I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXtQIPK8We
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKwXLxaeIs
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.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk1W9QXJgu
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3F6fiWvNh
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.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMZogkwOo5
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mtTRrkARn
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.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfROOs897p
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jTN5DPKdq
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.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJoKmD33Nv
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYPLWQsvMs
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStFstAwUZC
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiP5EyG4XRf
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.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXonYRGDaUO
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDx1DrqRuM
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.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdbEt7lrjT
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDTHfBHCJv
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.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lrsBhiL7j
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaqwHLhPX4
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.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrub10g1sRl
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWknKWZCUv
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.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQzJBAHBMe
But there’s one upside. 593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGTI1fm770
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNQrI3EOLv
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.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfvPy3P64P
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGsmxnKu1i
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.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxfoi3pYdN
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPolvkHsdj
I’ll-
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBJ3SAeRWM
*Knock*593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eawkx9F6e
*Knock*
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WGaIrFhp8
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQFLWDFZYD
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpvenx9vv7
*Door Open*593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn20Gv5QHh
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSHBFIyBGa
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0fWWP1zkd
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNm7zIowVB
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCuPFlwsLX
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPa4Znd8tpt
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhGN7Zhfcf
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5MNgDmKE1
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDZdUSEtAp
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEU8NpT7qB
Nao: “Mom…”
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5bACJCCLe
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCrtvJNi2j
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M1PslZN6g
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV4pIWCsX3
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.”
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMZmeHlOcO
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSBU3xR25s
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4AuLwMpqp
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOxkfMOLD9
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.”
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUMf3DrZQI
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm0KeLR4Xy
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.”
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgYWzLpSq0
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrxDISjHj8
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBtyVUK56D
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcBLnWjP96
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejqWPOvfS5
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUXIkFeYGT
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.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvVE15UzKm
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVBLVd3iND
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.
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIriEpM7YX
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0Sj3CmkBB
Points: 0593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9OCHN2Ik3
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkkg9Nxvha
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk49TJfX2mh
Strength: 27593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzAiV2hes2
Endurance: 31.5593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDEDVU8kRE
Intelligence: 23.5593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBsX7b2WnM
Charisma: 21.5593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3qOKpnlKW
Agility: 20.5593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSCMbz6CRT
Magic: 29593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4AIfA8Vg1
593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wQ4SNGRdU
Spells:
Scan [Active]593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2PxWYTWel
Minor Illusion [Active]593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwUytUKZIA
Shape Shift [Active]593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWgbDxqJ6u
Magic Shield [Active]593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgXghlbTp0
and then Add to home screen.