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The view of the prison yard and nature outside Robert Marks' cell window in South Carolina.
Illustration by Robert Marks

My room is small and sometimes really cold, but whenever I need a mental break from prison life, I sit on my bunk and look at the view outside my window.

Early morning or late evening, you can catch a glimpse of wildlife at the tree line. At certain times the sunsets are awesome.

Even right now as I write this, an eerie mist creeps across the field. A gentle rain settles on the landscape.

I’m in prison for my crimes, but while my body is confined to this cell, sometimes my mind is able to run free.

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.

Robert Marks is a writer incarcerated in South Carolina.