Two teenagers are killed in a tragic vehicular homicide one night in Texas. Should the 19-year-old drunk driver plead guilty? If so, how long a prison sentence would await him? This nonfiction narrative follows his painful journey, as well as those of his victims' families. Is it possible for victims of violent crime to confront criminals face-to-face? Eventually, the young prisoner becomes involved in some of the first victim-offender dialogues in the country and discovers restorative justice. This true story, both sobering and hopeful, will touch teenagers, teachers, parents, counselors, and professionals in the field. There is a Balm in Huntsville gives hope to all who are confronted by misfortune. T. Carlos Anderson  is a writer, blogger, and speaker living in Austin, Texas. He has served 30 years as a bilingual community leader with a special focus on social and economic inequalities. There Is a Balm in Huntsville A True Story of Tragedy and Restoration From the Heart of the Texas Prison System By T. Carlos Anderson Walnut Street Books Copyright © 2018 T. Carlos Anderson All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-947597-10-5 Contents List of Characters and Acronyms, Part I — The Road to Huntsville, Part II — An Open Letter, Part III — Face to Face in Texas, Part IV — More Letters, Part V — Balm, Part VI — Reunion, Epilogue 1 — Andrew and Krista, Epilogue 2 — Others, Epilogue 3 — Author's Note, Acknowledgments, Notes, About the Author, CHAPTER 1 Andrew staggers into the dark apartment. He pauses, catches his breath, and tries to elbow the door shut. A second try produces a clumsy slam. He fumbles at a light switch and gets it to work. The sudden bright light dizzies him as he tries to focus on the kitchen clock — is it really 4:00 a.m.? This isn't the first time he's come home drunk and unreliable. The previous year — his senior year of high school — he stopped going to class as fishing and drinking trumped biology and geometry. A smart kid, he still passed his tests, but the high school required class attendance for graduation. He dropped out. With no studies to worry about, he stepped up his drinking. This late night out with buddies is no different than the last six weeks of nights. He shakes his head to clear it. From the kitchen he trudges to the hallway that leads to the bedroom he shares with his girlfriend Krista. She tries to sleep amid his commotion and the dread that prowls about in her mind. Yanking off the top blanket where Krista lies, Andrew drags it to the living room. He crashes on the couch and sleeps the few hours before daylight. The sun will rise at 6:32 a.m. this Saturday morning in Austin, Texas. The temperature will climb to 91 degrees. The sun will set at 9:04 p.m., giving way to a night sky speckled with clouds underneath a nearly full moon. But none of this matters to Andrew, lying face-down on the couch. He has no inkling that this date — June 29, 1996 — will indelibly mark the rest of his life, precisely at 10:41 p.m. As if a tattoo carved by the angel of death, this branding will scar and inflict many others as well. * * * "Hey, get up! It's time to go. We've got to do this today," Krista demands while kicking the couch where Andrew has crashed as if comatose. She has an appointment at a clinic for 10:00 a.m. Last evening when she got home to their apartment, her entering call — "Hey, I'm here" — fell empty with no response. While Andrew was out with his buddies, she spent the evening alone, nervous and apprehensive about the next day and what it would bring. This morning at the clinic, a doctor will administer pain medication to Krista. Someone will have to drive her there and bring her back home. Andrew promised to do at least that much. Krista is almost three months pregnant. Neither of them has slept very well in the six weeks since they discovered their unplanned pregnancy. They don't know what to do. High school sweethearts, they've been together for the better part of four years. Krista, at twenty, is a year older than Andrew. Could they raise a child responsibly? With this dilemma ever-present in her mind, Krista occasionally steals glances at him. She's looked into his deep brown eyes many times to catch a glimpse of his sweet soul. But in the last few months, eye contact has been rare between the quiet blonde and the guy who drinks too much and can't keep a decent job. Toward the end of Krista's last year in high school, they promised each other that they'd marry and have a family. Krista was the good girl and Andrew the bad boy rebel. Together they had so much fun: hiking trips, swimming in rivers, hunting — things Krista never would have done on her own. Andrew bought Krista a gold ring with an emerald stone, and when things were good they told their friends they were engaged. After graduating from high school, Krista moved to San Antonio to attend college with the goal of becoming a forensic scientist. She and Andrew, though,