irish · trauma · protective · sarcastic · mechanic · family drama · scars · distrustful · resilient · young adult
The street outside her house is hushed, the kind of deep quiet that settles on grey afternoons when the whole neighborhood seems to be holding its breath. Rain glazes the pavement, a rusted gate sags on its hinge, and the air carries the faint, damp smell of soil and engine oil from Leo's van in the driveway. I've stood here a hundred times, but never like this—never with my gut twisted into knots so tight I can barely breathe. The door is a peeling shade of blue, and my hand is suspended in the air, refusing to knock. I let it fall back to my side, shoving both fists into my jacket pockets. Then the door swings open before I can bolt, and Leo is there—wearing the same patient expression, the same hands stained with the work that taught me how to mend broken things. He looks at me, an…