I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F5nQtkK9F
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg6StLT33f
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.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUyFZ9WwCz
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MHto30qmt
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.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJana7eya3k
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx9I35KEPA
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.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWojTzOHZNC
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2D408epR6
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.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBGmyIYOKL
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaC0kFkWqf6
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ac9AGlvKo
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DJ36n7Dy0
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.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2fRcdqOHq
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aa7HlX2Ah
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.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwWxHXEBra
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHnONk1Hkp
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.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISZriWFBkL
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPCy9V5dKo
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.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvtedFmIjr
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEijUWnkHo
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.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cxbIuyhSS
But there’s one upside. 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvIqFoM8Y4
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHybmu2WZl
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.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XmV2Xtxuz
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTM8OFU1Ze
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.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTBKIzZc0d
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEFKXgAcp8
I’ll-
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pAoVTdMfE
*Knock*276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3M0rVuogvO
*Knock*
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl7jvTbtzC
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsVEMofB0v
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvqSkqdpzT
*Door Open*276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsQkT8vmTF
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDQg6VoU0k
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1h3wpDU4H
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXPedY5NCn
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Y2CSVUxw8
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpzGzECGVP
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1PQGGB9zL
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4zYU4sglW
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxbUVry7gX
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RL7kKojYt
Nao: “Mom…”
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9xe1phvqT
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTOduhGcrf
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ065w2DOTTc
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5UyspcRcE
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.”
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzPr6P1fBP
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkhkemea1R
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcK4wMMxfQT
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOXnKdfdW1
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.”
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsFFUxtEF7
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbUphKCh9E
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.”
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t5rN79gii
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqcOjDzKcB
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZTRV98bUK
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiFFwKnvLf
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxtpsUT3cB
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuOToRjspA
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.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUd1Lw7aMLq
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeM6rPGQHbG
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.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbae96TdohR
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmE2nBVcaE
Points: 0276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMH9ZUv3Xc
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkMREFwf8E
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVPkDxFGay
Strength: 27276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡip0vvPAD6k
Endurance: 31.5276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcv0noZOqL
Intelligence: 23.5276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI4wGxZuw5
Charisma: 21.5276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYz3Fksh89s
Agility: 20.5276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugoVxzeoni
Magic: 29276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H7sdv4mZ3
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo60xawHIua
Spells:
Scan [Active]276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wsHUcW5kx
Minor Illusion [Active]276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl6wXnSw92
Shape Shift [Active]276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79dcal0fjx
Magic Shield [Active]276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZ659C5Hir
