Thirty Seconds Underwater is an emotional romantic drama short film about love, timing, and the life-changing moments that happen in the blink of an eye. When two strangers meet beneath the water's surface, a brief encounter becomes the beginning of an unforgettable journey filled with hidden emotions, personal healing, and unexpected romance. As they struggle against fear, loss, and the weight of the past, they discover that sometimes just thirty seconds can change a lifetime.
Filled with heartfelt romance, emotional connections, beautiful cinematography, second chances, friendship, healing, and unforgettable moments, this full movie is perfect for fans of touching love stories and binge-worthy short dramas.
#ThirtySecondsUnderwater #RomanticDrama #LoveStory #EmotionalRomance #SecondChance #ShortDrama #MiniDrama #FullMovie #Heartfelt #ModernRomance #ENG
Filled with heartfelt romance, emotional connections, beautiful cinematography, second chances, friendship, healing, and unforgettable moments, this full movie is perfect for fans of touching love stories and binge-worthy short dramas.
#ThirtySecondsUnderwater #RomanticDrama #LoveStory #EmotionalRomance #SecondChance #ShortDrama #MiniDrama #FullMovie #Heartfelt #ModernRomance #ENG
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Today was supposed to be our deep dive mission with my boyfriend, Ethan.
00:06But at the last minute, he galled from Chloe and rushed off.
00:13He didn't notice I'd been caught in the undercurrent.
00:19In those 30 seconds, pinned against the reef with my breathing tube tangled in the rocks,
00:26the only running through my mind was,
00:29I wish he were here.
00:34The first thing I did after climbing ashore was reach up and touch my left ear.
00:40It was still bleeding.
00:41My eardrum had ruptured.
00:44Instinctively, I reached for my phone to text Ethan.
00:50A social media postist popped up on the screen.
00:53In the photo, Chloe Winters was in a swimsuit.
00:59Ethan the was but not alone behind hind her, his hands steady on her waist.
01:04The caption read,
01:06Thirteenth lesson.
01:09The little guy has mastered his second swimming stroke.
01:12It turned out that when I was on the verge of death,
01:18he was teaching another woman how to swimming.
01:22Droplets of water slid from the ends of my hair onto the screen,
01:25blurring the image.
01:29My phone rang.
01:31It was Ethan calling.
01:34Chloe swallowed some water during practice.
01:37You're such a good diver.
01:39You could have made the dive without me.
01:41But Chloe is so fragile.
01:43I had to teach her to swim first.
01:46You must understand, right?
01:50The ringing in my left ear kept going, steady and relentless.
01:57No need.
01:58I can't dive anymore, and I don't need a dive partner now, either.
02:06After getting my ear treated at the hospital,
02:09I made it back to the apartment.
02:11It was already 7.30 in the evening.
02:16Ethan had gotten home before me,
02:19fresh out of the shower,
02:21his hair still half damp.
02:26You're back.
02:28He didn't bother lifting his head,
02:31his fingers still tapping away at his phone.
02:36I'd sent him messages, too.
02:39A hundred and thirty-seven of them.
02:41All unread.
02:45The water temperature at the pool was way too low today.
02:49Chloe was in the water for two hours.
02:58Her legs were shaking by the time she got out.
03:01At a depth of a hundred and thirty feet,
03:04when the turbulence kicked up silt and sand,
03:07the water temperature was barely above freezing.
03:14My legs were shaking, too.
03:17So I grabbed that bottle of body lotion from your cabinet
03:20and gave it to Chloe.
03:24Her skin was so dry, it was driving her crazy.
03:27It's not like you were using it anyway.
03:31That was a limited edition.
03:33I'd had a friend overseas stand in line for two weeks to get.
03:38My voice came out hoarse.
03:41I see.
03:44Have some water.
03:46Good for your throat.
03:48Ice cold Chloe's cup.
03:50Pink cherry blossoms printed on the ceramic.
03:53A fuzzy little rabbit charm dangling from the handle.
03:58Don't overthink it.
03:59I broke your mug, so just make do with this one for now.
04:06Not thirsty?
04:07I didn't take it.
04:08My hands stayed buried in my pockets.
04:10My fingertips were numb with cold.
04:13On the shoe rack by the door,
04:15a pair of tiny white canvas sneakers had appeared.
04:18A pink cashmere cardigan was draped over the arm of the couch.
04:22This apartment, our home,
04:24was slowly being filled by someone else.
04:31Ethan's gaze finally drifted over to me.
04:36What happened to your ear?
04:38The blood-spotted gauze covering my left ear got hurt.
04:44How'd you manage to be so careless?
04:46Ear injuries are the number one thing divers are supposed to avoid.
04:53Well, be more careful next time.
04:55But with your skills, I'm sure you handled it fine.
05:02Not like Chloe, that little disaster.
05:06You've never needed anyone to worry about you.
05:09It won't clear up.
05:21After my shower,
05:23I went back to my room and opened my laptop.
05:26I clicked into the transfer application portal.
05:31I uploaded the medical certificate
05:34confirming the eardrum rupture
05:35and my permanent disqualification from diving.
05:39Then I submitted my request for reassignment,
05:43coastal data recording, New Zealand.
05:47The next morning,
05:49I was jolted awake by a searing pain in my left ear.
05:55The complications from the perforation were starting to set in.
05:59The pain radiated through half my skull.
06:04I dry-swallowed to painkillers before it eased enough to function.
06:12Today I had to go to the East District Diving Base.
06:18The physical copy of my transfer request needed to be signed in person.
06:27I pushed open the bedroom door.
06:29Ethan was already at the dining table.
06:34Come have breakfast.
06:36Chloe went out of her way yesterday,
06:38stood in line at that trendy bakery.
06:42The sandwiches were packed thick with bacon and melted cheddar.
06:48I'm allergic to cheese.
06:50One bite and I break out in hives.
06:53He never remembered things like that.
07:00I didn't touch the food on the table and asked him.
07:07I need to go to the base medical office today.
07:10The doctor wants a follow-up.
07:12I can't drive with my ear like this.
07:16Can you give me a ride?
07:20He looked at my pale face and nodded.
07:27Fine.
07:28I'm heading that way anyway.
07:30Your stuff comes first.
07:31Dive partners.
07:32That's what we're for, right?
07:34At nine, we headed out.
07:37His Maybach.
07:38The passenger seat was pushed all the way forward.
07:43A pink cartoon headrest was strapped to the backrest.
07:50Chloe was short.
07:51She liked the seat pulled up close to the dash.
07:56I didn't touch the adjustment button.
07:59I opened the rear door and climbed into the back seat.
08:03Halfway there, his phone rang.
08:10Ethan, where are you?
08:12My leg hurt so bad.
08:13Where I had that cramp last night, it's all swollen now.
08:17Ethan's face changed in an instant.
08:20Ethan's face changed in an instant.
08:21Don't cry.
08:22Don't move around.
08:25He wrenched the steering wheel.
08:27The tires screeched against the wet pavement.
08:32I'm coming right now.
08:34A sharp pain inevitably shot through my ears.
08:41Before I could even speak, he hung up and glanced at me through the rearview mirror.
08:50Lana, lie.
08:52Chloe's leg cramp got worse.
08:54I need to go check on her first.
08:59Your prescription isn't exactly an emergency anyway.
09:01Anyway, I'll drop you off at the next intersection.
09:05Just grab a cab from there.
09:09My voice was filled with agony.
09:14We're on the overpass.
09:16You can't get a cab here.
09:18And my ear really hurts.
09:23He said impatiently.
09:28Lana, can you please not pick right now to be dramatic?
09:33You swam back from a hundred feet underwater all by yourself.
09:38What's a little walking?
09:40Chloe's timid.
09:42She's hurt.
09:44The car screeched to a stop at a desolate intersection.
09:50Get out.
09:51I'll call you once I'm done with Chloe.
09:54I got out of the car.
09:56Raindrops hit the open wound on my ear.
09:59The pain drove into my skull like needles.
10:03I walked the rest of the way along the highway in the rain.
10:07All the way to the base.
10:12Supervisor Grant took one look at my bedraggled state and his brow furrowed deep.
10:22Ethan didn't drive you?
10:25No.
10:26He had something else.
10:29Where's the transfer form?
10:32Supervisor Grant sighed and pulled a document out of his desk drawer.
10:42I've already signed it.
10:43Headquarters approved it too.
10:48I booked the flight for next Monday.
10:51Three more days.
10:53He looked at me, hesitating.
10:58Lana, does Ethan know you're leaving?
11:02I picked up the pen from his desk.
11:04On the final confirmation line, I pressed down hard and signed my name.
11:10No.
11:11He doesn't need to know.
11:15When I pushed open the apartment door, the living room TV was blaring some variety show.
11:24Ethan was half-kneeling beside the couch, holding an ice pack against Chloe's shin.
11:32You're back?
11:34Chloe's leg is really swollen.
11:39I don't feel right leaving her alone, so she's staying with us for a few days.
11:43I stood in the enterway, watching him keep his head down, fussing over a patch of redness no bigger than
11:49a coin.
11:55Lana, why is there a piece of wet tissue stuck to your ear?
12:00Before I could pull away, Chloe's fingernail had already hooked into the medical gauze, soaked through from the rain.
12:11I saw the smirk in her eyes, and the next second, she yanked hard.
12:15The freshly clotted scab tore open along with it.
12:19I let out a cry of pain.
12:26Chloe shrieked and recoiled.
12:28Her eyes instantly went red.
12:31Tears welled up.
12:34I'm so sorry.
12:35I thought it was just a scrape of tissue.
12:39Ethan immediately moved to soothe her.
12:43It's okay.
12:44It's okay.
12:46Don't be scared.
12:48You didn't do it on purpose.
12:51He grabbed the paper napkins and shoved them into my hand.
12:59You alright?
13:01Go put some isine on that.
13:03He didn't even stand up.
13:05His other hand was still holding the ice pack against Chloe's leg.
13:10I took those to dry, useless paper napkins and pressed them against the bleeding wound.
13:19When I came back from the bathroom, Chloe was eyeing the plastic bag I'd set on the table.
13:28Lana, were you at the deep sea diving base just now?
13:35Yeah.
13:37Ethan says the water temperature in the deep sea is freezing.
13:42And it's so dark and cold down there.
13:46That's why he only ever took me to the shallow end 13 times in a row.
13:52She tilted her face up toward Ethan.
13:56Then doesn't Lana get scared all alone down there in the deep sea?
14:00She's got great technique and nerves of steel.
14:04She made it back safe of 100 feet underwater without a scratch.
14:10You think everyone's like you, choking on water in the shallow end?
14:15Lana's a professional surveyor.
14:17She doesn't need anyone holding her hand.
14:21First rule of diving.
14:22Never leave your dive partner 130 feet beneath the surface.
14:28The 30 seconds my breathing tube was caught on the reef.
14:36And my dive partner was in a temperature-controlled shallow pool,
14:40teaching another girl her second swimming stroke.
14:47Ethan, that little silver whistle around your neck is so cute.
14:52Chloe suddenly pointed at Ethan's chest.
14:55That was my rescue whistle.
14:58Then, for my first deep water dive tomorrow, can I borrow it?
15:07She tugged at the hem of Ethan's shirt.
15:12I'm scared.
15:14If I can't find you down there,
15:17I'll just blow this whistle, okay?
15:20Lana?
15:22This whistle.
15:23Chloe wants to borrow it for tomorrow.
15:25That's fine, right?
15:27Ethan turned toward me.
15:29That was the day we officially became dive partners.
15:33I was the one who hung it around his neck,
15:35with my own hands.
15:40I'm putting my life in your hands.
15:44When you hear's whistle, I will come for you.
15:50Those were his exact words to me that day.
15:58It's just a whistle.
15:59It's not like you don't have a spare.
16:01Chloe's going into deep water for the first time tomorrow.
16:04She needs, needs a little security.
16:07Don't be so stingy.
16:09Chloe's small voice drifted from the couch.
16:12Lana doesn't want to.
16:13It's okay.
16:19Of course she doesn't mind.
16:21Right.
16:25Ethan unhooked the metal clasp from around his neck.
16:28He bent down and slipped the rescue whistle over Chloe's head.
16:38There.
16:38If you get scared tomorrow, just blow.
16:41I promise I'll be right there the moment I hear it.
16:47I stood there.
16:48Rooted to the spot.
16:50The ringing in my left ear grew louder and louder.
16:57Take it.
17:00Things that are given away don't need to be returned.
17:04Less than 24 hours until my flight to New Zealand.
17:10The transfer order was already signed.
17:13Minimum three-year assignment.
17:16Maybe I'd never come back.
17:21In the morning, I stood at the stove,
17:24stirring a pot of seafood chowder, his favorite.
17:29The master bedroom door opened.
17:32Ethan emerged, twirling his car keys.
17:38The chowder just finished.
17:40Have a bowl before you go.
17:43No time.
17:44Chloe's waiting for me.
17:45It's her first time in the deep center today.
17:47She was so nervous she barely slept.
17:54My voice was tinged with sorrow.
17:58Ethan.
17:59Ethan, do you remember how many times you've abandoned me?
18:04His tone was so casual that he didn't pick up on my sadness at all.
18:11Work stuff doesn't count as abandoning.
18:14I looked at him and said very seriously,
18:17Thirteen times.
18:19You abandoned me thirteen times.
18:22Why are you counting like that?
18:24You made it back safe every time, didn't you?
18:31And what if I almost didn't?
18:34Don't say things like that.
18:36You're standing right here, perfectly fine.
18:38Aren't you?
18:43The ringing in my left ear kept going, steady and unbroken.
18:51Do you have to go?
18:54I asked him one last time.
18:59He was already at the door.
19:03If I'm one minute late, she'll be up on the shore crying her eyes out all day.
19:07The door opened.
19:09Then it slammed shut.
19:11I turned slowly and walked back to the dining table.
19:17I poured the bowl of seafood chowder down the kitchen sink.
19:27Back in the bedroom, I packed, there wasn't much that belonged to me, a few wetsuits, some everyday clothes.
19:37A single 20-inch suitcase was enough to hold it all.
19:45Before I left, I looked back at this apartment one last time.
19:52His shirt from last night was draped over the back of the couch.
20:00The ice pack he'd used on Chloe's foot was still on the bathroom counter.
20:06Her cup sat on the coffee table, right next to his.
20:11Mine was broken.
20:12I never bought a new one.
20:14I sent Ethan one final message.
20:17We're done.
20:20Ethan had just climbed out of the water after Chloe's deep end session.
20:27When he picked up his phone, my message was waiting on the screen.
20:32We're done.
20:39His grip on the phone tightened.
20:44April Fool's was weeks ago.
20:46Stop joking around.
20:48But he knew.
20:50Ten years of knowing each other.
20:52Seven years as dive partners.
20:54I had never, not once, played these kinds of games.
20:59Ethan!
21:01I almost sank again back there.
21:03Good thing you pulled me up so fast.
21:09Let's go get sushi for lunch.
21:11Ethan pulled the door open and walked out.
21:15Chloe had already changed.
21:17She was fiddling with the rescue whistle he'd given her.
21:21Sushi?
21:22Yeah.
21:23That new place?
21:24They have my favorite spicy tuna roll.
21:31He nodded on autopilot.
21:33Only then did it register.
21:35The one who loved sushi was Chloe.
21:38The restaurant was quiet.
21:41Chloe sat across from him.
21:43Chattering non-stop about her experience in the water.
21:47He didn't touch his food.
21:50The chat window still held only that one lonely breakup message.
21:58No follow-ups.
22:01No.
22:02Where are you?
22:04No.
22:05Come home soon.
22:08He typed.
22:10Got sushi with Chloe.
22:11Won't be doing dinner with you tonight.
22:13Let me know what you want.
22:18Half an hour.
22:19Still no reply.
22:21Ethan.
22:22Let's go watch the fireworks by the river after this.
22:25Okay.
22:26No.
22:27I'm going home.
22:31The apartment door swung open.
22:34No lights had been left on.
22:36The row of black wetsuits.
22:37Empty.
22:40The photo of their first dive.
22:43Flipped face down.
22:44He pulled out his phone and dialed the number he knew by heart.
22:48No answer.
22:49There was still one place he could look.
22:52The East District deep diving base.
22:56Ethan didn't bother knocking.
22:59He shoved the door open.
23:01Grant.
23:03Where's Lana?
23:04Supervisor Grant was in his office.
23:07You didn't know she left for New Zealand?
23:12Our deep dive mission is supposed to start next month.
23:16Our dears, Worshalai Branor.
23:18What's she doing in New Zealand?
23:20She applied for a coastal data recording position.
23:23Her flight's this afternoon.
23:25Grant slapped a photocopy down on his desk.
23:28As for next month's mission, I've assigned you a new dive partner.
23:34I don't need a new partner.
23:36The only partner I recognize is Lana.
23:41Supervisor Grant's brow furrowed.
23:43He pulled out a medical report.
23:46You didn't know her eardrum was ruptured?
23:52That she's permanently disqualified from diving?
23:56How is she supposed to be your dive partner now?
24:00Ethan stood frozen, his pupils contracting sharply.
24:05What?
24:06Grant said in a cold voice.
24:09That was a hundred and thirty foot strong current zone.
24:15What's the first rule of deep diving?
24:19Your dive partner never leaves your line of sight.
24:22When the turbulence swept her into the reef, where were you?
24:27Ethan's throat was dry as sand.
24:30I thought that deep dive mission was a hundred feet.
24:37She's done solo dives at a hundred feet before.
24:39She can handle it alone.
24:44So, I went to the shallow end to teach Chloe how to swim.
24:49Supervisor Grant was so furious, he actually laughed.
24:52You didn't even read the mission brief?
24:55You left your dive partner alone in the deep sea
25:00to go play instructor for some woman who can't even swim.
25:04Due to gross negligence,
25:06the base has decided to revoke
25:07all your deep diving certifications for this year.
25:12Ethan didn't argue.
25:14He turned and walked out of the base.
25:19He sat in his car.
25:21He didn't even turn the headlights on.
25:27Lana,
25:29I didn't know you were hurt that badly.
25:34His hands trembling,
25:36he opened my chat window.
25:42Lana,
25:43I didn't know it was a hundred and thirty feet.
25:45I didn't read the mission brief carefully.
25:52I thought you could handle a hundred feet.
25:55Why didn't you tell me?
25:58Please,
25:59just send me one reply.
26:01Anything.
26:09This time,
26:10he got a response.
26:12He sat up straight.
26:13A single message appeared.
26:17If you had known it was a hundred and thirty feet,
26:20would you have chosen not to go to Chloe?
26:24Ethan stared at those words.
26:27He typed.
26:29I have stayed with you.
26:32But after typing it,
26:34he stopped.
26:35One by one,
26:36he deleted every letter.
26:38He couldn't lie to himself.
26:40Deep down,
26:41he had always been absolutely certain
26:43that my skills were good enough,
26:45that I wouldn't die.
26:47So he would always,
26:48every time,
26:50choose to answer Chloe's tears.
26:54In the end,
26:55the phone slipped from his palm
26:57and fell onto the floor mat.
27:09I sat in front of the data recorder,
27:12logging today's current readings
27:14into the system.
27:17No more diving,
27:18no more suffocation.
27:20No more waiting for someone
27:21to come save me.
27:25The ringing in my left ear
27:27still flared up sometimes,
27:28but I'd learned to coexist with it.
27:33A sharp metallic clink against the desk.
27:36A silver rescue whistle
27:38sat beside my keyboard.
27:40Around the mouthpiece,
27:42a faint ring of tiny teeth marks
27:44was still visible.
27:49Ollie pulled up the chair next to me.
27:54Lana,
27:55there's a guy downstairs
27:56looking for you.
27:57He's been standing out there
27:58for four hours.
28:01Says he's your dive partner.
28:06My fingers paused over the keyboard.
28:08Dive partner.
28:10What a distant,
28:11ironic word.
28:15Don't know him.
28:17Not interested.
28:18Tell security to get rid of him.
28:21He stood up and pointed
28:23at the rescue whistle.
28:28What about this?
28:31The whistle I had hung around his neck
28:33with my own hands.
28:34The one that meant
28:36I was putting my life in his.
28:38The one Ethan had put around
28:40another woman's neck.
28:43Throw it in the trash.
28:45The next day,
28:47Ollie came to my desk again.
28:50This time,
28:51he set down a clear plastic zip bag.
28:53Inside was a ceramic mug,
28:55painstakingly glued back together.
29:01Lana,
29:03he's still downstairs.
29:04He made me bring this up.
29:06Said he fixed it.
29:08I stared at the mug together.
29:10But a shattered cup,
29:11no matter how carefully you piece it,
29:13will always leak.
29:16I carried the bag to the trash.
29:19Just throw it away.
29:20Day three,
29:21a bottle of limited edition
29:23body lotion.
29:26Day four,
29:27a thick diving log book,
29:29chronicling every single dive
29:31from our seven years as partners.
29:33Day five,
29:35a pair of custom diving rings.
29:39A strange atmosphere
29:41settled over the office.
29:44What day is this now?
29:46Thirteen.
29:47I heard he and Lana
29:49used to be partners.
29:51Coming all this way after her.
29:54Kind of heartbreaking.
29:56Heartbreaking?
29:58You all know what it means
29:59in coastal survey work.
30:01The weight of putting your back
30:02in someone else's hands.
30:06He's the one who did her wrong first.
30:09But he's burning up with a fever.
30:12Can barely stand.
30:13He's still staring up at this building.
30:19I tapped the final data entry
30:21into the keyboard.
30:23I'm going downstairs.
30:26The automatic doors slid open.
30:28Cold wind mixed with rain blew in.
30:31Ethan was leaning against the wall.
30:34His body trembling slightly.
30:36He'd lost a lot of weight.
30:37His eyes were sunken deep.
30:39The moment he saw me,
30:41a light sparked in his gaze.
30:46Lana.
30:47What do you want?
30:48He hesitated for a moment and asked.
30:51Your ear.
30:52Is it any better?
30:54It won't get better.
30:56Come back with me.
30:58Please.
31:00I've found the best ear specialist.
31:03We can get it treated.
31:06There is no treatment.
31:11I'm sorry.
31:13If I had just checked the mission depth that day.
31:16Ethan.
31:17A hundred feet or a hundred and thirty.
31:19It doesn't matter.
31:20The point isn't the depth.
31:22I spoke coldly.
31:26The point is
31:27that you weren't there.
31:30His breath caught.
31:35Being your dive partner is exhausting.
31:39I put my life in your hands.
31:41And you used it to make someone else feel special.
31:45I thought you could...
31:47He was cut off by me before he could finish speaking.
31:54You thought my skills were good enough.
31:56You thought I was independent.
32:05You thought nothing would ever happen to me.
32:14So every single time
32:16there was a choice
32:18I was the one who got left behind.
32:20Ethan's voice spiked suddenly.
32:23So desperate his breathing came undone.
32:25I never meant to abandon you!
32:28I already gave you thirteen.
32:31His lips parted
32:32as though he wanted to speak.
32:34Just then
32:35the sharp clatter of high heels
32:37echoed across the floor.
32:40Ethan!
32:42Chloe Winters came running over
32:43and seized Ethan by the arm.
32:45Tears streaming down her face.
32:48I finally found you!
32:52Why didn't you answer my calls?
32:54Why did you disappear to New Zealand
32:56without saying a single word?
33:03Do you have any idea
33:04how worried I've been?
33:07Ethan's face went hard in an instant.
33:09He wrenched his arm free.
33:11Who told you to come here?
33:14Because I care about you!
33:18Chloe screamed through her tears.
33:25She won't even talk to you anymore.
33:27She got your diving
33:29surface vernications revoked.
33:31Why are you still chasing after her?
33:35She spun around
33:36and glared at me.
33:39Lana Brooks,
33:40do you even have a heart?
33:42Ethan came all the way here for you.
33:46Stood in the rain
33:46for hours and hours.
33:50How can you treat him like this?
33:53Shut your mouth!
33:54Ethan stepped between me and Chloe.
33:57My business is none of yours.
33:59How can you say
34:01there's nothing between us?
34:03Ethan, I love you!
34:07She lifted her chin.
34:09You love me too.
34:13Don't you?
34:14Ethan's face changed completely.
34:17What the hell are you saying?
34:18I don't love you!
34:20I have never loved you!
34:22Chloe let out a bitter,
34:24broken laugh.
34:26You don't love me?
34:29Then why,
34:30when my leg cramped up,
34:33did you abandon her
34:34under the overpass
34:35and drove through the rain
34:36to get to me?
34:38You don't love me?
34:40Then why did you take
34:41her rescue whistle
34:42off your own neck
34:43and put it around mine?
34:45You don't love me?
34:49Then why did you leave her alone
34:51in the deep sea
34:52thirteen times
34:54to come to the shallow end
34:55with me?
34:58With every word,
34:59Ethan's face
35:00went one shade paler.
35:03And my left ear,
35:04it felt like a steel needle
35:06had been driven in deep.
35:11I only helped you
35:12because you were so helpless.
35:15I pitied you.
35:18You gave me
35:19every bit of the devotion
35:20that belonged
35:21to your girlfriend.
35:22And now you're telling me
35:24it was just pity?
35:25Ethan stopped
35:26trying to reason with her.
35:29He turned to me,
35:30frantic.
35:31Lana,
35:31it wasn't like that.
35:33She's the one
35:33who got the wrong idea.
35:36You were the one
35:37who gave her room
35:38to get the wrong idea.
35:42And you crossed
35:43the line yourself.
35:44He had severed
35:46the oxygen line
35:47with his own hands.
35:48And now he was asking me
35:49if I needed help breathing.
35:53I don't care
35:54what you were thinking.
35:55And I don't care
35:56where your heart is.
35:58I won't interfere
35:59in your life.
36:00I looked him
36:01straight in the eyes.
36:03So please,
36:05stop interfering
36:06in mine.
36:07I turned around
36:08and walked back upstairs.
36:10I didn't look back.
36:13After that day,
36:15Chloe went back home.
36:16But Ethan didn't leave.
36:19He rented
36:20a ground floor apartment
36:21in the building
36:22across from mine.
36:26If he pushed
36:27open his window,
36:28he could see
36:29the light in my kitchen.
36:34He stopped standing
36:35outside the office building
36:36every day.
36:38Instead,
36:40every morning,
36:41a paper bag
36:42appeared hanging
36:42from the handle
36:43of my workstation door.
36:46A cup of hot
36:47americano
36:48to slices
36:49of whole wheat toast.
36:51No cheese.
36:54When I got off work,
36:56the sky was usually
36:57already dark.
37:00The survey station
37:01is at a remote port.
37:03The two-mile
37:04coastal road
37:04from the station
37:05to the bus stop
37:06has no streetlights.
37:09Walking home
37:10after dark,
37:11I always heard it
37:12a faint footstep
37:13trailing 10
37:14or 15 yards
37:15behind me.
37:16When I stopped,
37:17the sound stopped.
37:19When I turned
37:19a corner,
37:20the sound followed.
37:21One night,
37:22a stray dog
37:23bolted out of nowhere
37:24and knocked
37:25out of the trash can.
37:27The footsteps
37:28behind me
37:29scrambled out of rhythm.
37:30He ran forward
37:31a few steps,
37:32then stopped,
37:33five yards away.
37:35The dim glow
37:36of a street lamp
37:37fell across him.
37:38He was wearing
37:39a thin trench coat,
37:40clutching a long
37:41black umbrella.
37:43I looked at him.
37:44He took a step
37:45backward.
37:51I won't come close.
37:53His voice
37:54was shredded
37:54by the wind.
37:57The road's too dark!
37:59You can't see
38:01where you're stepping!
38:03I turned away
38:04and kept walking.
38:06December 24th,
38:08Christmas Eve.
38:09It doesn't really snow
38:10in New Zealand,
38:11but this year
38:12the temperature
38:12had dropped
38:13below freezing.
38:15I finished up
38:16at work,
38:17cleared my desk,
38:18and walked out
38:19of the station.
38:23I wrapped
38:23my scarf tighter
38:25and started down
38:25that pitch-black
38:26coastal road.
38:27The footsteps
38:28followed,
38:29as they always did.
38:34I reached my apartment
38:36building
38:37and pressed the buzzer.
38:42The footsteps
38:43behind me
38:44stopped at the edge
38:45of the street lamp's glow.
38:48He stood there,
38:50his shoulders
38:51soaked through
38:51from the rain.
38:55Ethan Pierce.
38:59Here.
39:01How long
39:02are you going
39:02to follow me?
39:03His voice
39:04was hoarse.
39:05I'm not trying
39:06to bother you.
39:08I just,
39:09I just want to make
39:09sure you get home safe.
39:14It's cold out.
39:17I looked at his lips,
39:19tinged blue
39:20from the freezing air.
39:22Come inside.
39:25The living room
39:26lights were off.
39:27Only a single
39:28floor lamp
39:29was on.
39:31I walked
39:32into the kitchen,
39:33turned on the stove.
39:35I filled a pot
39:36with water
39:36and added
39:37some more cocoa powder.
39:38He sat on
39:39the edge
39:40of the couch,
39:41body rigid,
39:42hands clasped together.
39:43He didn't even
39:44dare lean back.
39:47Do you remember
39:48one Christmas Eve
39:51years ago?
39:52His voice
39:53came from behind me.
39:56That year
39:57we were in Iceland.
39:58We'd just surfaced
39:59from a dive,
40:00freezing.
40:01You said
40:02you wanted
40:03some hot cocoa.
40:04I went to
40:05three different stores
40:06and finally
40:06found cocoa.
40:10That night,
40:11we used to be
40:13this warm
40:13and sweet too.
40:14That day,
40:16he really did
40:16go to three
40:17different stores.
40:18But after he came
40:19back,
40:20he got a call
40:20from Chloe.
40:22She said
40:22she'd broken
40:23her leg
40:24at a ski resort.
40:25There was no one
40:26to take her
40:27to the hospital.
40:29He sat
40:29in the living room
40:30for a full hour
40:31on that long
40:32distance call,
40:33arranging hospitals,
40:35contacting friends,
40:37finding doctors.
40:40I watched
40:40the hot cocoa
40:41by my hand
40:42grow cold
40:43until a layer
40:44of white froth
40:45finally floated
40:46on top,
40:46utterly disgusting.
40:52In the end,
40:53I threw away
40:54that cup of hot cocoa.
41:00He only remembered
41:01going to three shops
41:02for it,
41:03but never knew
41:04I hadn't taken
41:04a single sip.
41:08I turned off
41:09the heat
41:09and poured
41:10the hot cocoa
41:10into a cup.
41:13He stared
41:14at the cup
41:14of hot cocoa.
41:16The veins
41:16on the back
41:17of his hands
41:18stood out.
41:21And then,
41:22without warning,
41:23tears began
41:24falling from his eyes.
41:29Lana.
41:32Drink.
41:34And after
41:35you're done,
41:36don't come back.
41:38He didn't speak.
41:40He finally understood.
41:42This wasn't
41:42a dinner of forgiveness.
41:43This was
41:44the final send-off.
41:47He picked up
41:48the cup,
41:49his hands
41:50trembling violently.
41:51Hot cocoa
41:52spilled all over him,
41:54yet he didn't
41:55even seem to notice.
41:57Tears fell
41:58one after another
41:59into the hot cocoa,
42:01onto the back
42:02of his hand.
42:06Everything you make,
42:07it's always
42:08been delicious.
42:10He coughing
42:11from the heat,
42:12tears and mucus
42:13running together.
42:15He was a complete,
42:17dignity-stripped wreck
42:18when he was done.
42:20He stood up.
42:23He pulled the door
42:24open.
42:25Cold wind
42:26gusted
42:27into the living room.
42:30I'm sorry.
42:32Those were
42:33his final
42:33three words.
42:35He pulled
42:35the door shut.
42:37Heavy footsteps
42:38echoed down
42:39the hallway,
42:40fading,
42:40growing distant,
42:41until they
42:42disappeared
42:43completely.
42:44Outside the window,
42:46the cold
42:46New Zealand rain
42:47kept falling.
42:48I picked up
42:49the empty cup
42:50and walked
42:50into the kitchen.
42:52The stream
42:53of water
42:54washed over
42:55the ceramic
42:55surface,
42:56erasing
42:57every trace.
43:00Deep inside
43:01my left ear,
43:02the buzzing
43:03slowly,
43:04quietly began
43:05to fade.
43:06It stopped.
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