
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 ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
12/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/02/2026
The GeForce NOW sixth-anniversary festivities roll on this February, continuing a monthlong celebration of NVIDIA's cloud gaming service.
This week brings ...
12/02/2026
TIME100 Health list features Scripps Research Professor Darrell Irvine Irvine is recognized for his work in empowering the immune system to fight disease, which...
11/02/2026
FYI: Phone Support Maintenance One thing we pride ourselves on here at Utah Scientific is our 24-hour support included with our signature 10-year hardware warra...
11/02/2026
Leading provider of video streaming solutions, Bitmovin, has appointed Ian Baglow as Co-CEO alongside existing CEO and Co-Founder Stefan Lederer. Under this str...
11/02/2026
Paramount and the CBS Television Network will partner to air UFC 326: HOLLOWAY vs. OLIVEIRA 2 live on Saturday, March 7, from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, mar...
11/02/2026
Beginning February 10, fans can buy MLB.TV on ESPN, a new milestone in one of sports media's longest-standing partnerships. ESPN becomes the new streaming h...
11/02/2026
Fubo Sports Network is available to Hulu's Live TV subscribers in the core $89.99 a month subscription plan, which also includes full access to the entire H...
11/02/2026
Following a competitive public tender process, Rai (Radiotelevisione Italiana), the national public broadcasting company of Italy, has awarded Imagine Communica...
11/02/2026
Major League Baseball is making in-market streaming subscriptions for 20 Clubs available today for fans. Subscriptions for the following Clubs are available vi...
11/02/2026
Building on successful demonstrations during the Paris Olympics 2024, Italian public service broadcaster Rai and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) are condu...
11/02/2026
Following Sunday's Super Bowl LX, ESPN and Disney unveiled We're Going,...
11/02/2026
Delayed streams are a growing source of frustration for sports fans. During the 2026 Super Bowl, some streams lagged up to 62 seconds behind the action on the f...
11/02/2026
NASCAR and FloSports announces an expanded slate of racing events that will bring FloRacing coverage live throughout the 2026 season to the NASCAR Channel, furt...
11/02/2026
Manifold technologies GmbH announces the appointment of Nick Tucker as Sales Manager for Europe, reinforcing the company's continued growth across broadcast...
11/02/2026
Genies, the AI avatar technology company powering the next era of interactive digital identity, entered into a landmark collaboration with MLB Players, Inc., th...
11/02/2026
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Google have joined forces for an AI-...
11/02/2026
Dolby's CEO Kevin Yeaman and Giles Baker, SVP of Dolby Cloud Solutions, shared how the brand's latest innovations - Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and Dolby...
11/02/2026
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment has entered a first of its kind partnership with Major League Baseball, which will provide broadcast support to both the Detroit T...
11/02/2026
For major U.S. events like Super Bowl 2026, FIFA World Cup, America 250, and the...
11/02/2026
Broadcasts of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings will also be produced by the leagu...
11/02/2026
Video moves fast can your DAM keep up?
Join Blue Lucy in LA for the West Coast's leading Digital Asset Management event as we explore, celebrate, and acc...
11/02/2026
NEW YORK - February 10, 2026 - An estimated 124.9 million viewers watched Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8, according to Nielsen's Big Data Panel measu...
11/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/02/2026
Clear-Com provided an advanced, IP-based communications infrastructure for TEDNext 2025, supporting production, media, and editorial teams with a highly flexib...
11/02/2026
Astera introduces QuikBeam, the newest addition to its acclaimed Quik family of focusing LED Fresnels. This ultra-compact spotlight combines the equivalent powe...
11/02/2026
Following a competitive public tender process, Rai (Radiotelevisione Italiana), the national public broadcasting company of Italy, has awarded Imagine Communica...
11/02/2026
With Convertible Mount for NL Bowens & Aputure A Mounts See it at BSC Expo Stand #133 LCA
DoPchoice continues to refine light shaping tools for professional LE...
11/02/2026
World Premiere at BSC Expo, Booth #319 Oberkochen/Germany, 10 February 2026
ZEISS introduces the new Aatma, set of nine high-end full frame T1.5 cinema primes ...
11/02/2026
As Re-recording Mixer and Head of Sound at The Farm, one of UK's leading post-production facilities, Nick Fry has built his career on making stories sound a...
11/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/02/2026
Graduate Spotlight: Gabrielle Rodriguez The educator, who grew up in the Philippines, shares how shes bringing what she learned at Berklee back home.
Februar...
11/02/2026
Wednesday 11 February 2026
Sky brings together Netflix, Disney , HBO Max and Ha...
11/02/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Confirms Production of Love O'Clock' From the...
11/02/2026
Back to All News
Investing in Belgian Stories: A Commitment to Culture and Choice
From left to right: Undercover, Ang le, Rough Diamonds, Into the Night, John...
11/02/2026
At the end of January, ICG headed off to the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, for our annual conference.
An early flight gave us plenty of time to start exploring s...