I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5j0y8mmNz
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92UYiOpABi
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.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcq5SLUO18
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaU69jjX76
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.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiHmMIXLGE
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzItlyKmtz0
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.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLOpfKRsEV
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHLVtUdOZH
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.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0Zk4t2xOR
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBY64oXil5
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PeuXm9D28
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFx8VQEQYV
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.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxwOyMJBcH
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnilbA7Lnqq
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.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPUXcW249Y
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ43wVGKj4
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.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oxRjsuccI
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MieKWf44g
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.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHbX5shUYB
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0drzgSMIK
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.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahmN5UhIRh
But there’s one upside. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TDhTQteSl
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBW6veJM7m
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.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ62OEXKsSc
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKLRWkvyPK
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.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lxpKkfGPO
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JUvTqvuMS
I’ll-
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Cl1U7N0kf
*Knock*295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E0Fb0hoaQ
*Knock*
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I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHklhBXt0VG
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzR9nH5kJt
*Door Open*295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKBr89olLl
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWLadKQiiT
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIELuVR6J97
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq8csj4Cf2
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ICoC2u0hO
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aL4PF10Fv
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FG7Ub97gh
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKJz0ftRis
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
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295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp8WNBYWr5
Nao: “Mom…”
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295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzluNQEr2k
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
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295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpXkFyhnzv
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.”
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgPfxQyCNB
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCKDod1bTl
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIbbtsP8vU
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzmL52RDuN
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.”
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295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjNdv2TsH1
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.”
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295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgNyiAdyIu
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
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295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKChAYiaL7
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
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295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkplCR2C0Xv
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.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcLexI4zgp
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkbxZ5r4j2
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.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7vuX0xdBP
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aTzbmF94S
Points: 0295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJxp5sDoab
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcO0awHUku6
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPHtcPz3Xi
Strength: 27295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWcarax3bn
Endurance: 31.5295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XXlMOpHGD
Intelligence: 23.5295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1zzfLy4ry
Charisma: 21.5295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmxaSk9jCA
Agility: 20.5295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYB2KkedAhM
Magic: 29295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjRtL0gO6U
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMRUb043KG
Spells:
Scan [Active]295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwkaUrepjD
Minor Illusion [Active]295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4nQiC56OS
Shape Shift [Active]295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVnmvdzXkY
Magic Shield [Active]295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcGkNJSiCx
