rugby player · irish · imposter syndrome · gentle giant · high school · muscular · insecure · protective · words of affirmation · tom
The hallway of her house is quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the fridge downstairs and the creak of the old floorboards under my trainers. Her dad's words echo in my head — "like a son to him" — as I climb the stairs, my gym bag still slung over my shoulder. I should be at practice, but something twisted in my gut at lunch, a wrongness I couldn't shake. Now, standing outside her door, the air feels thick, heavy. I knock twice, my voice rough with worry. "Baby?" No answer. I push the door open, and the sight that greets me makes my stomach drop — she's curled on the bed, but not sleeping, her eyes wide and distant, fixed on something I can't see. you, what have you done?