I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC51i3gA7BT
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NCV6GExiI
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSdVwkZfkv
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡComVxVIWTB
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqEVTBgjSc
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEePWRbCGO
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMqhX0nLU3
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJV8Vmxbu7M
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbI7t52Isn
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrPEApSQoj
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGNGBmyW0R
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0FW9PIDGT
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ok5qF8BVb
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kGk0ZBcWx
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05Cy84kksB
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTtDcmZJMq
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsGeYdwqTc
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnClI3Kttu
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTXCFFBBMD
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWLg6ipQol
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxfHb4Fx3D
But there’s one upside. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXt4jxwUDC
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XwXNHQao0
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMycP5Fs3z
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFr5X2C5sM
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGwjIWDhVR
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOhrKzjnU5
I’ll-
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXHvXr1xrp
*Knock*418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1hb54EsOo
*Knock*
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVCJOaQoVA
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAdrtrLqZ7
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYC9v48J87
*Door Open*418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoD9XhWQEO
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJpEZeHmhR
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbxaY6dQHg
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvNZCktpiq
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5hHS686iK
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXevWp7miEn
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmSsYz7pWY
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Qi0dJ2ozm
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPCgJ3Nxoa
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQIrPuAdi9
Nao: “Mom…”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzNuit24TQ
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSkwSu8UWE
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc2WODnu5J
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4BMZwsUb4
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.”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7jzimfATL
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPnP6ODklL
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvQMuRnXyX
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNg2yTvO32X
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.”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhR0bxhGsQG
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjR73pWlSWs
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.”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1sz6vVEzm
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZzNSOeKFZ
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYXcABaUw9
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhdizYN4bN
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveuAFAiOVy
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQhLfvtfrL
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjjd1BxKDw
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKk2LgzqNCm
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgHx43c9lV
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpr4f5oSxNf
Points: 0418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL4yFPSJeK
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglLkHVFDvt
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF8KymyLO7
Strength: 27418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6LyExqn0K
Endurance: 31.5418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50jgWyNwGP
Intelligence: 23.5418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QaOVAIKz8
Charisma: 21.5418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR5w6wS8zr
Agility: 20.5418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof6oI4TXjs
Magic: 29418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVklJZEOI66
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmrlwkj1Of
Spells:
Scan [Active]418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTcNK49MhZ
Minor Illusion [Active]418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFeM3JIgOG
Shape Shift [Active]418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID1gZK6C4W
Magic Shield [Active]418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KaEatIR26
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