I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9a2YIMeJYB
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsJH12Jtyh
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDTns7dxhU
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3JEW3yLu5
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHmEslhnyf
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm3YtY1yQ4
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjYAe5w6pM
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoos1oWwG5p
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHDEIvdcPT
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIHrMbBi5y
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8cZrNm7GI
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVoUuTBVjo
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKPeREr7kF
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HEyyG4VvF
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3uzHGi3dT
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmHNHuPIMM
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcnrLVWu7X
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9ahcklxyO
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpTIjFSmzM
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kqFxykbp6
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQXSPfyAnB
But there’s one upside. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtKsfsWj89
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT08rc5yGAE
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXTx8n7hm4
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EICLcPVrl
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9w09so4IJ
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydqiOANMVA
I’ll-
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoGQGvqkH8
*Knock*388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC3Fr98wfg
*Knock*
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPQOF4o7Xw
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHzTzf90wv
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN5aRhR9S5
*Door Open*388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDHSzh9CSS
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDUIB3fYPI
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NrkNsr04V
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQklqmI0fJl
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZRpSB1mdv
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquchzZgY1X
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZXrZKONeq
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLbXtnnnNo
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYk0E9L45C
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCxLW0cd6b
Nao: “Mom…”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUXPEpMo4x
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxR4mJkm2W
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFPLXu7lFA
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LdYk9nQIU
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.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlm6JGpE18J
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fC80no50R
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj9INEihGc
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlf25dmvTVE
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.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv86zcbLkGv
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOCm2OhNgf
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.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRTqlU3gEX
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta9Puo0io2
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd1WyTWEtt
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjikuN8sn6n
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M4XnaedK6
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPNujEU8dI
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y5ziHgNqa
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDBL6B9UJy
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxwYfEeDT5
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWeB7tam0I
Points: 0388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6gdIu6bsa
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWJoYYKSCz
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6onEt6kXa9
Strength: 27388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwyTbct2jS
Endurance: 31.5388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVNP16DDBy
Intelligence: 23.5388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq1yHzey7g
Charisma: 21.5388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuia7jY0Sj7
Agility: 20.5388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgHQnl17ac
Magic: 29388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F2f2lf1AK
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY7Ztw4Nbq
Spells:
Scan [Active]388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijlsaAxqs5
Minor Illusion [Active]388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7CFvbLGl9
Shape Shift [Active]388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW3VkVJFdw
Magic Shield [Active]388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpPSDk4GHT
