I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAWA2glfywxL
159Please respect copyright.PENANAqgvXYaHFME
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.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAOr8h3uasEv
159Please respect copyright.PENANAMA4yXyYoxR
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.
159Please respect copyright.PENANA32tAigIOuQ
159Please respect copyright.PENANA90vu9eB5a2
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.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAnCtcsIxmlX
159Please respect copyright.PENANARUYlwvJZoO
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.
159Please respect copyright.PENANA8NfZj60npu
159Please respect copyright.PENANAdCKtbGuBP1
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAx538REJA1a
159Please respect copyright.PENANA4OEemIlaho
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.
159Please respect copyright.PENANA5AwGc1C3Td
159Please respect copyright.PENANAu8gzjqk9r5
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.
159Please respect copyright.PENANATdSDBfXZQu
159Please respect copyright.PENANALtPpgCI9Ao
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.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAg9wljxhZcE
159Please respect copyright.PENANAkLaMJQtkDm
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.
159Please respect copyright.PENANA59Dxek9S5x
159Please respect copyright.PENANACdSnDX4XFG
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.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAgYifNGQvni
But there’s one upside. 159Please respect copyright.PENANARPexhYxfjw
159Please respect copyright.PENANARklgjLws8X
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.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAOOqC72mY87
159Please respect copyright.PENANAmfHirNTRIt
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.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAe863nUHumm
159Please respect copyright.PENANAWoGslm7WcX
I’ll-
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*Knock*159Please respect copyright.PENANAOfP4Uj61ky
*Knock*
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I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 159Please respect copyright.PENANAlrmUbiPGRP
159Please respect copyright.PENANAgwklcCtqYQ
*Door Open*159Please respect copyright.PENANAtlr7bPI8x7
159Please respect copyright.PENANAQUbXZsGYdG
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
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Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
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159Please respect copyright.PENANAYcCXWoaxPI
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
159Please respect copyright.PENANArUeySEU3Wd
159Please respect copyright.PENANAHDU3bF9XpO
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
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Nao: “Mom…”
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159Please respect copyright.PENANAVvrEEiRMG2
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
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159Please respect copyright.PENANAu8WoKtzyeP
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.”
159Please respect copyright.PENANA2AsYiXNscI
159Please respect copyright.PENANAuqdDoFhDn1
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
159Please respect copyright.PENANAW5vrBLDfIm
159Please respect copyright.PENANAj91ZtvcFli
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.”
159Please respect copyright.PENANA3r7MJdwZ9G
159Please respect copyright.PENANAjm8xwP8SIh
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.”
159Please respect copyright.PENANAD1tHF8WyxC
159Please respect copyright.PENANA4Cz4uIMM6h
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
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Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
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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.
159Please respect copyright.PENANA6CsdXmgard
159Please respect copyright.PENANANLTzmPOEK5
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.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAhUyA2JIT3a
159Please respect copyright.PENANAV5rC9cVuX7
Points: 0159Please respect copyright.PENANA4OSARPD01M
159Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2Ek3X3swT
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2159Please respect copyright.PENANAlid9ASP68I
Strength: 27159Please respect copyright.PENANASUDrjKcVcI
Endurance: 31.5159Please respect copyright.PENANA1kTCQL1NXu
Intelligence: 23.5159Please respect copyright.PENANACRXPZfjf5h
Charisma: 21.5159Please respect copyright.PENANA8fIxR1zoz3
Agility: 20.5159Please respect copyright.PENANAxMQVdCVLQB
Magic: 29159Please respect copyright.PENANAMfSCc2M3Eh
159Please respect copyright.PENANAgMuV4Wnc2I
Spells:
Scan [Active]159Please respect copyright.PENANA8v7cdVEw5l
Minor Illusion [Active]159Please respect copyright.PENANAYvcZvgcDLS
Shape Shift [Active]159Please respect copyright.PENANA5TKqkN1kXL
Magic Shield [Active]159Please respect copyright.PENANAHcRjCshHKM