This essay was written by Eric’s dear friend that he was incarcerated with at FCI florence. Eric previously authored an essay “Big Jay ?” You can find it through the link and after this essay
“THE KING & I”
Have you ever heard of the term “Bright Soul”? I have. Many times. Though what that really took decades of experience to understand. And especially to recognize it. In others. In myself.
It’s that framework, I wish to discuss a particular human. A human named Eric king. This is a name that will mean many different things, to many different people. In the realm of social justice, protagonists? He is a well respected and venerated icon. In the realm of conservative establishment and its legal institutions? A dangerous “chaos variable” that must be contained. And his defiance, broken…
Such is the nature of a “name”, so many projections of one’s own ideas and fears become possible. ” A shelf to place thyself.” I can only speak of what resonates with me:
“the depths of a heart. And the presence of a soul” and it is through that lens, and that lends alone, that I view the human: Eric King
To properly convey what Eric has gifted me? To illustrate the “how” ? I must first give a brief treatise on the “where” and ” why” Take this journey with me. I promise it will be worth it.
The “Where”? Florence correctional complex. The FCI yard. I was already 4 years in when he arrived. Prison. By definition is perilous. But an FCI? If you have clean paperwork. Mind your manners. Mind your business. It will be endurable…
The “Why”? All prisons regardless of security level, have one imputable paradigm: “there is no love, but what you bring with you. In your head, heart, and soul.” And this iron clad and meathook really, forces upon you a serious fork in the road.
You can become better? Or you can become worse. Evolve? Or devolve?
To this I chose evolution. To endure, by nature, is to increase in power. But power is dangerous. If one fails to increase in heart as well. “The power shall devour.”
The “How”? The ability to evolve my heart in tandem with my power? THIS is the gift. Eric King bestowed upon me. A myriad of flaws cultivated me, by mere osmosis, by current societal culture. Psychic roadblocks. I would have never known or noticed, on my own. In essence? Eric modernized me. Broke chains, I didn’t even know I had. Chains binding my heart. Thwarting my ability to gain in emotional intelligence. The sleep clearing the way for me to cultivate my evolutions.
Words fell short improperly expressing what a boon these New perspectives have been to my life. To me? His presence and influence was a bona fide gift from LadyLlilith. And it is in that fervor that I made every effort to defend him. Both in prison and at his trial. For this is a human who deserves to be defended. Eric King is more than my friend. He is family. What I can express, is yet another influence of the gift of Eric King’s time and attention during our prison stint.
And this one? I’m sure he’s unaware of. He has shown me, through his natural tendencies and proclivities. That I could choose to share gifts with others. As opposed to providing selfishness that defined my youth. That I could be a lighthouse, as he is. A positive shine, preventing others from crashing into the unsympathetic shoreline. So now I do. Guiding young witches via essays and podcasts. Seeking to lighthouse them from making the litany of mistakes, that I have. It feels “right”. And he was my inspiration for it.
And this one? I’m sure he’s unaware of. He has shown me, through his natural tendencies and proclivities. That I could choose to share gifts with others. As opposed to providing selfishness that defined my youth. That I could be a lighthouse, as he is. A positive shine, preventing others from crashing into the unsympathetic shoreline. So now I do. Guiding young witches via essays and podcasts. Seeking to lighthouse them from making the litany of mistakes, that I have. It feels “right”. And he was my inspiration for it.
“Thank you, Eric. All the love in the world. See you soon, Brother”
Does Big J Know?
Does Big
Jay know that when he stood up for me in the religious group, I felt like I had a true friend. Some people have real aversions to little dudes who speak their mind, especially when those views are contrary to ‘group-think’ …Big Jay respected it and instead of bowing to social norms, spoke up for me… not giving a shit about his own social standing, he stood by me MULTIPLE times …using his clout to empower my voice.
Does Big Jay know that when he stood up for me in the religious group, I felt like I had a true friend. Some people have real aversions to little dudes who speak their mind, especially when those views are contrary to ‘group-think’ …Big Jay respected it and instead of bowing to social norms, spoke up for me… not giving a shit about his own social standing, he stood by me MULTIPLE times …using his clout to empower my voice.
Does Big Jay know how safe he made me feel? Altho murders at Mediums are very rare, getting your face kicked off is very common. I annoyed a lot of people, a lot of people felt I was a burden or a race traitor… at 5’6″, 145 lbs, being different can be very dangerous… Big Jay is massive. 6’4″, 260, he honestly looks and sounds like high-bred English nobility… He never used his massive size (or massive intellect) to bully or belittle people, but he did use it as a shield, especially for me. He was both a direct and indirect protector… there was never the slightest doubt that Jay would tolerate even the slightest threat to my safety. He didn’t rush in, he’d let me work out my beefs and settle them however I needed to… but he was always beside me (literally) and on more than one occasion put out what could’ve been a nasty fire.
Big man… big knowledge… big muscles and big heart… big compassion and big brain… big loyalty… the day he was released was one of the happiest and saddest of my life. One of a kind… a true great friend. Big Jerry B forever.-EK