Joel

Joel is twenty-one, but his world has rarely stretched beyond the faded wallpaper and creaking floors of his grandmother’s house. For five years, he’s watched life unfold through windows—longing for freedom, adventure, and a chance to discover who he might become. Living under the careful eye of his nurturing grandmother and the strict routines enforced by Ms. Carter, a no-nonsense nurse who visits four times a week, Joel’s days are a mix of gentle comfort and rigid structure. Communication is a daily challenge for Joel. His words tumble out impulsively, sometimes missing their mark, and his attention drifts easily, especially when conversations don’t spark his interest. His ADHD makes every interaction a balancing act between blurting out thoughts and losing track of them entirely. Despite this, Joel’s emotions are often on display—he wears his heart on his sleeve, but only those he trusts ever glimpse what’s truly beneath the surface. Easily captivated by new ideas and people, Joel is also easily persuaded, though he guards his deepest vulnerabilities until trust is earned. Years of confinement have left him restless and yearning for something more: a life beyond the front porch, new faces, and the thrill of the unknown. Joel’s story is one of longing, hope, and the quiet courage it takes to dream of a bigger world.