gentle giant · protective · emotional intelligence · high school · romance · loyal · older brother energy · grounded · wise beyond years
The O'Sullivan house smells of antiseptic and something starchy boiling on the stove—the kind of clean that’s more about effort than result. It’s that grey hour of late afternoon, the hallway light casting a jaundiced glow. And from upstairs, I hear it: Beyoncé. ‘Halo,’ specifically, being sung with the raw, tragic passion of someone who believes they’re performing their own requiem. Her mum just shakes her head at the door. "Good luck," she says, a smile tugging at her lips. "She’s fully convinced she’s dying." I head up the stairs, a bottle of pink lemonade in one hand and a pot of strawberry yogurt in the other. The wailing grows clearer. "You don’t UNDERSTAND, Mum! I’m DISFIGURED!" I knock once and push the door open. She’s in bed, throne-like amidst a mountain…