- 15 hours ago
Misplaced Fate of Twins
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00After I died, everyone realized the countdown above my sister's head was mine.
00:05Everyone in the pack could see the death mark above my sister's head.
00:09They all knew.
00:10She would die on her 20th birthday.
00:13We were twins, wearing the same face.
00:15And yet, only she had that countdown hanging over her.
00:18So Stella became the most precious person in our household.
00:22The good snacks were hers.
00:24The pretty dresses were hers.
00:25Even the bedtime stories mom and dad told belonged to her.
00:29I pitied her.
00:30And I resented her for having all of it.
00:33Then, her 20th birthday finally arrived.
00:36Afraid I would cause trouble, my parents locked me in the storage room.
00:40They had forgotten I'd been sick for a week.
00:43Mom, let me out! My head really hurts!
00:46That's enough. Your sister is dying today.
00:49Can't you manage for just one day?
00:52But I feel terrible.
00:55Outside, the entire pack had gathered around the house.
00:58Keeping silent vigil.
01:00From somewhere deep in the woods came the sound of howling.
01:04The clan sending Stella off.
01:06In the storage room, my wolf was fading with me.
01:40My body went suddenly weightless.
01:43Through the old wooden door, I could see the warm glow of the living room lights.
01:47Mom and dad were pressed close to Stella on the couch.
01:50Mom, dad, is Ivy really okay?
01:55I heard her say her head hurt.
01:57Don't worry about her.
01:58Exactly. She's not really sick.
02:01She's just putting it on for sympathy.
02:03Stella pressed her lips together and said nothing more.
02:06But the crease in her brow only deepened.
02:09I knew.
02:09She'd always felt she owed me something.
02:12For as long as either of us could remember,
02:14every bit of warmth in that house had been piled onto her.
02:17We were born on the same day,
02:20but we might as well have grown up in two different worlds.
02:23I had to watch and wait even for a bowl of hot vegetable soup,
02:26let alone new clothes or new toys.
02:29I was an adult now, but as thin as a 15-year-old.
02:32But Stella would always sneak her snacks and new clothes to me.
02:36Whenever mom and dad came down on me,
02:38she was always the first one to step in.
02:41She always said,
02:42Ivy, I'm sorry.
02:44It's because of me that you get treated this way.
02:46But our parents saw it differently.
02:48Right now, in fact,
02:50Have you already forgotten what happened on your 18th birthday?
02:52Stella's 18th birthday.
02:54That was the day our family,
02:56against all habit,
02:57splurged on a cream cake.
02:59Mom had lit the candles with careful, trembling hands.
03:03Dad held up the old camera he'd had for years,
03:06trying to capture one of the few birthdays Stella would ever have.
03:09I watched from behind the door.
03:11The candlelight caught Stella's face.
03:13She closed her eyes to make a wish.
03:15My parents blinked hard against their tears.
03:18And then I ran out.
03:20Maybe I just couldn't bear losing the one person
03:22who'd always been gentle with me.
03:24I grabbed the cake and overturned it.
03:27Cream smeared across the floor.
03:28I don't want to see you throwing her a birthday party!
03:31I still remember the look on my parents' faces.
03:35Stop! Dad, stop hitting her!
03:37It's my fault!
03:39This is my fault!
03:42That night, Stella crept into my room
03:44and pressed a small piece of chocolate into my palm,
03:47one she'd been saving away.
03:49There was a red welt on her wrist
03:51from where a chair had caught her when she got between us.
03:55Ivy, I'm sorry.
03:58I was already dead,
04:00staring dumbly at my own transparent fingers.
04:02The storage room door was still shut
04:04and saw myself curled among the clutter inside.
04:07My death had come before Stella's countdown memory came flooding back.
04:12When I was very small,
04:13before I knew the countdown to Stella's death had already begun,
04:17I had truly hated her.
04:19There was only one piece of candy in the house.
04:21It was Stella's.
04:22The only apple got sliced in two.
04:24The bigger half for Stella,
04:26the smaller for me.
04:27New clothes always went to Stella first.
04:30By the time they reached me,
04:32they were worn thin and patched over patches.
04:34Bedtime stories too.
04:36Hers.
04:36I would crouch outside the door with my arms around my knees.
04:40Why couldn't they read one to me too?
04:42One summer when I was five,
04:44a neighbor brought over a chicken.
04:46At dinner,
04:47mom carefully lifted both drumsticks
04:49and placed them in Stella's bowl.
04:51Why does Stella get both drumsticks?
04:53I want some too!
04:55I want some too!
04:56Ivy!
04:57What is wrong with you?
04:58Don't you know Stella isn't well?
05:00Don't you...
05:03Don't you know...
05:04Stella...
05:04I didn't know.
05:05All I knew was that Stella's face was always pale.
05:09Why don't you just die?
05:11Give me back all my things!
05:15Let her learn.
05:17Let her understand what she can and cannot say.
05:20Fifteen more years.
05:22The next morning,
05:23I eavesdropped on my parents talking.
05:24I know.
05:26Mom's voice was wet with crying.
05:30That was the moment I understood.
05:32Stella was really going to die.
05:34That number above her head,
05:36visible to every wolf in the pack,
05:38was her death mark.
05:39Now, mom and dad guided Stella back to her room.
05:44Maybe...
05:44Maybe we should let Ivy out.
05:46Let her wait a little longer.
05:49After Stella goes,
05:50we'll make it up to her.
05:51We will.
05:54He walked to the kitchen,
05:56took a small piece of bread from the cupboard,
05:58and carried it toward where I was.
05:59The United States ofculoskeletals.com
06:28Ivy, here, eat something.
06:30Don't let yourself go hungry.
06:33Dad, I'm right here. I'm dead. Please go inside and check on me.
06:39Ivy?
06:40I reached out to touch his face.
06:44Fine. Still pouting.
06:46Just stay in there a bit longer and stop making a fuss.
06:50Once Stella's gone, Dad will make it up to you. I promise.
06:57It's alright, Dad. You don't need to make anything up to me.
07:02You never will get the chance.
07:04Then came a faint sound from the living room.
07:06I wanted to see Stella.
07:08Where's Ivy?
07:10Ivy is... she's sulking.
07:12I put her in the storage room to think things over.
07:15You did what?
07:17You locked Ivy in the storage room?
07:23Ivy is your daughter, too!
07:25Yes, I know Stella's had a cruel fate since birth, that terrible death mark.
07:30I know you grieve for her.
07:32But what about Ivy?
07:34Is Ivy's life worth nothing?
07:36They were born on the same day.
07:38What has she ever been given?
07:41Mom, I never meant to...
07:43Night fell.
07:45Stella's door stayed closed.
07:47Never mind.
07:48She put her lips close to the gap.
07:50Never mind.
07:52Ivy?
07:53Grandma's right here with you, don't...
07:54Something's wrong.
07:55What?
07:56Mom didn't understand, and stepped forward to cross the threshold.
08:00He said it in a hush, like something fragile might break.
08:03Dad put a hand out and stopped her.
08:07Wait.
08:07He stood in the doorway without moving.
08:10Stella leaned around Mom.
08:12Ivy, can you hear me?
08:14Sister's okay.
08:16Sister's not gonna die.
08:20In the corner, my body didn't move.
08:23There was no rise and fall of breath.
08:25The smile on Mom's face went rigid.
08:28Ivy?
08:32No!
08:33No, that's not right.
08:35Be right, that can't be right.
08:56Dad dropped to his knees beside me.
08:58He reached toward my face, checking for breath.
09:01Linda, come feel.
09:04Just come and feel.
09:06Mom sat on the floor and didn't move.
09:08One second, two, three.
09:10That's not possible.
09:12She was pounding on that door yesterday.
09:14I heard her.
09:15Stella stood in the doorway with one hand braced on the frame.
09:19She watched it all happen and went white, all the way to nothing.
09:23Her mouth opened.
09:24No sound.
09:26Grandma grabbed the door frame to steady herself.
09:29Dad finally raised his head.
09:31He looked at Mom and his voice came apart.
09:33Linda, tell me she just fainted.
09:38Tell me she's gonna wake up.
09:45She scrambled up and threw herself down beside me.
09:50Ivy, wake up.
09:51Mommy's here.
09:53Mommy's right here.
09:54Open your eyes.
09:56Mama will make you a steak.
09:57Mama will buy you a dress.
09:59We'll go to the amusement park you always wanted to go.
10:02We'll go right now, this very second.
10:04You're scaring me, Ivy.
10:06Mama was wrong.
10:08Mama never should have locked you in there.
10:10Mama knows that.
10:12Just open your eyes.
10:14Yell at me.
10:15Hit me.
10:16Do anything you want of me.
10:17Just open your eyes.
10:19Dad pressed his fingers to my neck again.
10:21Held them there for a long time.
10:25She's gone.
10:27Ivy is gone.
10:30The hand Stella had on the door frame was shaking.
10:33Her whole body was.
10:36When Stella came to, it was already noon.
10:39Mom sat at the edge of the bed, eyes swollen nearly shut.
10:44You're okay, Stella.
10:45You're right.
10:45Stella looked at the ceiling for a long time.
10:47Where's Ivy?
10:49Mom's tears came again.
10:50Ivy, she...
10:51Mom couldn't get the rest out.
10:53Stella sat up and threw back the covers.
10:56Stella, don't.
10:57You just fainted.
10:58You need to stay.
11:00Where is she?
11:02Where is Ivy?
11:05In the living room, your father is with her.
11:09Stella pulled free and ran.
11:11In the living room, dad was still on the floor with me in his arms.
11:15He'd stopped crying.
11:17He just sat there, his eyes not focusing on anything.
11:20Stella stopped in the middle of the room.
11:22She looked at dad.
11:23She looked at me.
11:24She stood very still.
11:34He was so high aboutelf.
11:34He said,
11:34her husband,
11:34she looked at me.
11:35You knew how he wouldn't have a home.
11:37Who knew how he would have been.
11:53pecs are green.
11:57I love you.
11:59You're in your bedroom,
12:00and hopefully they've made him feel right.ONE!
12:02his voice was calm in a way that was frightening his eyes were empty see it's come down the fever
12:09broke she's gonna be fine now his face did something strange when he smiled stella's tears
12:15finally came dad look at me i'm stella he looked at her for a long time ivy's fever broke she'll
12:24wake up soon dad she's dead ivy is dead can you hear me she's gone he pulled me tighter
12:34stop saying that get out get out let ivy sleep stella sat down on the floor and put her face
12:42in her hands and couldn't breathe
12:53grandma came out of the kitchen carrying a cup of water she knelt in front of dad and held it
12:58out
12:59drink something he didn't take it she set the cup on the floor let go frank let her lie down
13:06he was
13:06choking on it mom his hands shook but he held on she's not dead she's only she's dead frank
13:13your daughter is dead you kept her in that room all day she was sick she died she died
13:20no no i just wanted to be quiet for a bit i didn't want her disturbing stella i didn't know
13:26she was sick
13:26i didn't know you knew grandma's voice was heavy with it she called out she said her head hurt
13:33you heard her linda heard her you just decided not to believe it mom came running from the hallway
13:40and collapsed at grandma's feet i'm so sorry hit me i'm the one who killed her
13:49grandma looked at the three of them linda on the floor frank shattered stella against the wall
13:55she raised her head she could see me but she looked away just as quickly she pressed her
14:02cheek to my forehead and closed her eyes one tear burning hot fell onto my face
14:12the sound of crying drew the neighbors karen pushed the door open and looked at grandma holding me
14:17then at my parents and stella on the floor all this weeping don't tell me it's actually
14:23get out get out of this house karen stepped back but her curiosity won it's stella well
14:31what a cruel thing fate is poor ivy will be left all alone now that isn't stella grandma's voice cut
14:39through the room mom was on her feet she went for karen's face say one more word and i'll tear
14:45your
14:45mouth off i'm just saying what's true it was always supposed to stella your whole family lived like it
14:52stella best of everything for stella and now the one who dies isn't the one who was supposed to
14:56and the one who wasn't supposed to shut up stella's voice ripped across the room she was on her feet
15:01right in front of karen don't you say another word about my sister not one word
15:08karen went quiet she grabbed her bag and left
15:22she was on her feet right in front of karen turns around then the room got now
15:38and then the room wasn't the one who died i'd never have never left the room
15:50and the room was on her feet
15:51Just the sound of crying, muffled, broken off, and starting again.
15:56Grandma got slowly to her feet, still holding me.
15:59We need to make arrangements.
16:01No feeling in her voice at all.
16:03Mom's head came up.
16:04No, I won't.
16:06She shook her head and reached for me.
16:09Ivy isn't gone.
16:10She isn't.
16:11Give her to me.
16:12I want to be with her.
16:13I need to watch over her.
16:15Linda, Ivy is dead.
16:18You locked her in that room with your own hands.
16:21How long are you going to keep doing this to yourself?
16:25Mom sank to the floor, hands over her face.
16:28The kind of crying that takes everything.
16:30I'm so sorry, Ivy.
16:33Dad was on his knees, driving his forehead into the floor over and over.
16:38A dull fudding sound.
16:40His forehead was bleeding.
16:41Dad, stop.
16:44It was me.
16:46It's all my fault.
16:49Grandma watched them.
16:50She closed her eyes.
16:52I'm going to buy burial clothes.
16:56Mom!
16:57She said, and walked toward the door.
16:59Don't take her, please.
17:01Don't take Ivy.
17:03Grandma looked down at him.
17:05Let go.
17:06Mom, please.
17:08Let go.
17:28My funeral was a simple thing.
17:31A small plain coffin.
17:32A burial dress Grandma brought back from town.
17:35I had never worn anything so fine.
17:37The fabric was soft.
17:39A pale blush pink.
17:40Tiny flowers stitched at the collar.
17:43Grandma dressed me slowly.
17:44Carefully.
17:45Mom tried to help.
17:47Grandma sent her out of the room.
17:48You don't get to touch her.
17:50Her voice was flat and cold.
17:52Mom stood in the doorway with her face in her hands.
17:55Dad knelt in front of the coffin.
17:57Stella sat in the corner with her arms around her knees, eyes swollen to slits.
18:01She hadn't spoken since that morning.
18:04She just looked at me in my pink dress.
18:06On the day of burial, it rained.
18:08Fine, dense needles of rain that pricked the skin.
18:11Mom threw herself at the coffin and tried to climb in.
18:15I mean, don't go.
18:16Mommy will come with you.
18:18Several relatives pulled her back.
18:20She fought them.
18:21Her voice wrecked past recognition.
18:23Dad knelt before the grave and put his head to the earth.
18:26Again and again.
18:27After the funeral, Grandma took my ashes.
18:31Where are you taking her?
18:33Dad stepped into her path.
18:35Home.
18:37Holding the urn against her chest, Mom rushed over and grabbed for it.
18:42Ivy is my daughter.
18:44She stays with me.
18:45I want to be with her.
18:47I want to look after her every day.
18:49And do you deserve that?
18:51Grandma looked at her without flinching.
18:53Linda, what does any of this mean now?
18:56When Ivy was alive, did you give her a single good day?
19:00Mom went slack.
19:01She sat on the ground and wept.
19:02I want to make it up to her.
19:05Make it up to her?
19:06Grandma's laugh was short and bitter.
19:08She's dead, Linda.
19:09How exactly do you plan to do that?
19:12I am telling you right now, Ivy's ashes are not staying here.
19:16You don't deserve to have them.
19:18Mom!
19:19Dad was on his knees.
19:21Please, leave her with us.
19:23We understand what we did.
19:25We'll do better.
19:26Do better?
19:27Grandma's voice was shaking now.
19:29There is no more doing better.
19:30Ivy is gone.
19:32She died because of what you chose to do.
19:35Frank?
19:36Linda?
19:37Linda, you will carry that for the rest of your lives and there is no way to put it down.
19:41She turned and walked.
19:42Mom!
19:43They went after her, both of them, and she pushed them away.
19:47Get back!
19:47She was shouting now, her eyes red.
19:50Don't touch my granddaughter.
19:52You gave up that right.
19:54She walked through the gate and into the rain, carrying the urn.
19:57She didn't turn around.
19:59My parents collapsed in the courtyard.
20:01Stella stood under the eave and slowly folded herself down, arms wrapped around her knees.
20:18Grandma boarded the train back to the countryside.
20:21The urn held in her lap.
20:22I drifted alongside her and watched the world stream past the window.
20:26It was dark by the time we reached the old farmhouse.
20:29She set the urn on the table and straightened it.
20:32She stood before it for a long time.
20:34Then she turned and looked directly at where I was floating.
20:39Ivy.
20:40I went still.
20:41The word came out before I could think.
20:44And then I remembered.
20:45I was dead.
20:46I couldn't make sounds anymore.
20:48But she nodded.
20:50Grandma can see you.
20:51The tears hit me all at once.
20:53She could see me.
20:55After everything, someone could still see me.
20:57She reached out toward me.
20:59Her hand moved through the air and stopped where my face would be.
21:03You've had it so hard, child.
21:06I lunged toward her, trying to hold on and pass straight through.
21:09I hung in the air looking at my transparent hands and at her old, tired face.
21:14And I finally let myself cry.
21:56Come here, Ivy.
21:57Come to Grandma.
21:58Her voice was quiet and warm.
22:01I drifted into the space of her arms.
22:03Grandma.
22:05I'm here.
22:06I'm right here, sweetheart.
22:08Tears poured down her face.
22:10Grandma's right here.
22:11Ivy doesn't need to be afraid.
22:14We stayed like that for a long time.
22:16One of us holding empty air.
22:18The other resting in an embrace she couldn't feel.
22:21And we cried.
22:23Eventually, Grandma loosened her arms and wiped her face with her sleeve.
22:27Ivy.
22:28She was looking at me.
22:30Tell Grandma.
22:31Eyes still swollen.
22:32These last few days.
22:34How have you been?
22:37I stopped.
22:38How had I been?
22:39What was there to say to that from a dead girl?
22:42But I tried.
22:43I touched my chest with one hand, then pointed up and let my fingers drift like something weightless.
22:49Floating?
22:50She understood.
22:51Nothing to hold on to.
22:52Is that it?
22:54I nodded.
22:56She sighed and lifted a hand toward my hair, then let it fall back.
23:04I know.
23:05I know.
23:06I know.
23:06She got up and found an apple in the cabinet.
23:09Eat.
23:10This one's sweet.
23:11Looking at that red apple, something in me ached.
23:14I had never eaten a whole apple to myself.
23:18Not once.
23:19Not while I was alive.
23:20Now I was dead and Grandma had given me one.
23:23I drifted close and crouched beside it.
23:26I couldn't eat it.
23:29Is it good?
23:30But the scent was there.
23:31That faint, clean sweetness off the skin.
23:34I nodded as hard as I could, even knowing she couldn't see me do it.
23:38She smiled.
23:39And then, still smiling, she began to cry.
23:42Good.
23:43Good.
23:43She turned away and scrubbed her eyes with her sleeve.
23:46That night, Grandma told me stories about when I was small and she used to come visit
23:51in the city, and I would climb into her lap and stay there.
23:54About the fever I had when I was three.
23:56How she sat up with me night after night, cooling me down with a damp cloth, humming
24:00until I fell asleep.
24:02About my first trip to the countryside when I was five, chasing the chickens, going down
24:06face first into the mud.
24:08Her voice grew quiet.
24:09Ivy, are you getting ready to go?
24:12I looked at her and nodded.
24:14She was still for a moment.
24:17That's all right.
24:18Then she raised her face and smiled at me.
24:20Wherever you're going, there's no more of this.
24:23No more of any of it.
24:25She stood and came toward me with her arms open.
24:28Next time around, find yourself parents who know how to love you.
24:32Be a happy little girl.
24:34Can you do that for me?
24:35I nodded hard, crying freely.
24:39Grandma, right here.
24:41She answered, her voice thick.
24:43Grandma will always remember you.
24:45Always.
24:46The light came.
24:47The first thin ray of morning reached through the window and lay across my body, which was
24:52growing fainter.
24:53I reached out one last time toward her face.
24:56As always, I touched nothing.
24:58In the growing light I dissolved.
25:00Bit by bit, going transparent.
25:02My wolf stirred beside me.
25:04It lifted its head and looked at the world.
25:07For the first time, and the last.
25:09I turned toward the light and let it take me.
25:11Up and up.
25:13Further and further.
25:14Grandma's voice faded behind me.
25:16The old farmhouse disappeared below.
25:19Everything became a soft and gentle white.
25:21I closed my eyes.
25:23I closed my eyes.
Comments