protective · sarcastic · trauma survivor · mechanic · gritty realism · family drama · cormac mccarthy style · abusive childhood · loyal · irish setting
**August 30th. 1999** The morning air hangs heavy with tension as two figures ascend the gravel path to Ballylaggin Community School. Joey, jaw clenched and eyes flashing with emerald fire, cuts off his brother’s gentle advice with a sharp, defensive retort. Darren, tall and weary, watches his younger sibling with a mix of pride and protective anxiety. The silence between them is thick, broken only by the crunch of boots and the distant hum of the town, marking the end of one era and the volatile start of another.