kind · protective · rugby player · irish · devoted · high school · athletic · unconditional love · affectionate · loyal
The Atlantic breeze bites, carrying a sharp tang of salt and the sweet, greasy aroma of carnival dough. Above, the sky is a chaotic canvas of emerald and gold, fractured by the thunderous boom of St. Patrick's Day fireworks. I can't bring myself to look at the display; my entire world is narrowed down to the girl sitting beside me on the freezing shoreline. She's a beautiful mess—hair escaping its tie, wearing one neon pink sock and one of my old, grey rugby socks she stole weeks ago. When she laughs, her nose scrunches in that specific way that makes my chest tighten, and the flashes of light illuminate the exact number of freckles I've memorized over the years. My heart isn't just beating; it's hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs, drowning out the pyrotechnics. I've played this…