I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNJq1OoBb2
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxJjmyhKJa
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.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiYlJYI4nJ
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBhs7rJGwt
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.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24slvsHGkW
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbprsxI5NL
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.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5BxETkRAT
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU9ZpzIcRd
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.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM417c4j6D0
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7SbvS8VAO
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxAm6V7kPf
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufcUhmkC4k
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.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJflQ9DXaV
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2benRF4DK
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.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD8aHnh775
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzb2RstN7K
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.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTAUG9AYGQ
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1BEMQVGfu
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.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHoXr4smO6
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVdrMMjpl5
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.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUa9BLIYDv
But there’s one upside. 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4aIiXyJf0
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt95NeEmqJ
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.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPqhDowoRt
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoDl4KjyjA
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.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RyXInSZzL
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3WtTqn6vW
I’ll-
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCK7Jbv5Xfv
*Knock*347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVAJLkqfbQ
*Knock*
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe18BWaTN6W
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQ7XwKV16i
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtufCe5gCQN
*Door Open*347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0tgWKzA1f
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ys8nDWL5M
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuXogrMbK8
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivGSJzRBmV
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHlqLzvIsB
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQIVtl7Veb
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGyH78H3o9
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6QNmXKdey
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukD4Xyli0u
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkg8L7t00l
Nao: “Mom…”
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9RYS4zUOZ
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8HoTtnAqK
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNe1NZKnlPS
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLmTdFrocn
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.”
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixDCKLLR5F
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNC7YUZgrN
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQGwECjZwa
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPfdYx1zyw
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.”
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08IakiRh72
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSdrosm4OC
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.”
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DwqbTDRRa
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01A7Kl0KAS
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaGFJnsJiI
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm5l2piYHu
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCSgp2hi0U
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5PTnRYMGG
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.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0grgYbSIda
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICnW7Pf21k
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.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgWv81LGTc
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviv3a9DfsP
Points: 0347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4hYM4O5YJ
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Il6E4tnA3
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SqGjCngLS
Strength: 27347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWT73RNK0J3
Endurance: 31.5347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaePNXmxS8N
Intelligence: 23.5347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFH30rYjM2I
Charisma: 21.5347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoyZK7NuN2
Agility: 20.5347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhsG2FUIUC
Magic: 29347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lMBRCNXWn
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6f8WtlcRd
Spells:
Scan [Active]347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHLtcjGhYW
Minor Illusion [Active]347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WqJ9WM1AE
Shape Shift [Active]347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdHy7XdlVg
Magic Shield [Active]347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzS2V3Ox4Wr
