1
00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:05,639
Speaker 1: I've always believed in small gestures, the little things that

2
00:00:05,719 --> 00:00:08,640
remind someone you'd love them, even in the middle of

3
00:00:08,679 --> 00:00:14,199
a hectic, stressful life. My husband Daniel worked long hours

4
00:00:14,199 --> 00:00:17,039
at a law firm, and I knew how exhausting it

5
00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:20,800
could be for him. He'd come home late most nights,

6
00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:25,120
rolling his shoulders, loosening his tie, pressing a quick tied

7
00:00:25,199 --> 00:00:28,800
kiss to my forehead before collapsing on to the couch.

8
00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,200
It wasn't that he was an affectioner, he really was,

9
00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,759
but his job pulled all the energy out of him,

10
00:00:38,079 --> 00:00:42,520
and I hated seeing the exhaustion in his eyes. So

11
00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:49,520
for Valentine's Day, I decided to do something small, nothing extravagant,

12
00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:54,719
nothing over the top, just a handwritten letter, something that

13
00:00:54,759 --> 00:00:57,320
would make him smile in the middle of his long day,

14
00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:01,039
maybe remind him that no matter how difficult work got,

15
00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:05,879
he had something good waiting for him at home. I

16
00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:09,400
spent longer then i'd like to admit, writing it, curling

17
00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:11,480
off on the couch with a warm blanket and a

18
00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:15,040
glass of wine, tapping my pen against my chin as

19
00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:18,719
I thought of the right words. I wrote about the

20
00:01:18,719 --> 00:01:22,400
first time we met, the awkward, fumbling early days, of

21
00:01:22,439 --> 00:01:27,000
our relationship, the late night talks that stretched into early mornings.

22
00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:30,719
I wrote about how grateful I was for him, how

23
00:01:30,799 --> 00:01:34,200
much I loved the life we had built together. Even

24
00:01:34,239 --> 00:01:37,359
threw in a few of our inside jokes, the stupid

25
00:01:37,439 --> 00:01:40,680
jokes that made no sense to anyone else, but had

26
00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:45,400
us gasping for breath from laughing too hard. When I

27
00:01:45,439 --> 00:01:49,519
was satisfied, I folded the letter neatly, placed it in

28
00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:54,120
a pink envelope, and sealed it with a kiss. The

29
00:01:54,159 --> 00:01:57,040
next morning, I made sure to stop by his office

30
00:01:57,079 --> 00:02:00,400
on my way to work. His law firm was an

31
00:02:00,439 --> 00:02:04,000
older building, one of those places with too much marble

32
00:02:04,239 --> 00:02:08,199
and not enough personality, But the receptionist at the front

33
00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,879
desk was friendly enough. She told me to place the

34
00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:17,479
envelope in the mailbox just outside the building. She smiled, nodded,

35
00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:23,560
and I told her to have a great day. That evening,

36
00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:29,639
Daniel came home as usual, tired but smiling just like always.

37
00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,120
He dropped his bag by the door, loosened his tie,

38
00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:38,039
kissed me hello. We had dinner together, talking about our day,

39
00:02:39,159 --> 00:02:44,919
well mostly his day. He didn't mention the letter, but

40
00:02:45,319 --> 00:02:48,639
I didn't bring it up either. Maybe he hadn't gotten

41
00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,520
around to reading it yet. Maybe he wanted to save

42
00:02:51,599 --> 00:02:56,319
it for later. I figured i'd hear about it soon enough.

43
00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,639
But the next morning, before I even had time to

44
00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:03,360
get out of bed, I heard the sound of the

45
00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,719
mail slot opening. The usual stack of letters slid on

46
00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:11,120
to the floor, the soft thump barely registering in my

47
00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:19,879
half asleep mind. For a second, I smiled, Daniel must

48
00:03:19,879 --> 00:03:24,039
have written back. It wasn't like him, he'd always been

49
00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,479
more of a talker than a writer. But maybe my

50
00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:32,560
little Valentine surprise had inspired him. I sat up, rubbing

51
00:03:32,599 --> 00:03:35,159
the sleep from my eyes, and made my way over

52
00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:39,439
to the mailbox. I tore the envelope open and pulled

53
00:03:39,439 --> 00:03:43,240
out the letter. It was written on the same stationary

54
00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,719
I had used, the same smooth off white paper, the

55
00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:57,400
same faintly embossed edges. At first, it was sweet. I

56
00:03:57,479 --> 00:04:00,719
got your letter. Thank you, my love. It means more

57
00:04:00,759 --> 00:04:03,479
to me than you know. You always know how to

58
00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:10,039
make me smile always. For a moment I felt a

59
00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:17,000
rush of warmth. But then I read the next line.

60
00:04:17,199 --> 00:04:21,680
I need you to listen carefully. This is important. I

61
00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,079
don't know who has been coming home to you every night.

62
00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,879
I froze. I felt the ghost of a shudder ripple

63
00:04:29,959 --> 00:04:33,839
through me, forcing myself to keep reading. My hands suddenly

64
00:04:33,879 --> 00:04:38,480
clammy against the paper. I haven't left the office in months.

65
00:04:38,959 --> 00:04:42,000
I don't know what's happened. I don't know how, but

66
00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:46,439
something is pretending to be me. I let the paper

67
00:04:46,519 --> 00:04:50,600
slip from my fingers. I sat there, staring at the

68
00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,480
letter in my hands, my breath coming slow and uneven.

69
00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,279
The words blurred in front of me, my mind's scrambling

70
00:04:59,319 --> 00:05:04,680
for any rational explanation. It had to be a joke,

71
00:05:05,399 --> 00:05:09,680
a cruel, elaborate prank. Someone at Daniel's office must have

72
00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:13,240
found my letter, copied his handwriting, and sent this back

73
00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:17,879
to mess with me, maybe even Daniel himself. Though I

74
00:05:17,959 --> 00:05:23,759
didn't understand why he'd do something so strange, and yet

75
00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:29,079
my skin prickled with unease. I forced a laugh under

76
00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:37,519
my breath, shaking my head. It was absurd, completely ridiculous. Still,

77
00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,279
when I heard him stir in the bedroom, when I

78
00:05:40,319 --> 00:05:43,120
heard the faint sound of sheets rustling and the floor

79
00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:48,319
creaking under his weight, something in me hesitated. Just for

80
00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:52,720
a moment. I folded the letter, slipped it back into

81
00:05:52,759 --> 00:05:56,360
the envelope, and shoved it into my purse before heading

82
00:05:56,399 --> 00:05:59,319
to the kitchen to make coffee. Trying to shake off

83
00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,279
the unease, I walked into the kitchen and reached for

84
00:06:03,319 --> 00:06:06,879
the matches. We had one of those odd gas stoves,

85
00:06:07,319 --> 00:06:09,199
the kind way you had to turn the knob and

86
00:06:09,319 --> 00:06:13,079
light the burning yourself. It had been finicky for years,

87
00:06:13,519 --> 00:06:16,800
sometimes requiring two or three tries before the flame would catch.

88
00:06:18,399 --> 00:06:21,519
By the time Daniel walked into the kitchen, rolling his

89
00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,120
shoulders and rubbing her hand through his hair, I'd convinced

90
00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:31,000
myself that I was being ridiculous morning, he murmured, pressing

91
00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:35,160
a quick kiss to my temple. I twisted the knob

92
00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:39,040
and the familiar hiss of gas filled the air. The

93
00:06:39,079 --> 00:06:43,160
smell was sharp, pungent, but I struck the match anyway,

94
00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:48,560
letting the tiny flame flicker to life between my fingers. Then,

95
00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,279
with a quick motion, I brought it to the burner.

96
00:06:52,439 --> 00:06:56,319
The fire flared up instantly, a small bush of heat,

97
00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,560
a soft burst of orange and blue. As the gas

98
00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:03,600
finally caught, the kitchen was filled with the quiet crackle

99
00:07:03,759 --> 00:07:10,079
of the flame settling, the warmth spreading outward. And that's when,

100
00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:17,519
for some reason, Daniel flinched, not just the small, startled twitch,

101
00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:23,720
but a sharp, full bodied jerk. His shoulders tensed, his

102
00:07:23,839 --> 00:07:27,319
hands curled slightly at his sides, and for a fraction

103
00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:32,560
of a second, his eyes weren't on me. Are you okay?

104
00:07:33,279 --> 00:07:38,399
I asked, casually, glancing at him over my shoulder. He blinked,

105
00:07:38,759 --> 00:07:41,720
the stiffness in his body vanishing as quickly as it

106
00:07:41,759 --> 00:07:48,120
had come. Yeah, he said, his voice smooth, just spaced

107
00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:53,600
out for a second. I searched his face, his movements,

108
00:07:53,879 --> 00:07:56,920
the little details of him, the way his lips felt

109
00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:00,319
warm against my skin, the familiar sound of his bare

110
00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:03,959
feet patting against the tile, the casual way he leaned

111
00:08:03,959 --> 00:08:08,519
against the counter as he took his first sip of coffee.

112
00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:14,560
This was Daniel, my husband. I was letting my imagination

113
00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:20,920
get the best of me. But still, hey, I said,

114
00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:25,160
forcing my voice to sound light, teasing. You didn't leave

115
00:08:25,199 --> 00:08:28,839
me a love letter back? Ha, He raised an eyebrow

116
00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:35,879
midsip love letter, I hesitated the one I left at

117
00:08:35,879 --> 00:08:41,399
your office. For a split second, just the fraction of

118
00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:49,200
a moment. His expression didn't change. Then too quickly he smiled,

119
00:08:50,519 --> 00:08:54,600
Oh yeah, sorry, I'm meant to say something that was

120
00:08:54,639 --> 00:08:59,960
really sweet. I forced myself to smile. Did you like it,

121
00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:05,679
of course, he said, taking another sip of coffee. Best

122
00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:10,840
part of my day. I nodded, pretending to be satisfied

123
00:09:10,879 --> 00:09:16,759
with his answer, but I knew he was lying. If

124
00:09:16,759 --> 00:09:19,679
he had actually read the letter, he would have said

125
00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:23,279
something about the inside jokes, about the memories I'd written down,

126
00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:27,480
about any of the personal details that made the letter special.

127
00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:31,679
That's what he had always done. Some of our inside

128
00:09:31,759 --> 00:09:35,279
jokes were played simply because he had mentioned them so much,

129
00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,000
and he loved it when I brought them up myself.

130
00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:45,799
I swallowed hard, glancing down at my phone. Work. I

131
00:09:45,879 --> 00:09:48,840
had to get to work. I had to let this go.

132
00:09:51,519 --> 00:09:55,200
That evening, we sat on the couch watching TV, just

133
00:09:55,279 --> 00:09:59,399
like we always did. The warmth of his body was familiar,

134
00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,720
his arm draped lazily over the back of the couch,

135
00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:08,080
fingers grazing my shoulder. To anyone else, it would have

136
00:10:08,159 --> 00:10:14,960
seemed perfectly normal, perfectly safe. But the letter sat heavy

137
00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:20,440
in my purse, the words echoing in my head. I

138
00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:26,320
couldn't stop thinking about it. So after a while I

139
00:10:26,399 --> 00:10:29,360
turned to him with a grin, keeping my voice light.

140
00:10:31,039 --> 00:10:38,399
Hey remember when we first met, He blinked, caught off guard.

141
00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:45,519
You're testing me, he asked, laughing softly. Maybe I teased,

142
00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:51,399
nudging his arm. Come on, you better remember, he smarked,

143
00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:56,559
tilting his head like he was thinking. Who was in college? Right?

144
00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:02,000
Second year? I remember these things, you know this June

145
00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:09,639
twenty eighth, I felt my chest tightened. My husband was

146
00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:14,080
forgetful with date. That much I knew, But I knew

147
00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:18,240
this specific date was important to him. In fact, it

148
00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:21,639
was such an important date he dinked it into his skin.

149
00:11:23,799 --> 00:11:27,399
I forced out an exaggerated gasp, smacking his arm playfully.

150
00:11:28,639 --> 00:11:35,600
Of course, you remember, he didn't glance down, he didn't laugh,

151
00:11:36,639 --> 00:11:41,240
He just smiled at me. Now I knew for certain

152
00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:48,639
that this wasn't my husband. Tomorrow, I had to get out.

153
00:11:52,879 --> 00:11:57,360
The next morning, I did everything exactly the same. I

154
00:11:57,399 --> 00:12:00,320
woke up before him, brewed the coffee, kissed them on

155
00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:03,279
the cheek, and told him I had a long day ahead.

156
00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:08,600
He smiled at me, like always a perfect, effortless thing,

157
00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,799
the way he always heard. He ran a hand through

158
00:12:12,799 --> 00:12:16,039
his dark hair, sipped his coffee and told me to

159
00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,720
have a good day. But as I grabbed my purse

160
00:12:19,759 --> 00:12:25,360
and stepped outside, I forced myself not to hesitate. I

161
00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:29,120
drove the same way I always did, following my morning route,

162
00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:33,200
taking the usual turns, sticking to routine just in case.

163
00:12:34,799 --> 00:12:36,799
But once I was out of sight of the house,

164
00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:42,480
I turned the opposite direction. Instead of heading toward my office,

165
00:12:43,399 --> 00:12:46,840
I drove straight to Daniel's law firm, gripping the steering

166
00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:53,039
wheel so tightly my fingers ached. I don't know exactly

167
00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:56,559
what I was expecting. Maybe to walk into the building

168
00:12:56,759 --> 00:13:00,600
seam at his desk, laughing with his coworkers, proving that

169
00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:04,639
this was all just some elaborate misunderstanding, that the letter

170
00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:09,039
had been a joke, a mistake, something stupid and explainable.

171
00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:12,879
Maybe I wanted to see the normality of his workspace,

172
00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:16,039
to remind myself that the man who came home to

173
00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:22,759
me every night really was my husband. But deed down,

174
00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:29,600
I already knew that wouldn't happen. The receptionist looked up

175
00:13:29,639 --> 00:13:34,320
at me from behind the desk. Hi, I said, forcing

176
00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:37,759
a smile, and just dropping by to see my husband.

177
00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,840
The woman's brow knitted together slightly, and for a moment

178
00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,039
she just looked at me as if I had said

179
00:13:47,039 --> 00:13:52,519
something confusing, something she couldn't quite make sense of. Then

180
00:13:52,879 --> 00:13:56,600
after a beat, she gave me a small, gentle smile.

181
00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:03,799
One I immediately hated. What's your husband's name, she said,

182
00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:08,279
her gaze fixed on the monitor in front of her, Daniel.

183
00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:14,799
I muttered, oh, honey, she said softly. He hasn't been

184
00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:22,519
here in weeks. The words felt like a slap. My

185
00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:26,720
breath stole in my throat, my heart stuttering violently against

186
00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:30,879
my ribs. My fingers tightened around the strap of my purse.

187
00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:36,639
What do you mean that there has to be some mistake?

188
00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:42,399
He works here, he comes in every day. The receptionist's

189
00:14:42,399 --> 00:14:49,039
face shifted slightly, uncertainty flickering behind her eyes. She hesitated,

190
00:14:49,679 --> 00:14:54,320
then let out a slow breath. I. I'm sorry, but

191
00:14:55,279 --> 00:14:58,159
no one's seen him in a long time. You thought

192
00:14:58,159 --> 00:15:00,600
maybe he took another job and just never told us

193
00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:05,399
his things are still here. But she shook her head.

194
00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:11,879
I really don't think he's been in. Something in me

195
00:15:12,039 --> 00:15:15,600
felt like it was folding in on itself. My vision

196
00:15:15,679 --> 00:15:19,399
narrowed slightly, as if the entire world had tilted sideways,

197
00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:24,679
and I was struggling to stay upright. Can I can

198
00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:30,360
I see his office? I asked. The receptionist gave me

199
00:15:30,399 --> 00:15:36,440
another uncertain glance, but nodded. She led me down the hallway,

200
00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:40,519
past the rows of desks, past the open offices where

201
00:15:40,519 --> 00:15:45,039
people typed away their computers, where conversations hummed in the background.

202
00:15:46,399 --> 00:15:50,360
All of it normal, all of it completely detached from

203
00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:53,639
the fact that something in my life had cracked open

204
00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:59,320
into something monstrous. We stopped in front of a lock

205
00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:04,039
storage room. She hesitated, placing her hand on the handle,

206
00:16:04,519 --> 00:16:08,840
as if she wasn't sure she should be showing me this. Then,

207
00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:13,679
in a quiet voice, she said, his things are still inside.

208
00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:19,600
We thought he'd just quit one day and never told anyone.

209
00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:25,120
My stomach felt hollow. The woman turned the knob and

210
00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:33,200
the door creaked open. Inside everything was untouched. His work

211
00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:37,080
bag sat on the chair, the straps slightly askew, like

212
00:16:37,159 --> 00:16:39,399
he had tossed it there with the intention of picking

213
00:16:39,399 --> 00:16:42,919
it up again. Soon. His coat hung on the wall,

214
00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:46,720
neatly pressed, not a single sign of dust or rage.

215
00:16:47,919 --> 00:16:52,120
On the desk, a pile of unopened males sat undisturbed.

216
00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:59,080
I stepped forward slowly, the air thick around me, pressing

217
00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,759
down on my shoulders like a weight I couldn't shake.

218
00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:08,200
And then I saw it, A single sheet of paper

219
00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:13,160
placed neatly in the center of the desk. My name

220
00:17:13,319 --> 00:17:17,319
was written on the top. My hands shook as I

221
00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:22,079
reached for it. The moment I touched it, I knew

222
00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:31,400
the handwriting was his. If you're reading this, I'm still here.

223
00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:35,680
Something else took my place. It knows everything I know.

224
00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:40,400
It acts like me, but it isn't me. I don't

225
00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:43,599
know how long I have left. I messed with something

226
00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:53,079
I shouldn't. It's afraid of fire. I love you. My

227
00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:56,960
vision blurred slightly. I wanted to collapse, to let the

228
00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:00,359
panic finally crash over me, to break down the way

229
00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:06,880
my body was begging me to. But I didn't, because

230
00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:12,440
now I knew it wasn't about understanding what had happened.

231
00:18:12,839 --> 00:18:15,559
It wasn't about figuring out where Daniel had gone or

232
00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:20,400
what had taken his place. It was about stopping it.

233
00:18:23,039 --> 00:18:26,440
I folded the note carefully, sliding it into my pocket.

234
00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:31,440
Then without another word, I turned and walked out of

235
00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:37,680
the office. I wasn't going to run. I was going

236
00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:45,079
to burn it alive. The house was dark when I

237
00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:48,880
pulled into the driveway, its windows staring back at me

238
00:18:49,319 --> 00:18:53,839
like empty eyes. The porch light was on, casting a

239
00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:57,720
soft glow across the steps, and for a split second

240
00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:05,920
everything looked to normal. But the moment I stepped inside,

241
00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:13,200
I knew it was waiting for me. It stood in

242
00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:17,200
the center of the living room, perfectly still, its hands

243
00:19:17,319 --> 00:19:21,400
resting at its side. The expression on his face was

244
00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:25,519
one of casual curiosity. But there was something wrong with it,

245
00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:29,319
something in the way the corners of its mouth stretched

246
00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,920
just a little too wide, the way its eyes followed

247
00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:41,640
me without blinking. Where have you been, it asked Daniel's voice.

248
00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:45,240
I forced the smile, shrugging as I shut the door

249
00:19:45,279 --> 00:19:53,599
behind me. Nowhere important. It didn't respond right away, It

250
00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:59,279
just watched. The air felt heavy, thick with the weight

251
00:19:59,559 --> 00:20:03,519
of what I I knew was coming. Every instinct in

252
00:20:03,559 --> 00:20:07,640
my body screamed at me to run, but I didn't.

253
00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:15,039
I couldn't. I had to see this through. So I

254
00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:19,359
walked past it, moving toward the kitchen, my pulse hammering

255
00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:23,759
against my ribs. Its head turned slightly as I moved.

256
00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:31,440
You were acting different tonight, it murmured, I laughed, softly,

257
00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:38,519
keeping my voice light. Long day The thing smiled at that.

258
00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,880
I clenched my jaw, pushing down the growing nausea, curling

259
00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:47,759
in my stomach. I couldn't let it sense my fear.

260
00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:54,000
Not yet. I made it to the kitchen without breaking

261
00:20:54,039 --> 00:20:57,680
my stride. The bottle of whiskey was already within reach,

262
00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:02,200
sitting on the counter where we always kept it. I

263
00:21:02,279 --> 00:21:08,759
grabbed it. The thing's smiled didn't falter, but something changed,

264
00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:13,519
a shift in its posture, a slight tilt of the head,

265
00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:18,160
and then, in a voice that was almost concerned, and asked,

266
00:21:19,759 --> 00:21:25,960
what are you doing. I didn't answer. I unscrewed the cap,

267
00:21:26,279 --> 00:21:33,039
turned the bottle over and poured. The dark liquid splashed

268
00:21:33,039 --> 00:21:36,839
across the floor, soaking the old wooden panels, spreading in

269
00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:40,720
uneven puddles toward the living room. The smell of alcohol

270
00:21:40,799 --> 00:21:47,119
filled the air, sharp and potent. The thing's expression finally faltered,

271
00:21:48,039 --> 00:21:55,920
its voice darkened. Stop. I didn't. I reached into my

272
00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:59,640
pocket and pulled out the lighter. The click of the

273
00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:04,599
flute wheels sounded deafening In the silence, A single flame

274
00:22:04,759 --> 00:22:10,240
flickered to life. The thing's mouth twisted into something unnatural.

275
00:22:11,079 --> 00:22:15,279
I couldn't help but flinch. You don't want to do that,

276
00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:23,079
it said, softly, But I did. I flicked my wrist,

277
00:22:23,559 --> 00:22:31,759
dropped the flame and the fire irrupted. The fire searched forward,

278
00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,359
swallowing the floor in hungry waves, licking up the walls

279
00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:40,319
with greedy fingers. It rushed outward, creeping up anything in sight.

280
00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:45,359
Heat exploded against my skin, and in the middle of

281
00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:53,359
it all, the thing screamed in rage. Its body convulsed,

282
00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:58,279
twisting violently, as if something beneath the surface was trying

283
00:22:58,319 --> 00:23:03,119
to break free. Its skin peeled away in strips, revealing

284
00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:10,200
something underneath that wasn't flesh blackened, the bandages stretched, elongating,

285
00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:15,400
writhing like smoke. Its hands curled into a strange amalgamation

286
00:23:15,519 --> 00:23:20,759
of shapes and colors, skeletal in nature but not quite

287
00:23:20,799 --> 00:23:24,279
the suggestion of her head buckled and cracked, folding in

288
00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:29,720
on itself, the remnants of its features disassembly like shattered porcelain.

289
00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:37,599
It lunged at me. I stumbled backward, barely dodging as

290
00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,799
one of its limbs whipped toward me, missing by inches.

291
00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:46,279
The fire spread fast, swallowing the walls, curling around the windows,

292
00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:52,079
devouring the curtains. The heat was unbearable, now choking the air,

293
00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:59,319
stealing my breath. The house was collapsing. I turned and ran.

294
00:24:01,039 --> 00:24:04,440
I didn't stop not when the walls groaned and cracked,

295
00:24:04,839 --> 00:24:08,359
not when the ceiling above me shuddered. The front door

296
00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:11,920
was only a few steps away. I could make it.

297
00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:18,039
Behind me, the thing was screaming, but I didn't look back.

298
00:24:19,759 --> 00:24:23,839
I threw myself outside, hitting the pavement hard, rolling onto

299
00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:27,759
my side, gasping for air. As the heat roared behind me.

300
00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:32,359
I lifted my head just in time to see the

301
00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:37,079
roof cave in, flames bursting through the structure, sending embers

302
00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:44,039
flying into the night. The fire consumed everything, turning my

303
00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:47,839
home into nothing more than a funeral pyre for whatever

304
00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:54,359
had taken Daniel's place, and the thing inside kept screaming

305
00:24:56,319 --> 00:25:06,720
until finally silence. For a long time, all I could

306
00:25:06,759 --> 00:25:11,839
hear was the fire. The flames hissed and crackled, devouring

307
00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:15,000
what was left of my home, filling the air with thick,

308
00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:20,319
choking smoke. The heat pulsed against my skin even from

309
00:25:20,319 --> 00:25:26,279
a distance. I sat there on the pavement, my chest heaving,

310
00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:30,440
my fingers digging into the ground, My body ate from

311
00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:39,319
the fall, my lungs burned from the smoke. Movement, a

312
00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:43,319
shuffling sound barely audible over the roar of the fire.

313
00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,559
My stomach clenched as I whipped my head towards the house,

314
00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:53,440
my breath catching in my throat. A shadow was moving

315
00:25:53,640 --> 00:26:02,319
inside the flames, staggering. I froze, unable to breathe, unable

316
00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:06,039
to move. My hands trembled as I pushed myself up

317
00:26:06,079 --> 00:26:09,799
onto my knees, my entire body bracing for whatever was coming.

318
00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:19,680
But then Daniel stepped forward. His clothes were scorched, his

319
00:26:19,839 --> 00:26:23,000
face smeared with soot, his hair a mess of ash

320
00:26:23,039 --> 00:26:30,279
and sweat. But his eyes, his eyes were his, the

321
00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:34,079
same warm brown that I'd memorized a thousand times over

322
00:26:35,799 --> 00:26:41,759
my real husband. I could tell at a glance. He

323
00:26:41,839 --> 00:26:45,799
took one more shaky step before his knees buckled, his

324
00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:51,200
body giving out, collapsing on to the pavement. I barely

325
00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:53,440
had time to think before I was running to him,

326
00:26:53,839 --> 00:26:57,799
my heart hammering against my ribs, my hands grabbing his shoulders,

327
00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:02,359
his arms, his face. Tears blurred my vision as I

328
00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:06,720
cupped his face, my fingers trembling against his skin. I

329
00:27:06,759 --> 00:27:10,160
swallowed back the sob choking in my throat, forcing my

330
00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:16,200
voice to be steady. For a moment, neither of us

331
00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:21,759
said anything. His breath was weak, barely there. My grip

332
00:27:21,799 --> 00:27:27,920
on him tightened desperation, clawing at my chest, but then

333
00:27:29,839 --> 00:27:39,359
he smiled. College he rasped first the orientation Sarah introduced us.

334
00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:45,039
His voice was hoarse, but sure you were wearing that

335
00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:53,519
ugly red sweater. A sob broke from my lips. I

336
00:27:53,599 --> 00:27:56,519
pulled him against me, burying my face into the crock

337
00:27:56,599 --> 00:28:00,599
of his neck. Sobbing against his skin, clutched him like

338
00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:04,559
if I let him go, he would disappear again. His

339
00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,359
arms were weak, but he wrapped them around me anyway,

340
00:28:07,839 --> 00:28:13,359
holding on with everything he had left. The house burned

341
00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:19,880
behind us. The doctors said it was a miracle, minor burns, smoke,

342
00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:26,680
in elation, nothing worse. I sat beside his hospital bed,

343
00:28:27,079 --> 00:28:31,240
my fingers rapped tightly around his His hand was warm,

344
00:28:31,799 --> 00:28:38,559
solid his Every so often my grip would tightened, just

345
00:28:38,599 --> 00:28:42,640
to make sure he was still there, and every time

346
00:28:43,759 --> 00:28:49,000
he would squeeze back. The first time he woke up,

347
00:28:49,359 --> 00:28:53,079
he turned his head toward me, his eyes heavy with exhaustion,

348
00:28:53,359 --> 00:29:02,119
but clear ay. He murmured, voice hoarse. I smiled, even

349
00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:08,880
as my eyes stung with unshd tears. Hey. His lips

350
00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:14,359
curved into a small, tired smile, you look like hell.

351
00:29:16,839 --> 00:29:23,079
A laugh tumbled from my throat, shaky but genuine. Yer Well,

352
00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:29,200
I sniffed, swiping and my eyes. So do you