After her wife Brittney Griner was held prisoner in a jail cell in Russia for over 10 months, after she was caught with marijuana vape cartridges in her luggage upon arriving at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, Cherelle Griner shared with PEOPLE, the wait she went through while her partner’s release was negotiated by the United States.
Cherelle graduated from law school while Griner was held captive by the Russian authorities, and expressed that she felt as if someone had punched her in the stomach and she inhaled at the same time, having a feeling that you can’t breath out for most of the time she was away from Brittney, and admitted it was hard to keep hanging on to hope.
“I was hopeless a lot of days. You try and stay grounded, but I’m human. Still, I would never completely give up hope on my wife’s life.”
Cherelle had imagined her reunion with Brittney Griner
Cherelle Griner reunited with her wife Brittney in San Antonio, where the WNBA was flown by the US Army to receive treatment and undergo medical observation before being released.
“We were both just instantly crying. I was standing there full of tears and someone ran over and handed me a handkerchief. I definitely needed it.”
Cherelle then describe the moment the two embraced each other for the first time in almost a year.
“I couldn’t stop touching her face. I was like, ‘Is this really you?’ It did not feel real. It was chilling, and warm. I was just holding on tight. I couldn’t let her go.”
She also added that on Brittney Griner’s first night back home they couldn’t sleep and spent many hoyrs talking, not taking for granted their freedom.