The sunlight pierced through the open air and struck my face with a sharp, unforgiving brightness that made my eyes water. It felt unnatural—almost painful—after being confined for what felt like an eternity under the cold, artificial glow of prison lights that never changed, never dimmed, and never warmed. My eyes fluttered rapidly, struggling to adjust to the blinding light of freedom, yet my mind, my thoughts, and my soul remained somewhere else entirely.

It was as though thick, ...