Ever since I was a child, I grew up in a family that seemed normal because it was complete. But I noticed that there was a difference—we were my father's illegitimate children. Because of that, I isolated myself. I grew up with very few friends because I was ashamed of our family's situation. I entered into a lot of relationships. Though always rejected, I learned to accept it because I had no value of myself. I had a dream of going abroad, and it was at a training center

“I used to be addicted to cigarettes and alcohol, but I didn’t think that those bad habits could impede me from achieving my goals in life. Eventually, I met my wife at work and we decided to get married and build a family together.” - Rudy “When I was still single, I prayed to God for a good husband—someone without addictions—and for a happy family. I grew up in a good family where, even when there were disagreements, my parents didn't shout at each other. They talked calm

Ever since I was a child, it was clear to me that I was born from my father's extramarital affair. I grew up with his legal family and my half-brothers and sisters, and they never made me feel that I didn't belong. But whenever I was alone or with my friends, I couldn't help comparing myself to them because they grew up in their own family, unlike me. It produced fear in me that they might judge me or misunderstand me. Whenever I was alone, insecurity grew inside me, and

I went through a life of suffering. It all started when I was five years old, when my sister and I contracted measles. I survived, but my sister passed away. After that, my father was never able to accept what had happened. He became physically abusive toward my mother and me, especially when he was drunk. His anger toward me became so intense that, at one point, he nearly killed me. As a child, I thought that kind of behavior was normal. But as I grew older, I began to und

I got involved in drug trafficking at the age of 22. I joined the drug trade, not out of necessity but out of curiosity. I started smoking cannabis and I used other types of drugs. I started taking part in turf wars and in other slums. Until I was already very deep into trafficking and crime, my photo ended up at the police station, I went on the run and was constantly being called in by the police. There came a time that I almost died in a battle with another faction. Actual