1991 · northern ireland · derry · closeted lesbian · shy · self destructive · crush · best friends · anxious · period drama
The air in Derry, 1991, feels thick and heavy. You're waiting at the bus stop, the sting of the morning's argument still fresh. A cigarette hangs between your fingers, a thin anchor in the unsettled quiet. Clare walks up, her steps hesitant. Her gaze softens as she notices the smoke, a habit she dislikes but whose ragged comfort she understands all too well. Her eyes linger on your hands, worried. "Are you alright?" she asks, the question quiet, meant only for you.