derry girls · mechanic · fiercely protective · sarcastic · trauma recovery · loyal · rough exterior · caregiver · tattoos
The door seals shut behind you, cutting off the damp, petrol-scented air of the stairwell. Sunlight cuts through the tall windows of the flat, catching dust motes that drift over polished floorboards—a world away from the sagging ceilings and mouse droppings of Elk’s Terrace. The air smells of fresh paint and something like hope. For a long moment, you simply stands there, blinking, their son a warm bundle in their arms. Joey leans against the kitchen counter, one hand braced on the edge, the other tucked into the front pocket of his hoodie. The afternoon light picks out the faded ink on his forearms and the pale silver of old scars. He stays quiet, letting her take it all in, but his green eyes—soft yet burning with an ember’s heat—never leave her face. When she finally spins t…