I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqo8sCh3Lk
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDQpjBZgtp
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.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqtxhXwcQT
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfj3tqRbiA
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.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuvqOUJiGd
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8SPKuesYu
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.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOqWsseyS2
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5IJ66d71t
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.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgHGNrNtkm
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3TH5AI35l
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v3WpVi2c7
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDup8vb2Yv
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.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmV1mV0oMIi
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQbY0C3usv
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.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVdyRsFyAM
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HIuktkWWD
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.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuU14Qaebf
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHVwxFdqsT
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.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31StVfFcOh
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5QDd9J9JP
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.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNViZc6E8S
But there’s one upside. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHWgBQOkLx
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkQzmRNpAm
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.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5M7Mjt2h5
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0x7kKFIuvZ
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.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZp3E6vY1s
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48938Z6ryH
I’ll-
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jao9ojmdm
*Knock*296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6MNpIet0D
*Knock*
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1auyywMIPN
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2RHouRgmf
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IQf5m4h1l
*Door Open*296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4g355r0iK
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxuwsIwyYO
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsWxOA5dYi
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNYV7BESeX
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSjtBhfGC9
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqkYEn1qeb
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLy5w642Aj
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94058UMQXU
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UOhEgk5T0
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMNorg3sfm
Nao: “Mom…”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV8rP9Rds6
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5f0n63nW0F
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjyRAXOKRD
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9GpX2RAYK
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.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVm6EEa7RU
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxaHJxab8r
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNTRsDdFWz
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnu8GXT8JZ
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.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUPYisvRrc
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCl8oeSCSA
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.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalSqX3OpxP
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXLNr4sIvj
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWCSob6dpV
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJ2CbMXQW1
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS2g5MzBA9
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWI7t1unEBQ
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.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRhRTxzZrH
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImNwS70qbb
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.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCLomyzRct
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53LFyAVIm1
Points: 0296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSSjXWageQ
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEERMpePwm7
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyNKwNfh4F
Strength: 27296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wR3uoMQlY
Endurance: 31.5296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKxaWkVtVd
Intelligence: 23.5296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNlW7fWZBp
Charisma: 21.5296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiQHqAqpOf
Agility: 20.5296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnCF9DS2Lr
Magic: 29296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMj7MvqHN5
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0W8005Jrm
Spells:
Scan [Active]296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8KDcqTjiS
Minor Illusion [Active]296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJuovhBhcG
Shape Shift [Active]296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xjqhQplVF
Magic Shield [Active]296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5NxQOLcZX
