I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZCMuzUMjQ
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviQfFN64pB
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.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cHNl5P96G
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv6cVaIUY9
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.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZeRGGTFSI
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNpTFtWM6l
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.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZogp08iUv
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXL33NyxRn
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.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisPdvXsmDr
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lm5Qhemb6
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sZEAL4duJ
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6WQLAzUfi
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.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30SgeUi3Ti
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51ShcPxW7F
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.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfBNs8s7aY
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j4yzYFMlR
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.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsLwV6HpaR
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBAky1l7zW
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.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBXF1YNEn1
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbP7RYDZKT
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.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnu8Oh2Dv7
But there’s one upside. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7tf7KNSkV
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEKeQntl9R
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.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCk4F9S6jB
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pWZenn0kg
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.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnz1VQP7BTX
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXboNngSiEu
I’ll-
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYhAahK0ZF
*Knock*309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLVCeoZjFN
*Knock*
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr604k4etJg
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0WrKu2E0Z
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NHES7KXSF
*Door Open*309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KRG8Mc5fj
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3O0O62h82c
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9hFwZyPkL
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESNRfy4ysn
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuWz0YB2zV
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdCbChflOs
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoX6XKOUe8
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxuzFRwVbH
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HNI6MbgXj
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi6FxaC1oM
Nao: “Mom…”
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAxoLNpRAk
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamxL04PZGh
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumOSsMKjQ1
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Og8AmNaF8
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.”
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7XnCJQT1i
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHweFb8duQi
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthgHWVjwIy
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylaQ2m73im
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.”
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ563DuwaN4j
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWtJs2kSYa
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.”
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWeZbEoSeG
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7DyYnyt42
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWI0foygyUC
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPH2kB6ZoR5
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88zxKCIfRx
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLc4EitFiA
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.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrXPnosQnh
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19cuofiQWx
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.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfHT04GT77
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmrWrSwD4t
Points: 0309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoLWhJxFRV
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJ3eXJe8Ld
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmhqJ5ndv9
Strength: 27309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3rx27Fpzo
Endurance: 31.5309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAebvQ7uAbg
Intelligence: 23.5309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHh6SBZKTW9
Charisma: 21.5309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVBm8l6TtG
Agility: 20.5309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0BimxULEz
Magic: 29309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVIRh0Secs
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGk9xXdqFs9
Spells:
Scan [Active]309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnW2tAFEv3
Minor Illusion [Active]309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvieyVTfkNc
Shape Shift [Active]309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qpTrBnZu3
Magic Shield [Active]309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk73BLXHWBP
