I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSorBw0R0GB
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNA6qVVulcE
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkgPZY1cEv
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxWJg90zcs
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjijTz8Ksut
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWt5HMnibn4
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjGkvqGf5d
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDLqt4nkBC
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdwbU2blEJ
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfVO3xss2M
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK3i1AVSsI
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzaKB5WVj5
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyQt7qDCOA
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRM3612Hgu2
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHriQl63rEq
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQDI5kF6TJ
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTuyi3MPkU
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UOy0UhoLl
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVE3YlheRfP
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQkxC01rOk
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZiuYyervb
But there’s one upside. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxC8suKtOke
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkd8PlnrRm
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBfsBylTLE
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprKY09ftkK
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1wQPsOvir
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcGuFISVwX
I’ll-
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw0WceQ2HE
*Knock*348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUnSKlNpE6
*Knock*
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXxhUjq91u
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaINt9b4HK
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3Wxs24H7d
*Door Open*348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeOY0dYw1q
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwlrL0bGhL
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbbQ3Sxg7A
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYfZNdTKsJ
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0XeQWpdWs
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMxzJnh7E8
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWbg5qPmRL
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnBJP6Fo0I
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY9t0IpJvn
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6wI4p1YH7
Nao: “Mom…”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZx8l6hFcSe
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkZPuqy9ph
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFnhVa3Nkp
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9q6diHh0x
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.”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrqQ9ujQE4
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExOOoHBfKu
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkQfAi0nJf
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcZDmrgFQ6
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.”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXYOhaW6Qz
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWk3rxheKI
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.”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxcdeKd5TV
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIH04S0Exr
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitWWRCAVVg
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TUuRrQsHM
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZn6GD2BFG
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zgfTjsgXD
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNenAWrUrIq
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqWsxtZHNu
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82we064Baq
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sLJi5T1qt
Points: 0348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2MuKumZ7j
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmRCtxi0mG
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr719d8wtgB
Strength: 27348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuUgXyAakw
Endurance: 31.5348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg71fGp9v6G
Intelligence: 23.5348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WnaQHiNuM
Charisma: 21.5348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEceit6lY6j
Agility: 20.5348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWhscNSC5n
Magic: 29348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGlKfBjV8Y
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrmxY39Isf
Spells:
Scan [Active]348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikXRZY6sxS
Minor Illusion [Active]348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxvm30fvLa
Shape Shift [Active]348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GCtFBP90X
Magic Shield [Active]348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06hzXF5Xos
