I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7L509vTtpE
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCGzztjJTi
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.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQjNumdrWk
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupaJvmW4cf
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.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOuLcyLSrC
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDRxRnuYqu
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.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGYHXZ62pd
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMt5Dwnth7g
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.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39ztNKs7Hg
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4e05mUYiD
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qTs0f1WeJ
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa10rLLKm4D
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.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr83ZcIriv6
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuTJIlCkpr
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.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMUOfylSAJ
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta19KHXetQ
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.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsM92M07N2M
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWcR4FCOPP
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.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTIEXQ1PIJ
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcutzsUSRW
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.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVWYauZiRi
But there’s one upside. 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBmSzF6U8I
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlpKDy2b1K
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.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuRjWTUlqw
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7NdygGgEk
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.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40AZLp1wo6
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSee10usGYX
I’ll-
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7PBPONVlk
*Knock*357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkfOENyvIq
*Knock*
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMrpU1g2ti
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivYpLCXSMU
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFddGB4Jmn
*Door Open*357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNNOA8xC8f
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEUFItfSWW
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bRJyOvtcj
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnM20qDq5p
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUivPfJ3Xs
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS15y3OeLKz
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfMPYUsV4g
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBthBnDdAl
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJCCTgLJpO
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSgQErLXa8
Nao: “Mom…”
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkW4NdRtac
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLiY7G2M8V
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF5Uwf5cz5
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bHcjFhE5I
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.”
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKaho6SPzE
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTcXDKIW6t
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK2mbjjdzr
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNK38je1z5m
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.”
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cjW8TC1i0
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8G559MGWD
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.”
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRstHlIy0o
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbM4FiGXog
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj3dvSSZ2K
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LIK9YzbEv
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ac6hKvpKp
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EkwW4vdYx
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.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0v61NjdSW
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJ6jsVhrOK
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.
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcreSK6WyKD
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eNLEXpqxb
Points: 0357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwPqXAjh3Y
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuKXtyzOO6
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIB0iZBc8d
Strength: 27357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkP6I3BCdS
Endurance: 31.5357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe8O7J7dpw
Intelligence: 23.5357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIhFE2YyRs
Charisma: 21.5357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWvjxkvLk0
Agility: 20.5357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCMFoe4I0o
Magic: 29357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcjHQiJMos
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRUBXO9hzN
Spells:
Scan [Active]357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡir0q30YnuL
Minor Illusion [Active]357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxCgSgfrMO
Shape Shift [Active]357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4bj0UQUVV
Magic Shield [Active]357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCA1jdoWUKh
