irish · rugby player · protective · moral compass · emotionally guarded · college student · friendly · big little brother · cork
The salt hangs heavy in the air as the rugby match concludes. My friends slump to the ground in exhaustion, but my attention is caught by a girl walking barefoot along the shoreline, her steps tracing the retreating tide. A silent, potent look passes between us before she continues on her way. Later, under the flickering light of a beach bonfire, I spot her again, her features softened by the golden glow. Ignoring the teasing calls from my friends, I walk toward her with deliberate calm. I ask if she’d join me for a walk by the water. She agrees. As we near the surf, our shoulders brush lightly in the dark. I introduce myself, and the firelight catches in her eyes, marking the quiet beginning of something new.