In Prison, Joy Means Depression
They walked down a red carpet to meet their families as 100 onlookers clapped and cheered.
They watched as their daughters, sons, nieces and nephews tore open Christmas gifts that included drones and remote-controlled cars.
They spent the evening free of prison uniforms.
“I felt like a regular person,” Damian said.
It was all part of a Christmas dinner the organization God Behind Bars sponsored at Limon Correctional Facility.
Volunteers with the group spent three days transforming the prison’s recreation area into a Christmas wonderland that revealed nothing of the location’s true identity.
“You wouldn’t have recognized it as a gym. It was amazing,” Damian explained gleefully.
It made for one of the most memorable experiences he’s ever had in 15 years of serving time.
“It was probably the best day we’ve had in prison,” Damian said. “It’s definitely the nicest thing anybody’s ever done for me in prison.”
Likewise, it was also incredibly depressing.
“Nick said it perfectly: ‘I feel like I just got re-sentenced,’” Damian said, quoting his friend and fellow inmate Nick Wells. “It was that cool.”
As Damian watched his 9-year-old niece and 6-year-old nephew joyfully open their gifts, his heart was full.
That’s when he got a tap on his shoulder. It was one of the volunteers.
“(She) came up to me and pointed behind me (and said) ‘This is a fair representation of the support that you have.’”
Damian turned to see six Limon volunteers crying tears of joy.
“I know they were happy for me,” he said, “and they were happy for my family.”
About the Author
Andréa Maria Cecil is a career editor and writer whose experience includes six years as Assistant Managing Editor and Head Writer at CrossFit Inc. headquarters. She spent the first 12 years of her professional life as a journalist — starting with The Associated Press in Detroit and Baltimore — before transitioning to content marketing with an emphasis on authentic storytelling. She is the editor of “Speal: A David and Goliath Story” by Chris Spealler that sold 10,000 copies worldwide.
