I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqwwCYP1m8
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJImrV74KI6
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.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4NA5OVtNK
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jpJV1UYIl
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.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwihwsUPDDq
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5KDJ08GN4
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.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iKcVmCqgC
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCKq2tQZQa
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.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Zcicvhxi1
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAd720dXQTR
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQIVF5lQrN
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c8pc3tdC9
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.
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275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xlTyF50nG
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.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP0au3hUPl
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3bOYHYdP1
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.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3msgAqgbR
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqo6DJRRrV
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.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2Zu92LdaO
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXiQYyeH37
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.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QiTxBYy2o
But there’s one upside. 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFl1dYxdkm
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsG2qisZS6z
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.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuJ3KtS46O
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqPPaPgJZX
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.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaTKhNxYJm
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDqmIxolFo
I’ll-
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeWbUmuSj5
*Knock*275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxL7uQp4Gv
*Knock*
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEUpfS0vOt
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mh10K7FJ2
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUM37X2Gzd
*Door Open*275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAEKgSwrlX
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1a7xVhGan
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4pVzvItCf
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGL4LuKjn2
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQXKzTjZc4
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzXeQ0opWn
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qJEDrUpf4
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW0sRMPZgs
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
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275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosTdTyFFYR
Nao: “Mom…”
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275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSjvFL6jt0
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
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275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxR8iZ2zNUt
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.”
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9iu6BY9Ee
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlBnjv5AWE
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3jKkmfLG1
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zhBooOOvH
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.”
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWclkBp0RUt
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ3xq220lF
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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275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7EwcmJDi9
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
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275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIE3ch5AXW
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
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275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRKV1dxLOL
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.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59Is09Bzbl
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZpDR1LdFY
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.
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnHQJDDb4h
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShlViZP9Fm
Points: 0275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79XXByWL7L
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuOREvmcoM
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisbiVRJkMw
Strength: 27275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KU0iJOjsu
Endurance: 31.5275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4O3vldyhu
Intelligence: 23.5275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUp6Nl8xyp
Charisma: 21.5275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjGl5ffw8C
Agility: 20.5275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8G8eRHV93f
Magic: 29275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrtQBYnQBI
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEuF7bRyfU
Spells:
Scan [Active]275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwPtc3gACf
Minor Illusion [Active]275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61O4l3z8OX
Shape Shift [Active]275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9fEXhx2Le
Magic Shield [Active]275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMGWJd89sn
