NAVIGATING 5 - tadgh lynch

11 - Tadhg

5th class

13th March, 2004

"What are you talking about Tiger? I'm terrified for secondary!" Annalise announced, squealing and moving out of the way to sit next to Lilibeth when she almost got hit with the ball me and Oisin were kicking back and forth.
"Yeah, but we get to meet new people, and we actually get to learn stuff. Ms. Garland has been giving me sixth class work since September and it's still so boring." That's my Lils. Probably the biggest people person I know, along with being the biggest swot. But she makes it work. She's not the kind to tell anyone everyone's business, just because she can, and she never rubs her knowledge in peoples faces. I tolerate a solid of 3 girls, and she's on the top of that list. Even Joey likes her, and that's saying a lot. Joey's picky if I've ever seen it. 
"Er, Who's that?" Oisin breaks my thought, and turns my attention to a man approaching us. Not any man. My father? What's he doing in my school? But there's loads of him, surrounding us in a circle. I blink and all of them circle the girls. No, not the girls. My girl. But Lilibeth's Shannon now, curled up in a ball while the dozens of figures of my father kick her relentlessly. And I'm stuck, unmoving. Just like that day, when I could've helped her.

Help her Tadhg. 

Why wont you help her?

Present

23rd April, 2005. 

I sat up in bed, sweat slicking my face, neck, chest and hands. Ollie was standing next to me, looking panicked. It was just a dream Tadhg. Just a dream. But it's not. Shannon is only back from hospital less than a week, and he's still lurking. Shan thinks he's run away to one of his friends in Waterford. She's been telling me things, treating me like I'm not a child anymore. Even now that Joey's back. She said Shane Holland dumped him into the middle of the road, when he was drunk and high off his head. It's better this way, me having Shan. The best it will be until Darren gets that stick out of his arse and realizes I'm a child and I miss my friends. But that's not going to happen anytime soon, because my 'brother' is a fucking prick, and even if I make it out that I'm not scared of him, I haven't really asked to go anywhere other then training. I start school this Monday anyway, and Lilibeth has somehow convinced me to take part in our leavers play and shit. Sometimes I forget I'm only twelve, because I might be wrong, but no child my age should have the constant urge to protect their little brothers and sisters when our older brother isn't there instead. Protect them from the punches my father throws. Protect them from the lies that spill so easily from my oldest brothers mouth. On top of that, the pressure to be the best. From my teacher and my coaches. From myself. My life is a cruel thing, my mind a cruel place, and the only reason I put up with it, is partially to protect someone else from filling my shoes, but mostly so I don't spend God knows how long in the afterlife without her. My Tiger.

Filler chapter!!!!!! I kind of hate it but oh welllllllll because I want to do the next chapter in Lils pov but i didnt want to leave yous without an update of our warrior 🤪🤪 anyway. as always, love ya loads xx