I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGklZb3UoP
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTUaQXi7zP
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.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqtkptmLKu
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HADJyu5Hb
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.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiAEbypkuU
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC7Xtn9MXr
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.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcOCF3ZYZ3
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMe9T4s1OY
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.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡou5KYQpKni
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YMrbaX99G
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXJ2HCgusu
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaxXVUqNvE
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.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqPhGpQJ26
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2vU6NaY6d
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.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbjrFJUEQc
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3cPMBuSWP
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.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnnPsJcjKf
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAnUCjwkXU
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.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJHYrZY3Ll
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2fU6CTYGC
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.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc2Za59s2Z
But there’s one upside. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUCV6jE4Nq
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡll4y4WPmgH
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.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJqeG9biV4
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsssxmxAU8u
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.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZsodWvXJN
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwsoilus3b
I’ll-
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMPGuFH1l5
*Knock*383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bw1zYGcHF
*Knock*
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfglFlYrOo
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wASXFmdyU
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPkxQTWoW3
*Door Open*383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC2LoMUPZO
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUR1ZZyr3V
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjjmBIXm9k
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHDYAIpSQI
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvd9gsLQXY5
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ2286yFoa
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkf6eYtudX
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3izD6zA6m
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY5oTnPRjK
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLB6qRzSq6
Nao: “Mom…”
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrNoqJQ45H
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnNCKJT1mP
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyNVj2xtYl
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDUAiwzDB0
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.”
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCcfPkqgKP
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe4aaWW4Jp
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVVJMoEsSA
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbOplsxNOL
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.”
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDCTtcBrXN
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DjwSLoqm1
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.”
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU2WIMvfTq
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtBZPfIrHT
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFvp67mMWy
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bNW4wNpLc
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5G9c3huQCt
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdvzIRmkbv
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.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOb2AlwuvN
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYbrBMMvuo
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.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQc7bC8cCx
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK9vcRg7ht
Points: 0383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItMymXwgOn
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWoJ6kCNrV
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepsksFWkla
Strength: 27383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRv0EfBKf6
Endurance: 31.5383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7ZXBm0QaU
Intelligence: 23.5383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75qZNBUfNU
Charisma: 21.5383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02zlfFhwZG
Agility: 20.5383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fGhGuyxgI
Magic: 29383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3C12ZAOFN
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BFjn2dPAM
Spells:
Scan [Active]383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxm2dUF95i
Minor Illusion [Active]383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5vh5XDEoN
Shape Shift [Active]383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQeaW9sCND
Magic Shield [Active]383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONbO6Owhm7
