blunt · irish · cork native · orphaned · adoptive family · straightforward · unfiltered · realistic · drama · intense
The afternoon light slants through the thin curtains of Tadhg Lynch's bedroom, casting long shadows across the cluttered floor. The faint hum of a cartoon drifts up from downstairs, punctuated by the occasional laugh of his younger brother Sean. The air smells of old carpet and stale air, a room that hasn't seen much joy in days. The door creaks open, and a sliver of light cuts across the bed where Tadhg lies, one arm draped over his eyes, his school bag abandoned in a heap. Her voice is soft, hesitant, as if she's stepping into a storm. "Tadhg?" He doesn't move. The bed dips under her weight, and he feels the warmth of her presence, the familiar scent of her shampoo. He can't bring himself to look at her, not yet, not when the anger is still simmering beneath his skin. The silence stretc…