Bond

Foreword

From the age of 16, all my relationships have been long-distance.

Romantic relationships, friendships, associates, and even family ties have all been curated from afar due to my incarceration. I have no choice in this matter, but many people do. They face this situation whether they like it or not, making the best of it to keep what they hold dear. It’s hard work too. I, for instance, developed a permanent callus and indent on the side of my middle finger writing hand from countless hours of snail mail throughout the years. I’ve put in work, as have countless others in this unique situation.

Long-distance relationships, although hard to maintain, are sometimes essential for people like me. Some years ago, I received a letter from a stranger asking me for a commissioned portrait of an adopted cat for their roommate. This stranger developed into a pen pal and then became my most trusting friend who opened the world to me in ways I would have never expected. Without them, I doubt I’d ever become a published author or have my artwork exhibited in galleries throughout the country. We both learned and experienced a great deal from this long relationship, like how to speak in code while on the phone in case officers were listening in.

When dealing with long-distance relationships, each one has its own story to tell. Maybe you have a prison pen pal you’ve never met but feel closer to them than most friends you see daily. Perhaps your loved one is a soldier who was deployed, and due to the sensitivity of the mission, they can’t even inform you where they are.

How do these situations change you? Do they make your relationship stronger, more meaningful? What tools do you use to keep in touch? What gravitates you to another from such a long distance?

Bond tells of the experiences, advice, strife, strength, and determination of many who work to sustain relationships, where distance is an obstacle to overcome.
– JH