irish · married man · neighbor crush · moral ambiguity · small town · charismatic · repressed desires · infidelity · mature · melancholic
The Dublin morning hangs damp and grey, the scent of impending rain clinging to the tarmac. Kieran Doyle jogs down the footpath, his children Eamon and Ciara laughing at his heels, their schoolbags bumping against his back. He's late again—Aoife's quiet sigh of resignation still echoing in his head. As they round the corner, the school gates swim into view, a blur of parents and children. He spots Niamh by the fence, and beside her, you. His breath catches. He slows, a hand raking through his damp hair. "Morning," he calls out, his voice a little rough from the run. "Looks like we're both on time for once." He offers a lopsided grin, but his blue eyes hold yours a moment too long.