Let there be Light!!

In jail, it’s the little things that get us by. The three trays of food we receive, talking to your loved ones on the phone, occasional canteen or a letter. For the past three weeks, I’ve realized how I’ve been taking one specific fixture in my life for granted: my cell light.

In most prisons around the world there’s a light bolted to the ceiling or wall. Some places you have the luxury of controlling it with a button or switch. Some places you don’t.

This light usually consists of two different types. The first one I call the High Beams. Imagine being asleep in your bed at night, then at 5am or 6am (times are determined by the jail) your cell light pops on as bright as a tractor-trailer high beam. Good luck trying to sleep through that, especially if you’re on the top bunk.

The second light isn’t so bright. It’s a dimmer one, and it’s called the Security Light. Usually it stays on all night, and it’s on anytime your High Beams isn’t.

Think of it as your unwanted night light. So for the last three weeks, my unwanted night light has been out. Which is great for sleep, but not so great when I’m looking for my sleep mask on my brown sheets at 10pm. Yes, I have a sleep mask. Don’t judge! Every morning when the light comes on, it’s like being personally greeted by the sun.

So finally, after having my Security Light out for three weeks, yesterday maintenance came to fix it. I was so happy. I literally wrote a letter and called everyone I knew to tell them the great news. You would’ve thought I was being released, I was so happy.

Last night I went to sleep a little later because I could finally read a little before falling asleep. I woke up to pee and realized I was in complete darkness again. I was devastated. I thought maybe they just did us a favor and cut off all the lights. Nope, not the case. My light was back out. Wtf!?!?

I instantly got angry, hit the button in my cell, and asked them to bring me a screwdriver so I could fix it myself. They told me they can’t do that, obviously, but they’d have maintenance come look at it. That response hurt worse than my bail being denied.

It was three weeks the first time, so maybe I’ll have it fixed by my birthday on the 30th. I’ll keep y’all posted!

-TJ