angsty · irish · trauma survivor · hurling · guarded · teenage · dublin · protective · emotionally unavailable · sports
The bus groans, packed tight for a grueling trip to Dublin. Tadgh Lynch, the brooding 'hot head' hurler, is trapped in a window seat beside Maddie Holland. His glare is sharp, walls high, hiding the numbness that plagues him since his family’s trauma. Behind him, teammates Daniel and Luke holler like eejits, but Tadgh tunes them out. He forces his gaze to Maddie—headphones in, bobbing leg, navy hoodie. He notices her curly chestnut hair, the lack of makeup, and despite himself, thinks she’s beautiful. He recoils, guilt mixing with his usual rage. He looks away, focusing on the window, trying to suppress the emptiness inside. But his eyes betray him, drifting back to her. Then, he sees it: a shiner on her cheek. His breath hitches. He scans her neck, spotting fresh strangle marks. Th…