- 3 hours ago
Spring never comes lily EP
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00I collapsed at Malcolm's engagement party. Glass shards everywhere. Blood mixing with cake and
00:05champagne. When I woke up, I was in a hospital room. Malcolm stood over me with desperate eyes.
00:12The blood bank is empty, Lily. You're the only match. Please, save her.
00:21He wasn't talking about me. He meant Alicia, his fiancée. The woman whose wedding I had just
00:26destroyed, so I let them take my blood. Then the doctor looked at me with a face you never want
00:31to see on a doctor. Mrs. Brooks, you have a brain tumor. It's getting worse. I didn't understand,
00:39so he made it simple. It means two months to live. When I was born, I was diagnosed with
00:47intellectual disability. When I was eight, mom and dad brought home an adorable little boy named
00:52Malcolm Harrington. He had a real mean streak. When I offered him candy, he sank his teeth into
00:58my finger and bit off half of it. When I tried to help him clean up, he shoved my head
01:06into the sink
01:06and held it there. One day, I went to my uncle's house to play games. I was hoping to win
01:14some fancy
01:14chocolate for Malcolm. Then, without warning, Malcolm charged in frantically and bit down hard
01:19on my uncle's leg, drawing blood. He told me his home was far away in Chicago. I didn't understand
01:27what that meant, but at night, he would turn away from me and cry until his pillow was soaked.
01:32I figured he missed his family, so I sneaked him out. I stuffed every piece of candy I'd saved into
01:38his pockets. I gave him a firm shove, urging him to run. When mom and dad caught me, they beat
01:45me with
01:45fists and sticks. As my blood mixed with the crushed candy, I just wanted to close my eyes and never
01:53wake up. But instead of leaving, Malcolm ran back and threw himself over me. His tears fell into my
02:03mouth, salty and bitter. He held a kitchen knife against his own throat. If you kill her, I die too!
02:12After that, he never mentioned going home again. Then, when we were 18, a line of shiny black cars
02:18pulled up in front of the house. Men wearing armbands took mom and dad away. A beautiful woman
02:24who smelled like perfume cried as she pulled Malcolm into one of the cars. I knew he was going home.
02:29I held out the chocolates I'd been saving for six months, but he knocked them out of my hands.
02:34He pulled me into a crushing hug, his voice shaking.
02:38Lily, come with me. I'm taking you to the city. You like birds, right? There are so many beautiful
02:45birds there.
02:47Chicago was beautiful. The buildings were taller than the mountains back home. I stared at
02:53everything with my mouth hanging open, trying to take it all in. Malcolm told me it all belonged to
02:58his family, but there were no birds. And the woman, Rachel Harrington, kept digging her long
03:03fingernails into my palm. Scared, I tugged at his sleeve.
03:08Malk, when can I go home?
03:10His expression darkened, though his voice stayed soft.
03:14My home is your home. We are never going back to that place.
03:18Rachel's voice rose to a shriek.
03:21Malk!
03:21Your father will never agree to adopt her!
03:25If it weren't for her human tracker parents, you wouldn't have suffered in that slum for ten years!
03:30Malcolm's face was cold.
03:31The couple was at fault. Not her.
03:35But she's retarded!
03:36Rachel waved a stack of papers in the air.
03:40Severe intellectual disability!
03:44She'll be a burden forever!
03:46Do you know how bad that looks for your father?
03:51I froze in fear, and then my pants felt warm and wet.
03:55A dark stain spread across the carpet.
03:57The servants covered their noses and stepped away, whispering to one another.
04:02I wanted to curl up and hide my shame.
04:05But then I noticed the white papers scattered on the floor.
04:08I dropped to my knees to pick them up.
04:11I carefully patted off the dust and handed them to Malcolm.
04:13He used to complain that his homework paper was too thin and tore easily.
04:18Now he finally had good paper.
04:20Malk!
04:21White paper!
04:22You can do your homework now.
04:24His eyes turned red.
04:26He took the stack of papers, gripped my hand, and led me into the guest room.
04:31A few maids came over to change my dress, clearly unhappy about it.
04:36I clutched my waistband tight, so they pinched my side hard.
04:41Ugh! Disgusting!
04:42Let go!
04:44Tears stung my eyes from the pain, but I remembered what Malcolm told me no one was allowed to touch
04:49my dress except him and me.
04:50The door was slightly ajar, and I heard Malcolm's icy voice coming from the hallway.
04:55Rachel, you know exactly how you got into my father's bed.
05:01And you know exactly why I went missing all those years ago.
05:05If you try to poison my father against Lily, I promise you and your precious son will be thrown out
05:11of the Harrington family.
05:14Rachel's face went pale, and she ran away crying.
05:18The hallway went quiet.
05:20When I came out in clean pants, Malcolm was slumped on the sofa.
05:24He looked at me and let out a long sigh.
05:26Malcolm was home now, so why wasn't he happy?
05:30Later, Malcolm's father came home.
05:33They stayed in the study for a long time.
05:35When Malcolm finally came out, he had a bright red handprint on his face.
05:40He locked himself in his room and refused to eat.
05:43I shook with fear.
05:45Back home, when mom and dad said I was bad and wouldn't feed me, Malcolm used to sneak his food
05:50to me.
05:50Once, he went hungry for a whole week until he passed out.
05:54I ran to tell mom and dad, but they beat me and accused me of starving him to death.
05:59When he woke up, he kept his mouth shut tight, no matter how much I begged him to eat.
06:04He waited until mom and dad finally brought me a plate of food, too.
06:08Only then did he open his mouth and let me feed him.
06:13I took a bread roll I'd hidden during dinner and sneaked into Malcolm's room.
06:18I tried desperately to push it into his mouth, but his eyes were red.
06:22He pulled me close, his hot tears dripping onto my neck.
06:26Lily, he might be my biological father, but he stopped caring about me a long time ago.
06:33No one here cares.
06:39I only have you.
06:41If they can't accept you, they won't accept me either.
06:44I didn't understand his complicated words, so I just used my sleeve to wipe his face.
06:49Let's leave.
06:50His voice was sudden and firm.
06:53Isn't this our home?
06:57Lily, anywhere I am with you is home.
07:00He took me and ran away.
07:02We lived under an overpass for three days, huddled together for warmth.
07:07Finally, Malcolm's father gave in and agreed to let me stay.
07:11But Rachel complained I was covered in germs.
07:13She wouldn't let me touch anything and made me stay in my room.
07:17Every night, Malcolm came to hold me while we slept, whispering that he was sorry.
07:22I didn't understand why.
07:24Even though there were no birds here, I had Malcolm, and that made me happy.
07:30But then Malcolm went to college and got very busy.
07:34He stopped coming home for dinner.
07:36He stopped reading me stories before bed.
07:39A pretty girl named Alicia Quinn started following him around.
07:42She had long hair and always smelled like flowers.
07:46The servants told me she was Malcolm's fiancé.
07:48I didn't know what a fiancé was.
07:51They laughed and told me.
07:52It means she's his bride.
07:55They'll sleep together and eat together every day.
07:58I tilted my head.
08:00Does that mean I'm Malcolm's fiancé too?
08:04Malcolm laughed and shook his head.
08:06That's different.
08:07When I asked him why, his face fell, and he looked at me with a strange expression.
08:12He didn't explain.
08:14After that, he stopped coming to hold me at night.
08:17I lay awake in the dark, staring at the ceiling, waiting for the door to open.
08:22It never did.
08:25I could only watch through the glass as Malcolm and Alicia sat on the garden swing.
08:30They were reading, feeding the fish by the pond, and walking that fluffy puppy of theirs.
08:36I wanted to be out there so bad it hurt.
08:38I missed Malcolm.
08:40But one time, Alicia had actually spotted me at the window.
08:44It startled her so bad she fell right to the ground.
08:47Pointing at me and screaming that she'd seen a ghost.
08:50I panicked.
08:52I ran outside and almost got hit by a car.
08:55Malcolm was furious.
08:57He struck me hard with a clothes hanger.
09:00Why are you running around?
09:02Why won't you listen?
09:04After that, they covered the window with black cloth.
09:07I couldn't see anything anymore.
09:09The servants stopped bringing me food, and I started feeling dizzy from the hunger.
09:15They didn't let me out until the day of Malcolm's engagement party.
09:21Malcolm pulled me aside.
09:23When he saw how thin my face was, a flicker of guilt passed through his eyes.
09:28But his voice stayed harsh and cold.
09:30Today is my engagement party with Alicia.
09:34You just watch quietly, understand?
09:38No eating with your hands.
09:41If you need the bathroom, tell a servant.
09:44Malcolm had forgotten again.
09:46The first time I ate with Alicia, I didn't know how to use a knife and fork.
09:50I remembered him saying we needed to make a good impression on her.
09:53I was starving.
09:55While I drank my juice, I secretly grabbed handfuls of food and stuffed them into my pocket to eat back
10:00in my room.
10:01Then, a sudden urge to pee hit me.
10:04I hurriedly told them I needed the bathroom.
10:07Rachel, who always had sharp eyes, grabbed me.
10:10What's that bulging in your pocket?
10:12Then she screamed.
10:14We feed and clothe you, and you still steal?
10:19She yanked at me, and the food spilled all over the floor.
10:22That's when I felt a sudden warmth between my legs.
10:26Urine dripped down my calf.
10:30The room went dead silent.
10:34Guests covered their mouths in shock and backed away, their eyes full of disgust.
10:39The smell filled the air.
10:41Alicia went totally pale.
10:43She retched, covered her nose, and ran out,
10:46forgetting all about being polite.
10:50Malcolm rushed after her.
10:52He didn't come back for a long time.
10:55When he finally returned,
10:57he stared at the mess on the floor with empty eyes.
11:01I'm begging you.
11:03His voice sounded exhausted.
11:05Just be normal, okay?
11:07Since that first incident,
11:09I had practiced using a knife and fork until my hands were covered in blood.
11:13I had learned to use the toilet by myself.
11:16I nodded obediently.
11:18He didn't look at me again.
11:21He turned to take Alicia's arm and chat with the guests.
11:25Malcolm looked tired, but his smile was bright.
11:29I was truly happy for him.
11:31Then Vincent Harrington, Malcolm's half-brother, whispered behind me,
11:36Malc hasn't eaten all day.
11:38If you bring him a piece of cake, he'll be even happier.
11:43My eyes lit up.
11:45I remembered when we were kids back in the village.
11:47A big boy named Brad told me to kneel and bark like a dog for a bite of cake.
11:52I had knelt until my knees bled,
11:54barking for a long time,
11:55just to present that cake to Malcolm like a treasure.
11:58Malcolm had stared at the cake and insisted I eat first.
12:01I wiped my mouth, smiling,
12:03and lied that I had already eaten.
12:05Only then did he open his mouth.
12:08Cream stuck to the corner of his lips,
12:10and he squinted at the sweetness.
12:12But the next day,
12:13he came home from school in a rage.
12:16He cried and shoved me,
12:18calling me shameless,
12:19saying I had no self-respect.
12:21He said he didn't have a sister like me.
12:23But a second later,
12:25he ran out to the riverbank and dug up wet herbs.
12:27With red eyes,
12:29he applied the medicine to my knees.
12:31He glared at me.
12:32I hate cake!
12:34If you ever bring it to me again,
12:36I'll kill you!
12:37Watching his trembling hands,
12:39I couldn't help but smile.
12:41Malcolm was lying again.
12:43Happily,
12:44I went to cut the cake.
12:46Suddenly,
12:46my vision went black.
12:49I collapsed right into the cake,
12:51knocking over the champagne tower.
12:53It crashed down on me,
12:55and the shards pierced my skin.
13:01Alicia screamed and jumped back.
13:03She looked terrified.
13:05Her gorgeous red dress splattered with cream.
13:07Her eyes red.
13:09She looked at Malcolm.
13:11Malcolm!
13:13You said she would behave!
13:17Why did you let her ruin my engagement party?
13:21She covered her face and ran out.
13:25Malcolm's expression was terrifyingly cold.
13:27All I could think was that if Malcolm ate the cake,
13:30he would be happy.
13:32Fighting the intense pain of the glass shards in my body,
13:34I scooped the clean parts of the cake onto a plate.
13:38I had just lifted it up when Malcolm kicked the plate away.
13:41His eyes were bloodshot.
13:44Are you that obsessed with food?
13:47You couldn't wait a single moment!
13:50Are you not satisfied until you've ruined me
13:52and I'm stuck with you forever?
13:54I shook my head frantically,
13:56trying to grab his hand.
13:58But he shoved me away hard
13:59and stormed out without looking back.
14:01I fell onto the debris.
14:03Glass shards pierced my skin,
14:05and the pain made tears stream down my face.
14:08Moments later,
14:09someone rushed in, shouting,
14:11Mrs. Quinn has been in a car accident!
14:15The bodyguards hauled me into the hospital.
14:18Malcolm's voice was desperate.
14:20Lily, the blood bank is empty,
14:22and you're the only match.
14:25Please.
14:28Save her.
14:32Okay?
14:33I couldn't answer because I hurt too much.
14:35There was still glass from the accident stuck in my skin.
14:38Malcolm snapped.
14:41Alicia isn't me.
14:44You hurt her,
14:45so you have to pay for it!
14:46He shoved me toward the donation room.
14:48The doctor rolled up my sleeve,
14:50but when he saw my arm was covered in fresh blood,
14:53he froze.
14:54He looked like he wanted to stop.
14:56I remembered something I'd seen on TV once.
14:59I ducked my head and begged.
15:02I'll do it.
15:04I was wrong.
15:07I'm not scared of the pain.
15:09After a round of tests,
15:10the doctor looked grim.
15:13Miss Miss.
15:15Brooks.
15:16You have a brain tumor.
15:18And it's getting worse.
15:20I didn't get it.
15:22He sighed.
15:24It means you have two months to live.
15:28That part,
15:29I understood.
15:30Malcolm had told me once that dying meant going somewhere very far away farther than birds could fly.
15:35But he also said the birds come back in the spring.
15:38When they finished taking my blood,
15:40I wanted to tell him.
15:42I wanted to say I was going on a long trip and that he should remember to come get me
15:46in the spring.
15:47But then Alicia woke up.
15:48Before I could get the words out,
15:50he shoved past me and ran to her.
15:53The room spun,
15:54and I hit the floor.
15:56Through the crack in the door,
15:57I heard Alicia sobbing.
15:59I said I didn't mind her living with us after we got married,
16:02but I never agreed to risk my life for it!
16:05We've given her a luxury life for years.
16:08Whatever debt we owed is paid.
16:11Because you keep protecting her,
16:12your dad is about to give your inheritance to Vincent instead.
16:15I've compromised on everything for you.
16:18But do you ever think about how I feel?
16:26Do you know how people make fun of me?
16:31She's retarded!
16:33How much more do we have to accommodate her?
16:38Malcolm's voice sounded hoarse.
16:40She wasn't always like this.
16:41She got this way by saving me.
16:44No matter what I do,
16:45I can't give her a normal life back.
16:48Alicia went quiet for a second.
16:50Without you,
16:51her life would be way worse than this.
16:54She would have been sold off or tortured to death.
16:58Sent her to a care facility.
17:00They have professionals there.
17:01She'll be treated well.
17:03Malcolm buried his face in his hands.
17:07Let me think about it.
17:10We only have two months, Malk.
17:14If Vincent becomes the heir,
17:17I won't be able to marry you.
17:22They held each other and cried,
17:24like some unlucky couple being tested by fate.
17:27My chest suddenly ached.
17:29It hurt worse than when Mom and Dad used to hit me.
17:32Turned out,
17:33Malcolm was suffering so much because of me.
17:35I decided I didn't want him to come get me after all.
17:40My headaches had been getting worse lately,
17:42and I usually ended up sleeping the entire day away.
17:45My nose wouldn't stop bleeding either,
17:47just these uncontrollable trickles of dark blood.
17:50It was a good thing Rachel hadn't let me leave my room.
17:53If Malcolm had seen me like that,
17:55he'd have just lost it again.
17:57Lying in bed,
17:58I reached under my pillow and dug out the little wooden bird he carved.
18:04Suddenly, the door swung open.
18:06I panicked and shoved it back out of sight.
18:09The last time Malcolm got mad at me for running around,
18:12he threw it into the fire.
18:14I was so desperate to save it that I reached right into the flames.
18:18The skin on my palm had peeled right off.
18:22That night, he held me and cried until morning,
18:25asking over and over,
18:34Terrified he was about to lose his temper again,
18:37I started to tremble.
18:39Instead, he crawled under the covers and pulled me close.
18:43His voice was raspy.
18:45Hiding snacks again.
18:47I didn't want him to think I was greedy,
18:49so I shook my head fast.
18:51It's not food!
18:52I pulled out the wooden bird to show him.
18:54He froze for a second,
18:56then gave a bitter smile.
18:58It's just that...
19:00He paused,
19:01his voice catching in his throat.
19:04The wings are burned off.
19:07It can't fly away now.
19:10He buried his face in my shoulder.
19:13It has to stay right by my side for the rest of its life, doesn't it?
19:16I wanted so badly to tell him he was wrong.
19:20I was going on a long trip soon.
19:23I had secretly asked Alicia where the birds went.
19:26She said they flew south,
19:28to the village where Mom and Dad were.
19:30I wanted to go back there.
19:32I wanted to see if the bird had made it back to its nest.
19:36Alicia booked the ticket for me.
19:38She said I could finally go home.
19:42On Malcolm's birthday,
19:43I was allowed out of my room again.
19:46I filled a glass jar with all his favorite colorful candies
19:49and quietly left it in his bedroom.
19:53At the party,
19:54Alicia whispered to me,
19:56Do you want to make milk happy?
19:57I nodded eagerly.
19:59She handed me a glass of juice,
20:01a flicker of guilt in her eyes.
20:03Drink this,
20:04and Malcolm will get exactly what he wants.
20:06I didn't even think about it.
20:08I drank it all in one go.
20:11Not long after,
20:12I felt dizzy and passed out.
20:15I was jolted out of my daze by a hard slap.
20:18My face stung with burning pain.
20:20I opened my eyes.
20:21The room was full of people pointing at me.
20:25Disgusting!
20:26She couldn't get Malcolm,
20:27so she went off to Vincent instead.
20:30I thought she was supposed to be retarded?
20:32Did she look sharp enough to me?
20:36My head was swimming.
20:37I couldn't understand what they were saying.
20:40I only saw Malcolm,
20:42his eyes bloodshot,
20:43clutching a torn dress.
20:45His voice trembled.
20:46Is this the birthday present you prepared for me?
20:52No, that wasn't it.
20:54Malcolm had it wrong.
20:55The present was in his room.
20:57I tried to get up to pull him there,
20:59only to realize I wasn't wearing any clothes.
21:02Beside me,
21:03Vincent was naked too.
21:05His face was flushed crimson.
21:08He slapped me across the face,
21:10hard enough that I tasted copper in the back of my throat.
21:14Have you no shame?
21:17You dared to drug me?
21:19I swallowed the blood in my mouth
21:21and watched him struggle to reach his trousers.
21:23I remembered Rachel saying Malcolm's brother,
21:25Vincent,
21:26had poor health
21:27and that I should always be helpful to him.
21:29So,
21:30I reached out,
21:31grabbed his pants,
21:32and tried to help him put them on.
21:35Malcolm yanked my hair back violently,
21:37his eyes glaring red.
21:39How the hell did you get this cheat?
21:41Huh?
21:42The pain made tears stream down my face.
21:45Vincent spat on me.
21:47Slut!
21:48Malcolm roared and lunged at him,
21:50punching him over and over
21:51until Vincent's face was covered in blood.
21:53The whole room erupted into chaos.
21:56Eventually,
21:57Vincent was taken away in a large white van.
22:05I was dragged into a small, dark room.
22:08Outside the door,
22:10I heard a man's cold voice.
22:12Last chance.
22:14Get rid of that woman.
22:16She has the mind of an eight-year-old.
22:18How could she possibly drug Vincent?
22:20It had to be him.
22:23He raped her.
22:26A heavy slap landed on Malcolm's face.
22:29You've lost your mind over her!
22:32Today,
22:33you broke your brother's nose.
22:36Tomorrow,
22:37are you going to kill someone for her?
22:39If you don't send her away,
22:41I have my ways of making her disappear.
22:57I bought you a house on the south side.
23:01Don't ever come back.
23:02Big tears started rolling down my face.
23:05He yanked his hand back as if I'd burned him.
23:08Enough!
23:10Alicia was right!
23:12I paid back everything I owed you long ago!
23:17I shook my head
23:18and tried to give the key and card back.
23:23Malcolm, I'm going home!
23:24He froze for a long time,
23:26then suddenly started screaming hysterically.
23:28Fine!
23:29Go home then!
23:31Don't you ever come back!
23:34He slammed the car door shut,
23:37sealing me off from him completely.
23:40From inside the car,
23:42I watched his figure grow smaller
23:44and smaller in the distance.
23:45The buildings of Chicago blurred past the window,
23:48but I didn't see any of them.
23:50All I saw was the spot where Malcolm had been standing,
23:53getting tinier and tinier until it was gone.
23:56My chest felt hollow,
23:58like someone had scooped everything out of it.
24:01I reached into my pocket
24:03and touched the ticket Alicia had secretly tucked in there.
24:06The edges were crisp and new.
24:08Home, I thought.
24:10I'm going home.
24:11I whispered to the driver in the front seat.
24:14Sir, please see me.
24:15Take me to the station.
24:17The driver met my eyes in the rearview mirror,
24:20shaking his head.
24:22His expression gave nothing away.
24:24No.
24:25His voice was flat.
24:26Mr. Harrington gave specific orders
24:28to drop you safely at the house.
24:32That's it.
24:33No matter how much I begged,
24:35he wouldn't listen.
24:37The yard was average-sized,
24:39and a middle-aged woman greeted me warmly at the door.
24:42At first, she treated me well and made me meals,
24:45though she wouldn't let me leave.
24:47But as time passed and no one came to visit,
24:50her attitude cooled.
24:51Eventually, she started just tossing bread into the room,
24:55glaring at me with disdain.
24:57You aren't some wealthy heiress.
24:59She sneered.
25:01If you want to eat, cook for yourself.
25:04The hunger became unbearable,
25:05so I gathered my courage and went into the kitchen.
25:08I didn't know what I knocked over,
25:10but flames suddenly flared up,
25:12instantly catching the curtains.
25:14Malcolm had told me that if there was ever a fire,
25:17I had to run.
25:20I grabbed the wooden bird carving from under my pillow
25:23and rushed toward the door.
25:25It was locked from the outside.
25:28I cried and pounded on the wood,
25:30but no one answered.
25:32The thick smoke forced me to the floor.
25:35The fire burned my heels,
25:36sizzling against my skin.
25:40Malcolm would be angry to see me like this.
25:44I slapped my face hard
25:45and forced myself to crawl toward the window.
25:48I smashed the glass with my head and blacked out.
25:55When I woke up,
25:57everything was white.
25:58Malcolm sat by the bed in a tuxedo.
26:01I couldn't help smiling when I saw him.
26:04I had finally found him again.
26:06A police officer stood nearby,
26:08reprimanding him sternly.
26:10You are Mrs. Brooks' guardian, correct?
26:13How could you lock a person
26:15with an indetitual disability
26:17alone in a house?
26:18Do you realize she nearly died?
26:20I froze,
26:22then shook my head hard,
26:23trying to explain.
26:27Malcolm looked drained of all energy.
26:29His red-rimmed eyes fixed on me,
26:32his voice sounding exhausted.
26:34What do you want me to do
26:35before you leave me alone?
26:38Do I have to obey you completely?
26:40Lillian,
26:41you have always hated me, haven't you?
26:46You regret helping me.
26:48I regret it too.
26:52I should have died back then.
26:56Malcolm always said things I didn't understand.
27:00If he died,
27:01who would pick him up in the spring?
27:03I wanted to correct him,
27:05but my throat hurt terribly.
27:07A doctor nearby explained.
27:09The patient inhaled too much smoke
27:11during the fire.
27:12Her vocal cords are moderately burned.
27:15Malcolm turned his head sharply.
27:17She can't speak?
27:21She might recover with rest,
27:23but her voice will likely remain,
27:25permanently,
27:25hark.
27:26I looked at him,
27:27questioning him with my eyes.
27:29He glanced at me and understood immediately.
27:35You won't be able to speak or sing anymore.
27:41I stared blankly for a long time,
27:43then opened my mouth,
27:45trying to make a sound.
27:46He immediately covered my mouth,
27:49shouting in a panic.
27:50The doctor said you need total silence
27:52for the next two months!
27:54Do you want to be mute forever?
28:00Stop causing trouble for me.
28:03Warm tears dropped onto my face.
28:06I reached up with a trembling hand
28:08to wipe Malcolm's eyes.
28:10He caught my wrist and gave a sad, bitter smile.
28:12Since you cannot speak,
28:15my world is finally quiet.
28:18I don't have to answer meaningless questions
28:21or hear your bad singing.
28:23My chest ached.
28:25Malcolm used to love my singing.
28:27I remembered when he first came to our home.
28:30He broke things during the day
28:31and cried all night.
28:35I wiped his tears,
28:36but he swatted my hand away.
28:39I patted his back,
28:40and he told me to leave him alone.
28:42Then I sang the song Grandma taught me.
28:48He stopped crying.
28:49The next night,
28:50he hid his face in my arms and whispered,
28:55Sing it again,
28:57and I won't cry.
28:59Malcolm was only this sad
29:00because I couldn't sing anymore.
29:05The doctor looked at the report and frowned,
29:07about to speak,
29:08when Alicia rushed in wearing her wedding dress.
29:13She pointed at me crying.
29:15I never realized you were so manipulative.
29:19You did this on our wedding day
29:20to make him feel guilty
29:21so he would stay with you.
29:23Alicia had said that
29:24as long as I was in Chicago,
29:26Malcolm would never be happy.
29:28I didn't want Malcolm to be unhappy.
29:32I looked at her and Malcolm,
29:33and I smiled.
29:34I forced the words out
29:36through the searing pain in my throat,
29:38repeating what she had taught me.
29:39Yes, he owes me.
29:41He will never have a good life.
29:46Malcolm gripped my wrist so hard
29:48the pain bowed me over,
29:49sharp and crushing.
29:51Still, I forced a smile,
29:53grinding the words out.
29:56You are only good enough
29:59to stay right here
30:01and do as you're told.
30:04That broke him.
30:05His voice cracked,
30:07raw and shouting.
30:09I've degraded myself.
30:12Malcolm.
30:14For you,
30:15for 10 years.
30:16I don't owe you a damn thing
30:18anymore.
30:20Get out.
30:22I never want to see you again.
30:25He bunched a fistful of my hair
30:26and hauled me roughly
30:27toward the exit.
30:29The doctor chased after us,
30:31yelling.
30:32Ms. Brooks has severe burns,
30:33but she also has a...
30:34The heavy thud of the door
30:35severed the rest of his sentence.
30:37Alicia fell into step beside him,
30:40her voice soft and persuasive.
30:43Let's send her to my family's nursing home.
30:45I know you care about her,
30:48but please,
30:50stop thinking about bringing her home with us.
30:53Okay?
30:54Malcolm's shoulders dropped,
30:55and he let out a heavy sigh of surrender.
30:59He shoved me into the car,
31:00refusing to look me.
31:06At the moment Malcolm turned to lead Alicia away,
31:08a swarm of reporters descended.
31:11Mr. Harrington,
31:12did you leave your own wedding
31:13for your adopted sister?
31:16Are the rumors of a romance true?
31:18Does Ms. Quinn know?
31:20Malcolm pressed his lips into a thin line,
31:22saying nothing.
31:24Alicia took his arm with practice poise,
31:26flashing a smile for the cameras.
31:28You must be joking.
31:30My husband is a man of integrity.
31:31He certainly wouldn't have an affair
31:32with a mentally disabled woman.
31:35He was simply repaying a past debt of gratitude.
31:38Bodyguards cleared a path back to the venue.
31:44Inside,
31:45the officiant's voice filled the grand hall.
31:48Mr. Harrington,
31:50do you take Mrs. Quinn
31:52to be your wedded wife?
31:53To love and cherish her,
31:55in sickness and in health,
31:56for richer or poorer,
31:58as long as you both shall live?
31:59Alicia looked up at him,
32:00but the tenderness in his eyes
32:02wasn't meant for her.
32:04Mr. Harrington?
32:06The officiant's voice rose,
32:08pressing him again.
32:10Her hand trembled
32:11as she dug her nails into his palm.
32:13The sharp pain snapped him back to the present.
32:16He finally spoke,
32:18the words dragging.
32:20I do.
32:22The hall erupted in cheers.
32:25The ceremony was flawless,
32:27burying the negative rumors
32:28already trending online.
32:32Malcolm's father nodded with satisfaction.
32:36It's about time.
32:37Follow the path I've laid out.
32:38Build your family and career
32:39and let the past stay dead.
32:43Don't disappoint me again.
32:45That night,
32:46Malcolm sat on the edge of the bed,
32:48his expression blank.
32:52Alicia tried her best to seduce him,
32:54but when he remained cold,
32:56she finally gave up.
32:59You won't admit it,
33:00but you love her, don't you?
33:01She sounded resigned.
33:04People like us don't get to live how we want.
33:06Just forget her.
33:08Live the life we're supposed to live.
33:09Even if it's just a duty.
33:12It's the best outcome.
33:13For you,
33:14for me,
33:14and for her.
33:15He didn't answer.
33:17He just retreated into the bathroom,
33:19chain smoking.
33:20In the haze,
33:22his mind drifted back to when he was 15.
33:26He used to mimic the adult smoking raw tobacco
33:28at the village entrance.
33:31Whenever I smelled it on him,
33:33I'd wrinkle my nose,
33:34assuming he was dirty.
33:37I'd shove him toward a washbasin
33:38and scrub his back without hesitation,
33:40just like when they were kids.
33:43My clear gaze would wander over him,
33:45making his face burn.
33:48Don't you know?
33:48If you look at a man's body,
33:50no one will want to marry you.
33:52That wasn't actually true.
33:54I was beautiful.
33:56Even with my disability,
33:57plenty of men were willing to pay
33:59to make my their wife.
34:01But Malcolm had chased every suitor away with a stick.
34:05Then he lowered his head,
34:06his voice so quiet,
34:08he wasn't sure who he was talking to.
34:10It doesn't matter if no one else wants you.
34:13I'll marry you myself.
34:18They put me in a white room with padded walls.
34:21The window was sealed shut,
34:23leaving just a few little holes drilled in for air.
34:26They let me out for a few hours a day, though.
34:29The place was packed with people
34:30wearing the same blue and white striped clothes I was.
34:33There was a middle-aged woman with two braids
34:35who'd stand on tables reciting poetry,
34:38and an old man who liked to smear his dinner
34:40on the walls like finger paint.
34:42But the one I saw the most was a little boy
34:44who didn't know how to use a fork.
34:47He always grabbed his spaghetti with his bare hands,
34:50smearing sauce all over his face.
34:52I crouched down next to him and took his small hand,
34:56prying his fingers open one by one
34:57to press the fork into his palm.
35:00You gotta hold it like this.
35:02I rasped, showing him.
35:05My brother told me that.
35:06But while I was trying to teach him,
35:08tears slipped out and fell right into his plate.
35:15Spooked, he flipped the plate over
35:16and scrambled under the table, screaming.
35:19I reached underneath and pulled him out,
35:21rubbing his back gently.
35:24He bit my wrist, sinking his teeth deep.
35:27I hissed, but I kept humming that old nursery rhyme
35:30with my scratchy voice.
35:33The little bird sings, coming here, every spring, spring.
35:42His jaw slowly relaxed.
35:45He leaned back against my chest
35:47and picked up the fork as I asked.
35:50The nurses there were gentle.
35:52They'd slip fruit candies under my pillow.
35:55But my stomach felt hard and blocked up,
35:58and I threw up everything I ate.
36:00I saved the colorful wrappers anyway,
36:03hiding them under my mattress.
36:06The day the first snow fell,
36:08the little boy dragged me out to the courtyard,
36:10all excited.
36:13Snowflakes landed on his open palms.
36:15He tipped his head back
36:17and opened his mouth to catch them,
36:19eyes crinkling with joy.
36:21Lily!
36:22It's sweet!
36:24I did the same,
36:26tasting it myself.
36:27It was cold and tasted like nothing.
36:29Silly kid.
36:31I fished the last two candies out of my pocket,
36:33unwrapped one,
36:34and fed it to him.
36:37I wrapped the other one back up carefully.
36:40I had to save that one for Malcolm.
36:43He's loved sweets since he was little.
36:46Alicia came to visit
36:48while I was drifting in and out.
36:50She sat by my bed,
36:52faint dark circles shadowing her eyes.
36:55Lillian.
36:57Her voice was soft.
36:59Just blame this on me.
37:00Leave Chicago.
37:02And go back home.
37:04Okay?
37:05I didn't have the strength to speak,
37:07so I just nodded.
37:09I still wanted to go back and check
37:11if the little bird had returned
37:12to its nest in this cold.
37:14The car pulled away slowly in the snow.
37:18I leaned against the window,
37:19watching the flakes dance outside.
37:23My eyelids got heavier and heavier
37:25until I didn't want to open them anymore.
37:29I lost track of time
37:31before the car finally jerked to a stop.
37:33The driver,
37:34a middle-aged woman
37:35who'd clearly lost her patience,
37:37practically kicked me out
37:38onto the shoulder of the road.
37:40Clutching the heavy bags of bread
37:42the nurses had secretly shoved
37:43into my hands,
37:44I started the slow walk
37:46into the village.
37:47The dirt road hadn't changed.
37:50A few locals squatting in the sun
37:52craned their necks as I passed.
37:55Hey, isn't that Lillian?
37:56The Brooke slow girl?
37:59Didn't that city boy take her off
38:00to live the good life?
38:02Why is she back
38:04looking like such a wreck?
38:06The gossip made my ears ring.
38:09I covered them with my hands
38:10and ran the rest of the way,
38:12shouldering open
38:12the creaky wooden door of my house.
38:16My eyes went straight
38:17to the bird's nest
38:18tucked under the eaves.
38:20Panic set in.
38:22I dragged the ladder over
38:24and climbed,
38:25my legs shaking,
38:26to look inside.
38:29It was completely empty.
38:33I burst into tears,
38:35sobbing uncontrollably.
38:39Why hadn't the bird come back?
38:41Did it get lost?
38:45The ladder wobbled,
38:47and I tipped backward.
38:48A heavy pain slammed into my chest
38:51when I hit the ground,
38:52and I coughed up
38:53a mouthful of blood.
38:55Through the haze of confusion,
38:57I heard clear,
38:59bright laughter.
39:02Lily, you dummy!
39:03You have to wedge the ladder
39:05into the groove!
39:05A teenage Malcolm
39:06was sitting on the roof,
39:08swinging his legs.
39:09When the birds lay eggs next year,
39:11I'll get them for you.
39:14We can raise a whole nest of them, okay?
39:16Okay.
39:17I swallowed the metallic taste of blood,
39:19my voice hoarse.
39:21I struggled to sit up.
39:23The back of my head throbbed
39:25with a dull numbness.
39:27When I reached up to touch it,
39:28a clump of dry,
39:30yellowing hair came away in my hand.
39:32On the first day,
39:33I tried to clean the house,
39:35but my nose wouldn't stop bleeding.
39:37As the drops hit the dirt floor,
39:39I had to scratch away
39:40the dark red spots
39:41with my fingernails.
39:45On the second day,
39:46I found Malcolm's old textbook
39:48at the bottom of a trunk.
39:50He had spent a whole year
39:51teaching me one specific page
39:53that featured a drawing
39:54of a teacher with glasses.
39:58I remembered how he used to rub my hair
40:00and praise me.
40:02Lily,
40:03you're so smart.
40:05Brad couldn't recite this at school,
40:06and his palms got swollen
40:08from the ruler.
40:09We used to laugh about that.
40:13But now,
40:14staring at the dense rows of text,
40:16I couldn't recognize a single word.
40:18On the third day,
40:20the pain in my head was unbearable.
40:22I tried to roll over,
40:24but tumbled right off the bed.
40:26I crawled across the cold floor,
40:29grabbed a piece of stale bread
40:30from the table,
40:31and shoved it into my mouth.
40:33The doors kicked open.
40:35A tall figure stood silhouetted
40:37against the light.
40:39He looked down at me
40:40lying on the ground
40:40my face drained of color,
40:42my scalp showing through
40:43my thinning hair,
40:44and blood staining the bread
40:46I was eating.
40:47His legs gave out,
40:48and he dropped to his knees
40:49in the doorway,
40:50weeping loudly.
40:52Squinting through my failing eyes,
40:54I asked softly,
40:55Was that...
40:56No.
40:58He rushed over
40:59and hugged me tight,
41:00his whole body trembling.
41:03Why didn't you tell me
41:05you had a brain tumor?
41:09Is that how you want me to live?
41:12Carrying that guilt until I die?
41:18How could you be so cruel?
41:22Come on,
41:23I'm taking you to a doctor
41:24in Chicago right now.
41:26He tried to pull me up,
41:27but froze when he realized
41:28how light and frail I was.
41:33I shook my head.
41:36I don't want to go anywhere.
41:38I'm just tired.
41:40Malcolm ignored me
41:41and lifted me into his arms.
41:42His hot tears fell onto my face.
41:46As we passed under the eaves,
41:48I tugged at his shirt.
41:50Malcolm,
41:53please look for me.
41:55Did the bird come back to the nest?
41:58Did the bird come back to the nest?
41:58He froze.
42:00With red eyes,
42:01he gently set me down on the bench in the yard
42:03and climbed the ladder.
42:05He stayed there for a long time
42:07before looking back with a forced smile.
42:12They're back.
42:14The birds are all back.
42:16Relief finally washed over me
42:18and I slowly closed my eyes.
42:21Really?
42:21His voice shook
42:22as he tucked my cold feet
42:23against his chest to warm them.
42:30The birds really are back.
42:32Open your eyes and look.
42:35If you don't want to leave,
42:36I'll stay here with you.
42:42We can look for bird eggs together again next year,
42:44okay?
42:47I suddenly thought of that text
42:49from Malcolm's book
42:50and asked him to help me read it one last time.
42:53He stroked my head,
42:54his hand coming away with more loose hair.
42:57Choking back sobs,
42:59he began to read.
43:02Birds may fly away,
43:04yet they find their way back.
43:08Trees may droop,
43:10yet their branches reach for the sun.
43:13Flowers may vanish,
43:15yet they rise and bloom again.
43:17I followed along,
43:19my voice breaking.
43:21But,
43:23Mel, you're the smart one.
43:24Tell me,
43:25why do our days
43:26never return once they're gone?
43:30I smiled after I said it.
43:33Turned out I remembered the words after all.
43:37He continued reciting,
43:39laughing,
43:40and crying at the same time.
43:42But his voice sounded increasingly distant,
43:44like it was coming from far away.
43:48As he reached the final sentence,
43:51warm sunlight filled the courtyard,
43:53and a sudden fluttering sound
43:54came from the eaves.
43:58He looked up and saw two birds
44:00circling the old nest,
44:01busy building their home.
44:03He suddenly realized
44:04the body in his arms was cold,
44:06and her chest had stopped rising.
44:10He didn't speak.
44:12He just tightened his hold
44:13and stared blankly at the busy birds,
44:15remembering a song.
44:18The little bird sings,
44:19coming here every spring.
44:24I asked the bird why it comes,
44:25and the bird says,
44:29because the spring here
44:30is the most beautiful.
44:31So everybody is weak,
44:38I imagine he is not
44:38You only love
44:39And I know,
Comments