-
(waves crashing)
-
(brooding music)
-
(muffled shouting)
-
- I don't care about this dress!
-
You think I care about this dress?
-
(muffled shouting)
-
- [Zoe Voiceover] Sometimes
someone hurts you so bad.
-
- I don't think you understand me, do you?
-
I don't think you understand me!
-
- [Zoe Voiceover] It stops hurting at all.
-
Until something makes you feel again.
-
And then it all comes back.
-
Every word.
-
Every hurt.
-
Every moment.
-
How could you ever
understand where I come from?
-
Even if you ask, even if you listen,
-
you do not really hear, or see, or feel.
-
You don't remember my story.
-
You haven't walked my path.
-
You haven't seen what I've seen.
-
(waves crashing)
-
(somber music)
-
My past defines me.
-
This is who I am.
-
I am
-
unseen,
-
unheard,
-
unwanted.
-
That is what I am, if even I am anything.
-
(sirens wailing)
-
(knocking on door)
-
- [Policeman] Police, get on the floor!
-
(muffled shouting)
-
(brooding music)
-
- [Zoe Voiceover] It
seemed like the same thing
-
that held me up, forced me down.
-
And the world turned upside
down and order disappeared.
-
(baby crying)
-
Nothing was how it was supposed to be,
-
and a heavy sadness filled my soul.
-
(insects chirping)
-
(thunder rumbling)
-
(somber music)
-
Deeper and deeper I fell, within myself.
-
- [Woman] It's all fluffy and fuzzy.
-
- [Zoe Voiceover] And
nothing could trowel me out.
-
(baby crying)
-
Trapped in the misery of my life.
-
Lost in the sorrow of my soul.
-
Unable to see the light.
-
Unable to see the dawn.
-
To feel.
-
To hope.
-
- What are you doing taking my fruit?
-
- [Zoe Voiceover] To dream.
-
(Zoe screaming)
-
And I found the darkest
days of my life kept coming.
-
The blackest nights for
my soul never stopped.
-
- No!
- Yes.
-
- [Zoe] No!
-
(water trickling)
-
- [Zoe Voiceover] It seemed
like it was always nighttime,
-
and nightmares, and never morning.
-
It made me wonder why?
-
But mostly, you try not to think about it,
-
and try to get by, and try to survive.
-
And all the other stuff
seems so much like nothing
-
compared to just wanting
the most important
-
things back again.
-
Like wishing you could see
your mom's smile again,
-
and hear her sing that one favorite song
-
that always calmed you down
when things were all messed up.
-
Or if you couldn't have her back,
-
at least get to take care
of your baby brother,
-
'cause you know he needs you,
-
and he's gonna be so scared all alone.
-
And who's gonna hold his hand
-
and whisper it'll be all right to him?
-
(baby crying)
-
And who will whisper it to me?
-
- Hiya, Zoe, it's so
good to have you here,
-
are you ready to come in?
-
- [Zoe Voiceover] I know I am helpless,
-
dependent, desperate.
-
But what happens when
those you need the most
-
threaten your very existence?
-
I've heard plenty of promises,
and they all sound the same.
-
But push hard enough,
and, sooner or later,
-
they all prove to be empty.
-
The sun comes up every
morning, but do you know where?
-
Each place, it's somewhere different.
-
It's hard to find east when
you keep moving around,
-
but at least it comes, it always comes.
-
I've come to depend on that.
-
And, slowly, slowly
seasons changed around me,
-
and it seemed this time that, maybe,
-
the world would not be pulled
out from under me again.
-
Feet safe, roots starting to grow,
-
little buds of hope for me.
-
Slowly attempting to trust this new life.
-
- Hi, come on over, let me
show you what I got for you.
-
I got you a gift.
-
- I don't care about your dress!
-
Do you think I care about this dress?
-
I don't think you understand me, do you?
-
I don't think you understand me!
-
- [Zoe Voiceover] I wish someone
-
would tell me it's gonna be okay.
-
- I swear to God, you touch
me again, I will kill you!
-
- Oh, let me help you with it.
-
- No, don't touch me, I don't
care about a stupid dress!
-
That one day, maybe, I'll feel normal.
-
I hate you, I hate you!
-
That I won't always be alone.
-
That I'll have a mommy who will
hug me and be strong for me,
-
because, maybe, I can't
do it all by myself.
-
- Hi, yes, I'm calling to (mumbles).
-
Thank you so much.
-
Okay, I'll make sure I'm here.
-
(somber music)
-
(draws opening and closing)
-
(plastic bag rustling)
-
- [Zoe Voiceover] This,
my past, my history,
-
my story, is not my fault.
-
It's not because of me,
-
and doesn't have to be
what defines my future.
-
(somber music)
-
I am lovable.
-
I am worthy of care.
-
And that glimmer of light,
it makes all the difference.
-
The glimmers of light give me hope
-
that someday my summer will come.
-
(desolate music)