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“Jean Paul Gaultier,” Mam replied, pushing the door of my room inward. “Same as I always wear.”

“It’s a good smell,” I agreed, nodding to myself as Mam dragged me back into my room.

“I’m glad you approve.” Mam chuckled.

“What am I supposed to do now?” I frowned at my bed, watching through a blurred haze as my mother pulled back the sheets and patted the mattress. “Sleep?”

“Yes, you’re supposed to go to sleep, love,” Mam encouraged, tone coaxing. “Everything will be a lot clearer in the morning.”

I scrunched my nose up. “I’m hungry.”

“Go to sleep, Jonathan.”

“I don’t like Dublin anymore,” I grumbled, flopping back onto my bed. “They’re starving me to death in this place.” I closed my eyes, body sinking deep into the mattress. “And all the bleeding drugs.”

I felt the covers being draped over my body once more and then a soft kiss on my forehead. “Go to sleep, love.”

“Father,” I mumbled, drifting off. “I hate that word.”

3

Keep Breathing

Shannon

“Shan, can you hear me?”

Joey?

“I’m right here.”

I can’t see you.

I felt a hand slip into mine. “Just stay with me, okay?”

I’m scared.

“Please don’t leave me.”

I don’t want to.

“We’re nearly there, Shan.”

Nearly where?

“Just keep breathing, okay?”

Don’t let me die here, Joey.

“Is she breathing? Aoife—is she breathing, baby?”

Please…

“I don’t know, Joe… There’s a lot of blood.”

Help me!

“Just help her…” Sobs. “Make her fucking breathe!”

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