I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
135Please respect copyright.PENANAa5AbWMwMjx
135Please respect copyright.PENANAIo70fAmQnJ
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.
135Please respect copyright.PENANAtOdCGClo4m
135Please respect copyright.PENANAkzXPC8R9iI
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.
135Please respect copyright.PENANAGIGW4mYYj8
135Please respect copyright.PENANAXRiXzkEZii
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.
135Please respect copyright.PENANALTD6cVnXPG
135Please respect copyright.PENANAws8Xr4oeLK
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.
135Please respect copyright.PENANAHzDMxJoCJa
135Please respect copyright.PENANAwbU4TMOC1E
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
135Please respect copyright.PENANArqVJcmbBdw
135Please respect copyright.PENANAe6x9HUF8K7
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.
135Please respect copyright.PENANANiMyNegRYf
135Please respect copyright.PENANARDYqbCoEZf
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.
135Please respect copyright.PENANAfOLMyoIcFk
135Please respect copyright.PENANAA0LaIzB4Qe
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.
135Please respect copyright.PENANAGeWFAqdTbi
135Please respect copyright.PENANAK5C9KiTR7R
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.
135Please respect copyright.PENANAhQIO6tR919
135Please respect copyright.PENANAHJEymfvSH8
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.
135Please respect copyright.PENANAHb62eU3T6N
But there’s one upside. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAdBO0Q8UJ8H
135Please respect copyright.PENANA1b3JNCKo0E
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.
135Please respect copyright.PENANAoJKxIccoOP
135Please respect copyright.PENANADCMkzRttyf
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.
135Please respect copyright.PENANApaNQViAkUT
135Please respect copyright.PENANATMTf2OJ3K9
I’ll-
135Please respect copyright.PENANAtmerdXbRk8
*Knock*135Please respect copyright.PENANAtB45NSV8W7
*Knock*
135Please respect copyright.PENANAsfBSYTKQJI
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAinDurWyU51
135Please respect copyright.PENANAhKAbWglvC9
*Door Open*135Please respect copyright.PENANAaPoQzEDiH1
135Please respect copyright.PENANAo4DBOMiJWc
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
135Please respect copyright.PENANAFOOoLulBPu
135Please respect copyright.PENANApUrAbTTzNR
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
135Please respect copyright.PENANASh85TOytOs
135Please respect copyright.PENANARhH0NY1Xr5
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
135Please respect copyright.PENANA3Cxky60xCu
135Please respect copyright.PENANAGiz34IkOkj
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
135Please respect copyright.PENANAlkpsKrUWuP
135Please respect copyright.PENANAi3Y6kdqmEB
Nao: “Mom…”
135Please respect copyright.PENANAUyf9iTFbHX
135Please respect copyright.PENANAbgq1Ppp68U
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
135Please respect copyright.PENANAWqnTvtfq4r
135Please respect copyright.PENANAn1nyyBujRt
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.”
135Please respect copyright.PENANAhDaiCrLThl
135Please respect copyright.PENANAuLWIeX6roQ
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
135Please respect copyright.PENANA7jJhMX4XZ3
135Please respect copyright.PENANAlqfEFwwaQy
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.”
135Please respect copyright.PENANAsydRRQfUaR
135Please respect copyright.PENANAGr2AP7wBZV
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.”
135Please respect copyright.PENANA3IWwzH8cMD
135Please respect copyright.PENANAFUTK9b6iyV
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
135Please respect copyright.PENANAoBYGBBVATo
135Please respect copyright.PENANAtlCuc6AmBX
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
135Please respect copyright.PENANAn8iAZYTykA
135Please respect copyright.PENANAXw1S6O5MqQ
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.
135Please respect copyright.PENANAYAf9g5HkOy
135Please respect copyright.PENANAViyPlbAKaB
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.
135Please respect copyright.PENANAUiUzJYS6YA
135Please respect copyright.PENANA7sDa4vdBTP
Points: 0135Please respect copyright.PENANATi6QTJ9pwh
135Please respect copyright.PENANA58K3My6zby
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2135Please respect copyright.PENANAIqo7Nsb8E6
Strength: 27135Please respect copyright.PENANAcsx272eDMJ
Endurance: 31.5135Please respect copyright.PENANAaLArZQlEJn
Intelligence: 23.5135Please respect copyright.PENANA6jhqD2ywBD
Charisma: 21.5135Please respect copyright.PENANAccUMU0wp4s
Agility: 20.5135Please respect copyright.PENANAiA77KLX48R
Magic: 29135Please respect copyright.PENANAYLJADupzXj
135Please respect copyright.PENANAozuNqgtGZK
Spells:
Scan [Active]135Please respect copyright.PENANAoMs2w4HFrE
Minor Illusion [Active]135Please respect copyright.PENANAELb7KdxtvF
Shape Shift [Active]135Please respect copyright.PENANAmYDdSBU8BO
Magic Shield [Active]135Please respect copyright.PENANAkKRpL9L1YI