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00:00my sister has a superpower everything she says becomes reality she steals money from our parents
00:06to buy snacks then turns around and cries to them claiming i stole it i scream and swear i didn't
00:13do
00:13it but somehow the money always ends up in my backpack my parents immediately punish me by
00:19making me go a whole week without dinner every day after school i'm stuck in my room listening
00:25to my parents and sister laughing together over dinner downstairs during a high school exam
00:30sienna accuses me of cheating in front of the entire class that very afternoon a cheat sheet
00:37covered in answers mysteriously appears in my desk the school disciplines me and nearly suspends me
00:43when we're alone she leans close and whispers in my ear alera as long as i have this power you'll
00:50never beat me not in a million years terrified i apply to a college as far from home as possible
00:56desperate to escape her shadow then i meet adrian and i finally believe i can have a happy life of
01:03my own but the night before our wedding as i sit alone in the bridal suite sienna suddenly walks in
01:11and leans in close to whisper tomorrow i'm the bride not you alera i can't take it anymore
01:18i rush out of the room grab adrian's hand we have to get out of here please and tell him
01:24everything trembling from head to toe silly girl you're just having cold feet there's no such thing
01:31as superpowers stop overthinking and be my bride tomorrow okay but the next day when our wedding
01:36slideshow appears on the big screen every single photo features sienna instead of me at the altar
01:42adrian gently holds her hand as they both look at me devastated i run out the doors and straight
01:49into the path of a speeding car when i wake up again i hear familiar voices beside my hospital bed
01:55we'll play along with you one last time once your sister wakes up you'll tell her the truth
02:00we even let you have the wedding your way stop scaring her with this whole superpower act
02:05i'm not playing along next time please just let me keep playing a little longer if it was all
02:11just a game then i'm done with every last one of you i slowly open my eyes and look around
02:16at
02:16everyone gathered around my bed who are you my question hangs in the hospital room like a stone
02:23sinking into deep water but no one hears me adrian's eyes are fixed on sienna dot my parents turn
02:29toward her too gazing at sienna with the same adoration it's as if i don't even exist even though
02:34i'm lying right here in this hospital bed after a car accident i can't tear my eyes away from the
02:40way adrian looks at sienna a bitter ache settles in my chest i've had 25 years to learn just how
02:46much
02:46my parents favor sienna but adrian and i have been together for three whole years how did i never
02:51realize he'd gotten involved with sienna adrian is the first to notice me staring he looks up and meets
02:57my eyes a flicker of surprise crosses his face before he quickly signals to my parents and sienna
03:02my parents immediately wipe the smiles off their faces and rush to my bedside sienna trails behind
03:08them how are you feeling are you feeling any better my parents discreetly exchanged a look
03:13with sienna sienna presses her lips together and reluctantly steps forward actually about that
03:19superpower is who are you everyone free as is mom grabs my wrist staring at me in shock elira
03:26don't you remember us i gently shake my head seeing this adrian immediately turns and hurries
03:32out to get a doctor after a thorough examination the doctor suspects i've developed traumatic amnesia
03:37from the car accident to help me recover my memory sooner the doctor recommends spending time in
03:41familiar surroundings and with people close to me after the doctor leaves my parents sit down
03:45beside my bed i'm your father this is your mother and that's your younger sister adrian is just about
03:50to introduce himself but sienna suddenly hooks her arm through adrian's and announces loudly this is
03:54my boyfriend my parents freeze for a moment but neither of them says a word to correct her i stare
03:59at
03:59adrian the man who once whispered so many sweet promises in my ear he hesitates for a few seconds then
04:06nods bitterness twists deep inside me if i really had lost my memory i might have been foolish enough to
04:10believe them mom hesitates before speaking we'll go over the doctor's instructions one more time then we'll get
04:15you discharged this afternoon and take you home being there should help you recover your memories
04:20i lower my head and say nothing they all turn to leave but the hospital room door doesn't quite close
04:26what kind of stunt are you pulling now sienna alora's lost her memory anyway so adrian can be my
04:30boyfriend for a few days once she gets her memory back i'll give him back what's the big deal after
04:35a
04:35brief silence adrian finally answers fine but only while alora has amnesia
04:42sienna answers cheeringly all right all right let's get home i'll make your favorite dishes i
04:48even bought that strawberry cake you've been asking for forever it's waiting for you in the fridge
04:53their laughter fades as they walk away leaving the room completely silent my mouth is painfully dry
04:59i struggle to turn over reaching with trembling fingers for the glass of water on my bedside table
05:04no matter how hard i try it's just out of reach a nurse comes in to change my dreading
05:09she quickly picks up the glass pours in some warm water and holds it to my lips you've just been
05:16in
05:16a terrible car accident and you're covered in injuries why are you moving around on your own
05:21where's your family how could they all leave you here alone i take a small sip and gently shake my
05:28head
05:28they've all chosen to revolve around sienna every last one of them the nurse tucks my blanket around
05:35me with a sympathetic look and tells me to lie still and rest my chest feels so tight i can
05:41barely
05:41breathe i reach for my phone in the bedside drawer i open my emails trash folder and find the offer
05:47i
05:47received a few days ago from an overseas research institute the hr representative's note is still there
05:52this is a confidential research project you'll be required to sign a strict non-disclosure agreement
05:58upon joining during the initial security clearance phase personal communications will be heavily
06:03restricted please consider this carefully before accepting my fingers hover over the reply field
06:11family i stopped having one a long time ago i once naively believed adrian would be my family for
06:16the rest of my life now i know better i'll be there on time
06:24that afternoon they finish the discharge paperwork and take me home mom takes my hand and leads me to
06:31my bedroom take a good look around see if anything comes back to you i shake my head and speak
06:36softly
06:36mom dad do we have any family photos maybe looking at them will help me remember more dad immediately
06:44agrees of course i'll go get them he hurries to the study and returns with several thick photo albums
06:51he also brings mom's phone and opens their family social media account
06:57come on we'll look through them together but as we flip through the photos dad's expression grows
07:02darker by the minute he opens the family album on his phone and skulls back through the years
07:11this can't be right how can there not be a single photo of all four of us
07:17every single album is packed with photos of my parents in siena not one photo of me appears on
07:23their social media in their phone albums or in the framed pictures hanging in the hallway
07:29even the christmas cards they send to relatives and friends have featured only three smiling faces for
07:35the past few years when we were little sienna casually told our parents my sister said she
07:41doesn't want to be in the picture from then on whenever someone brought out a camera i was
07:46automatically left out of the picture at an elementary school sports day our teacher wanted
07:50to take a group photo of the winners sienna whispered to mom that i was embarrassed and didn't want to
07:56be
07:56in it mom gently pulls me out of the group that's okay if you don't want to be in the
08:02picture
08:02you don't have to at my high school graduation banquet sienna smiles at a classmate with a camera
08:08my sister hates having her picture taken by the end of the night not a single photo of me remains
08:15with her pouting and lies sienna gets our parents to erase every trace of me from our family's photos
08:21one picture at a time it's as if i never existed my parents abruptly shut the albums looking rattled
08:27let's forget the photos we'll go make your favorite food instead
08:33i manage a faint indifferent smile and nod
08:37okay thanks for doing that they hurry out carrying the photo albums with them
08:42a little while later my bedroom door opens sienna walks in with adrian following behind her
08:49hey sis mom asked me to take you out for a walk
08:56we can visit the places we grew up around maybe they'll help you remember
09:00i want to shake my head and refuse i'm exhausted and the cold ache inside me makes me not want
09:06to move
09:06at all but sienna doesn't give me a chance she comes over and practically drags me to my feet
09:11you're coming with me we walk slowly along the school routes i've taken since childhood
09:18we pass a little shop near my old kindergarten two identical cartoon backpacks sit in the window
09:25my gaze stops on them when we first started school my parents plan to buy sienna and me a new
09:30backpack each
09:31but sienna tugs on mom's sleeve and lies saying i think the backpacks are childish and don't want one
09:38terrified of the power behind her lies i watch as my parents buy a brand new backpack for sienna and
09:44nothing for me instead they scold me in front of everyone for being ungrateful and make me stand
09:49outside the store as punishment i can only watch as shops through the school gates with her new
09:54backpack farther down the road is the stationary shop beside my elementary school colorful marker sets
10:00are neatly displayed in the glass case in second grade i accidentally lost my set of markers
10:06my parents said we'd both get new ones but sienna claimed i'd thrown mine away on purpose
10:14my parents expressions change instantly they refuse to buy me a new set and make me use sienna's old
10:21markers worn down to tiny stubs
10:26for an entire semester i'm the only kid in class using a battered incomplete set of old supplies
10:32my classmates mock me for it the whole time farther along is the street corner near my middle school
10:37i stare at the familiar street light and that old ache returns my middle school activities often ended late
10:45and my parents promised to pick us up every day my sister said she doesn't need you to pick her
10:50up
10:50she says it makes her feel like a little kid from that night on my parents never came to pick
10:55me up
10:55again all those old hurts come flooding back i thought i'd put all of this behind me during the
11:00years i spent away but the memories are like thorns buried deep in my heart they've never really gone
11:05away without thinking i glance up at adrian beside me when we were deeply in love i'd curl up in
11:12his
11:13arms and tell him about every one of these things back then he'd hold me tight gently pad my back
11:18and
11:19comfort me with such tenderness silly girl you'll have me from now on
11:27once we're married i'll come back here with you visit every one of these places again i'll make up
11:33for everything you missed out on growing up one thing at a time but the moment i look at him
11:41sienna strides in front of adrian and demands in a sugary voice alara why do you keep staring at my
11:47boyfriend my gaze drops to her slender fingers the engagement ring adrian designed himself sits on
11:55her finger i push down my emotions that's a pretty ring sienna smugly wiggles her fingers
12:03of course it is adrian designed it himself when you get married someday alara why don't you ask him
12:09to design one for you too i look up and meet adrian's eyes but he quickly turns away i answer
12:15softly
12:17no thanks we wander around for a while before finally stopping outside a cafe adrian soon
12:24returns with two drinks he gently hands sienna her favorite iced mitcha first then gives me a cup
12:29of warm spiced apple cider he bluts out this is the place you used to tell me about all the
12:35time
12:35right the moment the words leaves his mouth he freezes sienna discreetly pinches his arm adrian snaps
12:42out of it and quickly tries to play it off oh sienna told me she said her sister loves this
12:48place
12:48i lower my head and take a small sip the bitterness cuts straight to my heart back home i glance
12:54indifferently at the table full of food and my heart sinks dad piles a big bowl of baked macaron
13:00and cheese onto my plate go on try it it's your favorite i made it just for you
13:08i blankly take a bite and chew slowly fighting the urge to gag when i was little i excitedly told
13:16my parents that mom's pan-seeped salmon was my favorite but sienna casually lied saying i hated fish
13:22and actually loved baked macaron and cheese after that day salmon never appeared on our dinner table
13:29again i'd naively believed sienna's all-powerful superpower forced everyone to do what she wanted
13:35and that our parents had no choice but all along they'd simply chosen to indulge her sitting beside
13:42me adrian looks at me hesitantly don't you hate baked macaroni and cheese i pause then look up at him
13:50how do you know adrian seems to realize he said too much and quickly looks away sienna told me
13:59i remain expressionless people's tastes change after dinner mom takes me out to the back patio
14:07your dad fixed the lounge chair he used to love lying here and reading why don't you rest there for
14:14a
14:14while maybe it'll jog your memory i look at the lounge chair and remember how i used to curl up
14:21here
14:22with a book in high school but when the sound of my turning pages disturbed sienna's nap
14:26she casually claimed i didn't even like spending time on the patio
14:31my parents moved the chair into the garage without hesitation leaving me to cry alone
14:35back then i always thought sienna's superpower had forced them to do it but now i finally understand
14:41even if she really did have a superpower why would my parents ignore my tears and please
14:47i blink back my tears and turn to go to my room but sienna suddenly jumps up brimming with excitement
14:56i almost forgot the resort i booked at the familiar name of the resort i stop in my tracks and
15:03look at
15:03adrian it was supposed to be our honeymoon destination a complicated look flashes across his eyes he starts
15:10towards me but sienna grabs him and pulls him back to her side my parents gather around her to look
15:17at
15:17her phone too this is great this resort has amazing reviews we leave tomorrow just pack your bags
15:26but adrian frowns why are there only four spots sienna freezes for a moment then smiles it was so hard
15:34to book i could only get four spots mom glances at me the doctor said alora needs to recover somewhere
15:41familiar she always liked being alone anyway maybe staying home will help her get her memories back
15:48sooner i let out a bitter laugh when we went to cape cod as kids sienna said i didn't want
15:54to go to the
15:55beach when we went to aspen in high school she said i was afraid of the cold and didn't want
16:00to ski
16:02so time and time again they took sienna on their trips and left me home alone it wasn't her superpower
16:09they'd simply never wanted to take me along i glanced down at my phone have a nice trip adrian
16:17opens his mouth as if he wants to say something but sienna immediately pulls him over to look at the
16:23resort futios with her i don't stick around i turn and head back to my room the door slams shut
16:30i sit on the edge of my bed pull out my phone and book a flight out of the city
16:34for tomorrow
16:35then i start packing after booking my ride to the airport a calendar reminder pops up the red text
16:43jumps out at me marriage license appointment adrian and alora he once told me we'd take our best photo
16:49that day and look back on it every year now he's taking my sister on our honeymoon i wipe away
16:54my tears
16:55and delete the reminder the next morning sienna my parents and adrian are ready to leave mom glances
17:02at me you're up i thought you'd sleep in again i'd never liked sleeping in i just gotten tired of
17:08watching my parents give sienna all the best food at breakfast dad nods toward the kitchen
17:15we didn't save you any breakfast find something yourself i head into the kitchen and grab the last
17:20bottle of my favorite oat milk before i can open it sienna snatches it from my hand
17:27alotta you don't even like this brand let me have it my parents and adrian glance at the empty fridge
17:33shelf it was the last one i look at adrian he knows i bought it for myself but after a
17:40brief hesitation
17:41he takes her side right you don't even like it let sienna have it sienna clutches the bottle and
17:47follows everyone out i watch them leave laughing and chatting then take one last look at this so
17:54called home this time i feel nothing but relief at leaving it behind i call a car and head straight
18:01to the airport a week later the four of them return with their suitcases dad takes out his keys as
18:10mom
18:10turns to sienna who knows if your sister's memory has come back don't ever use that superpower story
18:16to fool her again that accident could have ended terribly adrian runs his fingers over a gift box in
18:23his hand inside is a handmade ceramic ornament alara once said she wanted he bought it for her at the
18:29resort gift shop oh you're back from vacation where's aloya all four smiles vanish mom quickly
18:36speaks up aloya's been home recovering are you sure you didn't mistake her for someone else
18:42mrs kowalski shakes her head she came downstairs not long after you left she even stopped to ask how
18:49my kids were doing she seemed perfectly fine didn't look like she'd lost her memory my parents turn pale
18:57adrian's trembling hand turns the key and he opens the door the house is eerily quiet the dishes they'd left
19:06behind on the day they departed are still sitting on the dining table alira clutching the gift box he
19:11brought back from the resort adrian calls out louder the empty house offers no reply he rushes to my
19:19bedroom and pushes the door open the closet door hangs half open everything inside is gone adrian's
19:26hands are shaking badly he spins around and rushes back into the living room raising his voice
19:35after a brief moment of panic dad lets out a long breath and begins to calm down his tone turning
19:41dismissive a lot is just throwing a tantrum that's all he frowns and continues she's probably upset we
19:47didn't take her on this trip so she's gone off to sylph for a few days once she gets over
19:51it she'll come
19:52home standing beside him mom seems somewhat convinced and quietly agrees that's true but
19:58she hasn't fully recovered from her injuries whatever let her be she'll come home once she's
20:06had time to think adrian however is deathly pale if elida remembered everything all along
20:12then why hadn't she said a word all these days while he played sienna's boyfriend
20:17overwhelming panic makes his fingertips treble uncontrollably where could she have gone adrian
20:24looks up his voice tend do either of you know where she goes when she's upset my parents exchange
20:32bebuildered looks dad shakes his head i have no idea she never tells us what's bothering her
20:39mom sighs too she spends most of her time alone in her room how would we know where else she
20:44goes
20:45adrian stands frozen only now does he remember how i'd curl up in his arms and tell him the same
20:51things over and over i told him that in this family everyone's attention always went to sienna
20:56no one ever cared about me those words hadn't been idle complaints they'd been the truth
21:03sensing the tension sienna slips her arm through adrian's adrian don't be so worried
21:11aloda's just upset right now she'll be back in a few days we just need to wait adrian suddenly jerks
21:17away roughly shaking off her hand he turns to sienna you took her place as the bride at her wedding
21:24then you took her place on her honeymoon alora never lost her memory this whole charade ends now
21:34everything goes back to the way it was i'm going to find her the moment the words leave his mouth
21:41bang the front door slams shut adrian speeds out of the neighborhood the city lights blur past in
21:48the night but in a city this big he has no idea where to look he pulls over and tries
21:52to remember
21:53every place i'd ever mentioned then he starts searching one place at a time the wind howls along
21:58the riverbank a few people stroll by but after searching the entire stretch of river he still
22:03can't find me the little restaurant on the corner is still brightly lit but among the stream of diners
22:08there's no sign of the face he knows so well dot at the cafe on the old street the barista
22:12shakes
22:13their head she hasn't been here in a long time every place he visits brings him nothing but disappointment
22:17meanwhile back at home after mom pulls her hand away sienna turns to her parents with red rimmed eyes
22:23looking wounded mom dad look at what he's doing mom rubs her throbbing temples she's worried about
22:29my safety but she has no idea how to deal with a mess in front of her enough sienna adrian's
22:36only
22:36thinking about your sister right now she's still recovering from her injuries and now she's missing
22:41anyone would be worried sick dad sits on the couch in silence for a long time finally he looks up
22:47at
22:47sienna who's standing nearby sienna have we always given you your way sienna freezes for a moment
22:52do you remember when you got hurt at the playground as a little girl your sister was standing right
22:57there we always thought she'd failed to look after you ever since then we felt guilty we were so afraid
23:02you'd get hurt or upset again when you said alara stole money from us we punished her without even
23:07asking her what happened when you said alara cheated on an exam we believed you without a second
23:11thought when we took family photos you said you didn't want alara in them and we actually that's
23:16voice suddenly catches in his throat we didn't leave a single photo with alara in it even adrian
23:21he's supposed to be alara's fiance but because of one thing you said we still went along with you
23:26and played our parts in that ridiculous wedding until the very end we always thought that as long
23:31as you were happy that was enough we thought you were just playing around and would stop when you got
23:35bored but look where we are now alada is gone she's still injured from the car accident you can't keep
23:41doing this sienna stands frozen mom wipes the corner of her eye and picks up her phone i'll call adrian
23:47if he finds alada he needs to convince her to come home first when she comes back you'll apologize
23:53to alara and tell her the whole truth maybe our family can still go back to the way things were
23:58she calls but no one answers mom stares at the screen her face growing paler by the second but
24:03when sienna hears the word apologize her expression darkens she grabs a nearby photo frame and smashes it
24:10i'm not apologizing why should i apologize alita's the one who's petty she's the one who gets upset
24:15over everything she's the one who left why should i get blamed dad jumps to his feet the next second
24:20he slaps her the living room falls completely silent she's your own sister sienna covers her cheek
24:27frozen in place in all these years our parents have hardly ever said a harsh word to her let alone
24:32laid a
24:33hand on her but today dad has actually hit her for the first time dad's chest heaves anger regret and
24:39guilt all written across his face we're the reason you've become like this we've spoiled you by always
24:44letting you have your way sienna's eyes turn red she stares at dad in disbelief as tears begin to well
24:50up you're all blaming me she chokes out those words then turns and runs to her room only mom and
24:55dad
24:55remain in the living room mom is still holding her phone the call having already disconnected she lowers
25:01her head her shoulders trembling after a long silence she finally breaks down in tears what are
25:06we supposed to do now that doesn't answer he stares into the empty living room they used to think that
25:12as long as they kept sienna happy everything would be fine they thought their favoritism was just a
25:16series of little things that didn't matter they thought alara would always be there no matter what
25:21but it wasn't until she actually left that they finally understood they had pushed away the daughter
25:25who loved this family most little by little with their own hands adrian drives aimlessly through
25:32the city streets his phone keeps vibrating with calls from home he doesn't even look at the screen
25:36he just silences it the thought of me watching everyone play out their little act fully aware of
25:41the truth and quietly walking away leaves adrian feeling like he can barely breathe he starts
25:45contacting my old college classmates friends and former co-workers he makes call after call but every answer
25:51is the same no one knows where i am and no one has heard from me adrian pulls over and
25:56covers his
25:56face with both hands regret slowly consumes him he'd had the chance to put an end to that charade but
26:02outside my hospital room he'd chosen to go along with everyone and play along with sienna's so-called
26:07game he thought it was just a harmless little joke and that everything would go back to normal in a
26:12few
26:12days he never imagined i'd actually leave his phone rings again this time it's his mother adrian
26:18hesitates for a moment then answers his mother sounds delighted on the other end adrian now that
26:23the wedding's over when are you two coming home we're all waiting for you your dad loved those
26:27homemade jams alaka brought last time and your grandmother still talks about alaka too she spent
26:32hours sitting with your grandmother in the garden that afternoon she's the most thoughtful young woman
26:37she's ever met every word feels like a needle stabbing into adrian's heart he grips his phone and
26:42stays silent for a long time mom alaka's missing the cheerful laughter on the other end stops abruptly
26:49what did you say what do you mean she's missing adrian closes his eyes and briefly explains what
26:54happened at the wedding and how i've disappeared without a trace a moment later his mother erupts in
26:58anger and panic have you lost your mind what were you thinking you've lost an amazing woman if you
27:04can't find her don't bother coming home the call ends abruptly and silence fills the car again adrian
27:10leans back in his seat and stares at the gloomy night sky outside for the first time he has no
27:15idea what to do he raises his hand and slaps himself hard across the face over the next few
27:19days he uses every connection he has he keeps asking everyone he knows to help him find me but he
27:25gets
27:25nothing it's as if i vanished from the face of the earth meanwhile back at home during the first week
27:31my parents still hold on to a little hope they think i'm just throwing a tantrum they believe i'll come
27:36home on my own before long but by the second week my phone is still unreachable and i still haven't
27:41replied to their messages that's when they finally start to panic by the third week they can't wait
27:46any longer the whole family goes to the police station and reports me missing the police quickly
27:52begin investigating an officer tries calling my number to everyone's surprise the call goes through
27:56my parents immediately puck up they hurry over eager to take the phone from the officer but the next
28:01second a completely unfamiliar voice comes through aleda sinclair is currently participating in a
28:05confidential research project she has requested that no personal contact be allowed the call ends
28:09leaving everyone stunned the officer then explains she's a legally competent adult we've confirmed that
28:14she's safe that she's participating in the project voluntarily and that she's chosen to cut off
28:18contact of her own accord this doesn't meet the criteria for a missing person investigation i'd suggest
28:23you go home and wait to hear from her as soon as adrian hears about it he rushes to the
28:27police station
28:28a confidential research project he repeats the words in a daze my parents stand beside him equally
28:33bewildered only now do they finally realize something they know nothing about aleria's life
28:37they don't know what she's thinking or where she's gone they don't even know when she received a job
28:41offer like this adrian stands there his mind in chaos suddenly a distant memory comes rushing back
28:47i'd once told him about an offer from an overseas confidential research project back then i'd smiled swiped away
28:53the job listing and leaned against his shoulder why would i go when i have you adrian's face slowly
28:58turns pale i'd had a chance to leave all along but back then i chose him now i finally chosen
29:03myself
29:03a crushing sense of despair washes over him adrian's grip loosens his phone hits the floor with a heavy
29:09thawed he stands there with his head bowed his lips trembling she's not coming back throw myself into
29:14the confidential research project i spend my days in the lab working on my research in the evenings i go
29:20running or read whenever i have time a year passes in the blink of an eye out that year my
29:25parents
29:25never truly give up trying to find me they discreetly ask around and keep searching for clues
29:30they always get the same answer until one day they finally call sienna in to confront her this is all
29:35because of you dad's voice is cold and exhausted if you hadn't kept lying to us alia wouldn't have
29:40left mom looks at her with red rimmed eyes you lied when you were little and you haven't changed now
29:46that you're grown we kept believing you and hurting alia over and over you even went so far as to
29:50steal
29:51her wedding from her sienna stares at them for a few seconds then lets out a cold laugh you're
29:56blaming me now who was it that always favored me you chose to believe me you were the ones who
30:00always gave me whatever i wanted she stares at our parents not showing the slightest hint of remorse
30:05i just wanted what i wanted why am i the one getting all the blame now my parents are left
30:10speechless sienna isn't entirely wrong they really did favor her they chose her time and time again
30:15leaving alora to suffer through it all alone sienna doesn't wait for an answer she turns and slams the
30:20door behind her none of them could have imagined what would happen next a year later they'd see
30:25the daughter they thought would never return again by then our project has made a major breakthrough
30:30as a lead researcher i'm invited to return to the u.s and speak at a major industry conference after
30:35my
30:35first day of work i take a cab to the old neighborhood hoping to spend some time at the
30:38dessert cafe there but before i even reach the entrance two familiar figures suddenly catch my eye
30:42my parents are standing right outside the moment our eyes meet they both freeze after a few seconds of
30:47stunned silence mom's eyes fill with tears she hurries towards me her voice trembling
30:52alara you're back dad hurries after her unable to hide his excitement he rushes back into the cafe
30:59and quickly returns with a drink eagerly holding it out to me here have this it's your favorite i
31:03glance down at it an iced matcha latte tiny beads of condemnation covering the cup i don't reach for
31:08it i simply shake my head dad this isn't my favorite sienna's the one who likes this dad freezes
31:13looking at the drink in his hand i suddenly find the whole thing almost laughable when i was little
31:17i loved warm apple cider sienna just wanted the drink i had she casually claimed that matcha was
31:22my favorite instead and you believed her did you really not know no you just didn't care what i
31:26liked my voice remains calm it's the same as her supposed superpower she never had any special
31:31abilities you just wanted to give her everything she asked for dad's hand freezes in midair still
31:36holding the matcha the smiles slowly fade from my parents faces replaced by unmistakable panic mom asks in
31:42a trembling voice when did you figure it all out i give a faint humorless smile when i figured it
31:47out
31:47doesn't matter anymore i gently push the matcha back towards dad i'm only back for work once the
31:52conference is over i'm leaving again and i'm never coming back mom's eyes fill with tears she finally
31:57seems to realize that no matter what they say now nothing will make me stay but after a few seconds
32:02of
32:02silence she suddenly clings to one last hope then what about adrian are you giving up on the man
32:08you've loved for so many years too hearing his name i still feel my heart skip a beat before i
32:13can
32:14answer hurried footsteps approach from nearby alara i look up adrian has heard the news and rushed over
32:19too sienna is right behind him after a year apart adrian looks like a completely different person his
32:24beard is unkempt and exhaustion shadows his eyes the moment he spots me standing outside the cafe he
32:29rushes straight towards me alara as if he finally needs to convince himself i'm real he reaches out and
32:35pulls me into his arms my whole body stiffens the next second i raise my hands and shove him away
32:40adrian stumbles backwards his arms hang frozen in middle air as the light slowly fades from his eyes
32:45seeing this mom hurries forward and grabs sienna by the wrist alara we were wrong we spoiled sienna too
32:50much and that's why we kept hurting you she firmly grips sienna's shoulders sienna apologize to your
32:55sister now sienna looks unwilling but she can't break free of mom's grip after several seconds of
32:59silence she finally lowers her head i'm sorry happy now i look at her quietly neither accepting nor
33:04rejecting her apology seeing my indifferent expression mom begins to panic she knows an
33:09apology won't make me stay then suddenly she thinks of something alara tomorrow's my birthday
33:13will you come home let's have a proper family dinner together i don't answer mom keeps her eyes fixed on
33:18me as if begging for one last chance it's been a year this is the first time our family has
33:22stood
33:22together again but she doesn't know that i'm no longer the alara who would stay just because someone
33:26told me we're family the next day i go anyway not for mom's birthday but because there are things i
33:32need
33:32to say to their faces the moment i walk in my parents visibly relax mom even greets me with a
33:37smile as if nothing ever happened alara i knew you'd come back i don't answer the dining table is
33:42covered with all the foods i used to love warm apple kaita roasted salmon and the chair i loved
33:47sitting in as a little girl mom keeps piling food onto my plate these are all your favorites i look
33:52down
33:52at the food in my bowl and suddenly find it ironic it took them a whole year but they finally
33:57started
33:57to remember too bad i don't need it anymore halfway through the birthday dinner sienna lets out a laugh
34:02she swirls the wine in her glass her eyes full of defiance alara you really did come back i knew
34:09you
34:09were faking it the amnesia running away from home all of it you're just jealous of me and want everyone
34:14to come running after you dad's expression darkens sienna shut it but sienna seems to think she's finally
34:20found her opening am i wrong if she really didn't care why would she come back because i came back
34:25to
34:25tell you one thing from today on we're done the entire dining room falls silent mom's smile freezes
34:31what do you mean i take out the documents i've prepared and place them on the table who you chose
34:36to favor all these years was your decision who you chose to believe was your decision too you kept
34:41giving sienna the things that belonged to me leaving me to suffer alone until i was so afraid that i
34:45actually believed in her ridiculous superpower i turned to look at my parents so stop pretending she
34:50has some kind of superpower she never controlled you you just never chose me alara we
34:55know we were wrong please give us another chance i gently shake my head it's too late i won't forgive
35:01you from now on we're strangers she's the only daughter you'll have with that i turn and walk
35:06toward the door mom jumps to her feet i don't look back i know a new beginning is waiting outside
35:13i throw myself into my work at the conference but i never expect my parents to track down the venue
35:18anyway the conference hall is packed with colleagues from across the industry filling the seats as i speak
35:23on side my gaze sweeps across the audience and suddenly catches two familiar faces mom and dad
35:28are sitting in a corner of the back row they don't say a word they just keep their eyes fixed
35:32on me
35:32their eyes hold a kind of pride i've never seen before along with unbenakeable regret i pause for
35:37only a moment then i look away and finish my presentation the talk goes smoothly and the
35:42session comes to an end i gather my materials and step out through the side entrance the two of them
35:47hurry over and block my path passing attendees turn to stare curiously mom's eyes are red as she reaches
35:53for my arm alara please i'm begging you we were blind to what was happening and we failed you but
35:59you're still our daughter what parent doesn't love their own child her voice breaks please come home
36:04for the past 25 years we've spoiled sissiana too much we neglected you please give us a chance to
36:10make things right i look at them without saying a word just then hurried footsteps echo from the far end
36:14of the hallway adrian emerges from the crowd he's holding an elegant velvet ring box as everyone
36:19watches in surprise he walks straight towards me then he drops to one knee he slowly opens the box
36:24revealing a brand new diamond ring nested inside the diamond sparkles brilliantly under the lights
36:28alara i lost my mind back then i was wrong he looks up at me his eyes filled with regret
36:34i redesigned
36:34this ring myself it's one of a kind made just for you it's even better than the original i don't
36:39want
36:39to lose you like this will you marry me let me make up for every mistake i've made one by
36:43one
36:43people all around us stop to watch my parents stand nearby a glimmer of hope rising in their
36:48eyes they all seem to be waiting waiting for me to soften to take him back i lower my eyes
36:53to look
36:53at the ring then with everyone watching i slowly reach out i lift the sparkling diamond ring from the
36:58box adrian's eyes light up instantly but the next second i turn my wrist and toss the ring straight
37:03into the trash can beside me adrian freezes on his knees he stares at the trash can in disbelief
37:10the ring lies inside glaringly out of place like a cruel joke people around us begin whispering adrian
37:17slowly looks up alisra i look at him with a cold smile why do you think i came back you
37:24redesign a
37:25ring and i'm supposed to forget everything you've done adrian's face grows paler by the second you
37:30always say it was just sinya's joke that you were only playing along but were you really just playing
37:36along when she held you when she kissed you did you ever think about your fiance you enjoyed the
37:45intimacy and attention that came with that game you let her take my place and got close to another
37:51woman without a second thought and now that everything's fallen apart you're telling me you
37:55just lost your mind adrian's lips part laura i i cut him off you weren't tricked by her you enjoyed
38:02it but you don't have the courage to admit it adrian you're not some hopeless romantic you're a coward
38:07who can't admit what you wanted his face goes completely rigid my parents lower their heads too
38:13they finally understand that i'm not rejecting adrian out of spite i truly have no desire to go back to
38:18the way things were just then a familiar voice rings out from the back of the crowd sis everyone turns
38:26sienna slowly steps out of the crowd dressed in an elegant outfit she walks straight over to adrian
38:33she glances at the ring on the ground then looks at me i wasn't going to come but when i
38:39heard alora
38:39would be here today i couldn't help coming sienna turns to face the people around us you act so superior
38:47like the whole world owes you something but does everyone here even know what kind of person you really
38:54are the moment the words leave her mouth every eye in the crowd turns back to me and sienna's smile
39:00grows wider sienna looks around as if she's finally worked up the courage to share all the pain she's
39:06endured she turns to me tears glistening in her eyes honestly i've never wanted to talk about any of
39:12this after all she's my sister but alira you can't blame me for everything just because you're jealous
39:20i stare at her coldly without saying a word everyone knows how much mom and dad have always
39:25loved you but you were always convinced they favored me you fought with them over it more times than i
39:30can count then you went away to college and refused to come home for years mom and dad would call
39:35and
39:36you'd often ignore them people around us begin whispering seeing their reaction sienna piles on
39:42i admit mom and dad sometimes paid more attention to me
39:48but that's because alara has always been selfish she insists on getting whatever she wants and throws
39:56a fit when she doesn't all these years i've held back just to keep mom and dad happy alira doesn't
40:03like
40:03me but i've never held that against her
40:08i honestly don't know what i've done wrong why do you have to tear this family apart
40:13mom looks at her her eyes growing red again dad stands silently beside her only when she's finished
40:20do i let out a quiet laugh are you done
40:25sienna freezes i take out my phone if that's all true then let me show everyone something too
40:31i open my photo gallery a photo appears on the screen at the wedding my name and adrian's are
40:36clearly displayed on the enormous backdrop but the bride standing authorized is sienna
40:42in the photo she's wearing the wedding dress that was supposed to be mine
40:45i swipe to the next photo it's from the hospital i'm lying in a hospital bed in a stark pale
40:51room
40:52i hold up my phone so everyone can see then i look up at sienna you say you've been the
40:58one making
40:58sacrifices then why were you the one at my wedding while i was lying alone in a hospital bed
41:08all the color drains from sienna's face i people look at the wedding photo on my phone
41:14and their expressions begin to change i keep scrolling through my gallery
41:18you said you were just being nice by keeping mom and dad company for me
41:21what about my wedding was that you being nice too sienna's expression grows darker by the second
41:27that was because of what i cut her off because you thought it was fun i turned to adrian and
41:32my
41:33parents you were all there too dad's eyes turned red alara don't call me that you're only sorry now
41:40because i'm really leaving not because you finally realized what you did wrong mom covers her mouth as
41:46tears stream down her face no that's not true we really know we were wrong if we could do it
41:52all over
41:53again we would never treat you this way but life doesn't give us a do-over i gave you so
41:57many
41:58chances but not once did you choose me sweetheart i'm truly sorry please give us one more chance
42:04i look at her tear-streaked face i gently shake my head i already gave you your chances now i
42:10just want
42:11to take my life back with that i turn and walk away behind me mom finally breaks down sopping
42:18after leaving the conference hall i get straight into a car this time no one follows me adrian
42:25stands where he is watching me disappear into the distance my parents don't say a word either
42:31they just stand there in silence watching me leave sienna is still standing a short distance away
42:37she'd expected everything to end the way it always had as long as alara was gone mom and dad would
42:43go
42:43back to her but she waits and waits and no one pays her any attention she tries approaching mom mom
42:52but mom seems not to hear her she just stares toward the exit with red eyes sienna freezes
43:01dad dad doesn't respond either he just lowers his head and stares at the photo of me lying in the
43:08hospital bed on his phone why sienna asks in a small voice why isn't anyone saying anything mom
43:16finally looks up at sienna for the first time there's no indulgent in her eyes only exhaustion and
43:22disappointment even now you're still trying to use lies to blame your sister
43:29how could you do that dad closes his eyes
43:35aloya is the one we've wronged the most sienna stares at them in disbelief she still refuses to believe
43:41it then let her go aren't i the one you love most no one answers from that day on things
43:52at home are
43:52never the same for sienna again mom ignores her messages and dad stops answering her calls
43:58when she comes home her parents no longer blindly take her side with the door closed her parents
44:05tell her if alada isn't coming back then you shouldn't show your face here again either
44:11a year later i finally complete the confidential research project my research earns recognition across
44:18the industry and i receive a new job offer more importantly i meet someone who truly respects me
44:24he never makes decisions for me or expects me to sacrifice my own happiness for anyone else the sun is
44:30shining on my wedding day wearing the wedding dress i chose for myself i walk into the church on his
44:36arm
44:36at last i get the wedding that's truly mine after the ceremony my husband and i walk out of the
44:43church
44:43together people pass by on the busy street that's when i suddenly spot a familiar face adrian is
44:49standing a short distance away after a year apart he looks even more worn out than i remember he doesn't
44:56approach he just watches me from a distance tears streaming down his face my husband follows my gaze
45:03eyes he asks with a puzzled look who is he i pause for a few seconds then i look away
45:11tighten my grip on
45:12my husband's hand and keep walking without looking back someone who doesn't matter with that i keep
45:19moving forward the sunlight warms my skin everything behind me is no longer my concern the girl who once
45:25desperately wanted to be loved and chosen has finally learned to choose herself and from that day on my life
45:32finally belongs to me