I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2cQd7EHWn
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzjdm2M9Ec
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0xzVYxXUc
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghiALhE66h
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhdRHBzqeo
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgoR6Smu16
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpbjSPfLUL
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4mrbrhqkM
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7uo596QbS
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx4CxHUtwf
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq8I4w5tZQ
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL0UUGoaHc
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8Jz1bYb6s
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBeZeeZtLH
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5oN2lA4mn
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVhJ7cQAXY
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXai5XjOICX
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt35Cfth4yc
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcX50u8AUIj
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAZnCO9IMz
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi1zKEHdTE
But there’s one upside. 136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wjYpT2oe4
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnmowU4NzO
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfhjJSNn1t
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejoNrL0qyl
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dwZVY8Pao
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2vH20sw6q
I’ll-
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWpL7qiPK4
*Knock*136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4ChE6bZra
*Knock*
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzfymew8ib
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoRbs2Rk5O
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmFj1DgzK5
*Door Open*136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq1mVERRag
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMH8mUZSdR8
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmzWHLoAsu
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0baMwShsW
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1zxkB2yAR
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79jpwI3aaX
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4c29FydLs
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqYccK2ELv
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYQq1z4ov5
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUQpPVsMZZ
Nao: “Mom…”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdjkts5iKO
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUZoVi4nt6
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmSHCcNrrg
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiBr4V6SSC
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.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOG8Gfsq5n
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowgKNGj52J
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2GTyPOdDn
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmMj23XmVS
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.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YdYJJGD4X
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgNdPVCpr9
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.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8iAGovHCN
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rLQNRd1Tw
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUei62dUDy
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzw84F42iL
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOzalASSTc
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4FOfzfUWw
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm3Sx6paBA
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3YITyQCUt
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRu2BRUtz3
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSLJSg2Fq3
Points: 0136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZgFdbmyPT
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRi8QsMh6f
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkEWFru0f4
Strength: 27136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTudMJ3cns4
Endurance: 31.5136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7MuhKIUsb
Intelligence: 23.5136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXLneBKYqT
Charisma: 21.5136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdQQPZc8lr
Agility: 20.5136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHVIV2o31w
Magic: 29136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkhUqcjiGM
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHeCis53Fe
Spells:
Scan [Active]136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTJ3PRUPRF
Minor Illusion [Active]136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfyLSVr6ZX
Shape Shift [Active]136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZgdTwrLXW
Magic Shield [Active]136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLYhFE4gfD
and then Add to home screen.