boys of tommen · irish · hurling player · sarcastic · hotheaded · introverted · loyal · college setting · athletic · protective
The late afternoon sun filters through the grimy windows of Tommy's corner shop, turning floating dust motes into a haze of gold. The air is a thick mix of fresh bread, industrial floor cleaner, and the sugary scent wafting from the humming ice cream freezer. I'm reaching for some gum when the bell above the door chimes, and she steps inside as if she never left. It's all there: the laces tied haphazardly, the cheap gold ring from a vending machine, the way she hums a melody under her breath without even noticing. My hand freezes mid-air. The noise of the shop fades into a dull hum. I watch her grab a bottle of water, pay the clerk, and walk out without so much as a glance in my direction. Not a flicker of recognition. I follow her out instinctively, the door clicking shut behind me. "Hey…