"I was. Before... this," Alejo says, conflicted on if he should say more. Being with the cartel for so long, he's learned to shut up and not talk about his own work, and he hasn't exactly been able to draw recently. "I was an art teacher, and a graphic novelist. I had a published book, I was working on a second," Alejo says, his fingers twitching unconsciously. Part of him is scared to pick up a pencil and draw again, it's been so long that he doesn't trust his ability anymore.
At his height, when the graphic novel came out, Alejo had felt like he had improved daily. Learned new ways to make his art come to life. Now, he doesn't even feel like he'd do a stick figure justice. It's anxiety, he knows it, but before hell came to earth, drawing was the talent he could count on being with him.