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"Of course Leta co the kettle on, she says, "Why don’t you go wait forthere’s the best in the house"

"Okay" Her bathroom, attached to her bedroo her to stay in Ireland Perfect Grabbing my T-shirt, I head for the stairs "Let aze on , maybe? Or just curiosity I can’t tell

Five e of the toilet,out a dozen possible ways for this conversation to go "I’ to leave the butterfly clip on, where you tore those stitches," she warns, scrubbing her hands with soap under the running tap "That’ll need a few h" If you’re not here to do it forthe feel of her fingertips on s the threads out ofthis"

"Aengus was always the one re my stitches before Trust me, this is a treat"

"Why him?"

"Because he’s usually the reason why I needed the ht, because of hi the tiny bits of thread from her hand and into the rubbish "I’ve only ever seen shrapnel wounds in textbooks, but they looked a lot worse than these I think you’ll heal nicely" She traces the scars with her fingertips, so lightly that it sends shivers through my body Her voice thick with eotten what you did for ain A thousand ti her hands again, her head bowed

I stand and angle myself so I can see the reflection of my back in the mirror The three lines are puffy and pink, but they’re not too bad "I was really lucky You should seeelse He had pieces ofout of it for years after"

She’s quiet as she shuts the tap, then dries her hands "What happened to him, exactly?"

"A bomber attacked at a funeral" I recount the story I’ve heard countless tiainst the counter, the bottoh than not She peers up at me, not with that awestruck look that I loved so s of so Or maybe just acceptance of what I a to anyone in my family"

"It’s happened to mine A lot" God knows my brother will be added to the death toll if he keeps this up It ht, had A a smarter solution than the one I naturally reached "Thank you"

"It’s not a big deal They needed to come out"

"Not about that" I step in until I can smell the floral scent of her hair, feel the wisp of air from her exhales and the warin to race, see her throat bob up and down in a hard s I slide a finger beneath her chin and pull her face up to meet mine "Please stay" It just slips out I hadn’t intended to say it so bluntly, but now that I’ve said it, I don’t care I want to be only completely honest with her "Stay in Ireland Stay with lassy "I’ve known you for a week and you want ? Drop my entire life?"