I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZkfyB6avt
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzcKJq3FKR
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.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkykCG9amd
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuBoyl72DB
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.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuNxEctLI4
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5nRfi97wl
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.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRh81H7yLXQ
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZF02QY8u1
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.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFwj8ciB28
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UrLcUFpXz
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZRG6TFDae
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSk3yLCPfi
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.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmyekxyNVe
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMWzlTp5hp
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.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSB4szPgxy
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtcceCsnqM
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.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcBZyfXKk6
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7dd0WiGEr
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.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijEK24qk6v
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4a5fdMdqt
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.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfcgPM74Lw
But there’s one upside. 412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VjN1v6THp
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡys4tNA1gPO
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.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaVwGpBLN3
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eR4SwqWCr
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.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB43ss7Zkw3
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vk8sXu0aM
I’ll-
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyYTYEgD4p
*Knock*412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCh29qz161d
*Knock*
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbhcrLbdqB
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEt1XtJzEz
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpRmSGLeKP
*Door Open*412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuZ3Aj65t8
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuse6nI4eDT
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDiGBkKOAl
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG2hX7fMpL
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQXckakNwj
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdLcii40PW
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRuPKlgrn9
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1LWWOTgO8
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujov2kjcQU
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30FCwm06MI
Nao: “Mom…”
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdmWAMuPQJ
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpA0HUDmo2
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fe6qUWSSJ
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkDzv2VwOC
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.”
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqC8jQcvoX
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseT9rE4A08
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JaTDrzG4Y
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPFmAEfkJF
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.”
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMRtTYlJ8S
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkXSmMAjTO
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.”
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBogLC8Mky
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0mN6fW9uK
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pRIbeXGE1
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDEfKpepaI
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF8nDx2MHX
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO9YsgGO5F
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.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiqn0LhwiU
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvUA8WkNF7
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.
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyzejudQjt
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FxwSM2KCl
Points: 0412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbAYOxS3Vz
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpaSnNGKu8
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03AfqMmdcZ
Strength: 27412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWLmnK28S8
Endurance: 31.5412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXts7KMqxc9
Intelligence: 23.5412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2aPJI57n0
Charisma: 21.5412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVf3ZsXq6Bq
Agility: 20.5412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTH4vle8y6p
Magic: 29412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1MnN0ypNa
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFGTxZhz2q
Spells:
Scan [Active]412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdF2SsbFpb
Minor Illusion [Active]412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8aBRAnnVZ
Shape Shift [Active]412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYU9dH7d9L5
Magic Shield [Active]412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm8jvRmz70
