I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2M4FPf7fk
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxNTMe0UFE
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsgW5GVhXU
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjwOhELlGz
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0tA8uuHJT
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzmBa2rDfe
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdTnCAjJNj
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwYbQLo1CK
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c5iKWANMn
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNCH2VIUiH
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqjfxO95EJ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBBQbzPyRv
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOqmjcAq1L
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1tguJrV6f
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtevWt9gYS6
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1QKY9L4uO
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnjLZbpvoX
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PKa66EKHt
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxKiTcEnZd
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIYmwh43tv
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7iwKQKjIa
But there’s one upside. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA3kEofB48
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWL2NBDRuXN
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnR5xuXRMBw
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmiDfThppk
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPxXhvne0p
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb3gPVRYRS
I’ll-
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjKkEMUXTF
*Knock*421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUYeWIoBcK
*Knock*
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5RmCFaIuN
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib5O7F9Yrj
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5s3LIPivz
*Door Open*421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZZfgOimtX
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwyU3OJJJf
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICiQDo12Sp
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd05l5DFy5A
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxznP063Ope
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51sSvve7km
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2by9WoY3u
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3z40Q8TAV
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMzmSTVcZE
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbQCSsX8Cd
Nao: “Mom…”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNYlf6FLWr
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhQ968guR4
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcikuS0cIz
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TKFBStKFQ
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.”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtvN5WM0AY
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZYi9HULXv
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6j43MisDhb
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVzlMyEx6C
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.”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIqeNj6ily
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQcHi3b66v
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.”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihJjdNSeqN
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotKuQbvkr8
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkWANALfMk
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3rKNdnsU1
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdzmP2rTD2
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTrxVbsOr0
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfjcLnkeux
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uDI3ZSIYK
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwi9nc0oHm
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uO46vS66l
Points: 0421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTlhMN7tky
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADBivXcj5w
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRKLJIVoKe
Strength: 27421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtlvpNieON
Endurance: 31.5421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUHmJuGGQN
Intelligence: 23.5421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwep5GtYOnN
Charisma: 21.5421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBj1UP8AJ6
Agility: 20.5421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHzzbNWD2g
Magic: 29421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXLcr2V7bt
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZdsMFvxi8
Spells:
Scan [Active]421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1K9jV6d26
Minor Illusion [Active]421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGjP7gNs7P
Shape Shift [Active]421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLyhEoD1uY
Magic Shield [Active]421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfndzp4M8DB
