- 8 hours ago
The DNA Truth New
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Short filmTranscript
00:01i hadn't spoken to my parents in 10 years not since the day they screamed at me to get lost
00:05and never come back so when my business partner told me the brit group my father's company had
00:10requested me personally as their wedding photographer i almost laughed then i saw
00:14the groom's name jeffrey beasley the boy who used to climb over my backyard fence with candy in his
00:19pocket the one who promised when we grow up i'll take you away from here we'll see the world
00:26he's marrying my sister at the reception my mother marched into my dressing room with tears in her
00:31eyes elon we raised you for 18 years how can you be so heartless i looked up at her calm
00:39as ice
00:39mrs brit please release me i have work to do her face went ghost white good let her feel a
00:45fraction
00:46of what i felt at 12 years old when they packed my bags and sent me to live alone in
00:49an old house
00:50while my sister took my bedroom my piano my parents love but what they don't know yet what none of
00:54them
00:54know is that i'm not adopted at all i'm their biological daughter and today i'm bringing the
00:59dna proof to destroy a wedding at a wedding shoot i ran into my parents i hadn't spoken to them
01:06for a
01:06decade they were mingling with other guests their smiles freezing the instant their eyes landed on me
01:12once the reception ended they marched straight into the backstage dressing room why haven't you come
01:17home for the past 10 years mom blurted out her accusation her eyes were rimmed red as she glared at
01:23me
01:23i didn't answer or look up i focused on cleaning my camera lens the next second she stepped forward
01:28and seized my wrist her voice rose to a raw pitch elon we're your parents we raised you for 18
01:34years
01:35how can you be so heartless i lifted my head with a frown i was confused by her outburst 10
01:40years ago
01:40they were the ones who told me to get lost and never come back i'd done exactly that so what
01:44were
01:44they upset about now dad stood behind mom his eyes darted between my face and my camera equipment
01:51he was clearly torn after a moment he spoke as if grasping for a neutral topic
01:56that's quite the camera eileen it must have cost a lot right it's a tough business for a young woman
02:03you must be struggling there was hesitation in his voice i remained silent i screwed the lens cap on
02:10firmly infuriated by my lack of response mom tightened her grip on my wrist her voice rose further
02:14eileen are you even listening 10 years not a single call or message what is wrong with you
02:24even a pet would show more gratitude i studied her contorted expression a sharp pain shot through my
02:29wrist a decade had passed yet their method of interrogation remained the same i lifted my gaze
02:37i spoke with deliberate calm mrs brit please release me i have work to do mrs brit she released
02:44my wrist as if burned she staggered back all color draining from her face i'm your mom how dare you
02:52that's enough dad stepped in he steadied her trembling shoulders he frowned at me exhaustion and reproach
02:58heavy in his tone eileen how can you speak to your mom like that we realize there may have been
03:07misunderstandings back then but she hasn't stopped missing you for the past 10 years she's there were
03:14no misunderstandings i cut him off my voice was soft as i placed the camera in its case i followed
03:21your instructions get lost and never come back i did exactly as you told me i fixed my
03:28eyes on them with cold indifference i stayed away for 10 years just as you demanded so what is
03:37this about they stood frozen their faces were ghastly pale mom's lips quivered but before she could
03:44speak dad tightened his hold on her arm dad drew a shaky breath he forced a strained conciliatory smile
03:52ely sorry we shouldn't have said that back then but we are family mel is getting married next month
04:00you'll be there right if you don't want to attend as her sister maybe you could photograph the wedding
04:06the last words were a hesitant hopeful whisper i stared at them i was struck by the sheer absurdity of
04:13it all my schedule is booked please give melanie my best wishes i won't be intruding with that i
04:23turned and pushed open the door the sound of mom's broken accusations and dad's frantic attempts to calm
04:28her faded behind me i walked straight to the elevator without looking back only when the doors closed did
04:33i breathe a sigh of relief i leaned against the cold metal wall a dull ache began to throb at
04:38the base
04:38of my skull it was a lingering after effect of a severe fever years ago it always flared up on
04:43rainy
04:44days back at my temporary apartment i finally unwound my phone vibrated it was kimberly cooley
04:52my business partner eily the final payment for today's wedding just came through oh about that
04:59couple who confronted you is everything okay they looked really upset it's fine i said keeping my voice
05:06level they're just my adoptive parents kimberly paused before replying all right listen we just
05:13got a very firm non-negotiable collaboration request from the brit group they're insisting
05:18you personally photograph a high profile wedding the brit group was owned by my dad my heart sank
05:24a crushing sense of helplessness washed over me kimberly sounded worried i'm afraid we can't turn it down
05:31i gripped the phone until my knuckles turned white ten years i had thought i'd gone far enough to escape
05:37their shadow yet with a single move they could still disrupt the life i had fought so hard to build
05:42understood send me the details i said my throat tight okay kimberly replied softly after a pause
05:49the wedding itinerary arrived a few minutes later when my eyes landed on the groom's name jeffrey beasley
05:54the tears i'd held back all day finally fell jeffrey was the boy who had been my only comfort
05:59during the darkest years of my youth kimberly's message flashed again eily are you okay do you
06:05want me to come over i took a deep breath i wiped my face i typed back i'm fine please
06:12compile the
06:13client's specific requests we'll discuss tomorrow morning she replied quickly okay eily whatever you
06:20decide i'm with you i put the phone down and walked to the window the night air was cool against
06:26my skin
06:26it helped to clear the chaos in my mind jeffrey and i were so close once he lived next door
06:31we grew
06:32up together whenever i got scolded by my parents or pushed aside by melanie brit i'd hide in the
06:37backyard and cry he'd always climb over the low fence he'd pull a piece of candy from his pocket
06:43like a magician don't cry eily have this when we grow up i'll take you away from here we'll see
06:51the
06:52world we'll both get into new york university we'll always be together jeffrey was the only
06:59person who showed me kindness and care he was the only one who when the whole world made me feel
07:03worthless would look me in the eye and say you're good enough eily
07:11you always have been but now he was marrying melanie memories long held back came rushing in
07:16until i was seven i was the happiest child when i was five i got into a fight at preschool
07:22over a swing
07:23i bit the other kid's arm terrified of getting in trouble i hid under the slide in our complex after
07:29school dad found me he wasn't angry he actually whispered tips on how to win a fight next time
07:35that evening when mom found out she made us both stand in the corner dad winked at me when she
07:40wasn't looking i thought that warmth would last forever then when i was seven melanie came home
07:48i went from being their only child to being the adopted one melanie was three years older she'd
07:53been kidnapped when she was three with her return my world was never the same my parents had kept my
07:59adoption a secret but afraid melanie would feel insecure they told her the truth one afternoon
08:04she stood before me her voice was young but cold alene did you know you're not their real daughter
08:12they adopted you because i was gone they were so sad without me so they got you to take my
08:17place
08:19they're my mom and dad not yours for a moment i was too shocked to move then i ran i
08:26had to find my
08:26parents and hear them say it wasn't true i prayed they would hug me and say don't listen to her
08:31nonsense sweetheart you're our baby girl but mom looked away dad was silent for a long time before
08:37he confirmed it his voice was hoarse eily it's true we adopted you because we missed mel so much
08:44but we love you too i hated that word in that moment after that nothing was the same
08:52the carefree mischievous girl vanished i became quiet and cautious i stopped laughing loudly i stopped
09:00asking for things at meals i only took the food closest to me i studied relentlessly i brought home
09:07one award after another i believed good girls didn't get abandoned i learned to please them and melanie i gave
09:14her the new hair clip mom bought i handed over the cool toy dad brought back from a business trip
09:19but melanie's eyes held nothing but resentment no matter what i did she saw me as the one who had
09:26stolen her life and my parents attention and affection poured almost entirely into their returned biological
09:32daughter they worried she might feel insecure and neglected so i the adopted daughter naturally became
09:38the one who could be overlooked the atmosphere at home grew tense and heavy i never stood in the
09:44corner with dad again i was too afraid to make any mistake i lived like a frightened bird i was
09:50constantly terrified of being cast aside once more then when i was 12 my worst fear came true
10:02i got back from school that day to find melanie in my room she was holding my diary what are
10:07you
10:07doing i rushed to grab it back she easily sidestepped me a faint smirk played on her lips just seeing
10:15what
10:15my dear little sister writes about every day she began to read my diary i wish things were like before
10:22why don't mom and dad love me anymore it's so unfair my voice trembled give it back that diary held
10:31all
10:31my secrets and my fragile side she stood up she held it above her head maybe mom and dad should
10:38see
10:38what their adopted daughter complains about every day with that she darted out of the room the diary
10:45was in her hand i chased after her in the rush she stumbled her foot caught she tumbled down the
10:53stair her scream echoed through the house
11:00my parents burst from the study at the same time
11:05mom reached her first when she saw melanie's leg bent at an unnatural angle
11:10her own shook melanie wept dramatically she pointed a shaky finger straight at me i was still standing
11:17at the top of the stairs she pushed me she blames me for everything in her diary and now this
11:27that's not true i didn't i rushed to explain enough dad's roar was louder than i'd ever heard
11:33mom's gaze was icy it frightened me i tried to explain diary she read my diary without so you pushed
11:41her mom cut me off alien how could you be so cruel i didn't push her the tears finally spilled
11:50over
11:50she fell mom's hand came up still lying she struck my face hard the sting on my cheek was nothing
11:58compared to the ache in my chest dad stood behind her his gaze was full of disappointment
12:03elie we always thought you were a sensible girl
12:09even though you're not our blood we never treated you poorly
12:14but you
12:19i said it wasn't me my voice rose to a shout
12:23why won't you ever believe me believe you mom's laugh was cold a liar the ambulance arrived
12:32as the paramedics carried melanie down on a stretcher she was still sobbing
12:38mom i'm scared does elie hate me
12:44don't be afraid sweetheart i'm here mom held her hand tightly she didn't once look back at me
12:50my parents returned from the hospital late that night i heard their footsteps stop outside my door
12:58pack your things mom pushed the door open her tone was frighteningly calm
13:04you're moving to the old house tomorrow i stared frozen then i dropped to my knees
13:09no
13:11please mom dad don't send me away i'm sorry i'll be good i promise
13:16mom looked down at me coldly mel needs peace to recover
13:22seeing you will upset her
13:24i won't bother her
13:25i cried
13:26i clutched at her legs
13:28i can stay in the storage room
13:30i can come home after you're all asleep
13:35please don't make me leave
13:43dad sighed
13:45elie this is for the best for you and for this family
13:48i won't go
13:50this is my home
13:53i was sobbing uncontrollably now
13:57mom pried my hands away
13:58the housekeeper will bring meals each week
14:01we'll transfer an allowance on time
14:05i don't want money
14:09i want you
14:10i turned to dad
14:12i grasped his sleeve
14:15dad you used to love me most
14:17you said you'd always protect me
14:20he turned his face away
14:22his voice was choked
14:23be reasonable eily
14:27once mel is feeling better
14:29she'll never better
14:31she's lying
14:32i screamed in despair
14:34why won't you believe me
14:36mom's voice cut through sharply
14:38elene
14:39if you make another scene
14:41you can leave right now
14:42i knelt on the floor
14:44i looked at their distant looks
14:47i finally understood what true hopelessness felt like
14:50no matter how much i begged
14:52they didn't want me anymore
14:56the first night i moved into the old residence
14:59i had a high fever
15:00my forehead was burning
15:02i shivered all over
15:03i grabbed my phone and called my mom
15:06mom i'm having a fever
15:08i was so weak that my voice was hardly audible
15:10the other end of the line was silent for a while
15:13then my mom replied
15:15there are fever reducers in the old house
15:17find them
15:18melanie has just undergone surgery
15:21she needs a good rest
15:23knock it off
15:24with that mom hung up
15:26listening to the hang-up beeps
15:28i felt a chill all over
15:29it started raining outside
15:31the rain splattered the window
15:33as if weeping for me
15:34for the next week
15:35i was invalid on the bed alone
15:38the fever went back and forth
15:40the housekeeper found something was wrong with me
15:42when she came to cook
15:43she took me to the hospital
15:44i lived all alone since i was 12 till i was 18
15:52for parent-teacher conferences
15:53the seat with my name on it was always empty
15:56melanie went to the same school as i did
15:58yet my parents always showed up for her
16:01sometimes i ran into them in the hallway
16:03mom would look away with embarrassment
16:06dad would pretend he didn't see me
16:08in those six years
16:09jeffrey was the only light ray in my life
16:11he would secretly climb over the short wall of the old house and bring me snacks
16:16don't worry
16:18everything will be okay
16:19he had comforted me
16:21ely
16:22let's apply to new york university together
16:25in new york
16:27no one can separate us
16:28i had believed him
16:30i studied as hard as i could
16:32after the set
16:33i walked past a downtown hotel
16:35i saw a large
16:37striking banner
16:38congratulations on melanie britt's good grades
16:41nicely dressed
16:41my parents were receiving guests at the entrance
16:44they were beaming
16:46melanie stood between them like a real princess
16:48standing in a corner across the street
16:50i watched the celebration that had nothing to do with me
16:53i had thought i was dead inside
16:55but why did it still hurt so much
16:58it didn't matter though
16:59i'd be gone soon anyway
17:10the day i received the acceptance letter from the university
17:13i opened it swiftly with excitement
17:15but it was the badge of the usc that i saw
17:18my blood turned cold instantly
17:20i recalled my parents odd behavior from several days ago
17:23it dawned on me that they had altered my application form
17:27without hesitation i barged into the so-called home
17:30it was the home from which i had been away for a long time
17:33i slammed the letter on the coffee table
17:35why usc
17:37i demanded
17:38what's wrong with it
17:39mom replied nonchalantly
17:40it's close
17:41in a trembling voice i snapped
17:44why did you change my application
17:45why
17:46because we're your parents
17:49just then dad walked out of the study
17:51he explained
17:53melanie also applied to new york university
17:55with you around she'll feel insecure
17:58it's because of her again
18:01the years of pent-up anger in my chest erupted
18:03her insecurity is the reason for everything
18:06you said she read my diary because she felt insecure
18:10she fell down the stairs because she felt insecure
18:14now i have to go to a different university
18:17because she feels insecure
18:23elan mind your tone
18:24mom sprang to her feet
18:26what about my tone
18:27what tone should i speak in
18:29tears streamed down my cheeks
18:31i tried to hold them back
18:33you kicked me out of the house when i was 12
18:37you've neglected me for the past six years
18:41now you're trying to destroy my future
18:45what kind of parents are you
18:48we've raised you for 18 years
18:50dad said his face livid
18:52raise it was more like charity
18:56my voice became hoarse from anger
18:58in your eyes only melanie is your daughter
19:03i'm only an unwanted substitute
19:06i wish you'd never adopted me
19:08out of the blue dad slapped me hard across the face
19:13get out
19:14mom hissed with red eyes
19:16she pointed at the door
19:17since you hate us so much
19:19don't ever come back again
19:20i ran out
19:22i sobbed in the rain until i was soaking wet
19:25why didn't they love me
19:28why was i adopted
19:29where were my biological parents
19:32i cried and cried
19:34at midnight
19:35i snuck back for my id
19:38i happened to overhear my parents conversation outside their bedroom
19:47we shouldn't have told mel that eily was adopted
19:50mom cried
19:51but what's the point of being regretful now
19:53i was too sad after mel got lost
19:57i didn't find out i was pregnant with eily
19:59dad sighed
20:00mel was so sensitive when she returned
20:04we could only lie i that ellie was adopted
20:07at least eily was loved and happy
20:10before she was seven
20:13but mel couldn't be
20:15she owes mel
20:18stunned
20:19i had to press my hands against the wall for support
20:21my back slid down along the wall
20:23it turned out i was their biological daughter
20:26it turned out i had never stolen anybody's happy childhood
20:29it was mine
20:30then
20:31why did i have to suffer these years
20:33that day i left home and never came back
20:36after i reached usc i changed my phone number
20:39i put my parents contact information on the block list
20:43jeffrey and i went to different universities
20:45due to the distance our relationship was nipped in the bud
20:48afterward
20:49i heard that he had a girlfriend
20:51now
20:52it seemed he was dating melanie back then
20:55i opened my eyes
20:56i wiped my tearful face
20:58the sight of the message stung
21:00i wondered if melanie knew the truth
21:03but it didn't matter
21:05i went to the drawer
21:06i took the dna test report done many years ago
21:09since they'd invited me i'd go to the wedding
21:12they destroyed my life for melanie's happiness
21:16i'd see how happy she was
21:22the light from the glaring chandelier on the ceiling of the hotel hall spilled on the lens of my camera
21:28it reflected my tense side face
21:30my employee fiona blevens was crouching to open the device case
21:34the clear clicking of the plastic clip couldn't ease my fidget
21:37this was melanie's wedding
21:40of course the whole team should be here
21:43i should have known better
21:46elan
21:47came a female voice as sharp as a needle
21:50my hands paused while holding the camera
21:53when melanie turned around
21:55the skirt of her wedding dress swept across my feet
21:58the pearls on the decoration hurt
22:01lifting her skirt with pale hands
22:03she stared at me in disbelief
22:05as if i were something filthy that had barged into her life
22:10jeffrey stood behind her
22:13one of the buttons on the cuff of his sleeve was loose
22:17upon seeing me
22:18he swiftly shifted his gaze to the dessert table far away
22:22who asked you to come
22:24melanie raised her voice and took a step forward
22:29the guests all turned their heads to watch
22:32you don't even have a decent job
22:35you think you're good enough to be the photographer of my wedding
22:43frowning fiona attempted to step forward and make a retort
22:49i pulled at her blouse gently
22:50the coolness calmed me down a bit
22:54my fingertip touched the camera belt
22:58the host invited me
23:00the host
23:01melanie scoffed
23:02you mean my parents
23:03why would they invite an ingrate who refused to come home in the past 10 years
23:08her remarks hammered my heart
23:10they caused a dull pain
23:11the past flashed across my mind
23:14one day
23:14when i was 12
23:15i had begged her on my knees not to tell on me
23:19she had also smirked like that and said
23:23you're unwelcome in this family anyway
23:27familiar footsteps came from the door
23:29my parents walked over
23:31mom was in a crimson dress
23:34she was oblivious to the fact that her pearl necklace was askew
23:38dad wore his tie loosely
23:41at the sight of me mom stopped in her tracks
23:44she had a complicated look in her eyes
23:48your dad and i invited ellie
23:50she's a good photographer and her price is fair
23:53she said to melanie
23:55melanie turned around abruptly and glared at mom
23:59mom
24:01are you out of your minds
24:04she's
24:08she's your younger sister
24:09dad interrupted melanie
24:11his tone was lukewarm
24:13he didn't spare a look at me
24:15it was as if i were just an insignificant stranger
24:21the wedding is about to begin
24:23knock it off
24:25with a livid face melanie stared at me malevolently
24:30she's a good photographer
24:32she barely gets by with a camera
24:35mom and dad raised you for 18 years
24:38and you were away for 10 years
24:40now that you have a little money you think you're better than us
24:43who bought dresses for you when you were a child
24:46who took you to kindergarten did you forget
24:49the guests talked with each other as she spoke louder and louder
24:53i tightened my grip on the camera
24:56the blood drained from my knuckles
24:59how i wish mom and dad could interfere
25:02even if it was as simple as stop it
25:06to my dismay mom just turned her head to look at the mccarrens on the dessert table
25:12dad took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket
25:15then he tucked it back in restlessly
25:17mel
25:18the wedding first
25:19he urged
25:21there was no explanation
25:23neither of them defended me
25:25nor did they display a tinge of guilt
25:28i looked down at my reflection in the mirror
25:31i realized how pathetic i was
25:3310 years had passed and i was still expecting them to be fair
25:37fiona handed a cloth to me
25:40i took it and wiped the lens slowly with it
25:43i tried to repress the surging sadness
25:48i'd come to work not to settle accounts with them
25:51i told myself
25:57after shooting the first section of the wedding
25:59i drank water in a corner of the lounge
26:03the warm water in the plastic bottle was bland
26:07like the meager concern my parents showed at this time
26:10mom walked over with a glass of orange juice
26:15beads of juice clung to the body of the glass
26:19she handed it to me
26:20the beads fell onto my pants
26:23they left wet marks on them
26:28ili
26:29don't take what mel said to heart
26:31she was nervous about the wedding
26:36instead of taking the glass of orange juice
26:38i took out my phone to transfer money
26:41i'd calculated the amount countless times
26:45$80,000
26:48including tuition from primary school to high school
26:53monthly allowances
26:56occasional meals the housekeeper made for me in the six years
27:01money couldn't buy back my youth
27:04it couldn't make my altered application for university right
27:09but at least the accounts between us were even now
27:13the notification for the successful transfer
27:16sounded particularly loud in the quiet lounge
27:20mom's face colored as she read the notification
27:24her hand shook
27:25the juice stained her dress
27:27but she paid no heed to it
27:29staring at me
27:30she asked
27:32aline what do you mean
27:35we raised you for 18 years
27:37you think we're even now
27:43what else
27:44i put my phone back into my pocket
27:47in a calm yet cold voice
27:49i continued
27:52you raised me for 18 years
27:54and i repaid you with $80,000
27:58the extra is the interest
28:01with the account settled
28:04now we're square
28:07square
28:08mom said in a choking voice
28:12her eyes red
28:13she attempted to touch my arm
28:15i took a step back to move away
28:17her hand froze in midter
28:20tears ran down her face
28:22they dropped on the floor
28:25do you hate us so much
28:30is there no familial
28:32fenishing for us at all
28:33in your heart
28:34you had a fever
28:36when you were five
28:37your dad carried you
28:39on his
28:39her electors three
28:41can take you to the hospital
28:45the first time
28:46you won a prize
28:46eyes
28:47i took you out
28:48to buy you a new dress
28:51did you forget
28:52all about this
28:54scenes from the past
28:55flashed across my mind
28:56like an old movie
28:58carrying me on his back
29:00dad ran in the rain
29:02but his back felt
29:03extremely warm
29:04there were floral patterns
29:06on the rim of the pink
29:07dress mom bought me
29:10sadly
29:10these warm memories
29:11had waned
29:12after melanie returned
29:15yes
29:17looking her in the eye
29:18i declared slowly
29:20i hate you
29:21for driving me
29:22into the old house
29:22when i was 12
29:26i hate you
29:27for altering my
29:27application
29:28when i was 18
29:30i hate you
29:31for asking me
29:32to knock it off
29:33when i had a fever
29:34of 39 degrees
29:42mom stopped crying
29:44her face
29:45was as pasty
29:46as death
29:48dad took her arm
29:50to support her
29:50he looked at me
29:52his eyes
29:53dripped
29:54with disappointment
29:54ili
29:56we were wrong
29:57but what you're
29:58doing
29:59is ruthless
30:00suddenly
30:01melanie
30:02marched over
30:03she pointed at me
30:05and yelped
30:05dad and mom
30:07raised you
30:08for 18 years
30:09first
30:10you left
30:11without saying
30:12goodbye
30:13now
30:14you want to
30:15cut ties with them
30:16as an adopted
30:18daughter
30:18you should be
30:19grateful
30:19that they didn't
30:20let you starve
30:22how dare you
30:23talk about
30:24fairness with them
30:27what in great
30:29an adopted daughter
30:31i turned to my parents
30:35my heart was racing
30:36finally
30:37the right time
30:38had come
30:40is that what i am
30:41in your eyes
30:42mom's lips moved
30:43but no words
30:45came out
30:45dad nodded
30:46with a sigh
30:47ili
30:48we were wrong
30:49but you're
30:50indeed adopted
30:51don't fixate
30:53on it
30:53laughing snidely
30:55i took a step
30:56forward
30:56i looked them
30:57in the eye
30:58in which
30:59children's home
31:00did you find me
31:02where are the
31:03adoption
31:04formalities
31:06can i have a look
31:08a deathly silence
31:09ensued
31:10the blood
31:11drained
31:11from mom's face
31:14dad clenched
31:15his fists
31:15tightly
31:16his knuckles
31:17went pale
31:20dumbfounded
31:20melanie shook
31:21mom's arm
31:24mom
31:26tell her
31:27where you
31:27adopted her
31:28show her
31:28the formalities
31:29neither mom
31:31nor dad
31:31spoke
31:32they just
31:33stared at me
31:33panic was
31:34plain in their
31:35eyes
31:37the last
31:37tad of hope
31:38in my heart
31:39was shattered
31:39as i met
31:40their gaze
31:42they couldn't
31:42even come up
31:43with a good
31:43lie
31:45but they'd
31:46fooled me
31:46for 10 years
31:54my fingers
31:55trembled
31:55as i fumbled
31:56the laminated
31:56dna test
31:57report in my
31:58purse
32:00i'd kept
32:01it for 5
32:01years
32:03i cried
32:04in bed
32:04every time
32:05i read
32:05the result
32:08the possibility
32:09of paternity
32:10is in excess
32:11of 99.999%
32:17i wasn't a
32:18substitute for
32:19melanie
32:20i was their
32:21biological daughter
32:22that was the
32:23truth
32:23however
32:25they wouldn't
32:25admit it
32:26you can't
32:28say it
32:29i will
32:31i handed
32:32the report
32:32to my
32:32parents
32:34under the
32:34light
32:35the plastic
32:35cover glared
32:37they couldn't
32:38open their
32:38eyes
32:39mom was
32:40breathing
32:40rapidly
32:42dad wanted
32:43to take
32:43the report
32:46but he
32:46withdrew his
32:47hand on
32:47second thought
32:53you claim
32:54i'm
32:54i'm
32:55adopted
32:55i continued
32:56in a flat
32:56voice
32:57it expressed
32:58my 10 years
32:59of sadness
33:01then why
33:01is the
33:02possibility
33:02of paternity
33:0399.999%
33:06why does
33:07the dna
33:08test report
33:08say you're
33:09my biological
33:09parents
33:11melanie
33:11dashed over
33:12and snatched
33:13the report
33:13away
33:15her fingers
33:16trembled
33:17violently
33:17as she
33:18read it
33:20no
33:23this can't
33:25be true
33:25this can't
33:27be true
33:27this report
33:28must be
33:28a forgery
33:29you're using
33:30it to take
33:31everything
33:31away from
33:32me
33:32a forgery
33:35i looked
33:37at my
33:37parents
33:39ask your
33:40parents
33:44tears streamed
33:46down mom's
33:46cheeks
33:46they stained
33:47the report
33:48the report
33:49dad's face
33:50was as pale
33:50as paper
33:51his lips
33:52were trembling
33:54he was too
33:55emotionally
33:56overwhelmed
33:56to speak
33:58afraid to hurt
33:59melanie's feelings
34:00you told her
34:00i was adopted
34:02i believed you
34:05i thought you'd love
34:06me all the same
34:07as long as i was
34:08obedient and
34:08humored her
34:12however you
34:13turned my
34:13bedroom into
34:14a sunroom
34:14for her
34:16you moved
34:17my piano
34:18into the
34:18storage room
34:21you changed
34:22my application
34:22and university
34:23to us
34:24behind my
34:25back
34:25when i was
34:27furious you
34:27couldn't be
34:28bothered to
34:28check on me
34:30you asked me
34:31to find the
34:32medicine on
34:32my own
34:33more and more
34:34guests gathered
34:35around us
34:36they whispered
34:38to each other
34:39some of them
34:40took photos
34:41of this scene
34:41others pointed
34:43at my parents
34:44they're playing
34:45favorites
34:47how could they
34:48treat their own
34:48daughter so
34:49horribly
34:50poor girl
34:51for 10 years
34:52she didn't know
34:53her adoptive
34:54parents were
34:54her biological
34:55parents
34:56suddenly mom
34:57dropped to her
34:58knees
34:59she clutched
35:00the leg of
35:01my pants
35:03Ely I was
35:05wrong
35:05we all
35:07were
35:07your dad
35:09and I
35:10were confused
35:13we felt
35:14sorry for
35:15Mel
35:15and neglected
35:17you
35:18will you
35:19forgive us
35:22we'll give
35:23you the
35:24house
35:24the company
35:25anything
35:26you want
35:31i brushed
35:32mom's hands
35:32away
35:33i took a
35:33step back
35:35her hands
35:36were cold
35:37and calloused
35:39however
35:39the touch
35:40failed to
35:41invoke the
35:41familial affection
35:42inside me
35:43my heart
35:44could never
35:45be warm
35:45again
35:46i don't
35:47want your
35:48house
35:48or company
35:49i announced
35:51in a
35:51hoarse voice
35:53i want
35:53the truth
35:55why did
35:56you lie
35:56to me
35:57i'm also
35:58your daughter
36:00why do
36:01you only
36:01love her
36:05dad also
36:06knelt tearfully
36:08Ely
36:09i'm sorry
36:10i let you
36:11down
36:11when Mel
36:12just came
36:13back
36:13she cried
36:14every day
36:16she was
36:17afraid that
36:17we wouldn't
36:18like her
36:21out of
36:22options
36:22we told
36:23her
36:23you were
36:23adopted
36:27we thinking
36:28things would
36:29turn around
36:29when she
36:30grew up
36:31sadly
36:32that didn't
36:32happen
36:36we never
36:37meant to
36:38put you
36:38through all
36:38this
36:39you never
36:40meant to
36:40i laughed
36:43but tears
36:44streamed down
36:45my face
36:46at 12
36:47i had to
36:48live alone
36:49in the
36:49old
36:49house
36:50and i
36:51was too
36:51terrified
36:52to sleep
36:54i could
36:54have been
36:55admitted
36:55to nyu
36:56but i
36:56had to
36:57go to
36:57ucla
37:01you know
37:02why i
37:02was away
37:02for a
37:03decade
37:04because
37:04you
37:05told
37:05me
37:05to
37:05never
37:06come
37:06back
37:08not
37:08because
37:09i
37:09didn't
37:09want
37:09to
37:09return
37:10home
37:15you
37:15think
37:15you
37:15can
37:16undo
37:16all
37:16this
37:16by
37:17your
37:17simple
37:17apology
37:19nice
37:20try
37:27suddenly
37:27melanie
37:28tore
37:28the
37:29dna
37:29test
37:29report
37:31she
37:32tore
37:32it
37:33once
37:33then
37:34again
37:35shreds
37:36of
37:36paper
37:36scattered
37:37across
37:37the
37:37floor
37:37like
37:38snow
37:40she
37:40shrieked
37:44her
37:50face
37:51was
37:51twisted
37:51with
37:52rage
37:52and
37:52terror
37:53for
37:53eighteen
37:54years
37:54she
37:55had
37:55been
37:55the
37:55real
37:55daughter
37:57the
37:58cherished
37:58one
37:59the
37:59one
37:59they
38:00sacrificed
38:00everything
38:01for
38:02and
38:03now
38:03in
38:04one
38:04moment
38:04she
38:04had
38:05become
38:05the
38:05lie
38:06she
38:07pulled
38:07off
38:07the
38:08veil
38:08she
38:08tossed
38:09it
38:09onto
38:09the
38:09floor
38:11she
38:11ran
38:12off
38:12after
38:13a
38:13dazed
38:13moment
38:13jeffrey
38:14went
38:14after
38:15her
38:16the
38:16director
38:17of
38:17the
38:17wedding
38:17ran
38:18to
38:18my
38:18dad
38:18in
38:19a
38:19fluster
38:21mr
38:22brit
38:22the
38:23wedding
38:24it's
38:25cancelled
38:26holding
38:27the
38:27camera
38:27i
38:28said
38:28to
38:28fiona
38:29put
38:30away
38:30the
38:30devices
38:31we're
38:32done
38:32here
38:33when
38:33i
38:33walked
38:34out
38:34of
38:34the
38:34lounge
38:34mom's
38:35sobs
38:35came
38:36from
38:36behind
38:36me
38:38the
38:38guests
38:38were
38:39whispering
38:39but
38:40i
38:40didn't
38:40look
38:40back
38:43the
38:43years
38:44of
38:44agony
38:44were
38:44finally
38:45off
38:45my
38:45chest
38:46today
38:47it
38:48might
38:48have
38:48happened
38:48too
38:48late
38:50but
38:51at
38:51least
38:51i
38:51was
38:52no
38:52longer
38:52the
38:52adopted
38:53daughter
38:57at
38:58the
38:58entrance
38:58to
38:59the
38:59hotel
38:59the
38:59cold
39:00autumn
39:00wind
39:00blew
39:01in
39:01my
39:01face
39:01it
39:02brought
39:02a
39:03sense
39:03of
39:03desolation
39:06fiona
39:06carried
39:07the
39:07devices
39:08for
39:08me
39:08she
39:09walked
39:09briskly
39:10afraid
39:11to
39:11bother
39:11me
39:13as
39:13soon
39:14as
39:14i
39:14reached
39:14the
39:14roadside
39:15urgent
39:15footsteps
39:16came
39:16from
39:16behind
39:17me
39:17elene
39:18wait
39:19someone
39:20called
39:21i
39:21turned
39:21around
39:22it
39:23was
39:23jeffrey
39:24he
39:25had
39:25his
39:25suit
39:25jacket
39:26hanging
39:26from
39:26his
39:27arm
39:27his
39:28hair
39:28was
39:28a
39:28mess
39:29his
39:29forehead
39:30was
39:30sweaty
39:30he
39:31ran
39:32to
39:32me
39:32he
39:32was
39:33huffing
39:33and
39:33puffing
39:34his
39:35chest
39:35was
39:35heaving
39:36violently
39:36his
39:37eyes
39:37were
39:38full
39:38of
39:38guilt
39:38i'm
39:39sorry
39:40he
39:40apologized
39:41in a
39:41husky
39:42voice
39:44i'm
39:45sorry
39:45i
39:45didn't
39:46go
39:46to
39:46find
39:46you
39:46back
39:46then
39:48i'm
39:48sorry
39:48i
39:50got
39:50together
39:50with
39:50melanie
39:51i
39:51gazed
39:52at
39:52him
39:54under
39:54the
39:55sunshine
39:55the
39:55fine
39:56wrinkles
39:56at
39:56the
39:56corners
39:57of
39:57his
39:57eyes
39:57were
39:58obvious
40:00when
40:01we
40:01were
40:01little
40:02he
40:02was
40:02always
40:02saying
40:03i
40:03had
40:03big
40:03doe
40:04eyes
40:06now
40:06the
40:07glitter
40:07in
40:07his
40:07eyes
40:08was
40:08gone
40:09one
40:10day
40:10in
40:10my
40:10senior
40:11year
40:11in
40:11high
40:11school
40:11he
40:12climbed
40:12over
40:12the
40:12tall
40:13wall
40:13with
40:13a
40:13candy
40:14in
40:14his
40:14hand
40:14he
40:15said
40:15to
40:16me
40:17elie
40:17after
40:18we're
40:18both
40:18admitted
40:19to
40:19new
40:19york
40:19university
40:20i'll
40:20take
40:21you
40:21to
40:21the
40:21sea
40:22the
40:23sweetness
40:23of
40:23the
40:23candy
40:24was
40:24vivid
40:24in
40:24my
40:25mind
40:25for
40:25many
40:26years
40:33why
40:33were
40:33you
40:33with
40:34her
40:34my
40:35low
40:35voice
40:36faded
40:36in
40:36the
40:36wind
40:37when
40:38i
40:38was
40:38in
40:38college
40:39she
40:39found
40:39me
40:39one
40:40day
40:40she
40:41told
40:41me
40:41you'd
40:41forgotten
40:42me
40:42she
40:43said
40:43you'd
40:43gone
40:43to
40:43los
40:44angeles
40:44and
40:44would
40:45never
40:45come
40:45back
40:45jeffrey
40:46clutched
40:47his
40:47jacket
40:47his
40:48knuckles
40:48were
40:49pale
41:01she
41:02old house was empty i i thought i thought you didn't want to see me anymore
41:11an unbearable pang ran through my heart
41:16the day i enrolled at usc i came to new york university
41:21i assumed he'd be waiting for me at the entrance to my disappointment i waited there all day
41:28he never showed up afterward i learned that he was already with melanie back then
41:38i wanted to be with you jeffrey's eyes reddened they brimmed with tears after the sst
41:49i went to the old house to find you your parents told me you'd left and would never come back
41:56i waited at the gate to the old house all night
42:00the candy in my hand melted
42:08melted like our terminated long-gone relationship
42:13melanie and i have broken up the wedding is off he took a step forward to hold my hand
42:19i retreated and moved away elie can we start over i was wrong i'll cherish you all the more
42:34i looked at jeffrey calmly my youth adoration for him and expectations of our future had elapsed with
42:42time they had worn out in lies
42:49jeffrey were not meant to be he stiffened to hear my words his face gradually went pale
42:56all the color drained away like a photograph left too long in the sun
43:01his lips parted slightly but no words came out of his mouth he just stood there
43:07he looked at me despair was plain in his eyes the boy who used to climb over my fence with
43:14candy in
43:15his pocket the teenager who waited all night at the gate of the old house with a melting sweet in
43:22his hand
43:24the man who was about to marry my sister they were all the same person
43:32and none of them were the person i needed anymore i didn't eat the candy
43:39i turned around i said to fiona let's go i left resolutely without looking back
43:49elie i regret it he said softly in the wind i knew that but what difference did it make some
43:55things were lost forever like new york university like the teenager himself
44:04over the next few days my phone kept ringing non-stop
44:09all calls were from my parents i set my phone to silent
44:15i put it in the drawer i didn't want to hear their apologies it was too late i didn't need
44:22them anymore
44:23kimberly would tell me about their situation every day this morning your mom was crying downstairs at
44:30the studio she was holding a photo of you as a child your dad came too he was leaning on
44:39a cane he
44:41looked much older i just nodded i asked her to keep them outside i didn't let them in to disturb
44:47my work
44:48on friday night after working overtime i left the studio as soon as i turned into the alley i heard
44:55familiar sounds of arguing it was melanie and my parents why do you get to apologize to her why do
45:03you
45:03give her the house i'm your daughter melanie's voice was choked with tears it was sharp as nails scraping
45:09glass she was the one who pushed me down the stairs she wrote in her diary to insult me have
45:15you
45:16forgotten how can you take her side she didn't push you dad's voice was louder than ever it was filled
45:25with exhaustion and anger you fell on your own you admitted it just yesterday you even lied to us
45:32saying she changed your homework saying she stole your necklace how many things have you kept from us i
45:39hid around the corner of the alley i felt nothing in particular just a sense of irony after all these
45:47years they finally learned the truth but i stopped caring long ago so what if i admit it melanie screamed
45:56she took my place for seven years if not for her all your love would have been mine i wanted
46:02her to
46:02suffer changing her college choices driving her away it was all me who made you do it why blame me
46:08now
46:08you spoiled me you said you'd love me forever mom's sobs came through they were suppressed mel how could
46:18you say that we thought you were just sensitive we never imagined you'd be so cruel ely has suffered so
46:27much over the years and we never knew suffered what did she suffer melanie sneered she lived in the old
46:37house but i was kidnapped by traffickers i've had it much harder than her you should make it up to
46:44me
46:44dad sighed his voice was hoarse we were wrong wrong to always favor you wrong not to trust eily
46:54we owe her an apology i didn't listen to the rest
47:00i turned and went back to my apartment i took out the severance agreement i had prepared long ago from
47:08the drawer i had spent a long time writing that agreement it clearly stated from now on i have
47:18no familial relationship with patrick brit lela valdez or melanie brit we will not interfere in each
47:25other's lives nor bear any obligation of support or care the brit family's assets have nothing to do with me
47:36the next day i had my lawyer deliver the agreement to dad's company when the lawyer returned he told me
47:45mr brit's hands were shaking as he read the agreement mrs brit cried and tore it up then she
47:52picked up the pieces and carefully glued them back together before signing maloney didn't sign and cursed
47:56you a few times i nodded without saying anything whether she signed or not didn't matter my parents
48:03signatures were enough kimberly brought me a cup of hot coffee she said it in front of me
48:10eily do you really not regret it after all they're your parents i looked out at the trees beyond the
48:16window their leaves were scattered all over the ground bleak and desolate no i picked up the coffee
48:24and took a sip it was bitter i'm no longer the little girl who longed for their love cutting ties
48:31is
48:31better for all of us all those years of grievance were like a cup of bitter coffee once swallowed you
48:38can never spit it out from now on i only want to live for myself three months after signing the
48:44severance agreement i packed my bags and left los angeles this city carried too many memories for me
48:53some good some bad and now it was time to let them go i went to a small town in
49:00the south
49:02i rented an apartment with a balcony outside the balcony stood an old locust tree
49:09it bloomed with many fragrant white flowers in summer every morning i took photos of the street
49:20in the evenings i sat on the balcony reading
49:26occasionally i accepted a few photography jobs from out of town
49:33life was very peaceful
49:39kimberly would regularly send me messages about los angeles
49:44melanie was kicked out by your parents because she secretly took the family's money to gamble
49:50she racked up a lot of debt
49:55later she went to find jeffrey and the two of them still got married
50:01but they argue every day
50:06jeffrey messed up his job too he got fired by the company
50:12now he spends every day drinking at home
50:15when he's drunk he yells at melanie and melanie cries
50:20their life is a complete mess i looked at the messages
50:25i felt nothing inside
50:28whether their days were good or bad it no longer had anything to do with me
50:33i only occasionally thought of my childhood
50:37dad teaching me to ride a bike
50:43mom braiding my hair
50:45those warm scenes flashed through my mind like old movies
50:50but quickly faded away
50:54two years later i held a solo photography exhibition in the small town
50:59most of the photos on display were street scenes
51:01elderly people sitting at their doorsteps basking in the sun
51:06they held palm fans
51:08children running through the alleys
51:10they clutched ice cream in their hands
51:13some featured couples holding hands and smiling sweetly under the old locust tree
51:19none of the brit family appeared in these photos
51:23nor was there any trace of los angeles
51:26only my life as it is now
51:29on the day the exhibition opened many people came
51:34i was signing my name in a corner of the gallery when someone gently tapped my arm
51:41i looked up i was stunned it was my parents
51:46mom's hair had turned much grayer it was neatly combed
51:51she was still wearing that dark red dress from years ago
51:55though it had faded from many washes
52:00dad leaned on a cane
52:02his back was hunched
52:04deep wrinkles were etched into his face
52:07he looked much older
52:09they stood in front of one of my photos
52:11it showed an old house
52:14it was very much like the one i used to live in
52:17dad's fingers gently brushed the photo
52:20his eyes were full of nostalgia
52:23i said nothing
52:25i continued signing my name
52:27my heart was beating a little fast
52:30but i felt very calm inside
52:33i no longer hated them
52:34nor did i love them
52:36they just felt a little unfamiliar
52:39dad slowly walked over
52:42he held a brown envelope
52:44he handed it to me
52:45his hand was cold
52:47it was covered in calluses
52:50the result of years of holding a pen
52:53elie this is
52:55an apology letter
52:57we know you won't forgive us
52:59but we still wanted to write it for you
53:02i took the envelope
53:04it was thick
53:06when my fingertips touched his hand
53:08he quickly pulled away
53:10like a child who had done something wrong
53:16we're leaving now
53:17mom looked at me
53:19her eyes were red but not crying
53:21her voice trembled a little
53:23take good care of yourself here
53:25when it gets cold
53:27remember to
53:29wear more clothes
53:30don't catch colds all the time
53:32like you did when you were little
53:33i nodded
53:34i said nothing
53:36they walked out slowly
53:38dad moved very slowly
53:40mom supported him step by step
53:43without looking back
53:45the gallery lights were warm
53:47i opened the envelope
53:49i found several sheets of yellowed letter paper
53:53the handwriting was crooked
53:55it was dad's writing
53:57he wrote a lot
53:59about the year melanie came back when i was seven
54:03and how panicked they were
54:05about when i was 12 and got kicked out
54:08how he secretly went to the old house at night
54:11how he saw me crying into my blanket
54:15and how much it hurt him
54:17about changing my college application when i was 18
54:21and how much he regretted it
54:24about how over the past 10 years they tried to find me
54:27and thought about me
54:29the last line read
54:32ely we're sorry
54:34you must live well better than us
54:40tears fell onto the letter
54:42they blurred the ink
54:45i read it again
54:46and again
54:49dad's handwriting was crooked
54:50unsteady
54:51the hand of an old man who had lost his fine motor skills
54:56he wrote about the night they told melanie i was adopted
55:00how mom had cried herself to sleep for a week afterward
55:03how dad had driven to the old house in the rain
55:06just to check if the light was still on in my window
55:09he wrote about the day he changed my college application
55:13i knew it was wrong the moment i signed it
55:16but melanie was crying she said she'd run away if i didn't
55:20i was a coward ailey i chose the easy path and you paid the price
55:24he wrote about the 10 years of silence
55:28how mom saved every photo of me she could find in a shoebox under her bed
55:34how dad drove past my old apartment building once a month hoping to catch a glimpse of me
55:40i pressed the letter against my chest
55:43the paper was warm from my tears
55:46all these years i thought they had forgotten me
55:49they hadn't
55:51they were just too weak too guilty to broken to come find me
55:56i folded the letter
55:57i put it in my bag
55:59i walked to the window
56:01i watched my parents figures slowly disappear around the corner
56:06dad leaned heavily on his cane
56:10mom's arm was linked through his
56:12they walked like to people carrying a weight they knew they could never put down
56:17the wind was gentle
56:19it brushed my face
56:21it carried the scent of the old locust tree
56:24i knew i would never forgive them
56:26but i would not hate them anymore either
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