Embarrassed, I stop talking and he steps closer to me. He folds his arms around my shoulders and then he pulls me into him gently. I go, and it feels right to be in his arms. He comforts me, and when I move away from him, I actually do feel better.
" Let's get something to eat. Are you hungry?"
" I know this nice place in the village," I suggest uncertainly.
He takes my hand into his and silently we walk back toward the village. We turn away from the river and walk up a steep road, which will bring us into the centre of town. As we walk past the shops, I tell him where he can buy the best bread rolls, the latest CD's, and rent the cheapest DVD's.
As we walk past the old tower and broken down archway, which used to be the entrance into Drogheda, a very long time ago, I see a shadow swoop toward me from the corner of my eye. I flinch when it looks as if it is going to crash into me. Looking in the direction of the ruins, I see nothing that could have caused me to cringe. I could have sworn there was a darkness that crossed across my peripheral vision.
Feeling unexpected apprehension, I let go of his hand and start to cross the quiet road. "Let's walk on the other side."
He starts to follow me and then I see a car roaring toward me. It speeds at me. Everything around me slows down.
I hear Kieran scream, "No. Heather." His voice sounds far away as if I am in a void of emptiness. He grabs me around my waist and twists me around, away from the car.
My legs twirl awkwardly through the air in front of me. I hear the screeching of tires on black-top. I feel the impact of the car, the scrunching of metal. I feel the strength and tautness in his muscles as he braces himself against the force of the car hitting into him. I feel a blast of wind in my face as a dark gloominess wash over me. It lifts my hair away from my face and takes a breath with it.
Then everything speeds up again and the surrounding noises seem too loud all of a sudden, it shudders into me. I feel Kieran's arms still wrapped around me tightly and I twist around anxiously.
A young man climbs hurriedly from the driver side of the car. It looks as if he just got his driver's license, he must have turned eighteen only a month ago. He screams worriedly, "Are ye all right? I am so sorry. I did not see ye there."