I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSf2V3N5vT
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SQ0U7kGb8
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.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvibXXPKrGN
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oixXLF1QG
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.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZblSuRrWk
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIrvz4qVRo
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.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Qqtgt3Ocm
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfviggsMtHA
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.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2W7otSNWVm
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6sH8vEPeH
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlKFmpJEGV
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyVcDlRs0x
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.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjzrfEuO3V
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjICcYnUJi
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.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRljJ9whbu
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnlP3cVYw9
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.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2dunZO8CD
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7ppcRoSci
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.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4exRpWmY19
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWm9qerDoP
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.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmwXgcRnbr
But there’s one upside. 245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcZ1lpKWvg
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuAWn1yRVo
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.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadqiQrmoIw
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhaQyuDb6t
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.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBaDvDGqDi
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oVrBwBZ80
I’ll-
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQ8uCj3a8U
*Knock*245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOoUIh8OuD
*Knock*
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht7VZsL9pD
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnU0B9jKZR
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDf0LOrns1I
*Door Open*245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29Nlfbgt5A
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7ZDX2nLdZ
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgf5t3rC8t
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQbAVUdp4e
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwb2QQpVdv
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9JIyVnDy6
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvai5aH5Yh
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12ev75dsjs
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPMFUApvsc
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQbTjI8ikM
Nao: “Mom…”
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsO7sZ9lUo
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCEgqFJubm
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vPC3E0O5M
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJauG9E5Lx
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.”
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQ2ZdBh2F7
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFN4FL9vfST
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQwjZPUHTs
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fZajKHyRm
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.”
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozfMXcBCPB
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eiytKGvIS
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.”
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhPCJZSf3x
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWbsSwRSLX
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1nu0SMJey
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0KUyatL6F
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmx3aGM4nl8
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuT604qFov
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.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikyDLbkIlz
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxbNwMpFDh
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.
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbvxVHrovE
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNfFn41HC1
Points: 0245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVrFBVL47A
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sz8cJEnta
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDu0DXFUzj
Strength: 27245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM8rO7IS5y
Endurance: 31.5245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHBH4nXQVa
Intelligence: 23.5245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxXhLRRtMu
Charisma: 21.5245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEgFZS0azN
Agility: 20.5245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyR63hXXeMo
Magic: 29245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyWXgl0sqe
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB45eG0Mr2V
Spells:
Scan [Active]245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqm5OANpfQ6
Minor Illusion [Active]245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHSslcaVSg
Shape Shift [Active]245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczw8oCOH6X
Magic Shield [Active]245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZoteO3C8F
