I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXRr95U9gB
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmpReIzrql
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.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVH5KkMcOP
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljxPeE7imX
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.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnyUwX4lwX
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysOJsRRZu3
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.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nwsCjA81A
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SaXyYEfbr
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.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu82kcUPYv
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49zstDQmFM
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCVPs4DzPD
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz6qcNKl8H
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.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpy3aSiDBGy
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMyQIRoBN2
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.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEwrVjbo5v
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecovetjmdv
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.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32SDO4jWbR
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6FQN1bchd
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.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu63rxRACOb
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWuOC6HZol
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.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsBX6MADga
But there’s one upside. 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NcKgic20L
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnINo4maDWS
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.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZNHOywqN1
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz442KMhLA4
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.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv4Qjg5AMG
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafVTPMFSUV
I’ll-
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPM8wKZRNx
*Knock*556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoH4Hy8bOyy
*Knock*
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSLHyaRs9p
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Yf8NfcvMO
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuEAt5M86O
*Door Open*556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2QnDcNolF
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFDtlzCizx
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqVvsxUytj
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljd2QKjcsZ
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZkfFVJa13
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUScH22IxZ
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zRZkeORXh
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6lx88tQ4U
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SfY8zqCxA
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6b8LQBVY1
Nao: “Mom…”
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3BZkvS93C
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Xf7VU3iSe
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhd3ZQEKtHS
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlLLcUlmSc
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.”
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYTUXSqKcs
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lxVlK5Wk8
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2fCjzpiLF
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvX57NJAPI
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.”
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQbZDsa8vm
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ052IPO1POe
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.”
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCE0VNbWVRM
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JN3sfaihU
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfYyT3tINT
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXFDJ9ATvd
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJVtqXGp1t
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPmTgGHwJy
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.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhrJa4Hn8f
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwzrOv0YXZ
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.
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkzGSk0wZs
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWA0X6kTIh
Points: 0556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgojqePVDnq
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8y4mNWFyM
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1iw5rONQs
Strength: 27556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU07OVOwZBW
Endurance: 31.5556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSuayMMfup
Intelligence: 23.5556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1sgJQOIy7
Charisma: 21.5556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CVBZFQyut
Agility: 20.5556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvYD6NIWwC
Magic: 29556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHs5ZXBlkHD
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAthSOk3vW
Spells:
Scan [Active]556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzc8HfVTI9
Minor Illusion [Active]556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURv8HUOU5Y
Shape Shift [Active]556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO58q0Fr0j0
Magic Shield [Active]556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjp2enEIJlQ
and then Add to home screen.