I felt bad, sad frustrated. And it hurts because my daughter has to experience (even though she doesn’t understand what’s going on) - but it hurts.

But she’s learning a lot in here, though. She’s around adults and she’s talking quite early. She’s sixteen months. She’s learned a lot in here. She doesn’t hang around with little kids like her, so she doesn’t talk baby talk. She talks adult talk. The one thing she really enjoys in here is Sesame Street. She’ll sit here for a whole hour and she’ll talk back to the TV.

We were parted for two and a half months. The longer we were apart the harder it was. The worse I got. But I had to get my act together so I could come over here to Open Living from secure.

I’ve learned a lot in here. I’ve finally come to terms where I can finally deal with most of my problems. It feels so good! I feel like a better person inside.

I’m never coming back - because the next time I won’t get my baby, and I don’t want to be ever parted from her again.

Gloria and Aretha
Inmate
Burnaby Correctional Centre for Women
Open Living Unit

Update: In 2005 in the Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper Gloria posted a poem of sorrow and concern to her daughter Aretha asking her to come home from the dangerous world.