En la cárcel encontramos la familia que no esperábamos | Lourdes #VolverAEmpezar #México

From a young age, soccer was Lourdes's primary passion and escape. Even when her mother disapproved of her playing due to scraped knees and gender expectations, Lourdes found joy and a sense of self on the field. This passion was rekindled in prison, providing a crucial emotional outlet and a feeling of 'freedom' despite her confinement.

Lourdes states, 'Sentí como una libertad, libertad en el sentido de que podía jugar lo que a mí me gusta mucho, lo que amo.' (I felt a freedom, freedom in the sense that I could play what I really like, what I love.) She also mentions, 'Simplemente el tocar un balón y patearlo es así como que, ah, no mentes, ¿no? Y el anotar los dos goles. Creo que eso es lo que más me gusta.' (Simply touching a ball and kicking it is like, 'Oh my god, right?' And scoring two goals. I think that's what I like the most.)

After separating from her children's father, Lourdes dedicated herself to working multiple jobs, including selling by catalog, washing dishes, and making gift bags, to provide for her family. She explicitly chose work over her passion for soccer when faced with the need to support her children. She pushed her daughters to finish high school, emphasizing education as a path to a better future, despite her own limited schooling.

When offered a job that would prevent her from playing soccer, Lourdes recalls telling her brother, 'Es que no tengo ya nada que pensar. O sea, primero tienen que comer mis hijos.' (I have nothing left to think about. My children have to eat first.) She also states, 'Yo mi idea era que terminen una carrera, ¿no? Que terminara la carrera.' (My idea was for them to finish a career, right? To finish their career.)

Despite the harsh realities of incarceration and the emotional distance from some family members outside, Lourdes has found a supportive 'family' among her fellow inmates. This community provides a sense of belonging and understanding that she sometimes felt was lacking from her biological family, who questioned her innocence.

Lourdes reflects, 'He encontrado personas buenas, personas malas, si tú quieras, trato de no meterme en programas, pero he conocido, lo único que sí puedo decir es que creo que aquí ven a conocer a algunas personas que yo puedo llamar mi familia. Mi familia realmente.' (I've met good people, bad people, if you want, I try not to get into trouble, but I've met, the only thing I can say is that I think here I've met some people I can call my family. My family, really.)

Lourdes firmly believes she is innocent of the charges that led to her incarceration, attributing her situation to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This perceived injustice, coupled with the inability to be present for her children during critical moments (like her daughter's surgery), causes immense emotional distress and a feeling of helplessness.

She states, 'Dios sabe que no lo hice. Dios sabe que por lo que vengo yo no lo hice. No es más ni conozco a las personas a las que nos acusó.' (God knows I didn't do it. God knows I didn't do what I'm here for. I don't even know the people who accused us.) Regarding her daughter's surgery, she says, 'Fue una desesperación aquí adentro, fue horrible. Porque yo decía, '¿Por qué no puedo estar ahí?' Correr y decir, 'Hija, ¿qué necesitas?'' (It was a desperation in here, it was horrible. Because I said, 'Why can't I be there?' To run and say, 'Daughter, what do you need?')