Diane: So nice to see you.
Adriel: Good to see you too.
Diane: How long have you been released now?
Adriel: Since February of last year. It was tough when I first got out. Everything was overwhelming. Not having my mom and pops around and not having family connections. I came into the city, and even though I’d visited here, I never dreamt of ever living there. I went for the possibility of seeing friends and people accepting me for who I am, but it was nothing I expected.
Diane: Tell me about that.
Adriel: It’s just as bad out here as it is in prison. You have your discriminatory people. They’re judgmental. They’re phobic, even within my own community. I was barely able to get a one-time payment for my apartment. I have to figure out how to budget my money, even though I’m getting paid better at my new job. I have to figure out how to live on $900 a month.
Diane: What are you doing about food?
Adriel: Luckily, I’ve applied to three different organizations, two of them deliver to my residence. Some promised a lot, but they wanted to do a lot of footwork, which I could only do a little because I had a job. Then, I had my medical issues and was on parole. I’m not coming up with excuses, but it’s the reality that my health is not suitable for one, and basically, walking hurts. So, I would need to take either a Lyft or a bus. I feel like I’m starting from scratch. And I’m not too happy with the support system that the board wanted me to get and everything else. They stopped supporting it after a couple of months, and that was it. It was like dropping me off at the program, and okay, good luck.
Diane: Take me back to when you were first found out that you were released.
Adriel: I couldn’t believe it. When they told me they were using legal jargon, I was like, huh? And I only knew it was good because my attorney pumped her arm in the air like, “Yes, yes!” So now I’m thinking to myself, “Stop lying. Don’t play with me.” It was shocking, unreal. I’m bittersweet because I wish it would have happened when my parents were still alive. There was a lot of stuff that I wanted to do with them, especially taking care of them. But I was trying to keep my cool, even though you know how San Quentin is rumorville. They know it right off the bat. “Oh, you got a date,” and so you had the haters that tried to get you crossed up, to get you in trouble and stuff like that. But little do they know that I’m a little savvy in their tactics because I’ve seen them many times with other people.
Diane: How were you feeling about being released?
Adriel: It was a shock. I was nervous. I was scared. The tears are coming right now because I have been here for so long. I thought I was never going to get out. After 26 years, I had just turned 18 when I was put in during the time of pagers. When I tell people my story, I say during the time of pagers, and they’re like, “What?” And I’m like, the little boxes where the number used to pop up when someone is trying to reach you. Some people didn’t know what I was discussing and had to Google it.
Diane: Are you dating anyone?
Adriel: I’ve had some guys who wanted to start dating, and I said, well, before we start doing that, I need to tell you something about my past. I don’t want them to try to take me somewhere or find out about me later. And I almost got raped once, and I almost got robbed once.
Diane: Oh my gosh.
Adriel: They acted like they liked me. Another tried to lure me somewhere. Luckily, I have to believe it had to be God who intervened because we were walking past a fire department, and a woman was sitting there, just driving the firefighters crazy. She wasn’t in her right mind. But when she spotted me, she started walking with us and put herself between him and me. She was mumbling, and I was tripping off her because I didn’t know what she would do. But the more that she was walking along with us, the guy was getting pissed to the point where he was fuming. He said, “Let’s go this way. Let’s get rid of her.” He tried all his moves, and she stuck with me every time I moved, but she kept mumbling something. The subconscious mind will pick up whatever you’re not catching now. But finally, I went in one direction and finally ditched her. I kept walking and tried calling him, but he didn’t answer. Then, all of a sudden, something popped into my head about what she said, and I realized she was warning me. She said, “He’s going to hurt you, don’t go with him. He’s going to hurt you.” She repeated that and kept it between us like she didn’t care what happened to her. It was like she was trying to protect me. The crazy part is that she was gone when I returned to find her and thank her. I couldn’t see her anywhere.
Diane: How did you know he would hurt you?
Adriel: Just the way he was, he was taking me down certain streets, and I was like, “Where are we going?” “Somewhere special.” And I’m like, “Okay,” like a dummy because he’s cute, handsome, sexy. And so, we’re walking, and we’re talking, chit-chatting. Suddenly, this lady comes out of nowhere and puts herself in between. This was all here in San Francisco.
Diane: Is it safe where you are living?
Adriel: I’m at the Drake. I haven’t fully processed it yet. It’s dangerous and scary because we’ve seen a transgender girl get killed by her roommate. There are people fighting out here. Even though I’m still in the Tenderloin, I keep it minimal. If I’m going to go out or go grocery shopping right across the street, I go and come back. If I’m going to work, I order a Lyft, and then when I get off, I’m back on a bus to keep myself in a public setting at all times. And if I ever decide to go out, I always ensure I have somebody with me.
Diane: What are you doing for work?
Adriel: I’m a receptionist at Restaurant Depot, and the crazy part is that I can cook. I’m a natural cook, and many of my friends, especially my homegirl, bless her heart; she loves me dearly and is very protective of me. She’s my most prominent critic when it comes to my cooking. The crazy part is that she has never complained about my cooking. She’s taking pictures of the meals that I made and advertised them. Right now, it’s at a place where she’s working. It’s called Saluhall. It’s new. It’s like a Swedish food market, with many restaurants in one place. We have your Puerto Rican, Algerian, Mexican, Chinese, and Indian, a burger joint, a bakery specializing in different dishes, two bars, and an ice cream shop. It’s all vegan.
Diane: Where is it?
Adriel: At 945 Market Street.
Diane: I’m going there. I love ethnic food.
Adriel: They took all the chefs to Europe to show them how to make vegan meals. The Puerto Ricans have this skewer that tastes just like barbecue chicken. It’s really good. You couldn’t tell it was vegan—the same thing with the burgers.
Diane: How fun. I want to hear about your transition. So you started transitioning into prison. Did you have surgery there?
Adriel: I was trying to, but couldn’t due to my health. My diabetes was not in control. The only reason was that our meals had more carbs than protein. They had this gluten-free diet for those with celiac disease. That would have been an ideal diet for me, but because I don’t have celiac disease, I couldn’t get the diet. First, you have to be able to get past the pain in your feet and everything else ailing you, and the only way to do that is to get the diabetes under control. It didn’t help that they kept on adding doses of insulin because I never took insulin before; I was just on the pills. So, it hindered me, but I still take the hormone. I’m scheduled to get my body contoured. It’ll be my first operation. But I doubt they’re going to operate on me because of my health.
Diane: Oh my gosh.
Adriel: I’ve been trying so hard to lose weight and get my blood sugar down, and it’s still difficult because I’m stressing a lot. I am stressing a lot because here; I am starting from scratch. I have no choice in the matter of this housing. My place now allows you only a year, and they require you to look for permanent housing, especially if you have a job. We have to give them 30% of our income from your job so they can save it for us. So, by the time we complete the program, we will have something to utilize when we find permanent housing. But because of my loneliness and everything else, I fell victim to scams, which drained a lot of money—between three thousand and four thousand dollars.
They had hacked my phone. And because I was trying to take pictures of myself to see how the transition was going, and with the hormones and stuff like that, they had access to my nude photos. They used that as a ransom; I did not know any better. It kept on going until the point where I almost went back to prison.
Diane: Was it someone you knew?
Adriel: I met him on TikTok. He got me on this app to communicate with him. Then I was getting all these texts of threats and everything else; I called my parole agent and told him what was going on and showed him screenshots of all that was being said to me. I’m lucky that I have a parole agent who’s understanding. He was the main reason why I didn’t go back to prison.
Diane: It is nice to hear that something is in your favor.
Adriel: The crazy part is that I’m still so afraid that person will still have access to me. So I’ve been struggling since I’ve been out.
Diane: What would you like to do with your future?
Adriel: I’ve been thinking about becoming a cook. It started when I cooked a few meals for my girl, and she did the same for me. It was like a bit of friendship blossoming. She even suggested I start a business and cook for a living. I liked the idea, but I told her it takes money to get something like that off the ground, and I need the capital. She’s been handling the marketing, showing people my meals, and now they’re asking if I have a menu or if the business is legit. But with everything going on, I barely have time to think about starting a business. I’d need some help to figure it all out. Still, it’s exciting because I’ve been watching many cooking shows, and my meals are turning out well. Plus, I work at a place where I could get a discount on supplies if I ever did start a business, so there’s potential there.
Diane: I want to give you a heartfelt thank you. When we first connected back in 2021, those were the early days of Humans of San Quentin. I want to emphasize how much your trust meant to us. Your willingness to share your story and put yourself out there played a huge role in getting us to where we are now. We’ve since interviewed around 1,600 incarcerated individuals, and that was only possible with your belief in our mission. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Adriel: I appreciate that, Diane. Being a part of Humans of San Quentin has been a big deal for me. Sharing my story, especially as someone who went through a lot as a youth, wasn’t easy, but it’s been necessary. I’ve had to face some profound truths about myself and my past. But hearing those words from the board, telling me I’m good to go as long as I work on my trauma and do what’s required, was a huge moment. It feels like I’m finally on the path to starting my life again. So, thank you for believing in me and allowing me to be part of something bigger. It’s been a journey, and I’m grateful for the support. I’m looking forward to what comes next.
Diane: It’s been my pleasure, Adriel. I’m rooting for you all the way.
Adriel: Thanks, Diane. Take care.
Diane: You too. Bye.
