I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEGGWDCF7y
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc3H86kXQA
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaBgUC0idP
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT3SWS8Oeu
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5TYr7Wtmw
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQNOaQqH9n
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXli1GPgS80
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7aUzqwMl0
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ITlP6ahCi
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNFqml6Hwa
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeJC4hDMuM
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7BIzpVJJD
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixaorNaQzP
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXbGyKQuB7
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYQU8wVzyM
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2PG1ZES85
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsnyHqymFx
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZ6nhMO2JS
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sfk1Vl4Ro
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpypJRiszkY
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU38qAL1zWR
But there’s one upside. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64O8lq6zhz
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7e89SjjzHE
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZxUX1yili
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yEBTbJdx9
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzvIzodCFo
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlaWwLo94v
I’ll-
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjfH71vzzW
*Knock*236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm01jg1yoF
*Knock*
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR47EaKWp1
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7XUMf00XQ
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMqrGZfLMN
*Door Open*236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FNsmjNgQV
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDF4eSSeXn
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozAeIv1KFz
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtBT7imqBN
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRACkSCOQ9
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaD0Q7Vk2VU
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIauKJpUm4
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgZ2UIY5sb
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUBELwNDOH
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcVd0QaWSz
Nao: “Mom…”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvKA7x02ks
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeicVd3Swfm
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
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236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6eeThOr9N
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.”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4f0C7Fptl
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KIPdFo8bK
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwdZ7e4h5C
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3MCqsTD7V
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.”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6elYvsCed
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99j7uStAUb
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.”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡct8KDnVXH2
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHoc3oWbw7
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSc80o3y62u
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLkNUjT7qE
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoACv7vSOzG
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgDc7gzAb4
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rGMttdORW
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTCkCAldbI
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8bfGOMevN
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrWY2lZJNY
Points: 0236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmXX0fXqkU
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9phQdzY31
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dKKdkzzEt
Strength: 27236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCU7rS2IC6
Endurance: 31.5236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3waN6seil
Intelligence: 23.5236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLsyulPErX
Charisma: 21.5236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpfYfee3ZF
Agility: 20.5236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtheQvzaAo5
Magic: 29236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJ29EdDRTM
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ951mVKyVs7
Spells:
Scan [Active]236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMm8v5NKgU
Minor Illusion [Active]236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PJvWr831F
Shape Shift [Active]236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7N6Oq6rJoZ
Magic Shield [Active]236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vkJqIbA9q
