At Brittany’s inquiry, Elisa immediately understood that she had been browsing the trending topics online.
Elisa shook her head. “Aoife is not me. She has already passed away, many years ago.”
“How did she die?”
“It was her birthday on Children’s Day that year. No one wished her a happy birthday. The only reminder was a prompt from the Twitter system. The comments below were full of curses, urging her to die soon. And that day, she quietly left, as if she had never existed…” Elisa lowered her gaze, her trembling eyelashes betraying sorrow.
Prejudice, misunderstanding, indifference, indiscriminate targeting, malicious speculation… These were the keys to killing “Aoife.”
Brittany cried again, saying that she was a fan of “Elisa,” yet she didn’t even know all this.
As Elisa, who starred in her first campus-themed TV series, which was still Aoife back then, she always wore a sweet smile, shy in front of the camera, obediently responding to anyone who called her name. Whenever fans appeared on the scene, she would diligently sign autographs and offer a personalized message, each one different, a common occurrence during photo sessions with fans.
The early Aoife, though insecure, had a glimmer of light in her eyes…
That Aoife who wrote scripts that grossed billions, was snuffed out just like that.
Brittany asked, “Can she come back?”
Elisa shook her head. “Once dead, she can’t come back.”
Elisa didn’t know if Brittany understood her implication, maybe she realized that “they” had once killed someone. Or perhaps, like those online, she thought Aoife had only fallen ill and lost herself.
Many people idolized stars, claiming to pursue a ‘dream,’ but it was really about control, satisfying their own desires for control. They believed they were gods who could dictate the fate of others just because they held a keyboard in their hands.
Just like Aoife all those years ago, baseless accusations, mere marketing maneuvers and idle talk led to her defamation and a year-long internet shaming campaign.
Idolizing stars used to be a joyful affair, but somehow, it mutated. With no judgment of their own, blindly following the crowd, they used control to destroy the person they once adored, and destroyed the person they wanted to become.
Those who once cursed Aoife, seeing the stories she left behind, do they feel any regret?
They knew Elisa couldn’t come back, and they knew Aoife couldn’t come back. The scripts left by Aoife became the only proof she once existed in this world.
She was never replaced by anyone.
Elisa had long built a grave for Aoife, and every Children’s Day, she would visit her.
In the picture on the tombstone, Aoife turned 20, by which time she had been diagnosed with severe depression. Despite trying to smile, her eyes revealed profound sorrow.
Elisa opened her bag, took out a piece of candy, and carefully placed it in front of the tombstone. “Aoife, happy Children’s Day, and happy birthday to you.”
“Everyone in this world remembers you now, knows you. You’re no longer just a stand-in for Elisa; you are Aoife, the one who wrote scripts with billion-dollar box office potential. The world is changing for the better, and in the future, more and more girls will be treated well. They won’t be seen as tools for making money by parents who favor sons, or forced into marriage for dowry, or reduced to mere childbearing machines. They will study diligently, find work, excel, and embrace self-respect, self-reliance, self-love, tirelessly striving for their dreams, and ultimately finding the family who truly cares about them.”
For some reason, the more she spoke, the sadder Elisa felt. Aoife, whose life was filled with hardships, had tasted no luck at all.
“Thank you, Aoife.”
In the photo, Aoife’s lips held a softness; Elisa stood up and left after a while.
Five years later…
Winnie and Eli were now six years old, starting elementary school, inheriting all the best qualities of their parents, resembling painted dolls and being intelligent.
Eli was more introverted and cried a lot, just like his mother, a bit of a crybaby, while Winnie loved to laugh. Even though she was the younger sister, she always comforted her brother and was as sensible as a little adult.
During the summer vacation, the family of four decided to travel abroad. While packing their bags, a phone call came in from Time House.
Time House was where things were sent to be delivered at a future time, based on the selected time, sending it to the designated address and contact number at the right moment.
Most people would leave a letter or a video; it could be a message for their past selves or their future selves.
It was a video recorded by a man seven years ago, sent to Time House, hoping to be delivered to Elisa on this day.
Elisa received the call, initially thinking it was a scam. After hearing the explanation from the other side and doing a web search, she found that it was not a hoax. The information matched exactly what the person on the phone had said.
Elisa couldn’t imagine who would do such a thing, but she was certain that this person was someone she knew, as they could deliver the message to her after seven years. Perhaps, this person was important to her.
Elisa agreed and provided an address. Two hours later, a courier called her to sign for a package. Elisa took the package, which felt heavier than expected, not like a package containing only a USB drive.
Elisa turned around, and Louis walked over. “Got it?”
Elisa simply nodded. She opened the envelope to find a property transfer document.
North Bankshire was transferred to Elisa’s name. Initially, Elisa had purchased North Bankshire and later, when the Powell family went bankrupt and needed money to repay debts, she bought the house. Despite the value of the house being depreciated by hundreds of thousands, no one bought it. Finally, she had to sell it to Hamish for five million.
That place used to be Elisa’s home.
Seeing this property transfer, Elisa had no more doubts. All of this was left by Hamish seven years ago and was now reaching her hands.
Perhaps, before his death, Hamish predicted that Elisa would donate all the money he left to her, to prevent North Bankshire from being donated. So, he waited seven years for it to reach Elisa’s hands.
Seven years is a long time. Two people in love could have the seven-year itch, while those who hated each other could forget their animosity in seven years.
Louis also saw it. “It’s Hamish.”
Elisa nodded.
Eli and Winnie were playing around in the room, but sensed that something was amiss with their parents’ expressions. They immediately quieted down.
Elisa retrieved a small box containing a USB drive from inside, and remarkably, the drive was as new as it had been seven years ago.
The USB drive had reached Elisa’s hands, naturally hoping she would take a look.
Louis looked at Elisa, silent and motionless as she gazed at the USB drive. He gently squeezed her slightly stiff shoulder. “Take it to the room and watch it. I’ll prepare dinner. By the time it’s ready, I’ll call you. The luggage is packed, and the helicopter is arranged. If it’s a fine day tomorrow, we’ll take Eli and Winnie out for an adventure.”
Elisa nodded.
She went upstairs to the study, holding the USB drive and inserting it into the computer. Her mood was calm, as though checking the weather forecast – a routine task.
She sat in front of the computer, opened the video, and gradually, Hamish’s image appeared, a 36-year-old Hamish.