26:33Before the mirror shattered, I was already in the future.
26:36When I crossed into the mirror, the parents on the other side finally told me where they came from.
26:41They said in their time, very few children were being born.
26:46People who couldn't have kids of their own had no one to adopt.
26:49So a research institute had built something.
26:52A way to help infertile couples adopt healthy children from the past.
26:56But the adoption rates were tiny.
26:59Except for children like me, most kids were happy.
27:02They wouldn't go anywhere with a stranger.
27:05The strange clothes, the withered hands, all flaws in the technology.
27:09But to me, they were never frightening.
27:12Because when I was about to starve, the mom and dad in the mirror were the ones who saved me.
27:17From the moment my real parents threw me away, they became my new mom and dad.
27:23I don't hate my biological parents.
27:25They gave me life.
27:26But I'm not going back to them either.
27:28They have the life they wanted.
27:30I shouldn't disturb it.
27:32It's been more than 10 years.
27:33I've grown up.
27:35I look almost exactly like my biological mother.
27:38One day, walking through town, my biological parents passed me.
27:43Honey, if our daughter were still alive,
27:47would she be about her age?
27:51Maybe she would.
27:54I brushed past them and ran straight into the arms of my new mom and dad.
27:59The sunflower had found her son.
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