
Prison journalism: Finding true love in prisonThe chaos of prison can interrupt love, but not defeat it.
by Prison Journalism Project
23-06-2023 13:51
in Prison Journalism
Finding love in prison. Image: Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels
Prison Journalism Project trains incarcerated writers to become journalists and publishes their stories. Subscribe to Inside Story to receive exclusive behind-the-scene looks at our best stories, as well as author profiles and other insights.
--
Going to prison can be tough on relationships. Unconditional love is meant to withstand all the peaks, perils and tribulations that occur in our lives, but can the love of one spouse survive the overwhelming test of time while the other spouse endures the mental agony of prison confinement?
I have spent most of my life on a quest to find the one. I have been very fortunate to date incredible men, but I just could not get to the point in the relationship where I could commit to marriage. Over the years, I would meet someone and grow attached to them, but then something like a job opportunity would come along which would sever the relationship. Then, in November 2014, I met Jose.
When I first met Jose, I thought he was very handsome. I was shy, but not too shy to get his phone number. I did not call him on Thanksgiving, when I invited him to share dinner with me. I did not see him again until my birthday a month later. We even spent Christmas and New Year's Day together. Our friendship ended in January over an argument about his arrogant and rude attitude. I thought it was the end of our simple friendship.
--
During the following spring break, he reached out to me, and we reconciled our differences. We went out to eat, and we realized an attraction to one another that grew into something more. We spent more and more intimate time together.
I finally found what I was looking for in a partner. I was on top of the world. My career was rising through the corporate ranks. I was making a great salary, and I was in a very serious, phenomenal relationship. I was looking forward to married life.
Then, on Sept. 11, 2015, my life changed forever. I was arrested, my relationship with Jose ended, and for the next 15 months, I was incarcerated in the Maricopa County Jail and the Arizona Department of Corrections.
--
I felt I would never find love like Jose again when I entered the Arizona State Prison Complex Eyman - Cook Unit a year later.
On my first day, as I entered Building 7, the assigned building where I would live, I bumped into Chad. He was the tallest dude on the yard standing at 6 feet 7 inches.This sandy brown-haired pretty boy had an aggressive attitude to match his ironclad stature.
ALSO READ: Prison journalism: From father and son to strangers
Watch where you're going! he said sharply. No matter how hard I tried to steer clear of this dude, I couldn't seem to avoid him.
I would see him during my workouts with Jeremy, my best friend on the yard. I could not help but observe him as he also worked out - it's very hard not to notice a mega-giant doing burpees on the recreation field. Although I was unaware at the time, I think it seemed as though I was challenging Chad's image. Months went by and so did his patience.
I was released the following week, but I was eager to find out what his issue with me was, so I wrote to my friend Jeremy and included a letter to Chad.
Two weeks later, I received a letter from Chad. He wrote that he never had an issue with me, and we reconciled our differences.
ALSO READ: Prison Journalism: My first two days in Pollsmoor Prison
Over the next year until his release, we must have written almost 50 times to each other. Our friendship grew with every letter. In February 2018, we dated for two weeks before we broke up on Valentine's Day. I never spoke to him again. Memories of Chad faded.
I ended up back at prison and returned back to the Cook Unit where Chad and I had met in September, 2020. Mostly everyone I once knew was gone, including my best friend Jeremy. But during a conversation I overheard, my neighbor made a comment about a guy who just left after a fight with two other inmates. His name was Chad.
I confirmed who they were talking about and it was, in fact, the same person I hoped it would be.
Unfortunately, he was transferred to solitary confinement in the Hole. I could not contact him. I made every effort to get information to him that I was back at Cook Unit.
ALSO READ: Prison journalism: I am a total jigsaw puzzle
Right before Christmas, I was able to get a Christmas card sent to him and regain our lost friendship. To this day, we continue to write to one another. We hope to continue a solid relationship and see where it will go from there. We take each day and every letter as a blessing.
I feel like I have been given a second chance at love. Despite every obstacle, we could not be kept apart. If we can work together to keep our relationship strong through adversity and time, I know we will both be victorious in finding true love.
Chad is also working to help me find Jeremy. One day, I hope we will all be reunited.
Disclaimer: The views in this article are those of the author. Prison Journalism Project has verified the writer's identity and basic facts such as the names of institutions mentioned.
Written by: Chasty Nova Hicks
Do you have any question you would like to ask our prison journalists, WhatsApp us on 060 011 0211
Do you have contact with a prison inmate who would like to write for The South African website?
If so, send an email to info@thesouthafrican.com or a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211
You can also follow @TheSAnews on Twitter and The South African on Facebook to get the latest prisoner journalism articles.
Are you a true House of Zwide' soapie superfan? ENTER our soapie quiz and WIN
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
27/06/2026
There's no doubt that you've seen the world through Amy Vincent's ey...
27/06/2026
Brings together saturation & lo-fi effects
Following on from the release of their Voxcraft vocal-processing plug-in, UJAM have announced the launch of Retro...
27/06/2026
A record 4.84 million Australians choose SBS as the Socceroos advance at FIFA Wo...
27/06/2026
Why CRAS Upgraded to Symphony I/O MK II When an audio school runs studios all day, every day, gear doesn't just need to sound good , it needs to survive rea...
27/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
27/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
27/06/2026
Krotos Video to Sound Plugin Now Available for Adobe Premiere Pro
Brie Clayton June 26, 2026
0 Comments
Editors can analyze footage, generate synchron...
27/06/2026
Mirai Media Elevates Digital and Broadcast Productions with Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton June 26, 2026
0 Comments
Studio uses Ultimatte 12 HD and Po...
27/06/2026
DURHAM, N.C. - JUNE 26, 2026 - Lutra Cafe & Bakery has opened its first brick-and-mortar location at American Tobacco Campus after owner Chris McLaurin operated...
26/06/2026
In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...
26/06/2026
Strike Fighter League (SFL), a professional air combat digital sport combining f...
26/06/2026
Wisycom has announced three new additions to its professional wireless ecosystem...
26/06/2026
Eurovision Services inaugurated an expanded Master Control Room (MCR) in Madrid on June 1, 2026, building on a broadcast hub the company has operated in the cit...
26/06/2026
Midco Sports and the University of North Dakota (UND) have announced a two-year ...
26/06/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D) and VuWall, both part of the Panoptec Technologies Group, have appointed Vutec (Pty) Ltd as exclusive distributor for their KVM and ...
26/06/2026
Visit Seattle, the official destination marketing organization for Seattle and King County, has launched what it describes as the world's first drone scoreb...
26/06/2026
CP Communications provided RF video, audio, and crew communications support for ...
26/06/2026
Produced by longtime partner Echo Entertainment, the action-sports property is now a team-based year-round league
The inaugural season of the MoonPay X Games L...
26/06/2026
The deal establishes MultiDyne Robotics and Motion Control, maintaining the well-known MRMC brand.MultiDyne Video & Fiber Optic Systems has acquired the assets ...
26/06/2026
PX1 will debut at Sonoma as TNT leans into super-slo-mo, drones, SMT data integr...
26/06/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...
26/06/2026
Virtual session musician plug-in gains new percussion options
Celemony's latest update for their virtual session musician platform complements the exist...
26/06/2026
Half-size model joins Console 1 line-up
Shortly after the release of their new Flow Studio controller, Softube have announced the launch of another new surf...
26/06/2026
ELT Group and Rohde & Schwarz sign a cooperation agreement to explore commercial...
26/06/2026
For Teddy Swims sold-out I've Tried Everything But Therapy tour, event technology specialists, PRG, provided video, automation and lighting across 19 date...
26/06/2026
Modern exhibition and event venues face the challenge of seamlessly integrating traditional conference technology, professional broadcast workflows and IP-based...
26/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/06/2026
Neko Oji: The Guy That Got Reincarnated as a Cat Edited with DaVinci Resolve Stu...
26/06/2026
Adobe to Acquire Topaz Labs
Brie Clayton June 25, 2026
0 Comments
Adobe has seen strong demand for its AI products for creatives, including Adobe Fire...
26/06/2026
Berklee Students Earn Dedicated Section at Raindance Film Festival in London Five documentary short films produced in the Africana Studies Department screen a...
26/06/2026
How IMS Productions and FOX Sports scaled coverage of the 109th Indianapolis 500.
The last lap of this year's Indianapolis 500 delivered the kind of ending...
26/06/2026
Flicker Productions to produce five-part docu-reality series following women who have fallen for men in prison and have become TikTok sensations, with brands an...
26/06/2026
Catch up on the latest developments across Baselight and Daylight v7, Nara and F...
26/06/2026
26. June 2026 News
DFT is pleased to announce that a second Polar HQ film s...
26/06/2026
New documentary Freedom Founder: Thomas McKean and the American Revolution airs ...
25/06/2026
Launching a Career in Broadcast Engineering: Academic Paths and Essential Certif...
25/06/2026
This superstar shooter/storyteller from Central Indiana hopes to make his mark in the blossoming sports-documentary and -features space
In the live-sports-vid...
25/06/2026
Presidio and the National Hockey League have announced a multiyear renewal of their North American partnership. Presidio will remain an Official Technology Inno...
25/06/2026
Strike Fighter League (SFL) is the world's first professional air combat digital sport that combines elite human performance and physical immersion with cut...
25/06/2026
Rise, the award-winning advocacy group for gender diversity in the broadcast and media technology sector, is pleased to announce the global mentoring cohort for...
25/06/2026
The 2026 American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) All-Star Game will...
25/06/2026
Mediaproxy has named Heartland Video Systems (HVS) as its exclusive partner for US television broadcasting. The Wisconsin-based systems integrator will represen...
25/06/2026
Backblaze has formed an agreement with CoreWeave to create The Essential Cloud for AI.
Under the multi-exabyte, $335 million agreement, Backblaze will provide...