- 28 minutes ago
ESP Rehabilitación para dejarte
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:08To be continued...
00:30I went to that place three years ago to cure me of loving him.
00:34I spent three years locked inside that place.
00:37Now, I stopped loving him, just as he wanted.
00:40Then he came running back and said,
00:42I regret it.
00:44For eight years, I was a fixture by Roderick Dunlap's side.
00:48Everyone said I was addicted to him.
00:50I was so obsessed with him that I'd run off any woman who got close to him,
00:54whatever it took.
00:55Once, I offered one of them money to leave Roderick.
01:00The woman laughed in my face.
01:02Being with Roderick meant an endless supply of cash.
01:05Why would anyone walk away for such a pathetic amount?
01:09Then that woman took a staged fall down a flight of stairs.
01:13Roderick thought I pushed her.
01:16And I ended up being sent to a rehab center by him.
01:24Others went there to quit smoking, drinking, or gaming.
01:27I was there to let go of Roderick.
01:30In the end, I succeeded only for him to tell me he regretted it.
01:34The moment I stepped out of the rehab center, I saw an Audi parked there.
01:39It looked totally out of place.
01:42I glanced at it and lowered my head, preparing to walk away.
01:45The person who got out of the car called out to me.
01:49It was Roderick.
01:51He had grown more mature in the last three years.
01:54I glanced at him once, then looked away.
01:57The staff at the center taught us that staring was rude.
02:00Especially at someone we liked?
02:02Yes, after three years, I had been completely reformed.
02:10Roderick told me to get in, and I did so, sitting quietly in the back seat.
02:14I kept my head down, staring at my lap and not moving a muscle.
02:18Roderick sat beside me.
02:20I could feel the weight of his intense gaze.
02:22The car was dead quiet.
02:24I held my breath, scared to make a peep.
02:27But a cough escaped me anyway.
02:29It was just my old cough.
02:30The car pulled up at the Dunlap's mansion.
02:33Roderick's grandmother, Maggie Dunlap, lived there.
02:37Today, as I remembered, marked her 80th birthday.
02:41Then it hit me why Roderick had come to get me.
02:43He started to walk in.
02:46I hesitated for a second, then blurted out,
02:50Um, Roderick, I didn't bring a gift.
02:54When he turned around, my heart was pounding out of my chest.
02:59I quickly looked down.
03:00I knew my quickened heartbeat was from fear, not from affection.
03:06Somehow, I'd turned into a total coward.
03:08If someone even glanced my way, I'd get a jolt of fear.
03:14I'd toss and turn all night in nightmares, haunted by those staring eyes.
03:21Follow me.
03:22Roderick brushed off my worry.
03:24He was as cold as always.
03:26Or maybe he only saved that coldness for me.
03:29I had to jog a little just to keep up with him.
03:33Mari!
03:34You're back!
03:35Come in, dear!
03:36Maggie was right there at the front door,
03:38waiting for me.
03:39Dot Maggie had always had my back,
03:41always encouraged my crush on Roderick,
03:43and even snuck me info on his plans.
03:46I walked over to her.
03:48Hello, Maggie.
03:49Mari?
03:50Honey?
03:51Why are you being so distant?
03:53You're not mad at me for what happened, are you?
03:56Maggie stroked my hair, her eyes full of affection.
03:58I shook my head.
04:00I could never be mad at her three years ago.
04:02If Maggie hadn't threatened to harm herself,
04:04I probably would have been sent to jail instead.
04:08On the outside, it looked like a regular school.
04:12But only the people who'd been locked up there knew what real torture was like.
04:17During the meal, I kept my head down,
04:20shoveling down spaghetti as fast as I could.
04:22I didn't make a sound,
04:24didn't reach for anything else,
04:26just ate fast like I hadn't had a meal in a month.
04:30Marianne!
04:31Yes, sir!
04:32Hearing my name,
04:33I set down my fork and stood up straight.
04:36We all froze me,
04:37Roderick,
04:37and Maggie.
04:38I met their shocked stares for a split second.
04:42Then I looked down at the silverware I'd set neatly on the table.
04:45Even with how panicked I was,
04:47I just stood there, confused.
04:50It hit me then I'd forgotten I wasn't at the center anymore.
04:53I had no idea why Roderick had called me.
04:56You scared her, you big idiot!
04:58Maggie swatted Roderick's arm before turning to me.
05:01Sit down, Mary.
05:02You're home now, sweetie.
05:04Just relax.
05:06I did what Maggie said and sat back down,
05:09but I couldn't eat another bite.
05:11Something about the way they looked at me told me they'd noticed.
05:13The girl who walked in three years ago was gone,
05:16and the one sitting here now was someone they didn't recognize.
05:22Grandma was talking to you.
05:23Why weren't you listening?
05:27Roderick's tone was sharp.
05:29I couldn't tell if he was mad I'd ignored Maggie,
05:32or just ticked off about getting swatted.
05:33I'm sorry, Maggie.
05:35I was just very hungry.
05:37I didn't hear you.
05:38I gave her an apologetic look.
05:41The counselors at the center always drilled it into us.
05:44Apologies have to be sincere.
05:46Only I knew the truth.
05:48It wasn't hunger.
05:49It was fear.
05:50Fear of getting punished for not eating fast enough,
05:53or for leaving food on my plate.
05:55I vaguely recalled her telling me to try the other food.
05:58I'd heard her,
05:59but I just couldn't react fast enough.
06:02So Roderick called out to me.
06:04By the time dinner was over,
06:05my forehead was covered in a light sweat.
06:08I wasn't sure if it was from the heat in the room,
06:10or my own anxiety.
06:12Three years in that place had taught me one thing.
06:14Never let your guard down,
06:16not even at a dinner table.
06:19After dinner,
06:20I returned to Grandpa's old house.
06:24Thank you for the ride.
06:26I gave Roderick a small bow.
06:28Maggie had wanted me to stay the night,
06:30but I'd turned her down.
06:31I didn't want any more contact with them than I had to,
06:34so I'd asked Roderick to drive me home.
06:38You really want to stay here?
06:40Roderick frowned.
06:41I glanced back at the house.
06:43It hadn't been touched in three years.
06:45Now it was completely overgrown with weeds.
06:48But I nodded.
06:49I had nowhere else to go anyway.
06:51I was flat broke,
06:53and the clothes I was wearing were from three years ago.
06:55The rehab center had given us uniforms,
06:57so these clothes had never even been worn out.
07:01I bent down to pull some weeds,
07:03the little critters living there scurried away.
07:05I saw cockroaches, mice,
07:07and a snake coiled in the corner,
07:09too lazy to move.
07:10Once upon a time,
07:11I would have jumped straight into Roderick's arms.
07:14Now, I just stared at them calmly
07:16and looked for a stick to shoo the snake away.
07:20Roderick pulled me back toward the car.
07:24What's wrong?
07:25I didn't even realize he was still there.
07:28Didn't you see that snake?
07:29Oh, right I'd forgotten Roderick hated reptiles.
07:36I saw it.
07:37It's fine.
07:39I'll just shoo it away with a stick.
07:41If it bothers you,
07:43you can just leave!
07:45I caught myself reassuring him.
07:47I reached for the door handle,
07:49ready to hop out.
07:50But Roderick locked the doors and drove off.
07:53I quickly buckled my seatbelt.
07:56W-where are you taking me?
07:59He didn't say a word.
08:01I didn't dare ask again.
08:03He took me to his private apartment.
08:05He closed the door behind us without a word.
08:08I couldn't leave it was a keypad lock.
08:11He went straight to the shower,
08:13probably trying to wash off the creeps
08:15from seeing all those critters.
08:17I sat straight on the living room couch.
08:19About an hour later,
08:21Roderick came downstairs in pajamas,
08:23his hair still wet.
08:24I knew better than to stare.
08:26Stay here until your place is cleaned up.
08:29You can sleep here tonight.
08:30I thought about it for a second,
08:32then nodded.
08:35That house was a mess.
08:36Tackling it all alone
08:38would have kept me going way past midnight.
08:40He walked over.
08:41I stood up and stepped aside without thinking.
08:44Roderick grabbed my chin,
08:45forcing me to look at him.
08:47So you're over me?
08:49His expression was questioning.
08:52Yes.
08:53I didn't hesitate for a second.
08:55Any delay would have felt like an insult
08:57to everything I'd been through.
09:00That night, the nightmare returned.
09:02In my dream,
09:03countless eyes stared back at me,
09:05filled with hatred,
09:07disgust,
09:07and contempt.
09:08Every single one of them
09:10belonged to Roderick.
09:13The next day,
09:14when Roderick left for work,
09:15I asked him to drop me off downtown.
09:18He didn't seem to mind,
09:20as long as I wasn't in his way.
09:22I hesitated in front of a florist's hiring sign.
09:25I didn't have a college degree.
09:27I never finished college
09:29because Roderick had me sent to that rehab center.
09:32Hunting for a job?
09:33The shop owner noticed me staring at the sign,
09:35but not coming in,
09:36so he finally asked.
09:38I nodded.
09:39The owner looked to be in his mid-twenties,
09:42and he seemed pretty nice.
09:43The pay was $3,000 monthly,
09:45and no diploma was required.
09:48I just had to be on time
09:49to help out at the shop every day.
09:51I asked the owner for a $1,000 advance.
09:54Money makes the world go round.
09:56I needed it for everything.
09:58My official start date was the next day,
10:00and to my surprise,
10:01he trusted me.
10:02I spent $400 on a used electric scooter
10:05from a local shop.
10:06Once upon a time,
10:08$400 wouldn't have meant squat to me.
10:10Now, I had to haggle just to get it for that price.
10:13It's not like I was an orphan or anything.
10:16Three years ago,
10:17my parents disowned me.
10:18To protect the company
10:20and the family's reputation,
10:22the only person who'd ever really loved me grandpa
10:24was gone a long time ago.
10:26If he were still here,
10:27I probably never would have ended up like this.
10:31I rode the scooter back to grandpa's old house.
10:34The weeds outside were already gone.
10:36Roderick must have sent someone to clear them.
10:39Inside, everything was covered
10:41in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs.
10:44It took me for hours
10:46just to make the place halfway livable.
10:49Most of the stuff inside was broken beyond fixing.
10:52I was trying to carry out the junk when I tripped.
10:58Everything went flying all over the floor.
11:00I was a mess my knee hurt
11:02and I was covered in dirt.
11:04I saw a pair of shiny leather shoes stop in front of me.
11:07I didn't even have to look up
11:08to know who they belonged to.
11:10I got up slowly,
11:12my knee throbbing with pain.
11:14Mr. Dunlop.
11:17Can I help you with something?
11:18I'd gone from calling him Rod
11:20to Roderick
11:21and now to Mr. Dunlop.
11:23It was better this way keeping my distance.
11:26I never wanted to go back
11:27to that hellhole ever again.
11:29Grandma sent me to check on how you're doing.
11:31Roderick's brow was furrowed.
11:33Please tell her I'm fine
11:35and she doesn't have to worry about me.
11:37I crouched back down to clean up the mess
11:39that fall had just made everything worse.
11:44Roderick grabbed me by the back of my collar
11:46with a tear,
11:47my shirt split right open.
11:48It was the same shirt I'd worn yesterday
11:51and the same one I'd had three years ago.
11:53The fabric was so thin it tore almost instantly.
11:56Mr. Dunlop,
11:58have some respect!
11:59My voice was sharp with anger
12:00as I clutched the torn fabric.
12:02Thank God it was only the back that tore,
12:05but it was my only shirt.
12:06I hadn't had time to buy new clothes,
12:08and now how was I supposed to go shopping?
12:11But Roderick's eyes were fixed
12:13on the scars on my back.
12:15What the hell happened here?
12:17I misbehaved.
12:19They punished me for it.
12:21My voice was flat,
12:22like I was talking about someone else's pain.
12:25You deserved it.
12:26He walked out.
12:27I glanced over my shoulder.
12:29My back was covered in scars old and new,
12:32all from whippings.
12:33The newest ones were probably from a few days ago.
12:36I couldn't even remember exactly which day.
12:39They hadn't even fully healed yet.
12:44I found a dusty shirt in the closet,
12:46shook it off,
12:46and slipped it on right away.
12:48Pretty soon,
12:49I felt an itch on my back,
12:51right over the wounds.
12:52They probably got infected.
12:54Of course,
12:55just as I was heading out to buy new clothes,
12:57Roderick came back.
12:59Was he back to laugh at me?
13:00He tossed a bag at me?
13:03Change into these.
13:05I refused.
13:07He had a girlfriend,
13:08and it felt wrong for him to be buying me clothes.
13:11But it had been three years.
13:12Maybe Chelsea was his wife now,
13:14not that I cared.
13:16Roderick pulled me roughly back inside the house.
13:18I sat down and did what he told me.
13:21He cleaned the wounds on my back
13:22with antiseptic and rubbing alcohol.
13:24It stung.
13:25But I didn't make a sound.
13:26It was nothing next to what I'd been through.
13:28His hands were rough but strangely careful,
13:31like he was trying to undo something he couldn't name.
13:37Why is this one right here across your waist?
13:39Roderick pointed to a particularly ugly scar.
13:42It wasn't just a surface scrape
13:44whoever hit me had aimed right for my kidneys.
13:46I shook my head.
13:47Um,
13:48I don't know.
13:49He finished up cleaning the wounds
13:51and helped pull my shirt down.
13:54Why did they do this to you?
13:56I was already wearing a new shirt.
14:00Because I misbehaved.
14:02Then,
14:03as if worried he might not believe me,
14:05I added,
14:08But I'm good now.
14:10What did you do?
14:12Roderick pushed,
14:13clearly unsatisfied with my answer.
14:17One of the counselors caught me
14:18after I dropped some food on the table.
14:21Roderick frowned,
14:22but said nothing.
14:23I glanced at him nervously,
14:25after a long pause.
14:28Elsewhere,
14:29where else did they hurt you?
14:31I shook my head.
14:32It's not like they chose to go for my back.
14:34I'd curl up into a ball,
14:36so my back was just the only part left exposed.
14:39It's getting late.
14:41You should go now.
14:42I didn't want to be in the same room as him.
14:44It felt suffocating.
14:46Besides,
14:47it was already dark outside.
14:48Oh, it's fine.
14:50I'll crash here for the night.
14:53Silence hung between us.
14:54I didn't argue.
14:56But I stayed awake long after the lights went out.
15:01I hadn't eaten since breakfast at his apartment.
15:04Using the groceries I'd picked up earlier,
15:06I whipped up a simple meal on the old hot plate.
15:10Thank God Grandpa never used gas otherwise.
15:12I'd have had nothing to eat.
15:15You're not at the center anymore.
15:17You don't have to eat so fast.
15:18Roderick's voice reached me as I hurried through the meal.
15:21But I was already finished,
15:23and Roderick had barely touched his food.
15:25Old habits die hard.
15:27Roderick took my bedroom,
15:28so I slept in Grandpa's old room.
15:31Late that night,
15:32my knee and back started throbbing.
15:33My head felt heavy and dizzy.
15:36When I opened my eyes again,
15:37I was staring at a white ceiling.
15:40The sharp smell of disinfectant was everywhere.
15:42I didn't have time to wonder how I'd gotten here.
15:45All I cared about was that I was gonna be late for my first shift.
15:49I tiptoed over to put on my shoes.
15:51Careful not to wake Roderick.
15:53Roderick's sleepy voice stopped me right as I was almost out the door.
15:58Where are you off to?
15:59I got a job.
16:01I'm gonna be late for work.
16:02Do you even know you're running a fever?
16:04He sounded annoyed.
16:06Was it because he'd had to pay for the medical bills?
16:10Don't worry, Mr. Dunlop.
16:12I'll pay you back as soon as I get my first paycheck.
16:15I gave him a quick, polite bow and slipped out the door.
16:20Thankfully, I made it to work just in time.
16:25It was Valentine's Day, and the flower shop was absolutely packed.
16:30My job was simple, just working the register.
16:32I didn't know how to do anything else yet.
16:35The shop was small, but the owner was amazing, and customers just kept coming in.
16:40But out of all the people who could have walked in,
16:42I never thought I'd see Chelsea Harvey.
16:46Arm in arm with Roderick, laughing and talking up a storm.
16:50Chelsea, the same girlfriend Roderick, had brought home all those years ago.
16:55Chels, Rod.
16:57The shop owner walked over to greet them politely.
17:01My mind went completely blank, and I froze in place.
17:04It turned out the owner was Chelsea's brother.
17:07My life was starting to feel like a bad soap opera all over again.
17:11I'd suffered for three years because of Chelsea.
17:14And now here I was, working for her brother.
17:17How pathetic was that?
17:25Chelsea spotted me.
17:28Flinched in fake fear and buried her face in Roderick's chest.
17:32Cliffy, what is she doing here?
17:34She's, she's the one who...
17:36Chelsea pointed a shaking finger right at me.
17:39Clifford Harvey stared at me in shock.
17:40Then his face twisted with disgust.
17:42He grabbed me by the arm and shoved me right out the door.
17:49It all happened so fast.
17:51I stumbled and crashed to the ground.
17:54Roderick just stood there and watched.
17:56Cold as ice.
17:58Humiliated, I got up and ran all the way back to the old house.
18:03I locked myself in grandpa's room.
18:05It was the only place I ever felt safe.
18:10Thanks to that, I had to find a new job.
18:13And I had to pay back that $1,000 advance.
18:19I hated owing anyone anything.
18:24Job hunting sucked for days.
18:26Until I finally got hired as a dishwasher.
18:28It was tiring, but it kept me busy.
18:31Kept my mind off things.
18:34I thought maybe I could finally live a quiet life.
18:37But some people just couldn't stand to see me happy.
18:40Chelsea's shadow followed me wherever I went.
18:48The floor manager had told me to bring the clean dishes out to be sanitized.
18:59Well, look who it is.
19:01The Crawford Group Harris.
19:10As I walked through the dining area, a few girls blocked my way.
19:15Their voices thick with sarcasm.
19:18They were my old college classmates, also Chelsea's little minions.
19:22Chelsea was standing right behind them.
19:25Watching it all go down, no sign of her usual innocent act.
19:31I tried to ignore them and walk past.
19:34I didn't want any trouble.
19:35Did I say you could leave?
19:36Someone yanked my hair so hard, it sent a sharp pain shooting through my scalp.
19:41The noise set off a commotion.
19:45All I could think about was the plates.
19:48I'd have to pay for them.
19:50Roderick's voice cut through the noise from behind me.
19:52What's going on here?
19:54My hands, busy picking up the broken pieces, froles for a second.
19:59I cut my finger on a shard.
20:02It didn't even hurt.
20:03I knew something way worse was about to happen.
20:07Sure enough, I heard Chelsea's fake sweet voice complaining to Roderick.
20:12We were just trying to make up with Mari.
20:17Just catch up a little.
20:19But then she...
20:24Before Chelsea could finish, another girl cut in.
20:28But then she lost her temper and tried to hit Chelsea with a plate!
20:43I kept picking up the broken pieces calmly.
20:48I knew I was going to lose this job too.
20:50The floor manager rushed over and chewed me out.
20:52I do no count avoids.
20:54I intrudently bust and dunked it!
20:56Munt!
20:56Nup!
20:57Test!
21:01I handed over almost all the cash I had on me.
21:05All but ten bucks.
21:08I'm sorry.
21:10I'm sorry.
21:14I'm sorry.
21:21Grandpa.
21:40I didn't turn out the way you hoped I would.
21:46You taught me that loving someone means having the courage to go for them
21:50So you never regret it
21:55But grandpa, I'm so tired
21:57I can't do this anymore, I'm giving up
22:02What if I come to be with you instead?
22:07You're not saying no, so I'll take that as a yes
22:14I downed all the sleeping pills I bought at the pharmacy
22:17I downed all the sleeping pills I bought at the pharmacy
22:25I was scared Roderick would use this as an excuse to send me back to that center
22:30I couldn't live like that anymore
22:32I couldn't find a single reason to keep going anymore
22:36But sleeping pills were supposed to put you to sleep
22:47Why did it hurt so much instead?
22:52A sharp cramp hit my stomach and I could feel my eyes starting to close
22:58Right as my eyes closed for good
23:00I thought I saw Roderick standing in the doorway
23:10When is she going to wake up?
23:11She's been asleep for days
23:13When I came to, it seemed I heard Roderick's voice
23:25Why was he still clinging to me even after death?
23:34It wasn't until a team of doctors began examining me that I understood
23:45Roderick had rushed me here to have my stomach pumped
23:53I'd been given a second chance
24:01That figure I saw hadn't been an illusion
24:03It was him
24:11Are you sending me back?
24:14I looked at his darkened expression
24:25The doctor says you may be suffering from depression
24:30Roderick avoided my question
24:34I nodded Dot, but that wasn't the point
24:44All I cared about was whether I had to be sent back
24:53Why didn't you tell me?
24:58Would you have believed me if I had?
25:03Telling him would only have made him think I was making excuses to leave that place
25:17I had reached out to him
25:20Each resident was granted a scheduled call to family twice a year
25:31During my first six months, I called him once
25:36I'm sick
25:38I cough up blood sometimes
25:40And they hit us
25:46Can I please come home?
25:54I promise I won't bother you anymore
25:57What did he say back then?
26:00You come to
26:02Find a better excuse next time
26:07Then he hung up
26:13After that call, I was beaten again
26:17I never called him after that
26:24Why did I cough up blood?
26:32Their blows had landed on my back
26:34Over and over
26:35The internal damage eventually affected my stomach and lungs
26:47Seeing Roderick fall silent
26:49I knew he still didn't believe me
26:51I lowered my head and didn't ask again whether he'd send me back
26:56I moored me long
26:57The pair in the sorry to we's out
26:58And sparing and disceveling functy
27:00Should I be sent back?
27:01I won't leave alive
27:06In a place like that
27:07No one would notice whether a person was breathing
27:11I thought once I got out
27:13I could start over
27:15But I was wrong
27:17My peace was always shattered
27:18Whenever Roderick came into the picture
27:25The doctor called Roderick out
27:27Saying some test results were ready
27:34The door swung open as Roderick strode back in
27:44He yanked the blanket aside
27:46Then my hospital gown
27:55An ugly, jaggy scar was exposed
28:01Your kidney
28:03Where is it?
28:08His eyes were bloodshot
28:09A vein throbbing on his forehead as he stared at me
28:18He looked terrifying
28:19Just like at the staff at the center
28:23They had that same look in their eyes
28:35That look always came right before a beating
28:39I pulled the blanket up
28:41And hid underneath it
28:49The bed shifted as Roderick sat down beside me
28:55He gently tug
28:57He gently'd at the covers
29:02Mary, come out
29:03You'll suffocate
29:08His voice softened
29:09As if he'd realized he'd scared me
29:15Promise you won't hit me?
29:24My voice was muffled under the blanket
29:26Only after he promised did I poke my head
29:37He asked again
29:39Patient this
29:41What happened to your kidney?
29:45I shook my head
29:50I don't know
29:55Roderick took out his phone and said he would investigate this thoroughly
30:01Ever since learning about my depression
30:03Roderick had barely left my side
30:06It was as if he was afraid I might try something again
30:08But I saw that the rehab center had been shut down on television
30:12No doubt it was Roderick's doing
30:15It had posed as an educational institution
30:18Behind closed doors
30:19It ran vile operations
30:22Did he do this to you too?
30:25Roderick pointed at the screen
30:26Mari Kambai, VO
30:28The man being interviewed was the infamous director
30:31He spoke excitedly to the reporter
30:33I was helping
30:35They should be thankful
30:38Without my guidance
30:40Do you think they'd be so compliant now?
30:43Go ask their parents
30:45Their children are model citizens now, aren't they?
30:49I took a kidney as my fair compensation
30:51My method was simple
30:53Add something to their bedtime milk
30:54Then proceed with the removal
30:56I'd watch them wake up
30:57In agony
30:59The man grew more animated as he spoke
31:01I felt a wave of dread seep into my bones
31:06The bloody scene felt like it had happened yesterday
31:08That night
31:10I went to bed as usual
31:11Before lights out
31:13We all had to drink the milk the attenders brought
31:14Refusal meant a beating
31:18In my sleep
31:19I felt like I was being restrained
31:22Then slowly
31:23A sharp pain pierced my side
31:29My eyes flew open to see the director's horrifying face leaning over me
31:33It wasn't a dream
31:34He was staring intently at my waist
31:36The pain made me black out
31:39I didn't wake until the next day
31:44He threatened me
31:46If I ever spoke a word
31:47My other kidney would meet the same fate
31:49No wonder so many people there moved stiffly
31:52And no one ever said a thing
31:54Mari!
31:56I stared at him
31:57My gaze empty
31:58Then
31:59A mouthful of blood surged up
32:00And spilled over
32:03I collapsed
32:07I had no idea how long I was out
32:12When I woke up
32:13I was still connected to a ventilator
32:17I shifted my fingers
32:18Trying to wake Roderick
32:21His weight was resting on my hand
32:23And it had gone numb
32:29You're awake
32:30How do you feel?
32:31You were in shock
32:32Did you realize?
32:33But I was in shock
32:34How would I know?
32:37But was this really Roderick?
32:41His jaw was shadowed with stubble
32:43His eyes streaked with red
32:46This wasn't the same cool collected man I remembered
32:50I tried to speak
32:51But had no strength left
32:53I just lay still
32:56Let the doctors and Roderick do what they needed to do
32:59I learned I'd been unconscious for four days
33:04Roderick had stayed by my side the whole time
33:10That afternoon
33:11A doctor removed the ventilator
33:15I could talk again
33:20What's the prognosis?
33:21Weeks?
33:21Months?
33:22I knew my time was running out
33:25Roderick's hand
33:26Which had been holding a spoon to feed me broth
33:28Paused
33:29After a long moment
33:32Six months
33:33Maybe less
33:38A faint smile of relief touched my lips
33:41Good
33:42I could get to see Grandpa soon
33:45Lung cancer?
33:49I phrased it as a question
33:50But I was sure
33:52Even after I'd learned to behave
33:54And the beatings mostly stopped
34:02I kept coughing up blood
34:04The depression only made things worse
34:12Roderick nodded
34:16Can I get back to work?
34:18Is there any way you could keep your wife from interfering?
34:21If they'd just leave me alone
34:22I could work in peace
34:24I still owed Clifford
34:26One thousand dollars
34:27After all
34:29She's not my wife
34:30Roderick frowned
34:32Putting a clear distance
34:33Between himself and Chelsea
34:35I didn't care what Chelsea was
34:38I just needed her to stay away
34:43I started a small street stall
34:45On a decent block
34:46Selling burritos
34:50I had planned to find a regular job
34:52But Roderick forbade it
34:58When he set his mind to something
34:59No one could change it
35:07He offered me two options
35:10Start my own small business
35:12Or stay home
35:16Doing something I chose
35:17With the time I had left
35:18Was a good idea
35:20I stood nervously behind my cart
35:22Worried no customers would come
35:23The location was close to campus
35:27Steady foot traffic
35:28From students and professionals
35:30It was a fully licensed area
35:32For street vendors to operate
35:39Best of all
35:40It was close to Grandpa's house
35:47Hey, how much for a burrito?
35:50I was lost in thought
35:51When a guy with a brighty smile
35:52Walked up to my stall
35:57I looked up and met his clear eyes
35:59He had faint dimples
36:00Wearing a basketball jersey
36:02A ball in his hand
36:03As if he'd just come from a game
36:05I was caught off guard for a second
36:09He spoke again
36:10Before I came out of my trance
36:12For some reason
36:13Looking into his eyes
36:14Didn't make me uneasy at all
36:17Usually
36:17Any eye contact
36:18Filled me with dread
36:20So many pairs of eyes
36:21Haunted my nights
36:29Would you like to try one?
36:30It's free
36:32Why free?
36:33Is it because I'm so good looking?
36:34He grinned and rubbed his chin playfully
36:37His playful tone made my face grow warm
36:40No, it's my first day
36:42If it turns out unpasteable
36:44I couldn't possibly take your money
36:48I'd practiced at home over and over
36:50But doing it for real felt completely different
36:55Oh, so I'm your gimme pee pig
36:59No
37:01I thought I'd scared him off
37:02Just kidding
37:03Go ahead
37:04I'll eat it however it turns out
37:05He laughed warmly
37:06Most vendors could make one in three to five minutes
37:09My clumsy attempt took nearly seven
37:12The outside was crispy
37:14Though not burnt
37:15Maybe I should make you another one?
37:19He took the wrapped burrito and bit into it
37:21This is perfect
37:24Mmm
37:25It's great
37:26Seriously
37:27This is how it should be
37:28Nice and crispy
37:30His compliment made me smile
37:33So
37:33How much?
37:34You're not going to charge me an arm and a leg, are you?
37:36No
37:37He widened his eyes in alarm
37:38This one's complimentary
37:39A lucky start for my first day
37:42I'm Leonard Williams, by the way
37:44As he turned to leave
37:45He glanced back and waved
37:46I watched him walk away
37:48It struck me then how distant my own college days felt
37:52If I hadn't been so reckless back then
37:54I would have graduated a year ago
38:00As the day went on
38:01More customers came
38:06I was almost too busy to keep up
38:11But I got quicker and more confident with each one
38:15I didn't pack up until I'd run out of ingredients
38:24I'll drive you home
38:25Roderick pulled up beside me in his car
38:26It's fine
38:27I have my scooter
38:29I nodded toward my scooter park depth nearby
38:34It's getting chilly tonight
38:35You'll catch a cold
38:36I won't die from it
38:44Marianne
38:44How long are you going to keep fighting me on everything?
38:48Roderick caught my wrist as I started to walk away
38:52Mr. Dunlop
38:53Do not forget
38:59I was the one who pushed your girlfriend down the stairs
39:06I'm the one to blame
39:14In that moment
39:15To cut any last tie between us
39:18I claimed the guilt
39:21Mary stopped lying
39:22I know the truth now
39:24She fell on her own
39:27Suddenly
39:27His arms came around me from behind
39:32Hadn't he told me to protect Chelsea?
39:38So you were protecting her?
39:40While I bore all the blame?
39:45No
39:46I was afraid once you knew the truth
39:49You'd hate me for not believing you sooner
39:53I was wrong
39:54I'm sorry
39:56I'm sorry
40:01His arms tightened around me
40:04I only found out two days ago
40:08I went to Chelsea to stay away from you
40:10And we argued
40:13She let it slip
40:16I could no longer hold back my tears
40:20They fell onto the back of his hand
40:23At least I would clear my name before I died
40:25Don't cry, Mari
40:28He released me
40:29Bending down to wipe my tears
40:33I sobbed uncontrollably in his arms
40:40For a moment, neither of us spoke
40:44Three years of silence
40:46Three years of pain I'd swallowed without a word
40:48And now, finally
40:50Someone believed me
40:56Rod
40:58Here
40:59I pointed to my chest
41:02It doesn't beat for you anymore
41:06Rod, if I could
41:07I'd wish we had never met
41:10I wiped my tears
41:11And gave a faint smile
41:14This is the last time I'll call you that
41:18From now on, let's each live our own lives
41:22I'd treat this as a goodbye
41:24A proper end to those eight years I spent loving him
41:30I could never forget the three years in that place
41:35And the person who'd sent me there was Roderick himself
41:40Mary
41:43He reached for me, but I stepped back
41:45Mr. Dunlap, please don't disturb me again
41:51I want my remaining time
41:53To be peaceful
41:57With that, I left
41:58I drove my scooter home
42:02Roderick's car followed at a distance in the rearview mirror
42:06I ignored him
42:10I went to my stall as usual every day
42:17Roderick watched from a distance
42:20I just ignored him
42:26Hey, I'm back
42:27Brought my classmates to try your burritos
42:30It was Leonard
42:31My first customer
42:35I glanced at the two boys behind him
42:37And gave a slight nod in greeting
42:39What kind would you like?
42:40A real sense of ease washed over me
42:43Something I hadn't felt in a long time
42:45Whatever you recommend
42:55Maybe one of each?
42:56I'll take some back for my roommates too
42:59One of his buddies said
43:00Eyeing the ingredients
43:04So, how much?
43:05You didn't let me pay last time
43:06You've got to charge me today
43:07Or I won't come back
43:10I hadn't said I wouldn't charge him
43:13I still needed to pay back my debt
43:16Six dollars each
43:18Cash only though
43:19If you don't have any
43:20You can get change at the store down the block
43:24I pointed to the sign on my cart
43:25And then toward the store down the block
43:29Wait right here
43:30I'll be back
43:31I watched Leonard walk away inside
43:34The young seemed so full of life
43:36It was easy to forget I was only a year older than him
43:40Yet my life felt worlds apart
43:45Hey, isn't he good looking?
43:47And he's single
43:48Maybe give him a shot?
43:50His classmates clearly thought my glance at Leonard meant more than it did
43:53I shook my head and stayed silent
43:57I was making around three to four hundred dollars a day
44:04Soon, I had enough to repay my debt
44:07Clifford seemed to have been waiting for me
44:09He looked different
44:11Guilty, almost
44:13I heard what really happened
44:17Chelsea admitted the truth to Roderick
44:20I'm sorry for what I did to you
44:21I didn't reply
44:24I placed the money on the counter and left
44:32Finally, I was free of that burden
44:35Why did Leonard keep coming to my stall?
44:38Did he really love burritos that much?
44:42Do you really like burritos that much?
44:45I finally asked
44:46No, why?
44:49Taking another bite
44:52Why do you come every day?
44:55Were you short on money for meals?
44:59But he didn't look like he was struggling
45:02Because you're here
45:03Between bites
45:04I didn't fully process his words
45:07Not until he swallowed, leaned closer, and looked at me seriously
45:12Be my girlfriend
45:15I froze for a second
45:17Then shook my head
45:19I took his hand and placed it on my waist
45:22I'm missing a kidney here
45:26I have lung cancer here
45:28He shrugged, unfazed
45:30I know
45:32I've always known
45:34How could he know?
45:35Reading my surprise
45:37I'll tell you later
45:38His hand lingered gently on my waist
45:41Did it hurt?
45:44My eyes stung
45:45No one had ever asked me that before
45:49Not Roderick
45:50Not my parents
45:51Not a single person in three years
45:57But this young man did
46:01Six months later
46:02I held the medical record the doctor had just given me
46:06He said the cancer cells were gradually receding
46:11Leonard had made sure I ate three meals a day
46:14He walked me to every checkup
46:19For the first time in years
46:21I wanted to live
46:22And it showed
46:26With a positive mindset
46:27Consistent medication
46:28And no late night depressive episodes
46:32Full recovery was possible
46:37There were cases of people beating cancer
46:40It just wasn't easy
46:47But I had managed it
46:53Hey, where are you?
46:54You're not at your stall today
46:56My phone buzzed with a message from Leonard
46:58He'd bought me this phone himself
47:02He'd claimed it was a buy one get one deal
47:05That he had an extra
47:06And if I didn't take it
47:07He'd throw it away
47:08Who believed that
47:10I certainly didn't
47:13At the hospital
47:20Half an hour later
47:22Leonard came jobbing toward me in his basketball jersey
47:28What did the doctor say?
47:31I put on a somber face
47:33Pretending to be downcast
47:35I saw his expression dim
47:36But he kept his voice steady
47:41It's okay
47:43I'll be with you every step of the way
47:46I cut him off
47:47Just kidding
47:48The doctor says I'm doing really well
47:52I couldn't bear to tease him for long
47:57You've gotten mean
47:59He pretended to be upset
48:01But then he picked me up
48:02And spun me around twice
48:12So, does this mean you'll say yes?
48:14He looked at me eagerly
48:16Say yes to what?
48:19Interest at him playfully
48:21Be my girlfriend
48:22But I'm not completely healed yet
48:24What if it comes back?
48:26I don't care
48:31My job is to love you and make you happy
48:35If you're happy
48:36You'll get better
48:38He hugged me tightly
48:39Nuzzling against me
48:42Alright, I
48:43Suppose I'll say yes
48:47I wrapped my arms around him in return
48:51I sounded as if I was doing him a favor
48:54The truth was
48:55He had been the one settling for me all along
49:01As Leonard and I walked away hand in hand
49:03I saw Roderick
49:10I hadn't seen him
49:11I hadn't seen him in two or three months
49:14He stood watching us
49:15His eyes red
49:22He'd pick me up to attend the service
49:23And that was it
49:24I'd also repaid him for all the medical bills
49:27Even the money for the food cart
49:31I knew he'd been watching me from a distance
49:36He tried to approach me a few times
49:43But I'd threatened to harm myself each time
49:45And he'd finally stayed away
49:52Mari, who is this?
49:53His eyes were still red
49:56He already knew the answer
50:01My girlfriend
50:02Leonard answered first
50:04Raising our joined hands
50:07Is he good to you?
50:10Yes
50:15I know what it looks like
50:16When you love someone, Mari
50:19And I can see it's not me anymore
50:22Took me a while to face it
50:26Be happy
50:29I wish you the same
50:30He turned and walked away
50:35I didn't look back
50:36Some people are meant to be part of your story
50:38But not your ending
50:42I heard later that Roderick left to teach
50:43In a remote mountain
50:46As for me
50:47I was curled on the sofa
50:48Looking at the man in front of me
50:51You said before that
50:52You knew about my health
50:55How?
50:58I sprained my ankle during a game
51:00And ended up in the hospital
51:03I was in the room next to yours
51:05I overheard something while walking by
51:07I got curious
51:07And looked through the glass
51:14One look
51:15And I just knew
51:15He made it sound so casual
51:17That's it?
51:19I didn't buy it
51:20Your classmates mentioned something
51:23My photo is your computer wallpaper
51:26The one from when I was a sophomore
51:28I meant the guys who had stopped by my stall for burritos
51:31Sure enough
51:32Leonard looked briefly embarrassed
51:37He was probably cursing them in his head
51:41Okay, fine
51:45I was an exchange student at your university in my freshman year
51:48Doing a photography project
51:51You were there that day
51:52So full of life
51:54I couldn't help but take a picture
51:55Later
51:56I heard you were with Roderick
51:58So
51:59I kept my distance
52:01I don't do home wrecking
52:02He lifted his chin slightly
52:05It wasn't until I saw you in the hospital
52:07That I realized how stupid I'd been all along
52:09If I had stepped in back then
52:12Maybe none of this would have happened to you
52:15After that
52:15I kept an eye on you
52:16Waiting until the day I ran into you at your stall
52:18He looked genuinely regortful
52:21I reached out and hugged him
52:24Don't blame yourself
52:26Some things were meant to happen
52:28It wasn't your fault
52:29I'd almost missed the chance to be with someone so wonderful
52:32But in the end
52:32Nothing was too late
52:34Other people go to rehab for drugs
52:36Alcohol or gambling
52:37I went to quit loving a man
52:40In the end
52:41I didn't just quit him
52:44I learned to love myself again
52:46All day
52:47I have a man
52:47I was not in the end
52:47I love you
52:47I don't want to help me
52:47But to be able to stop
52:48Picture the children
52:48Scoop
52:48The seed呀하지
52:49Ma
52:50you I love
52:50you I love
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