A Year in Juvenile Detention : Carl Gallagher

Kyle

It was during a rare moment of relative calm in the common area when it happened. Carl was sitting with Areum, trying to make her laugh with one of his ridiculous stories, when a voice cut through the air like a knife.

"Hey, Gallagher! Heard your girl here's been a real mess lately. You can't even keep your own crew in check?"

Carl turned to see Kyle, a lanky, sneering kid who always seemed to be spoiling for a fight. He was surrounded by a few of his cronies, their expressions a mix of amusement and malice. Carl's blood boiled instantly. He could handle insults thrown at him, but dragging Areum into it? That was crossing a line.

"Shut your mouth, Kyle," Carl growled, standing up. He felt Areum's hand on his arm, trying to pull him back, but he was too far gone.

"Oh, did I hit a nerve?" Kyle taunted, stepping closer. "Maybe you should keep your girl on a tighter leash."

Carl's vision went red. "I said, shut your mouth!" he shouted, shoving Kyle hard. The room fell silent, all eyes on the brewing conflict.

Kyle stumbled back but quickly regained his footing, a nasty grin spreading across his face. "Looks like Gallagher wants to play. Let's see if he's as tough as he thinks he is."

Before Carl could react, Kyle swung at him, his fist connecting with Carl's jaw. The pain was sharp and immediate, but it only fueled Carl's rage. He lunged at Kyle, tackling him to the ground. The two of them rolled across the floor, trading punches and grappling for dominance.

Carl barely registered the shouts and cries of the other inmates, his focus entirely on Kyle. He landed a solid punch to Kyle's gut, eliciting a satisfying grunt of pain. But Kyle fought back fiercely, scratching and clawing at Carl's face.

"Break it up! Break it up!" the guards yelled, rushing into the fray. It took two of them to pull Carl off Kyle, who was gasping for breath and clutching his side. Carl struggled against their grip, still seething with anger.

"Let me go!" he shouted, but the guards held firm, dragging him away from the scene.

"Calm down, Gallagher!" one of the guards barked. "You're going to solitary for this!"

Carl thrashed in their grip, his fury still burning. But as he was pulled away, he caught a glimpse of Areum, her face pale and eyes wide with shock. The sight of her, so scared and vulnerable, cut through his anger like a knife. He stopped struggling, allowing the guards to haul him off to solitary confinement.

The cell was small and dimly lit, the silence oppressive. Carl paced back and forth, his knuckles bruised and bleeding. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving behind a throbbing ache and a heavy sense of regret. He knew he had screwed up, big time. But the worst part was the look on Areum's face. He had promised to help her, to be there for her, and now he had let her down.

Hours passed in solitude, each minute stretching into eternity. Carl's mind raced, replaying the fight over and over. He hated Kyle, hated the way he had pushed all the right buttons. But most of all, he hated himself for losing control.

When he was finally released, the guards escorted him back to his cell block with a stern warning. "One more stunt like that, Gallagher, and you're looking at extra time," they told him. Carl nodded numbly, too drained to argue.

As he walked back to his cell, he spotted Areum waiting outside, her expression a mix of anger and concern. "What the hell were you thinking, Carl?" she demanded as soon as he was within earshot.

"I wasn't," he admitted, his voice hoarse. "I just... I couldn't stand him talking about you like that."

Areum's eyes softened, but only slightly. "You need to control your temper. This place is bad enough without you getting into fights and making things worse."

"I know," Carl said, his shoulders slumping. "I'm sorry. I just... I lost it."

She sighed, shaking her head. "Look, I get it. But you need to stay out of trouble. For your sake, and for mine."

Carl looked at her, the weight of her words sinking in. He nodded slowly. "I'll try. For you, I'll try."