I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VjxVIsXrG
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdbDtwsovy
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.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDuxBafZ9d
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDPKP3Yxyf
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.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaYSHq0U4X
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39w560oBhw
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.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo79oprb4Hw
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrVNvZHUs9
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.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdEzNG84NF
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJHcEdEeyw
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s01Io3Oie
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf623uOCmb3
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.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7c2fKmW6s
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKkGVi1ghP
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.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzEF7MiigS
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5KKVpmrk3
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.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLhVMXBeua
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRCPMlTdqt
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.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGPfLITpKK
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgz2woFFoS
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.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrYE0BJ9gI
But there’s one upside. 350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qhjvwz41M
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmgPoyLijT
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.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtYQPw4YMA
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZteKJdTaBN
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.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfguDJwE2H
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFU0WwlsCb
I’ll-
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsXAOERjh6
*Knock*350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyA4qmCB0cp
*Knock*
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I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDf6YYQAbw
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFuPPivw0v
*Door Open*350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwRWLtcGBl
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVT9GbvWpr
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVedIp3Ksis
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2ZU54mXOf
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUG6y6X4Dy
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1kFnYs2sj
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsowNAZsamb
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5LJpxAGsi
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqDBs8oBqk
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyylK7tEi0z
Nao: “Mom…”
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350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9QJVlLqbv
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
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350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuf0K0mPBR
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.”
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFrbZRNH7t
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJUTGdAUn1
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjYvc443WT
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4lOQ8kw4o
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.”
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCszFs84rw
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5w1rMtmGk
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.”
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzA73CGlDOl
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCevU2t2GL
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
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350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LgH1d4zMh
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
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350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFQ8nFtRup
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.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLuxrHtVrK
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqWQi0T3T5
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.
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVFN5Wi31D
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGKA9NQPEO
Points: 0350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZbovK8VV5
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Oz1yLUGPh
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuB9CPJH5X
Strength: 27350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8VEQJ2Y3X
Endurance: 31.5350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIdWgIfHo8
Intelligence: 23.5350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDqU81WYGT
Charisma: 21.5350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuxOlc592k
Agility: 20.5350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFez94KmDd
Magic: 29350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKCD9WjUSV
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYaZ2wP59a
Spells:
Scan [Active]350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4ozeYNlf3
Minor Illusion [Active]350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UiPBRKIDA
Shape Shift [Active]350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGtdR6nHm5
Magic Shield [Active]350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobigz4eXLj
