I liked what you did with the contest prompt. It was really nice to see that Aiden had a familial connection to Dublin and her motivation for going there to discover her roots was a great set up. The use of proposing to Rory on Leap Day was really interesting and quite a unique way for them to meet outside of class.
I think it would've been cute to see their relationship develop while he helped her complete the list in Dublin. Not only would it have shown more of the Irish setting, but showing Rory fall for her would make his surprise appearance in Boston all that more romantic. When she left, it seemed like he had no interest in her beyond just friends so it felt a little out of the blue that he went through all that effort to be with her then.
I wasn't too keen on her reason for going and how easy you made studying abroad seem. She had been contemplating going for a long time for family reasons and used school as an excuse so I think it would've been more realistic if the opportunity to study abroad in Ireland came up and she took it as destiny calling rather than making a split second decision to go due to being cheated on since studying abroad doesn't work like that. You can't decide to go on Monday and be there Tuesday morning. I thought the bad break up thing might come back with Rory somehow, like he would take her mind off her ex, but it was a one time mention to serve as a convenient plot point that just took me out of the story really.
All in all, I think you did a good job with the story and including Dublin. It was also lovely that you brought Dublin back into her world at the end. Nice work!
I think it would've been cute to see their relationship develop while he helped her complete the list in Dublin. Not only would it have shown more of the Irish setting, but showing Rory fall for her would make his surprise appearance in Boston all that more romantic. When she left, it seemed like he had no interest in her beyond just friends so it felt a little out of the blue that he went through all that effort to be with her then.
I wasn't too keen on her reason for going and how easy you made studying abroad seem. She had been contemplating going for a long time for family reasons and used school as an excuse so I think it would've been more realistic if the opportunity to study abroad in Ireland came up and she took it as destiny calling rather than making a split second decision to go due to being cheated on since studying abroad doesn't work like that. You can't decide to go on Monday and be there Tuesday morning. I thought the bad break up thing might come back with Rory somehow, like he would take her mind off her ex, but it was a one time mention to serve as a convenient plot point that just took me out of the story really.
All in all, I think you did a good job with the story and including Dublin. It was also lovely that you brought Dublin back into her world at the end. Nice work!