A Year of Revision and Amour : Carl Gallagher

White boy Carl, out.

Carl Gallagher sat in the corner of his room, the faded sunlight filtering through the blinds. He was staring at himself in the mirror, his usual carefree expression replaced by a deep frown. The memories of the little boy, lifeless on the pavement, kept replaying in his mind. Nick's horrifying actions had left him more than just shaken; they'd cracked something open in him, revealing a side he'd been ignoring for too long.

The door creaked open, and Fiona walked in with a soft smile. She was holding a comb and some hair products, a small peace offering for the brother she knew was struggling. "Hey, Carl. Mind if I help with those cornrows? I thought a fresh start might be good."

Carl looked up at her, his eyes tired but grateful. "Yeah, sure. Thanks, Fi." He moved aside, letting her sit down beside him. As Fiona worked on undoing the tightly woven braids, Carl felt a small but significant weight lifting off his shoulders. Her touch was gentle, and each tug on his hair seemed to pull away some of the pain and confusion that had been building inside him.

"Got a lot on your mind, huh?" Fiona asked, her voice soft but steady.

Carl sighed deeply. "You could say that. Seeing what Nick did... it messed me up, Fiona. I don't want to live like this anymore. I don't want to be part of this world of violence and chaos."

Fiona nodded, her hands moving skillfully through his hair. "You don't have to be. You've got options, Carl. There's more to life than what you've been through."

As his cornrows came undone, Carl's hair fell around his face in a disheveled mess. Fiona brushed it out, giving him a new look that felt like a symbolic fresh start. Carl couldn't help but smile a little at the sight. It was a new beginning, one that felt right and true to who he wanted to become.

When Fiona finished, Carl looked at himself in the mirror with a renewed sense of determination. He didn't look like the same kid who'd been lost in the gang life; he looked like someone ready to make a change.

Fiona handed him a phone with a warm smile. "I know you've been trying to get in touch with Areum. Maybe now's a good time to reach out."

Carl took the phone and looked at the screen. He hadn't heard from Areum in a while, and every attempt to contact her had gone unanswered. He typed out a simple message: *Hey Areum, it's Carl. I know we haven't talked in a while, but I've been thinking about you. I'm trying to change things in my life, and I hope you're doing okay. Let me know if you want to talk.*

He hesitated before pressing send, his heart pounding. He missed Areum and the connection they had shared, even if it had been complicated. But now, more than ever, he needed to reach out.