I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNReTt9GcA
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyxvTZYSV5
I ignore their questions, camera flashes, and stares. I move through the crowd with my friends and last family member close behind. Tallow is sent to the hospital and Anthony goes to jail.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvF9XoiaRy
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcGHgX7URj
My world is crumbling, so why is the sky so clear and serene? The days start to blur together after that moment. All of it grieving, all of it ignoring the press and preparing for the funeral.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRj3z5fdeq0
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdywjJOXP2h
The presence of magic is now known to the whole world, but how could I care. My world is the one that matters and it’s shattered.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEsHy24aUU
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6b2xtA7Kr
The only thing I can remember is her coffin being lowered into the ground. The only thing I could feel are the tears dripping off my face. The only thing could hear was Alyson’s sorrow contrasted with the cicadas.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhZrCnTIkj
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseC7CtN3qG
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53Eqsj9MHj
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5FKub95m8
We return from the funeral and open the door to a broken home. Without mom taking care of us…what do we do? What happens to me and Alyson? These questions haunt our minds as we drift off to sleep for that night.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDEETGap8F
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRC1svcZjJf
Answers arrive soon after we wake up. Since I’m going to become 18 soon, I won’t be separated from my sister. But someone has to pay for everything and thankfully, Nell’s colleagues from work help Alyson to get a job in sales.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXGALaHuNr
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukVilk0HeB
She drops out of school and her position as queen. But this didn’t seem to upset her, she only looked at me before agreeing. I couldn’t read her emotions but I could help carry the burden. I’ll get a part-time job and help pay rent. Anything to keep us together.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qNJZaIkfT
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7MuwtqiQn
As for school, I don’t have to go for some time. Most of the school body is dead and a large stone wall was made in honor of what happened.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW70iu6BYZw
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3Xxo6XyHc
Finally, there’s me. The cause of everything, all because I wanted to escape and change myself. Well now look, things have changed and they’re for the worse. I’ve escaped into a hell of my own making.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKnYs5h4Tc
But there’s one upside. 338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrslzM2DFNP
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fUP9V0dgE
I grasp that fucking ring in my hand and squeeze. I’ll survive this nightmare if it means I get to make this bitch suffer and eventually…die.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDu2JzXOrn
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8xGQqKPq8
But to do that, I need to become more powerful. To protect Alyson from everything, I’ll need to become more powerful. I won’t let anything happen to her or my friends.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQBMn1NEUG
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsherv4Z1i
I’ll-
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9VzYUTXr5
*Knock*338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYCT39apSb
*Knock*
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWb5SKGzxeZ
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uUkFyD49F
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VASBWTS0S
*Door Open*338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6ZA0IzoTK
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoWsmVhWJc
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgVvmVW9ft
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDJsFkXfS1
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItdegrgtEj
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYxRspdFFI
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmZvbo399w
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgoTHWesQV
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SrHElp2FG
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqC9SdKear
Nao: “Mom…”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bo6nBeG7Q
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxLiQQrkka
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpZJncV1RX
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuEf2W8A9x
Nell: “Nao, if you’re reading this that means I’m gone. I’m sorry if I left you too early but I want you to know that it’s okay. Don’t blame yourself or sink into despair. You have a life to live and a sister to look after.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPAviYL9FZ
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMoJn7pDSw
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIMSlZzKkn
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj4QSl7wO4
Nell: “I always wanted you kids to be happy. Regardless of your success or what other people might think of you, I wanted you to find happiness. I know it’s possible for you both.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiIh0uY3Rf
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1nCQhnRzJ
Nell: “So grief but not forever. You survived your father so you will survive me. Be happy and do good Nao. Don’t let my loss lead you down a path that would separate us forever. Goodbye, see when you come home.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDvD2tJFIe
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfGT1mV4cX
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUG6KdqRkf
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsL6XEyAfTC
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf833Ke2irR
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQy5TdoV6K
I put the letter away in a safe place in my room and think about what I’m going to do now. Protecting Alyson, paying the bills, doing good, it all starts with one thing.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQfk6L7OFu
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡve3y4idc6K
My path ahead is set. Many thorns and shadows lay across it but I have to keep moving forward. I must become stronger…and not just me.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWWKxsSk8x
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOFvbsP0od
Points: 0338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9X28jCUZd7
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8z55qG2m9
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGAd8XobTa
Strength: 27338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflrQkK4owk
Endurance: 31.5338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxykFAcvsjU
Intelligence: 23.5338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65gjGmXmkD
Charisma: 21.5338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVZ79PaEyM
Agility: 20.5338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTKUMWsxcn
Magic: 29338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RkfgCNWAc
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUxFEZ5B2n
Spells:
Scan [Active]338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVVkiWXOto
Minor Illusion [Active]338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsos73rLZad
Shape Shift [Active]338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwJD6xhyJf
Magic Shield [Active]338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2tYQJYcmf
