A Year in Juvenile Detention : Carl Gallagher

US

One afternoon, they were sitting under a tree in the yard, the sun filtering through the leaves and casting dappled shadows on the ground. Carl was leaning back, tossing a small pebble into the grass while Areum doodled in her notebook, trying to capture the moment.

"What are you drawing?" Carl asked, peeking over her shoulder.

"Just some sketches," she replied, trying to hide the page. "Nothing special."

"Come on, let me see!" he insisted, playfully nudging her arm.

She hesitated but finally flipped the notebook around to show him a series of rough sketches of trees and clouds, along with some of the other inmates engaged in their daily activities.

"Wow, these are good!" he exclaimed, genuinely impressed. "You've got talent. You should draw me next."

"Maybe I will," Areum replied, feeling a warmth spreading through her cheeks.

"Just make sure I look tough and cool," Carl joked, flexing his arms dramatically.

"Sure, because you totally don't look like a dork right now," Areum teased back, giggling.

Their laughter faded into comfortable silence, and for a moment, everything felt perfect. But in the back of her mind, Areum felt a nagging anxiety. She had started to fall for Carl, and that thought both thrilled and terrified her. What if he didn't feel the same way? What if the world outside pulled them apart again?

Carl seemed to sense her shift in mood. "Hey," he said softly, "you okay? You look like you're a million miles away."

Areum took a deep breath, deciding to be honest. "I guess I'm just thinking about life after this place. I'm scared, Carl. What if I go back to being the same person I was?"

"Don't think like that," he said, his voice steady and reassuring. "You've changed so much already. You're not that girl anymore. You're stronger than you realize."

"Am I?" she asked, uncertainty creeping into her voice. "I don't want to go back to being angry and lost. I want to keep moving forward, but I'm scared I won't be able to."

"You will," Carl insisted, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race. "We'll both figure it out. You've got me, and I'm not going anywhere."

His words made her heart swell. "You promise?"

"Promise," he replied, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile. "And when you get out, I'll be right there, cheering you on. Maybe even taking you out for some ice cream."

Areum chuckled, feeling lighter at the thought. "I think I'd like that."

A few days later, during a group therapy session, the topic of discussion shifted to relationships. Areum sat quietly, listening as others shared their experiences and struggles with love and connection. When it was her turn, she felt her heart pound in her chest.

"I... I've been thinking a lot about someone," she began, glancing at Carl, who sat across the circle. "He's been there for me, and he's really helped me through some tough times. But I'm scared to let myself feel something for him."

The counselor nodded, encouraging her to continue. "What's holding you back?"

"Just... I guess the fear of getting hurt again. I've spent so long building walls around myself, and I'm not sure I can let them down," Areum admitted, her voice trembling slightly.

"That's perfectly normal," the counselor said. "Taking risks in relationships is scary, but it's also part of growth. What's the worst that could happen if you let yourself feel?"

Areum hesitated, her mind racing. She thought about the potential heartache, the possibility of rejection. But she also thought about Carl—the way he made her laugh, the way he listened, the way he fought for her.

"The worst that could happen is I get hurt," she finally replied. "But maybe... maybe the best thing that could happen is I find someone who understands me."

"That's the spirit," the counselor encouraged. "Sometimes, taking risks can lead to the most rewarding experiences."

Areum felt the weight of those words settle deep within her. Perhaps it was time to confront her feelings for Carl. The thought both excited and terrified her.

Later that evening, Carl and Areum found themselves alone in the common area again, sitting on a bench in the corner. Areum could feel her heart racing as she prepared to say what had been on her mind.

"Hey, Carl," she began, her voice steady but soft. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, shoot," he replied, looking at her with that familiar warmth in his eyes.

"Do you ever think about... us?" Areum asked, her heart pounding.

Carl looked surprised, his expression shifting as he considered her words. "Us? What do you mean?"

"I mean, do you think about what happens after we get out of here? About being together?" she clarified, her voice barely above a whisper.

His gaze intensified, and she could see the gears turning in his mind. "Yeah, I've thought about it," he admitted, his voice low. "Honestly, I don't want to lose what we have. I like you, Areum. More than I probably should."

A rush of relief flooded through her. "You really do?"

"Yeah," he said, his expression serious. "I care about you, and I want to be there for you. But I also don't want to pressure you. If you're not ready—"

"No, I am," she interrupted, the words spilling out before she could stop them. "I am ready. I want to be with you, Carl. I really like you."

A smile broke across his face, and in that moment, everything felt right. "Areum, you have no idea how happy that makes me."

The tension between them shifted, and suddenly, the air felt electric. Areum could feel the butterflies in her stomach fluttering wildly. She leaned closer, her heart racing as Carl did the same.

"Can I... can I kiss you?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Areum nodded, her breath hitching in her throat. And then, in a heartbeat, their lips met—a soft, tentative kiss that quickly deepened into something sweeter. It was a kiss filled with promise, a kiss that shattered the walls they had both built around their hearts.

As they pulled away, breathless and smiling, Areum felt lighter than she had in months. In that moment, surrounded by the chaos of juvie, she knew she had taken a leap of faith—and it felt exhilarating. She had opened herself up to love, and it felt right.

"Wow," Carl said, grinning from ear to ear. "That was definitely worth the wait."

Areum laughed, her heart soaring. "Yeah, it really was."