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My mind can't stop thinking about my brother Zo dying from cancer. Everything around me triggered memories about him. He was a shield that protected me from this madness known as prison. I been sharing how much I miss Zo, and that brings on more tears. Chris, my closest friend, worried I would relapse and get high. That started us on a journey as to why that would never happen: I'm not afraid to ask for help, and I'm not Tim. The night of Zo's passing, Tim decided to disrespe

A blizzard came down on our facility, placing us on Yellow Status, meaning only essential personnel were being called in. This meant that for the incarcerated men, outside was not on the menu. So workouts started and card games as men swarmed the six phones, calling out into the world. Life in prison didn't stop because of the elements; they adapted. That was why Haneef and I started working out. Each morning, Monday through Friday, we trained our aging bodies to stay healthy

Once incarcerated, an offender can become whatever he wants: a kingpin, a Division I recruit for a prestigious college, a porn star, the leader of an infamous gang, or a former Navy Seal. These are some of the men who can't accept the reality of being a state number in prison blues, so they lie. Bill, a 40-something white man with a fading green flute-like tattoo on the left side of his face, is a liar. He's frail, bald, and wearing wire frames. His story is that of pure nons