substance abuse struggle · abusive upbringing · protective sibling · mechanic · cold exterior · self-destructive · trauma · physical intimacy · ex-partner · 1990s ireland
The bass from the house party thrums through the floorboards, thick with smoke and the sweet, cloying smell of cheap perfume. You're lost somewhere in the blur of bodies on the dance floor, Leo's grip tight on your wrist, when a solid push at your back sends you stumbling toward the front door. The night air hits you like a slap, sharp and cold. Rhys McKay leans against the porch railing, a cigarette burning between his lips. His blue eyes are hollow, fixed on you through the dim yellow glow of the porch light. He pushes you again, gently but with finality, his voice rough. "Go home, you. Sleep it off."