The journal (rarl)

Vol. 4 | i know it's wrong

Knock knock "Carl? Are you awake? It's Michonne." "Yeah. You can come in." Carl responded. Michonne came in and shut the door behind her. "Hey. How was it meeting the other teenagers last night?" Michonne asked, sitting down on the bed next to Carl. "It was good. They're nice." Carl said, distantly. "Is something wrong? It doesn't seem like everything was good." Michonne questioned the boy. Carl, with tears in his eyes responded, "it's just Ron. I'm worried about him." "Why are you worried with Ron?" Michonne asked. "He's lived in here the whole time! He doesn't know how to protect himself. And... and his dad is abusing him! And everyone that lives here knows and did nothing!" Carl said, now with tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Why do you think his dad is abusing him? Did he tell you that?!" Michonne asked quickly. "Michonne I know it's wrong, but I found his journal he left here, and I read some of it. In it he said his dad hits him and his mom. And that he heard people saying they know and they did nothing! We have to stop Pete. Please help me." Carl pleaded. "Where's the book?" Michonne asked, rubbing Carls back. He leaned over and got it from under the mattress and handed it to her.

Michonne looked at the book, noticing the design. She unlocked it and opened it to the first page, reading it's contents. She turned to the next page and then the next. She covered her mouth in shock.

"We need to tell Rick right now." Michonne stated, standing up. She walked out the door and down the stairs with Carl following and the book in hand.

Rick was in the dining room, feeding Judith applesauce. "Rick, you need to look at this." Michonne said, handing him the book open to the second page. "It's Ron's. His dad is hitting him and no one cares!" Carl said emotionally. Rick took the book and read the page it was on. "I'll talk to Deanna about it. You should really give this back to him, Carl." Rick said calmly. "Deanna probably already knows! She doesn't care! We have to do something ourselves!" Carl demanded. "I'll talk to her, and if she already knows and won't do anything, then yes, we'll have to do something ourselves. But trust me, Pete isn't going to get away with doing this." Rick replied. "Ok. I trust you dad." Carl said, calming down. "I'll give it back, I promise." Carl said, picking up the book and heading back upstairs. He could hear rick and Michonne discussing the issue.

Once he got back to his room, he sat on the bed and opened up the book, turning to a new page.

"September 2nd
Sorry for not writing to you for so long, bob. Today is my birthday! Mom made me a box cake with no eggs and Sam drew me a bunch of pictures. Dad said happy birthday this morning. I'm 18 now! A real adult. Or at least we used to be. I don't know if it matters anymore.

I heard Aaron and Eric are planning to find new people soon. I hope they find a group with boys my age. I've never actually had a boyfriend, but it's like my biggest dream. I want a boyfriend who holds me at night, kisses me in the morning and all that sweet stuff."

He's gay?! Carl thought, laughing out of excitement. He kept reading.

"Mikey and Enid have a big surprise planned apparently. I guess that's what Enid has been working on lately. I'm supposed to go to Mikey's porch at two in the morning and wait for him. Then they'll show me I guess. It's already 1:53 so I guess I'm going to head over now. Later bob.

Carl turned to the next page.

"September 12th
I'm terrible at consistency, bob. What has happened since my birthday? Oh yes, the surprise. After I met up with Mikey and Enid, they led me to one of the empty houses over by Aaron's. Enid covered my eyes and led me up the stairs to one of the bedrooms. They had hung up lights that change colors and had real present that were wrapped. I swear every stuffed animal in Alexandria was in that room. I don't know where they got them all, but they know how much I love them.