I raised my eyebrows.
“Do you have proof?”
“I found them in your room. There’s no arguing
this!”
Brittany said, “I’ve always tried to let you have what you wanted. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
I didn’t want to explain.
I pulled out my phone and pulled up the
footage.
8:17
I looked at Dad.
894
“Don’t be so narrow–minded. You think Brittany
wants to be a teacher? She wants the world.”
Brittany started to argue.
“That’s not it!”
But Dad finally didn’t listen to her.
“You really disappointed me.”
As I turned around to leave, Mom chased after
- me.
“Ashley, please come back. The aunts are going to start asking.”
“No.”
I slammed the door and said goodbye to the
<
I finally got into the best music school in the
country.
I learned how to sing and how to write songs.
I posted the songs to social media.
A producer contacted me.
Jake flew over to keep everyone honest.
Soon, my songs were hot.
I had millions of listeners and tons of fans.
Without graduating, I had my own album.
I got to perform in front of a sea of people.
My parents wanted to see me.
But I didn’t have any time.
<
Dad got angry and called me.
He said, “Ashley, why is it so hard to see you?”
“You need to make an appointment with my
agent.”
“What’s with the attitude? Am I not your
father?”
“That Ashley died during her kidnapping. She
died on the way to watch the ballet.”
“Do you want to know something interesting?”
Jake found out that the kidnappers and Brittany
came from the same area.
She had been the one to tell them when I would
be there.
She knew that my parents would choose her.
<
8:17
My dad had always had a bias when it came to
Brittany.
He thought her dad was a hero and she would
always be someone good.
But people grow into who they need to be.
Dad felt things about me.
He wanted me to be perfect.
When I didn’t, he’d yell at me and be cold.
I was becoming someone different, more of my
own person.
Dad saw and was disappointed.
Things kept getting worse.
During my amnesia, I decided to be who I was
always meant to be.
<
8:17
I had the opportunity to go home and sing.
All the fancy ladies wanted to go.
They ran to my mom and said, “She’s going to
give you seats up front, right?”
Mom didn’t want to answer.
I gave the seats to Ms. Lin.
I had to get rid of my family.
Dad bought tickets from scalpers.
I don’t know where they were sitting.
I know the stage was beautiful.
I stood in front of everyone, doing what I loved.
I thanked a lot of people that night.
<
That day was my birthday.
I was trying to accompany myself on the piano.
