But after three years in prison, Cotton began to change. He had found himself venting his anger through rude remarks to other inmates, and he wanted to stop. I learned I couldn't continue to live with the hatred and the bitterness,' he says. That process, so simple for Cotton to summarise, took another two years. But eventually he realised, 'Time goes on.
Life moves on.
Cotton spent nearly 11 years in prison before a new lawyer, using DNA evidence, won his release. But from the moment he forgave, Cotton's spirit was free. The person who forgives often benefits far more than the person who is forgiven. If we won t forgive, we are the ones who are harmed. If we forgive, we are the ones who are blessed.