A Year of Revision and Amour : Carl Gallagher

Another day of Carl.

It was a typical morning for him—late, loud, and chaotic. He rolled out of bed, quickly threw on his baggy jeans and a hoodie, and grabbed his phone from the nightstand. As he checked the time, he realized he was running late for school.

In the kitchen, his dad Frank was still passed out on the couch, a half-empty bottle of whiskey on the coffee table. Carl barely acknowledged him as he grabbed a granola bar and headed out the door. The streets were already buzzing with activity as Carl made his way to school.

First period was a blur of lectures and scribbled notes. Carl wasn't paying much attention. He was more interested in the text he was planning to send Dominique after class. They had a date later that evening, and he was looking forward to it. The thought of her smile and the excitement of their plans made him more alert than any teacher could.

Between classes, Carl met up with his crew in the school parking lot. They were standing around their usual spot, talking business and making deals. Carl was in the middle of negotiating with one of his regulars when he saw Dominique approaching. She walked with a confident stride, her eyes catching his from across the lot. Carl's face lit up when he saw her.

"Hey, Dom," he greeted her with a grin. "You ready for tonight?"

Dominique returned his smile with equal enthusiasm. "Absolutely. I've been looking forward to it all day."

Carl introduced Dominique to his friends, and they chatted for a bit before he had to head back to class. As the day wore on, Carl's mind kept drifting back to his side business. Selling drugs had become a regular part of his routine, and he was good at it. His gang had its fingers in many pies, and he was often juggling multiple deals at once.

After school, Carl met up with his crew again. They moved quickly, setting up a small meeting spot in an alley where Carl conducted business. He made a few quick sales, handed off some cash, and dealt with the usual suspects. It was all in a day's work for him, and he did it with a practiced ease that belied the danger involved.

As the sun began to set, Carl finished up his dealings and headed to the diner to meet Dominique. They had become a regular couple, hanging out there after school and on weekends. The diner was Carl's favorite spot, not just for the food, but for the sense of normalcy it offered amidst his chaotic life.

Dominique was already there when Carl arrived, and he slid into the booth across from her. They ordered their usual—milkshakes, fries, and burgers—and spent the next few hours laughing and enjoying each other's company. Dominique's presence was a welcome break from Carl's hectic lifestyle, and he cherished their time together.

After dinner, Carl suggested they take a drive around the city. They cruised through the streets, with Dominique beside him and the city lights flashing by. The car was filled with their conversation and laughter, a sharp contrast to the darker aspects of Carl's life.

Eventually, they pulled over to a quieter spot where they could talk without the hustle and bustle of the city around them. Carl reached over and took Dominique's hand, feeling a sense of contentment that was rare for him. It was moments like these that made him forget about the drugs and gang life, even if only for a little while.

Later that night, Carl drove Dominique back home and said his goodbyes. As he headed back to his own neighborhood, he couldn't shake the feeling that his life was a juggling act. On one side, there was Dominique, the girlfriend who brought light and laughter into his life. On the other, there was his gang lifestyle, filled with danger and the constant hustle of selling drugs.

Back home, Carl's dad was still passed out on the couch. Carl navigated around him, heading to his room. He checked his phone one last time before bed, seeing a few messages from his crew about tomorrow's deals. As he put his phone down, he thought briefly about Areum. The memories were fading, but he still had a faint recollection of their time together. .