Submitted by: "The Man I wish I Could Be"
*WARNING: sensitive content/trigger warning. Please be advised before continuing*
I was always down for the streets... until I learned the streets don't love me back.. and it cost me my daughter. I wanted he still, but what other choice do I have?
WELL WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS:
"Being gang affiliated, I knew I had a family. And I knew when I had a family of my own, they would have a family too. But it wasn't what I thought it was.
These new street Nigga didn't understand the rules of "women and children" are off limits and that our beef was our beef.. instead.. they killed my girl to get to me.. She was my world. We just had our daughter, and she had my heart everytime I looked in her eyes. The day my girl died, I craved revenge. I blacked out. I didn't think. And in the end, I naturally took a life for taking a life. And in the end, I forgot about being a father... I didn't think about the most precious gift I had and what it would do to her.
But she was young... so once I realized what I've done, I realized that I've lost her and her mother equally.
I held her one last time, and kissed her sweet fingers and hair. My sweet angel.. daddy is sorry.
I hoped that someone close to me could take her so I could have a bond with her. I didn't want to let her go. But everyone abandoned me when I needed them the most. These streets don't love me.. folks will go on with their lives but what about mine?
To say goodbye was bittersweet ... I got to see and meet the family, and they were..well are .. better than me. To legally lose her.. even writing this letter, I still cry...
I get pictures but it's not the same as holding my little girl in my arms.
I can barely eat
I barely get out of my cell
I don't claim my set, which has caused me my life here.....
But what is life without my little girl... "
For the month of May we want to continue the mission of Second Chances and share the stories of the currently incarcerated population and those returned citizens. Those unheard voices matter!
Realize that this population, they are STILL people and their story needs to be heard.
If you can relate to this submitted story, comment and share your own #WWHHW moment.
Looking at my little girl everyday, I could only imagine the hurt when not being able to be around her, see her and help her grow up in this world. I can only imagine the pain.