I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxurtCRLRxm
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHJgZF4mMS
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.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3Jb3c8IQ3
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKDc1OW3Pq
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.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhETlQzUzlE
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2JPLDetqY
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.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxeeviXJ3o
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdxBD7QuQJ
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.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblq42GnRfi
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgcbel7O9l
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGteSdJZj7
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4N6zvmf7x
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.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlQrKsk7EB
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX5YXDh14b
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.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlDps49N5P
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaJFjRGbn5
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.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeutOfZrLFp
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzu0akuiuby
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.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJ3oR4CYhA
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RWFzrSrue
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.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsU8Or2W7Qu
But there’s one upside. 339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGjzqYRVbk
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMU6W6DFQpU
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.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJwAdCe6WL
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWhxthzlJA
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.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDOQjyXggd
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitPLEZcRtl
I’ll-
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8aoRT9eAG
*Knock*339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ao0ZZtMly
*Knock*
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzqPBMpGva
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHUlTR8g9P
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnToRwrsDzd
*Door Open*339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdMJh8pZWG
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4YlLG0pjG
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgRFHkqdMl
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVZDEzqBtx
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYyt9xysOY
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkS1tm63ViT
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AIX2ObhO2
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3OaTpWlDT
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpINB9Fz95S
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiEl6VzZwq
Nao: “Mom…”
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC6OWiYOld
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwzos9pCWh
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyBmoYJ0l7
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxO89ax0wD
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.”
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbV8iyK5e2i
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmSPDC6Nt8
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqz04qeXrl
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxmsyMsfKG
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.”
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYQc0IAREE
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtu3ROtX63U
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.”
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5oMxFjYYU
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9D8KQChsm
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUuy2HJgq6
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf56sCKo3Ys
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96Kv8Xxxpx
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxT3kbl6asL
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.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClYThcG9AA
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DVnYl96jp
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.
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZVydldQon
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmbcXZ66jM
Points: 0339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPdBpcHuR3
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhING7AvQS9
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JNtm4s0Gn
Strength: 27339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAy30p8KJP
Endurance: 31.5339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0mhyzkqM8
Intelligence: 23.5339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHlckBmvOn
Charisma: 21.5339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdnB7SShlB
Agility: 20.5339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomEbeKoby8
Magic: 29339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUslc5AQYb
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfRrP5oJj2
Spells:
Scan [Active]339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfsA22QQiS
Minor Illusion [Active]339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoXhQyNqE1
Shape Shift [Active]339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb0akDG3Hv
Magic Shield [Active]339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qmg3WJ5Zf
and then Add to home screen.