I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
180Please respect copyright.PENANA5o3BC9gXrI
180Please respect copyright.PENANAL6OcEbr9Dk
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.
180Please respect copyright.PENANAB1bF4MUksg
180Please respect copyright.PENANAQr3sPvhFm1
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.
180Please respect copyright.PENANA1QNe0FZudt
180Please respect copyright.PENANAOqsVsHBIZ9
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.
180Please respect copyright.PENANA9UzH6t5tra
180Please respect copyright.PENANAop6TsIabjG
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.
180Please respect copyright.PENANA3U5euZ9BLG
180Please respect copyright.PENANAJlQDHlJ4Xi
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
180Please respect copyright.PENANARU06r2ESxC
180Please respect copyright.PENANA7T918ieijs
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.
180Please respect copyright.PENANAy2sBdNz1LR
180Please respect copyright.PENANAfykZoi2TGB
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.
180Please respect copyright.PENANAP7Sq9kcZvZ
180Please respect copyright.PENANA7RqlOfh3P9
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.
180Please respect copyright.PENANAg5yzvGvLds
180Please respect copyright.PENANANx8CCDzotd
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.
180Please respect copyright.PENANAvh82YQ2Oh4
180Please respect copyright.PENANAscw7ODIqFS
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.
180Please respect copyright.PENANA5l0m3TLltw
But there’s one upside. 180Please respect copyright.PENANAa7Fegp269B
180Please respect copyright.PENANAPanb7TGigM
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.
180Please respect copyright.PENANAmoOtYa5GFE
180Please respect copyright.PENANAn8MhqN2TZ9
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.
180Please respect copyright.PENANApbKNnbNmwS
180Please respect copyright.PENANAWbyLFsaMPA
I’ll-
180Please respect copyright.PENANAnWTt7cfKAt
*Knock*180Please respect copyright.PENANABWkifX4NvA
*Knock*
180Please respect copyright.PENANAAk4ZEh7uVy
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 180Please respect copyright.PENANAyRWPdX66wV
180Please respect copyright.PENANAUvN44UdTEM
*Door Open*180Please respect copyright.PENANAxZTA73VvyH
180Please respect copyright.PENANAwpqOHagCWF
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
180Please respect copyright.PENANA8ugl6cxUf0
180Please respect copyright.PENANAsJjn8fIjSU
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
180Please respect copyright.PENANAS6A5QdDXGc
180Please respect copyright.PENANAg3429hIdwO
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
180Please respect copyright.PENANAmFtkPxPuU4
180Please respect copyright.PENANAxOdZYS7IPc
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
180Please respect copyright.PENANAsQFD5ctclA
180Please respect copyright.PENANAfUkdV3LTlC
Nao: “Mom…”
180Please respect copyright.PENANAkWJq85AOkY
180Please respect copyright.PENANA55amCUongC
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
180Please respect copyright.PENANAnTXp0KKtWY
180Please respect copyright.PENANAkJVFM7zyv8
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.”
180Please respect copyright.PENANA5y1a3BXZe5
180Please respect copyright.PENANAGk6a6n4Xfc
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
180Please respect copyright.PENANAgDWuinBPQQ
180Please respect copyright.PENANAunftVq2ghX
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.”
180Please respect copyright.PENANAGcCA8pqDDD
180Please respect copyright.PENANAWfosvIY1s2
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.”
180Please respect copyright.PENANAUKfzesGNHK
180Please respect copyright.PENANAmvIl4apO1z
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
180Please respect copyright.PENANAQRS6nfDlcC
180Please respect copyright.PENANAjc6QNib1Ss
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
180Please respect copyright.PENANAAjFzWO50CS
180Please respect copyright.PENANAt1NNOwNrGQ
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.
180Please respect copyright.PENANASZRPPf40X4
180Please respect copyright.PENANAy4ATc7pGPw
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.
180Please respect copyright.PENANAMv8bnR7vSN
180Please respect copyright.PENANAFE7T93Y0sM
Points: 0180Please respect copyright.PENANAds7U4p3SRG
180Please respect copyright.PENANAwstdiu84qZ
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2180Please respect copyright.PENANA55336nL9rf
Strength: 27180Please respect copyright.PENANAvjPHZZcTUd
Endurance: 31.5180Please respect copyright.PENANAqYNoXsyPtn
Intelligence: 23.5180Please respect copyright.PENANA4APixZ67RZ
Charisma: 21.5180Please respect copyright.PENANA0bOf4Dtkq7
Agility: 20.5180Please respect copyright.PENANAtk7lSh2ZCR
Magic: 29180Please respect copyright.PENANAyywEnqLjMG
180Please respect copyright.PENANA3qmJBdVYgo
Spells:
Scan [Active]180Please respect copyright.PENANAKx0onEbPaj
Minor Illusion [Active]180Please respect copyright.PENANAPnG3Ef2uTW
Shape Shift [Active]180Please respect copyright.PENANADhWvgCeO9J
Magic Shield [Active]180Please respect copyright.PENANAMNHDY4eAqt