Here I am seven years later in downtown San Diego, experiencing Cory’s profound love... Excerpt from my book “Beyond This Space: My Son Cory’s Story And How He Changed My Life”: “Reflections on a Mother’s Love for Her Son” I have the fortunate experience to be the mother of three beautiful children, Landon, Cory and Bethany, all of whom I love profoundly and unconditionally. Recently, my son, Cory Roussel, passed from this life and into the next, plunging us all into a redefined existence along with intense grief and sorrow. Through this process I am reminded of the profundity of my love for Cory and his for me. One of the most powerful expressions of this love occurred while my son was incarcerated in downtown San Diego as his probation was revoked on a charge of transporting an illegal alien across the border. Prior to Cory’s return to prison, his life was one filled with anger, confusion and depression because of the hate he had stored in his heart for the probation department that failed him miserably. As a result, my experiences with him before leaving for prison coincided with a very dark period of his life. Immediately prior to the revocation of his probation, Cory experienced a supernatural endowment of courage to forgive, which released him to begin the journey of transmuting a one year prison term to one of personal growth. During that time, Cory wrote many letters to many people, sharing this new freedom he was experiencing. It turned my world upside down and opened my eyes to an entirely new way of living. When he had been in prison for eight months, I chose to give myself the birthday present to be with my son. Because of the strict regulations regarding visitation, I was only allowed to visit for two hours on two consecutive days, Friday and Saturday. When I arrived on Friday, we were allowed to hug upon arrival, but other than a hug at departure, it was a no-contact visit during which we sat opposite each other with about two feet of separation between our cheap white plastic chairs. His eyes locked mine for two hours as we communicated both verbally and unspoken. It was the first time that he allowed me to see him, his true self, completely and unabashedly, pure love radiating out of his eyes like beacons. Since I was not allowed to visit him on Sunday, he asked me to come to the park across the street from the prison at three o’clock. This prison is a high rise in downtown San Diego, and he was on the fifteenth floor. The plan was that he would stand in the window where he had instructed me to look. (It’s pretty hard to see someone clearly from fifteen floors up.) While preparing to go I tried to think of what to do to send him a message from the park where I would be standing. I thought of a sign, but then quickly realized he would not be able to read it. So, I tore a large heart out of aluminum foil. At precisely three o’clock, I stood in the park looking up and shining my foil heart upwards, squinting up to look for Cory. Then I spotted him, waving wildly with both arms and shining a mirror. We stood there for 15 minutes, he radiating his love and light and I mine. It was one of the most profound moments of my life. Cory changed me completely with his love. For this I am deeply grateful. I love you, Cory. For you copy of “Beyond This Space”: Beyond This Space: My Son Cory's Story and How He Changed My Life https://www.amazon.com/…/ref=cm_sw_r_cp…